Following an in-depth review by all relevant licensing and regulatory bodies, the Austrian gaming technology group NOVOMATIC has successfully completed its acquisition of the French Vikings Casinos group. This move will strengthen the company’s presence in one of Europe’s most important gaming markets and underscores its long-term focus on sustainable growth and international diversification.

Established in Falaise in 1998, the Vikings Casinos group is one of the leading casino operators in France and has over 300 employees. The company currently operates around 1,000 gaming terminals in more than 10 live casinos across the country, including prime locations along the Côte d’Azur. The acquisition will enable NOVOMATIC to substantially enlarge its portfolio of services in one of Europe’s largest gaming regions and forge ahead with its international growth strategy.

“The acquisition of Vikings Casinos is a key part of our efforts to build up NOVOMATIC’s presence on international markets in a targeted manner. France is one of the most dynamic and most challenging gaming markets in Europe. By making this investment, we are not only reinforcing our leading position in Europe but also demonstrating our clear commitment to our long-term global expansion strategy,” says Stefan Krenn, Executive Board Member of the NOVOMATIC AG.

The fact that French regulatory approval has been obtained is not only a testament to the confidence in the expertise and reliability of NOVOMATIC, but also opens the door to plans for further developing the French casino business under the umbrella of a leading global gaming technology group.

Nazara Technologies Limited, India’s only publicly listed gaming company, announced the acquisition of 100% ownership in Curve Digital Entertainment Ltd (“Curve Games”), a highly reputed UK-based publisher of PC and console games for INR 247 crores (GBP 21.7 million).

This strategic move strengthens Nazara’s presence in gaming, unlocking access to platforms, genres, and geographies in the US $100 bn+ global PC and console gaming market. The acquisition is consistent with Nazara’s established business strategy of building a diverse portfolio of businesses through targeted acquisitions across interactive gaming and sports media.

Curve Games brings a robust publishing track record, with globally recognized titles that have collectively seen over 100 million downloads. Its presence spans key gaming markets including North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

In calendar year 2024, Curve generated INR 263.5 crores (~GBP 24.4 million) in revenue,  EBITDA of INR 114.4 crores (~GBP 10.6 million) and PBT of INR 49.6 crores (~GBP 4.6 million).

Strategic Fit with Nazara’s Vision

The acquisition is aligned with Nazara’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its global publishing capabilities, and follows a series of similar strategic transactions executed over the years, reaffirming Nazara’s commitment to long-term, value-driven growth through the gaming lifecycle. Curve’s publishing capabilities in the PC and Console space and its diverse portfolio will accelerate Nazara’s global ambitions and enable cross-platform IP development with long-term value creation.

Commenting on the acquisition, Nitish Mittersain, CEO of Nazara Technologies, said: “Curve’s proven expertise in PC and Console publishing makes them an ideal partner as we expand our focus beyond mobile into high-quality, cross-platform gaming. This acquisition deepens our capabilities, brings exceptional IP into our fold, and strengthens our mission in building Nazara as a global gaming powerhouse from India. Curve will also serve as a gateway to the world for Indian game developers.”

Stuart Dinsey, Executive Chairman of Curve Games, added: “Joining the Nazara family is an exciting new chapter for Curve. Nazara’s ecosystem, access to emerging markets and long-term orientation make them a strong strategic partner. We are aligned in our vision of building a leading global indie publishing platform, and we look forward to the next phase of growth together.”

Make Agency (in conjunction with DXG Group), through its subsidiary, Two Up Investments, Ltd, has announced the acquisition of the assets of digital product agency Two-Up.

Make Agency, a leading London-based digital creative agency, has strategically acquired the assets of Two-Up Agency, a specialist digital product business renowned for its work within the sports, sports betting, and iGaming sectors. This acquisition significantly expands Make Agency’s capabilities and reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions to clients within these key industries.

The acquisition brings Two-Up’s established expertise and track record in creating innovative digital products to Make Agency. Based in London and Poland, Two-Up provides technical solutions to prominent online gaming brands, offering best-in-class technology tools and in-depth market knowledge to clients including Stats Perform, At The Races, and NewsUK.

Two-Up’s proficiency in user experience, user interface, design and development – alongside a deep understanding of the specific demands of the sports-betting and iGaming sector – perfectly complements Make Agency’s existing creative and strategic marketing strengths.

Industry experts join forces

The acquisition unites two industry experts: Robbie Morris, the former CEO of Two-Up, and Eugene Delaney, the COO of Make Agency, who will now also take on the role of Managing Director for Two-Up.(Ex-Podium/PA Media, Spotlight Sports Group and Flutter).

“We are pleased to integrate the valuable assets and expertise of Two-Up into the Make Agency family,” said Eugene Delaney. “Their specialised knowledge and impressive portfolio within the sports, betting, and iGaming sectors will be invaluable as we continue to grow and enhance our offerings in these key verticals. This acquisition allows us to provide our clients with an even more comprehensive suite of digital solutions, specifically tailored to the unique demands of this dynamic market.”

Robbie Morris added, “Joining forces with Make Agency represents an exciting new chapter. We are eager to integrate our expertise and collaborate with their talented team to deliver exceptional digital experiences for clients within the sports and gaming landscape. We believe this union will create significant synergies and allow us to continue to deliver innovative solutions in this specialised area.”