Banijay Gaming’s JOA deal completes its French omnichannel strategy
Banijay Gaming gains land-based casinos and physical presence in France, adding to the retail betting network it already runs across Germany and Austria.
Land-based casino groups across Europe are increasingly changing hands as digital-first operators look to diversify into physical channels. Banijay Gaming has agreed to acquire JOA, France’s second-largest casino operator, from funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital.
Deal terms and timeline
The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Banijay said the deal would be financed through a mix of equity and debt, with Banijay Gaming set to own 100% of JOA once the transaction closes.
Completion is targeted for the second half of 2026, subject to consultation with JOA’s employee representatives and customary regulatory approvals, including merger control and casino gaming sign-off.
JOA’s estate
JOA operates a nationwide network of 33 casinos across every region of France, drawing more than 4.6 million customers a year.
The group’s gaming, hospitality and leisure operations generated gross revenue of approximately €430 million in 2025. Laurent Lassiaz will continue as JOA chairman alongside the existing management team.
Part of a wider gaming build-out
The acquisition follows Banijay’s agreement to acquire Tipico Group in October 2025, which completed in April 2026 and brought Betclic, Tipico and Admiral together under the Banijay Gaming banner, alongside more than 1,250 betting shops across Germany and Austria.
JOA gives the division a land-based casino network, and its physical presence in France, where Banijay Gaming’s existing activities under Betclic have so far been online-only.
François Riahi, chief executive officer of Banijay Group, said:
‘The acquisition of Tipico has transformed us into a diversified omnichannel European leader in gaming, and the acquisition of JOA is fully relevant with this evolution. As in Germany and Austria, we will become a leader in land-based gaming in another of our core countries: France.’
Nicolas Béraud, chairman of Banijay Gaming, added:
‘Customers increasingly expect seamless experiences across digital and physical environments, and this transaction positions us perfectly to respond to that evolution.’
A market with limits on where the deal can grow
France does not currently permit real-money online casino games. Legal online gambling is restricted to sports betting, horse racing betting and poker offered by ANJ-licensed operators, alongside lottery products reserved to FDJ under its exclusive-rights regime.
The JOA deal therefore adds retail casino capacity rather than a lawful route into online slots or table games, though industry discussion about a future opening of the online casino market has continued since a 2025 government consultation.
France’s regulated gambling sector grew in 2025, with gross gaming revenue reaching €14.1 billion, a 3% rise on 2024, according to the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). Land-based casinos contributed €2.816 billion of that total, a 3.4% rise, with admissions up 2% to 31.6 million. Online sports betting, horse-race betting and poker together grew 8.5% to €2.617 billion, now accounting for 18.5% of the regulated market, up from 12.8% in 2019.
The post Banijay Gaming’s JOA deal completes its French omnichannel strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.