France clears Banijay Gaming to buy the Joa casino group, with no conditions
France's competition authority has approved Banijay Gaming's planned acquisition of casino operator Joa without conditions. It found the deal unlikely to harm competition, with poker the only real overlap between Banijay's online business and Joa's 33 casinos.
Neither company serves South African players, so this is background rather than something to act on. It does show how regulators in a market with strict rules, where online casino games are still banned, treat deals that join online and land-based gambling. South Africa has the reverse position, with land-based casinos licensed and online casino games not licensed locally, so players here use offshore sites. Check any operator's licence and our reviews first.
What happened
The Autorité de la Concurrence, France's competition authority, has cleared Banijay Gaming's acquisition of the casino group Joa without attaching conditions. iGaming Business reported the decision on 6 November, and the authority's own announcement was made on Wednesday 4 November. Banijay agreed to buy Joa, which operates 33 casinos, from funds managed by Blackstone and Kings Park Capital in July.
Why poker mattered
The authority said this was the first French review of a deal joining businesses across online and land-based gambling. It asked whether a group with offers in both channels could use them to disadvantage rivals. After consulting competitors and the national gambling regulator, the ANJ, it found that poker was the main area of potential overlap, because players move between online platforms and casino venues, and younger casino customers are bringing the two audiences closer.
It still concluded that harm to competition was unlikely. It pointed to the parties' market positions, the presence of substantial competitors and the small contribution poker makes to Joa's casino business.
What the authority did not assess
The review did not look at the possible introduction of legal online casino games in France. The authority judged that prospect too uncertain, and online casino games remain prohibited there under current French rules. Banijay already owns Betclic and, since last year's deal, Tipico. Its chief executive said buying Joa would make the group a leader in land-based gaming in France, as it is in Germany and Austria.
What it means for South African players
Joa and Banijay do not target South African players, so there is nothing to sign up for or avoid. The story is a reminder that licensing differs sharply by country. France bans online casino games, and South Africa licenses land-based casinos but no operator for online casino games, which leaves South Africans on offshore sites. That makes checking a casino's licence yourself more important. Gambling is for adults only and carries real risk.
What to watch next
The clearance is one regulatory step. The deal still has to complete, and the report does not give a completion date. If France ever legalises online casino games, regulators would likely review the market again.