The 7 biggest gambling industry deals and results of the last month
SkyCity's sale talks, Macau's revenue slide and new M&A in prediction markets and prize draws led a busy few weeks for gambling operators.
Casino and betting companies had a busy stretch between late September and early October 2026. A long-running takeover saga at a major casino operator rumbled on, monthly revenue figures from the world's biggest casino hub came in soft, and several operators moved to reshape their brands or portfolios through acquisitions.
This list rounds up the most significant deals, results and partnerships reported in that period, drawn solely from Casino Courant's recent coverage and confirmed industry reporting.
How we ranked them
Stories were ranked by financial scale and likely impact on the companies and markets involved, based only on the facts and figures reported in the source material.
- 1
SkyCity keeps sale talks open after rejecting takeover offers
SkyCity Entertainment Group · rejected Oaktree and Iris Capital bids · 1 Oct
New Zealand-listed casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group is continuing to explore a potential full sale of the company, having turned down two takeover bids last month. According to The Post, as reported by Complete iGaming, SkyCity told shareholders that offers from US investment firm Oaktree Capital Management and Australian property developer Iris Capital undervalued the business. The company is nonetheless keeping the door open to a deal, making this the largest unresolved ownership question in the casino sector right now. Read the source
- 2
Macau GGR declines 1.2% in September
Macau DICJ · GGR MOP$18.06bn (US$2.24bn) · down 1.2% year-on-year
Macau's casino gross gaming revenue (GGR, the amount operators retain after paying out winnings) fell 1.2% year-on-year in September to MOP$18.06 billion, according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline and 17.5% below August's total. Nine-month revenue still ran 3.2% ahead of 2025. As the world's largest casino market by revenue, even modest swings in Macau's figures carry weight for operators and investors tracking the broader industry. Read the source
- 3
IG Group shares slump but Underdog performance shines in Q3
IG Group · Underdog revenue up more than 100% · Q3 update, 5 Oct
Shares in London-listed IG Group fell despite a strong third-quarter update showing revenue at Underdog, the prediction market platform it is acquiring, rose more than 100%. The company said further details of its strategy would be set out at an investor seminar this month. The market reaction underlines how closely investors are watching IG Group's prediction market bet, even as the underlying growth numbers at Underdog itself point to rapid expansion. Read the source
- 4
Winvia to acquire Giveaway Guys and Win Life Competitions
Winvia · two acquisitions · UK prize draw sector · deal expected by end October
Winvia has agreed to acquire Giveaway Guys and Win Life Competitions as it seeks what the company describes as a leading position in the UK prize draw sector. Both deals are expected to complete by the end of October, according to the company. The move consolidates several competition platforms under one group at a time of growing scrutiny of how prize draws and sweepstakes-style products are regulated, making it one of the more notable consolidation plays in the UK this month. Read the source
- 5
Betsson retires betFIRST brand in Belgium in favour of flagship name
Betsson Group · rebrand · Belgium · 5 Oct
Betsson Group has replaced its Belgian betFIRST brand with its flagship Betsson name, three years after acquiring the local bookmaker. The Stockholm-listed group said the change supports wider global recognition of its main brand. According to EGR, the transition comes as Betsson searches for a new Belgium country manager and a year after it signed a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with Club Brugge. The rebrand marks a clear step in Betsson's push to consolidate its international presence under one name.
- 6
UNLV relists Las Vegas Strip-adjacent land for $39.9 million
UNLV · 10.2 acres · asking $39.9m · 5 Oct
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is making a fresh attempt to sell a vacant 10.2-acre plot 1.5 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, asking $39.9 million. Two previous attempts to offload the site collapsed, including talks with Clark County aviation officials and Elon Musk's Boring Co. Height limits and airport-compatible development rules apply because of the land's proximity to Harry Reid International Airport, factors that have complicated past negotiations and will shape any future deal.
- 7
Play'n GO joins German Online Casino Association
Play'n GO · DOCV membership · Germany · 2 Oct
Play'n GO has become a member of the Deutscher Online Casinoverband, Germany's online casino association, to increase its engagement with regulators and policymakers. The association's members approved the supplier's membership unanimously. Melanie Hainzer, the company's Market Owner for the DACH region, will represent Play'n GO within the body. The move is a smaller-scale story than the others on this list but reflects suppliers' growing focus on shaping regulation in Germany's online casino market. Read the source
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a major gambling industry deal?
Typically an acquisition, merger, large partnership or a company's financial results that materially affect its size, ownership or market position. Rebrands and regulatory memberships can also qualify if they signal a significant strategic shift.
Why does Macau's monthly GGR figure matter to the wider industry?
Macau is the world's largest casino market by gross gaming revenue, so sustained declines or growth there affect operator earnings, investor sentiment and supplier demand well beyond the city itself.
How are casino takeover bids like SkyCity's usually resolved?
A target company's board assesses whether an offer reflects fair value, often rejecting bids it considers too low while remaining open to improved offers. Outcomes can take months and may involve multiple bidders before a sale, if any, is agreed.
Sources: SBC News, EGR, GamblingNews.com, iGaming Business, Yogonet, Gambling Insider, CasinoBeats, Casino News Daily, checked and rewritten by the Casino Courant desk. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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