GERMANY – The Gauselmann Group, an Espelkamp, Germany-based internationally oerating gaming company, has bought a majority stake in Bede Gaming, a Newcastle upon Tyne, UK-based online gaming platform.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed.With the investment, the Gauselmann Group plans to further grow its digital presence and obtain a presence in the North American lottery market, being Bede a meaningful partner to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), one of the world’s largest lotteries. Founded in 2011, Bede develops and markets gambling platforms and software to online casinos, online bingo operators which allow people to play bingo online, and lotteries in regulated markets. Its system, which processes hundreds of millions of transactions a month, allows operators to integrate any third party software into the platform or use directly its tools. The company is certified to ISO 27001 and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.Following the close of the transaction, Bede will operate as an independent business unit within the Gauselmann Group continuing to maintain its offices in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Toronto (Canada). The management will also keep on holding a stake in the company.The Gauselmann Group is a family-owned company operating in the entertainment and leisure-time industry. Alongside the development, production and sales of amusement and gaming machines and money management systems, the group operates the arcade chain MERKUR Casino. It is also active in many other business segments, such as sports betting, online gaming and casinos. In the sports betting business segment, Merkur Sportwetten GmbH consolidates the entire national and international sports betting business of the group (present in Austria, Malta, Denmark, Belgium and Poland.Commenting on the deal, Paul Gauselmann, CEO and founder of the Gauselmann Group, said: “This acquisition will allow us to significantly broaden the existing technology base within the Group and at the same time enable us to offer it to our customers and partners.” Joe Saumarez-Smith, Bede Gaming Chairman, added: “We are delighted that the Gauselmann Group has acquired a majority stake in Bede. Gauselmann’s long-term prospects and financial strength will allow us to further enhance our range of products and services to existing customers as well as win new business partners.”
