Merkur is aiming to enter the French land-based casino market. Planning to acquire the Casigrangi-Société Française de Casinos group, Merkur will gain control of seven small and medium-sized casinos, including locations in Megève and Granville.
Merkur operates both land-based and online gaming businesses and also supplies equipment for physical and virtual gaming. The group generated more than €2bn ($2.3bn) in revenue last year.
The incoming entrance of this major group follows the announced acquisition of Joa by Banijay Gaming. In July, the company committed to acquiring Joa, the second-largest casino operator in France, with a nationwide network of 33 casinos that generated approximately €430m in gross revenue for 2025.
The move intends to strengthen Banijay's omnichannel strategy and expand its presence in Europe's land-based gaming sector. Banijay said the acquisition will accelerate Joa's next phase of growth in France and international markets.
These recent developments emphasise the increasing appeal of the French land-based casino market, which has become an increasingly attractive target for major gaming groups seeking new opportunities and expansion.
In separate news from France, FDJ United reported its financial results for the first half of 2026 last month, with the operator seeing declines in gross gaming revenue (GGR), net revenue and recurring EBITDA during the period.
GGR totalled just over €4.3bn and decreased 1.3%, while FDJ’s net revenue for the half-year period fell 4.5% to €1.8bn. After generating a net income of €136m in H1 2026, the operator posted a loss of €16m for the current year.
In March, Saumur, located in Maine-et-Loire, welcomed its first casino
