Banijay Gaming Acquires JOA, Adds 33 French Casinos
Banijay Gaming has committed to acquire JOA, France’s second-largest casino operator, from funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital, according to a statement released on July 6. The deal is part of Banijay Gaming’s push to build a diversified gaming group that spans online and land-based operations. Completion is expected in the second half of 2026, subject to employee consultation and regulatory approval.
The JOA transaction follows Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of Tipico Group in April 2026. That deal moved the business into sports betting, online gaming and retail operations across Europe.
The agreement covers JOA’s nationwide network of 33 casinos, present in every region of France. Its venues combine gaming with restaurants, bars and a wider range of leisure activities, and attract more than 4.6 million customers a year.
JOA reported gross revenues of approximately €430 million in 2025. Banijay Gaming will acquire the company under a put option agreement with funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital, and plans to hold 100% of JOA once the deal closes.
The release did not disclose the value of the transaction. Funding will come from a mix of equity and debt. Completion is expected during the second half of 2026, subject to consultation with JOA’s employee representatives, merger control clearance and casino gaming regulatory approvals.
Laurent Lassiaz, Chairman of JOA, will continue to lead the company alongside the current management team. Banijay Gaming said the approach reflects its decentralized model, built to keep local teams close to customers and preserve continuity for employees and partners.
Nicolas Béraud, Chairman of Banijay Gaming, said customers increasingly expect connected experiences across digital and physical environments, and that the deal positions Banijay Gaming to respond to that shift. He added that the group would support JOA’s next phase of development through its expertise in technology, artificial intelligence and data, while it keeps the entrepreneurial culture and operational strengths that have driven JOA’s success.
Lassiaz called the move to Banijay Gaming a new chapter for JOA. He said the period under Blackstone and Kings Park Capital built the foundation for the company’s growth, and that Banijay’s expertise in technology and digital innovation would help JOA speed up its omnichannel plans while it keeps its entrepreneurial spirit and local roots.
François Riahi, CEO of Banijay Group, said the acquisition of Tipico turned the company into a diversified omnichannel European leader, and that JOA fits that direction. He added that Banijay would become a leader in land-based gaming in France, just as it already is in Germany and Austria, and said the JOA teams would find a supportive entrepreneurial environment to grow within the group.
Banijay Gaming wants to create sales opportunities across its online activities in France and JOA’s land-based network. The company aims to raise customer interaction across both physical and digital channels, and to add new offers for JOA’s current customer base.
Banijay Group said responsible gaming will remain part of the strategy for both companies. JOA and Banijay Gaming plan to share practices across online and land-based gaming, with a focus on player protection, transparency and regulatory compliance.
💡TGJ Take
This is not just a French casino deal. Banijay now spans online betting, online gaming and land-based casinos under one structure. For operators, the signal is clear: scale means control of the player relationship across retail and online channels, not just one vertical. For suppliers, JOA’s 33 casinos could become a testbed for CRM, data and AI tools once the deal closes. Affiliates active in French casino should watch how fast Banijay links its online and land-based brands.
