Merkur has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 95% stake in Casigrangi, a majority owner of Société Française de Casinos (SFC).
Regulatory approval is still required, including from the French Ministry of Interior, alongside other conditions and internal reorganisation steps. Meanwhile, the deal is expected to close in Q1 2027.
SFC operates four French casinos, while Casigrangi operates three.
This entry follows Banijay Gaming’s announcement of its acquisition of Joa. The company is committed to acquiring Joa, the second-largest casino operator in France, which has a nationwide network of 33 casinos that generated approximately €430m in gross revenue in 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, ANJ launched an investigation at the beginning of this month into prediction market operator Robinhood, a current OGC Nice shirt sponsor.
The partnership attracted regulators' attention because neither prediction markets nor their promotion are authorised in France. Thus, ANJ is evaluating whether the deal is promoting an illegal gambling product. However, only US residents can access Robinhood's event contracts.
The American operator has sponsored OGC Nice since 1 July 2025.
This is not the first ANJ action targeting prediction markets. In July this year, the regulator ordered internet service providers to block access to Polymarket. The move followed the regulator’s assessment that Polymarket’s offering constitutes illegal gambling.
French gambling market generated €14.1bn in gross gaming revenue during 2025, up 3% year-on-year
