How do you build an omnichannel gambling business in a country that bans half the channels? Banijay´s answer arrived on 6 July. The French media group that owns Betclic and last year swallowed Tipico, has agreed to acquire Groupe JOA’s network of 33 regional casinos across France through its gaming arm. Completion is expected in the second half of this year pending regulatory approvals. Both sides talk enthusiastically of the “omnichannel opportunity”.
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Yet France has no legal online casino, and H2 Gambling Capital data shows the amount staked on retail betting slipped slightly to €10.5 billion [$12.0 billion] in 2025 from €11 billion [$12.6 billion] the year before. So what, precisely, is Banijay paying for?
