Gauselmann Group to acquire Intralot’s Totolotek
Gauselmann Group has agreed a deal to acquire Totolotek, the Poland-facing sports betting subsidiary of Intralot, via a share purchase agreement.
The German gambling group, via its Merkur Sportwetten subsidiary, has finalised an agreement with the lottery and gaming solutions provider and is now awaiting merger clearance to complete the deal.
Active in Poland for more than 27 years, Totolotek currently employs 560 staff and has 260 retail sites across the country. Totolotek also operates online via a licensed website and mobile application.
Merkur has said that the deal will enable the business to enter the Polish market, and roll out its brand in the country.
“Sports betting is extremely popular in Poland and for many football fans it’s an essential part of a good match,” Merkur Sportwetten CEO Niko Steinkrauß said. “The acquisition of Totolotek is an important part of our growth strategy to open up the Polish market and thereby gain another core market in Europe alongside Germany, Austria, Denmark and Belgium.”
Intralot chief financial offcier Andreas Chryssos added that the acquisition is consistent with the provider’s strategy of reducing its focus on non-core markets and to ramp up investment in key strategic territories, such as the US.
“This transaction will create value for all involved parties – Gauselmann, Totolotek and Intralot – which was fundamentally important from Intralot’s point of view when deciding to proceed with this transaction,” Chryssos said.
Totolotek CEO Adam Lamentowicz added: “We are delighted to have gained a strong strategic partner with Merkur Sportwetten, and the Gauselmann Group behind it. With its experience and financial strength as well as its innovative products for stationary trade and the online and mobile sector, it will help Totolotek achieve further growth.”
The deal comes after Gauselmann last month also moved to strengthen its position in the UK market after its Blueprint Gaming arm acquired games developer Project.
Merkur Sportwetten also recently purchased a 50% stake in BetCenter, building on an existing relationship between the Belgian sports betting operator and Gauselmann.
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