Banijay Delays Tipico Integration Until After World Cup

Banijay Entertainment plans to delay integration of Tipico until after the FIFA World Cup. Leadership said the gaming division is concentrating on player growth and engagement during the tournament rather than restructuring operations beforehand.

The company reported FY25 earnings showing continued expansion across its gaming segment as preparation begins for one of the largest global betting events.

Good to Know

• Banijay gaming revenue reached €1.6 billion during FY25
• Sportsbook generated 76 percent of gaming revenue
• Tipico integration will begin after the FIFA World Cup

Banijay Prioritizes World Cup Engagement

Banijay reported €1.6 billion in gaming revenue for FY25, a 10.2 percent increase year over year. Sportsbook remained the largest segment, producing 76 percent of total gaming revenue and rising 6.8 percent during the period.

Chief Executive Officer François Riahi told analysts the company intends to focus on the upcoming FIFA World Cup before integrating Tipico. The tournament represents a major opportunity to increase engagement and attract new players across sportsbook platforms. Riahi said:

“Every two years for this business we have a big [sporting event] and the World Cup is even bigger than the Euros. That’s a very strong moment for engagement and increasing our revenue so there’s no reason 2026 should be different. We are so happy to have Tipico as a boost, but we announced previously that we would not start the integration before the World Cup.”

He added that teams at Tipico remain focused on product development ahead of the event:

“Today at Tipico they are totally focused on preparing new features in the application and to have everything ready to make the most of the [event].”

Tipico Deal Part of Larger Sports Betting Strategy

Banijay acquired a 65 percent stake in Tipico in October and plans to combine the brand with Betclic. The combined operation would rank among the largest sports betting groups in Europe and lead sportsbook activity across continental Europe.

Unique active players across the gaming division increased 23 percent during FY25. The company also reported growth in cross sell activity between sports betting and online casino products.

Online casino generated €249 million during the year, accounting for 16 percent of gaming revenue. Banijay also introduced online casino services in Ivory Coast during 2025.

Taxes and Expansion Plans

Banijay reported higher tax costs during the period, particularly in France where tax rules affecting gaming and advertising increased. Total tax expense across entertainment and gaming operations reached €142.5 million, rising 29 percent year over year.

Despite the increase, cost management helped improve the gaming division adjusted EBITDA margin to 26.7 percent. Marketing spending represented about six to eight percent of gaming revenue.

The group also expanded its media portfolio with the acquisition of All3Media in early 2026. The deal aims to increase distribution across global streaming platforms while expanding monetization of intellectual property through digital and live productions.

The post Banijay Delays Tipico Integration Until After World Cup appeared first on iGaming.org.