Gaming Giant Secures Seventh Consecutive Year Behind Red Bull and Reinforces Leadership in Sustainable Brand Rankings
NOVOMATIC AG has once again solidified its standing as one of Austria’s most influential corporate entities on the international stage, securing second place in the 23rd edition of the annual Austrian Brand Value Study. Concurrently published by the European Brand Institute (EBI), the 2026 evaluation confirms NOVOMATIC’s brand value has risen to EUR 3.938 billion, representing a 2.0% increase over the previous fiscal year. This achievement marks the seventh consecutive year the global gaming technology supplier has held the number-two position in the national index, trailing only the market-leading valuation of Red Bull.
The prestigious ranking underscores NOVOMATIC’s sustained market presence, high corporate stability, and long-term financial growth within heavily regulated international gaming markets. Beyond absolute financial performance, the group also reaffirmed its leadership position within the EBI’s specialized Sustainable Brand Ranking, validating the company’s systematic alignment of commercial targets with institutional environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance models.
Market Performance and Valuation Metrics
The 2026 Austrian Brand Value Study benchmarks the country’s most prominent corporate brands by analyzing real-world economic indicators, historical market trends, brand strength indices, and future commercial potential. According to the official EBI data sheet, the collective value of Austria’s top ten corporate brands now comfortably exceeds EUR 40 billion.
While Red Bull maintains its top position with a brand valuation of EUR 20.123 billion, up 2.7%, NOVOMATIC’s stable growth loop outpaces several other top-tier domestic conglomerates. The enterprise continues to head a highly competitive top-ten field that includes financial institutions like Erste Group, retail giants such as Spar, and national infrastructure groups including ÖBB.
Stefan Krenn, Member of the NOVOMATIC AG Executive Board, highlighted how the recognition reflects the group’s ongoing international expansion and operational focus:
“This top ranking once again confirms the strong international appeal of the NOVOMATIC brand and the success of our long-term corporate strategy. We have succeeded in further strengthening the NOVOMATIC brand worldwide through continuous innovation, the expansion of our global presence, and a consistent focus on sustainable growth. The fact that we are once again among the leading companies in the Sustainable Brand Ranking shows that economic success and responsible business practices are inextricably linked at NOVOMATIC.”
Strategic Commitments to Global Innovation and ESG Standards
A primary driver behind NOVOMATIC’s ongoing high position in the sustainability index is the company’s formal integration of strict ESG guardrails into its daily operational architecture. The group’s comprehensive corporate responsibility program covers carbon footprint reduction, advanced player protection compliance, and auditable corporate governance standards. The practical effectiveness and daily integration of these player-first risk mitigation measures are regularly reviewed and confirmed by independent external ESG rating agencies.
By maintaining high quality and strict compliance across its diverse product lines, the software and hardware provider ensures its operational expansion matches the high requirements of mature regulated jurisdictions. This structured focus balances commercial scalability with corporate accountability, preventing short-term customer acquisition tactics from eroding long-term domain integrity and global brand trust.
Methodology of the Austrian Brand Value Study
The Austrian Brand Value Study is conducted independently every year by the European Brand Institute. For the newly released 2026 index, analysts examined a broad pool of 180 brand-name companies operating across 16 separate corporate industries. To maintain strict analytical rigor, more than 45% of the assessed corporations must be under direct Austrian ownership.
Crucially, the EBI conducts its mathematical and qualitative evaluations in strict accordance with recognized global transparency frameworks, fully auditing all corporate profiles against the international benchmarks established under ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 standards.
