France Approves Banijay Gaming’s Acquisition of JOA Without Conditions
France – 11 November 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com The French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) has approved Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of casino operator JOA without imposing any conditions.
The decision, announced on 4 November 2026, allows the owner of online betting brand Betclic to proceed with the planned acquisition of 33 land-based casinos across France, strengthening its presence in the traditional casino sector.
The regulator concluded that the transaction is unlikely to significantly restrict competition, despite potential commercial links between online gambling and land-based casinos.
Strategic Acquisition in the French Market
The acquisition of JOA was agreed in July 2026 and formally notified to the French authorities on 7 October.
The transaction involves purchasing the casino operator from investment funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital.
JOA is one of France’s established casino groups and operates exclusively within the country.
In addition to managing 33 gaming properties, the company provides complementary hospitality services, including restaurants, bars and hotels.
The acquisition will allow Banijay Gaming to significantly expand its land-based operations and strengthen its presence in the French market.
Competition Authority Grants Unconditional Approval
The Autorité de la concurrence determined that the acquisition does not require additional conditions to preserve market competition.
The transaction was therefore cleared without mandatory divestments, structural modifications or specific commercial commitments.
The decision was formalised through Decision 26-DCC-215, dated 4 November 2026.
The authority highlighted that this was the first transaction examined in France involving the combination of online gambling and land-based casino operations within the same corporate structure.
The investigation assessed the potential implications of this integration for competitors and consumers.
Poker Emerges as the Main Area of Analysis
One of the most important elements of the investigation concerned the relationship between online poker and table games offered by land-based casinos.
Following consultations with industry competitors and the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ), the regulator identified a shared customer base between the two forms of poker.
It also observed that the increasingly younger age profile of casino customers is contributing to greater convergence between online and land-based gambling audiences.
This could enable Banijay Gaming to develop cross-channel commercial strategies promoting different products within its portfolio.
Integration Unlikely to Harm Competition
Despite identifying potential commercial opportunities between the different segments, the authority concluded that the acquisition would not significantly harm competition.
Its assessment considered three main factors:
- Market position: the existing commercial positions of Banijay Gaming and JOA.
- Competitor presence: the existence of other significant operators within the relevant markets.
- Poker’s contribution: the relatively limited share of JOA’s overall casino business represented by poker.
The regulator acknowledged that some consumers participate in both online gambling and land-based casino activities.
However, it concluded that this overlap did not justify imposing restrictions on the transaction.
Online Casino Gambling Remains Prohibited in France
The Competition Authority also considered the possibility of online casino gambling becoming legal in France.
Although the subject has been debated by industry representatives and lawmakers for several years, the regulator determined that there was insufficient certainty regarding a potential legislative reform.
Consequently, it excluded this hypothetical scenario from its competitive assessment.
Online casino games remain prohibited under current French legislation, while other activities, including sports betting and online poker, operate under specific regulatory frameworks.
This distinction is important when assessing the acquisition’s scope and the commercial opportunities currently available to Banijay Gaming.
Banijay Strengthens Its Omnichannel Strategy
The planned integration of JOA forms part of a wider European expansion strategy that also includes Betclic and Tipico.
Banijay announced the acquisition of Tipico in October 2025, strengthening its presence in Germany and Austria.
By adding JOA’s casino portfolio, the group aims to consolidate a business structure combining online betting and land-based gaming across several European countries.
The company believes this diversification will allow it to leverage its technological capabilities and expand its growth opportunities.
Statements from Banijay Group
François Riahi, CEO of Banijay Group, previously highlighted that the acquisition of Tipico had transformed the company into a diversified European gaming group operating across multiple channels.
He described the integration of JOA as a natural continuation of that strategy.
According to Riahi, the transaction will allow Banijay to become a leading participant in France’s land-based gaming market, complementing its existing activities in Germany and Austria.
He also welcomed JOA’s employees and highlighted the opportunity to expand the group’s geographical presence across France.
JOA Seeks to Benefit from Banijay’s Technology Expertise
Laurent Lassiaz, Chairman of JOA, highlighted the potential benefits of the transaction for the French casino operator’s commercial and technological development.
Lassiaz believes Banijay’s expertise in technology and digital innovation could help support JOA’s future expansion.
At the same time, he emphasised the importance of preserving the company’s entrepreneurial identity and its established relationships with local communities.
He also explained that French casinos primarily operate as local leisure destinations, forming part of the recreational activities available to residents.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The acquisition approval represents a significant development in Banijay Gaming’s European diversification strategy.
The planned addition of 33 casinos will allow the group to strengthen its position in France while combining online betting expertise with land-based gaming operations.
For JOA, the integration provides an opportunity to benefit from greater technological capabilities and commercial resources.
The decision also establishes an important precedent for future transactions involving online gambling companies and traditional casino operators in France.
The unconditional approval confirms that, under current market conditions, French authorities identified no sufficient competitive concerns to prevent Banijay Gaming’s expansion.
Editó: @fonta
