Operator News
Cirsa signs deal with Peruvian company Apuesta Total
By James - 15 July 2024
Spanish company Cirsa has acquired a controlling stake in the Peruvian company Apuesta Total, a leading operator of sports betting and online gambling in the country. Cirsa has acquired 70 per cent of the Peruvian company, although the transaction amount was not disclosed.
Apuesta Total is part of the company FREE GAMES B.V., a company made up of Peruvian investors. It operates 500 betting shops in Peru, and operates online sports betting and casino games as well.
The agreement includes a commitment from Cirsa to purchase the remaining 30 per cent of the shares over the coming years. According to the Spanish company, the acquisition of Apuesta Total is paid in cash, “and the impact on the group’s leverage is not significant.” Additionally, Cirsa explains that the payment is in line “with previous transactions made with online operators.”
“The operation is consistent with our acquisition strategy, focused on the online sector, and positions Cirsa as a key player in the emerging Peruvian online gambling and betting market, which has been regulated since March 2024, strengthening our omnichannel strategy in Latin America,” the company stated in a communication to investors.
Cirsa is one of the leading gaming companies in Spain and Italy, as well as in a number of countries in Latin America (with a focus on Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru), engaged in the operation of slot machines, casinos and gaming halls. The company also offer online gaming and sports betting products through outlets and betting machines in Spain as well as some betting operations in Colombia, Panama, Peru, Mexico and Italy. In Peru Cirsa acquired nine casinos in 2014 and 17 casinos in 2017. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated 19 casinos in Peru with 41 gaming tables and 3,188 slot machines.
