Breaking news: This morning, Betsafe’s Affiliate Director Erik Hedberg announced to the company’s network of affiliates that it had been acquired by the Betsson Group.
“This is a strategic deal that will strengthen our brand and ability to continue our amazing growth rate in our markets,” Hedburg announced.
“For you as an affiliate there will be no immediate changes and we will continue with business as usual. All Affiliate programs will still be the same and all promotions will continue as planned, so you all can just keep on doing the great job that you’re already doing.”
Mergers continue
That’s only the latest in a string of online gaming merger news. The deal between 888 and Ladbrokes may have fallen through, but plenty of other big potential acquisitions carry on.
Sportingbet and Centrebet
Most recently, UK-based Sportingbet has revealed that it’s looking to seriously upgrade its already-strong presence in Australia, with a potential acquisition of Centrebet.
Per Reuters, the talks are in advanced stages, and the offer currently stands at about AU $175 million (that’s $189.6 million in U.S. funds).
“The offer price at A$2 per share represents a 25 percent premium to Centrebet’s Tuesday close,” the report notes.
“An acquisition would accelerate Sportingbet’s strategy of increasing its exposure to regulated markets and of geographic diversification,” Sportingbet Chief Executive Andrew McIver said.
Centrebet did emphasize to the Australian Securities Exchange that it was “important to note that no agreement has been reached,” reports the Herald Sun, “and that the proposal was ‘subject to a number of conditions, including a successful equity fundraising by Sportingbet’.”
For its part, Sportingbet could be well positioned to enter the U.S. market, if it gets the chance, as the UK’s Daily Mail explains.
iGaming Business partners with Global Gaming Expo
In other online gaming merger news, the two most prominent online gaming conference organizers have announced a new partnership.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with G2E,” iGaming Business head Alex Pratt told the media. iGaming Business is probably the biggest name in gaming conferences, responsible for the iGaming Super Show, the London Affiliate Conference, and the iGB Affiliate Awards (all of which were co-created with CasinoAffiliatePrograms.com).
“G2E is the largest gambling conference worldwide and we look forward to working together to educate and increase awareness of the gambling industry as a whole in a productive and positive way,” Pratt added.
“The cross-promotional opportunity will serve both iGaming Business and Global Gaming Expo well by increased liquidity and relevance,” the company explained in a news release.
No less than AGA CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., has weighed in on the merger, stating that the “partnership between iGaming Business and G2E will provide both Internet and land-based casino operators with the information and insights to gain a better understanding of how this sector will shape the future of our industry.”
Microsoft buys Skype, Fox sells Gambling.com
And News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch’s media empire that also includes the Fox network, the Times of London, and the Wall Street Journal, has sold its relatively recently acquired Gambling.com for a loss of almost $2 million, while Microsoft has announced it will buy Skype for $8.5 billion.