On 13 October Allwyn – a company founded in the Czech Republic and controlled by Czech billionaire Karel Komárek through his investment group KKCG – announced it had acquired the remaining 48% stake in Greece’s national lottery and betting operator OPAP. The buyout firmly consolidates Europe’s largest lottery operator under one roof.
The newly combined business is valued at around €16 billion. In an era when European gambling operators are scrambling to keep pace with regulatory changes, technological disruption and the need for scale, this deal could be seen as both a defensive manoeuvre and a bold strike forward.
Although anticipated – Allwyn first invested in OPAP in 2013 – the full buyout marks a watershed moment not only for the companies involved but for the European gambling sector as a whole.
