In a bold move that blurs the line between entertainment and high-stakes gaming, Banijay Group NV, the French entertainment conglomerate behind global TV hits, announced Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in German gambling powerhouse Tipico from CVC Capital Partners.
The blockbuster deal, which values Tipico at €4.6 billion ($5.4 billion), will merge Tipico with Banijay’s existing betting arm Betclic, forging what the company calls “a European champion in sports betting and online gaming.”
The acquisition marks Banijay’s most ambitious leap yet into digital gaming — a sector increasingly intersecting with entertainment and live sports audiences.
Building a Continental Betting Empire
Under the deal’s structure, Tipico’s founders will retain all their shares, while CVC Capital Partners — which first bought a majority stake in Tipico in 2016 for €1.4 billion — will roll its interest into Banijay Gaming, the newly formed entity overseeing the merger.
All shareholders in Betclic and Tipico will unite under this combined banner, with Banijay controlling a 65% stake. The founders of both betting firms and CVC will hold the remaining 35%.
Banijay also revealed plans to increase its ownership to 72% through future call options, signaling its long-term intent to dominate the European gaming market.
