Banijay Gaming buys France's JOA and its 33 casinos in omnichannel push
What's the deal? Banijay GamingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has agreed to acquire JOADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a French casino operator with 33 regional venues, from funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The Betclic and Tipico owner will take 100% ownership, financing the deal through equity and debt. Terms were not disclosed.
What each side brings: JOA runs one of France's largest casino networks by venue count and generated €430 million in gross revenue in 2025. Banijay Gaming already owns online brand Betclic in France, plus Tipico and Admiral across Germany and Austria.
Why now? The move follows Banijay's April completion of the Tipico deal, which united Betclic, Tipico and Admiral to form what it called Europe's fourth-largest sports betting and gaming group. The October 2025 agreement valued Tipico at €4.6 billion and Betclic at €4.8 billion.
What's the endgame? Banijay wants a broader gambling business, not just another online brand. JOA adds a French land-based layer, letting it link venue customers, loyalty activity and online gaming technology in a more joined-up model. Land-based casinos remain central to France's legal gaming mix.
François Riahi, chief executive officer of Banijay Group, framed the deal as a continuation of the Tipico strategy. "As in Germany and Austria, we will become a leader in land-based gaming in another of our core countries: France," he said.
What changes for JOA? Chairman Laurent Lassiaz will continue to lead the casino group with the current management team, giving continuity for staff and local partners. He said Banijay brings "expertise in technology and digital innovation" that can speed up JOA's omnichannel development.
What could go wrong? Completion is expected in the second half of 2026, subject to employee consultation, merger control and casino regulatory approvals. The deal follows a put option agreement and still needs the usual sign-offs before closing.
The signal: The acquisition underlines Banijay's ambition to be a diversified gaming heavyweight, not a pure TV producer, against a backdrop of continued consolidation in European gambling. By pairing physical casino floors with digital brands, it is betting that omnichannel scale will define the next phase of the market.
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