Free path for the Evolution-NetEnt merger
When Evolution announced its interest in acquiring the Swedish company NetEnt, in what could be one of the big mergers of the year that would give rise to a giant in the gaming software market, the British authority that monitors competition and markets, CMA, got down to business. His interest lay in determining whether the mega-merger violated the laws of free competition. But the British agency has just given the go-ahead to the merger. Nothing now stands in the way of the new corporation.
Nothing is standing in the way of the mega merger between Evolution and NetEnt that will lead to the creation of a leading company in the igaming world. ©geralt/Pixabay
2020 will not be an easily forgotten year at Evolution. First it was the announcement that revolutionized the igaming world in June, the company announced its intentions to take over the rival company NetEnt , with the approval of the main shareholders of the Swedish firm, in what would mean creating one of the largest igaming technology companies worldwide.
Later in October, the leading live casino gaming company announced that the name of its corporate brand was changed to Evolution , removing the word Gaming with which it was previously known. Evolution Gaming thus became Evolution . A marketing strategy that sought to reflect in a more inclusive way the diversity of its products.
Nothing stands in the way of megafusion
On September 21, the agency that monitors competition in the United Kingdom, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), launched an investigation with the purpose of determine whether the abovementioned merger could give rise to an injurious in the UK market as far as the exercise of free competition is concerned.
Almost 2 months later, the British agency announced that clearing the way for that both groups, Evolution and NetEnt, would continue with the acquisition plans .
Although the full text of the decision has not yet been made public, from Evolution they would have claimed that the CMA ruling has confirmed that all conditions relating to competition would have been met .
According to information, Evolution would be willing to spend about 1.8 billion euros on this acquisition, an astronomical figure that it would give you control of 90% of NetEnt . The sum is considerable and represents a notable premium over the Swedish group's share price. The Maltese public agency for competition and consumer affairs would also have already given the green light to the merger.
A year full of mergers
With a market revolutionized by the global crisis what is causing the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 is presented as a year full of mergers and acquisitions in the igaming sector. We have seen it with Flutter Entertainment that acquired the well-known poker platform PokerStars .
Recently, Caesars Entertainment he announced that it was done with the operations of William Hill in the United States. Precisely, Caesars is the new corporate brand of casinos and resorts that has been born from the merger with Eldorado Resorts.
Many new features in Evolution
The Evolution news seems to have no end. Last week we confirmed that Evolution was becoming the first live gambling provider in Colombia in cooperation with Zamba Co, after the regulatory authority in the South American country, ColJuegos, authorizes the exploitation of live games with the aim of helping the battered Colombian gambling and betting market.
With important agreements in the United States, precisely with Caesars to launch a live online casino in Pennsylvania, now Evolution has just announced the launch of the first live dice game or craps . The game consists of the throwing of two dice on a mat, and has been included in numerous feature films.
An evolution, never better said, singular that surely it will cause quite a bit of expectation in the world of live games. Todd Haushalter, the head of production at Evolution, he recognized the challenge what it meant to bring the popular craps game so typical of physical casinos to the online environment:
"Developing the game and capturing the unique excitement of the craps table, but in an online environment, was a complex project. The team has done a phenomenal job and we now have a fantastic finished product that I know will thrill craps enthusiasts in the USA, Europe and beyond.”
Although we will not be able to play live craps in Spanish casinos due to the current regulations , that doesn't make us any less eager to see the game in action.
