(AsiaGameHub) – Betclic and Tipico owner Banijay Group is advancing its strategy for betting and media leadership in Western continental Europe, as evidenced by its Q1 2026 results.
The Amsterdam-listed company posted a 9% rise in total group revenue to €1.15bn (£998m), compared to €1m in Q1 2025. Adjusted EBITDA increased 5.4% to €196.6m (£186m), while adjusted net income grew 18.1% to €56.9m.
Banijay’s entertainment division remained the largest revenue contributor, posting a 4.5% increase to €714.5m. Nevertheless, this growth rate was significantly exceeded by the performance of the group’s betting segment.
Revenue from betting and gaming, which during Q1 came exclusively from the Betclic online sportsbook, expanded by 14.4% to reach €326m.
The company credited this growth to consistent player activity, noting that returns could have been higher without ‘adverse sports results’ in both international and domestic football tournaments.
Revenue from casino, poker, and turf betting surged by 27%. Banijay linked the success of its iGaming business to the introduction of a new online poker platform in France and the launch of an online casino in Côte d’Ivoire early in 2025.
François Riahi, Chief Executive Officer of Banijay Group, stated: “We are off to a robust start in 2026, fueled by strong momentum in our sports betting, gaming, and live activities. We look forward to a year featuring major sporting events, key strategic initiatives, and transformative mergers and acquisitions.”
Tipico M&A positions Banijay for European expansion
The ‘transformative M&A’ mentioned by Riahi refers to the purchase of Tipico, a Malta-based online sportsbook focused on the DACH region and Germany’s largest betting and gaming operator.
Banijay finalized the agreement to buy Tipico last year, partly funding the deal by divesting its stake in bet-at-home—another sportsbook targeting the DACH market that has faced challenges recently due to German and Austrian tax pressures.
The acquisition of Tipico last year, integrated by late April 2026, is establishing Banijay as one of continental Europe’s leading betting and gaming firms, though it now has a prominent presence in two markets with significant tax liabilities.
France presents particularly substantial tax obligations. A new tax system introduced last summer applies a 59.3% rate to online sports betting gross gaming revenue (GGR), 42.1% to retail sports betting GGR, 69% to lottery GGR, and 10% to online poker GGR.
Despite this, the market still holds potential. Regulators in France have considered permitting online casino operations, but opposition from the land-based industry along with health and charity groups has delayed these plans.
In this context, Banijay’s management expresses confidence in the ongoing expansion of its sports betting and gaming units, pointing to product innovation and a 20% rise in unique active players—which Riahi called “the key commercial KPI.”
“This highlights the strength of our product and customer offering, and we are in a strong position leading into this summer’s FIFA World Cup,” the CEO added.
With the Tipico integration finished, Banijay is also pursuing merger and acquisition goals in its entertainment division. The group is already a significant force in this area, known for producing hit reality series such as Big Brother and TV dramas like Peaky Blinders.
Providing full-year forecasts, Banijay anticipates adjusted EBITDA to grow in a mid-single-digit or mid-to-high single-digit range. This projection does not account for the impact of the higher betting tax in France.
Riahi concluded: “2026 is also a pivotal year for Banijay Group. After finalizing the Tipico acquisition, we are making good progress toward combining Banijay Entertainment with All3Media, expected in summer 2026.
“Collectively, these deals will greatly enhance our scale, international presence, and intellectual property capabilities spanning content, live experiences, and sports betting and gaming.
“These solid first-quarter results enable us to reaffirm our 2026 outlook and stay focused on implementing our strategy to achieve sustainable growth and create value for our shareholders.”
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