Banijay Entertainment has reported a robust fiscal year 2025, with its gaming division reaching a revenue milestone of €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion), marking a 10.2% year-on-year increase.
Despite the lack of major sporting anchors in 2025, the sportsbook segment grew by 6.8%, accounting for 76% of total gaming income.
Strategic Focus: 2026 FIFA World Cup
During the group’s earnings call, CEO François Riahi emphasized that the company is prioritizing preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup over the structural integration of Tipico, in which it acquired a 65% stake last October. The plan to merge Tipico with Betclic to create the fourth-largest European betting power remains on track, but the technical transition is currently paused.
“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,” Riahi told analysts. “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”.
Riahi noted that the teams at Tipico are currently “totally focused on preparing new features in the application” to maximize engagement during the June event.
Growth in Emerging Markets and Digital Content
The gaming arm now contributes 33% of Banijay’s total revenue. Key highlights from 2025 included:
- Unique Active Players: Grew by 23% as cross-selling between betting and iGaming improved.
- Ivory Coast Launch: The operator successfully entered the West African iGaming market.
- Poker Expansion: A proprietary online poker platform launched in France, now comprising 7% of the gaming business.
Banijay Entertainment also expanded its entertainment footprint this week by acquiring All3Media, aiming to accelerate IP monetization through digital adaptations.
