Newest Business Acquisitions in the iGaming Niche

The gambling industry never stops growing. I mean, take a look at iGaming companies. New betting websites and casinos with exciting services pop up every day. 

That’s how we got top-tier brands like 1Bet online casino. Aside from recently-launched websites, the iGaming industry continues to expand through mergers and acquisitions. 

Blink for a second, and your favorite casino game provider has signed some sort of partnership deal with the competition, combining resources to offer more entertaining gaming options to satisfy insatiable customers.

Mergers and acquisitions in the iGaming sector don’t seem likely to slow down any time soon. We’ve already hit all-time record figures in 2024, with Silver Lake purchasing Endeavor Group Holdings for $13 billion. That’s the most anyone has ever paid for a company in the gambling industry. 

Overall, iGaming company sales currently hover around the $16 billion mark from just over 30 deals struck in 2024. For context, we had 77 M&As in 2023 totalling around $7.2 billion. With each passing year, more and more brands are partnering to enhance their offerings and drive industry growth. Here are some of the most recent acquisitions topping the iGaming headlines in 2024:

• Silver Lake Buys Endeavor Group Holdings for $13 Billion

Let’s start with the biggest deal in 2024. In April, Silver Lake agreed a deal to purchase Endeavor Group Holdings, a sports and entertainment brand affiliated with the WWE, UFC, and Euroleague Basketball. The two companies had a decade-long business relationship before this move. 

Silver Lake bought a minority stake in William Morris Endeavor in 2012, a partnership that led to the acquisition of IMG two years later and the UFC in 2014. With the recent agreement, Silver Lake now owns 100% of any shares not purchased in the 2012 partnership. 

But that’s not really what makes this deal significant. The headliner is the $13 billion acquisition cost – the largest individual company purchase in the history of the gambling industry. 

• Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) Seals $3 Million Acquisition Deal With Casinomeister 

GiG only recently added AskGamblers and Johnslots.com to its portfolio of iGaming assets, and the company has taken another major step towards expansion this year. Casinomeister is the latest acquisition for the iGaming media giant. 

The brand has existed for nearly three decades, offering online casino advocacy and review services. In fact, it is one of the earliest casino review sites to enter the industry.  Casinomeister will still retain its brand identity under the acquisition deal with GiG worth more than $3.25 million.

• Evolution Enters Acquisition Agreement With Livespins

Unless you’re a newbie to online casinos, you should be familiar with Evolution. The company is a frontrunner in the live casino niche, with well-known games like Lightning Blackjack and Side Bet City.

Evolution also isn’t new to buying out the competition. Recently, it purchased NetEnt and Red Tiger. In a more recent move, the brand agreed a deal to acquire Livespins, a B2B social streaming company.

The acquisition will cost an initial €5 million, with Evolution still paying an earn-out tied to Livespin’s performance in 2026.  

• SOFTSWISS Breaks into Africa With Turfsport Deal

For gamblers, partnerships between iGaming companies mean new casino slots and enhanced sportsbook services, But they can also mean expansion into new markets, giving more players access to the offerings from a thriving brand. 

The acquisition deal between SOFTSWISS and Turfsport is one of those types of partnerships. SOFTSWISS, an iGaming software giant, recently purchased a majority stake in Turfsport – a lotto, horse racing, and sports betting solutions provider based in South Africa. 

A groundbreaking move, the partnership between these two established brands will lead to enhanced iGaming software solutions in the African market.

Final Thoughts 

I think we can all agree that 2024 has been an amazing year for the iGaming industry. Gambling brands have continued to grow, expanding their portfolio and guaranteeing players more innovative casino games and sports betting technologies. I don’t think the trend of mergers and acquisitions will stop soon, so we can still look forward to some exciting mega deals.