Interactive
Croatia – GiG enters Croatia with deal to buy 75 per cent of Top Games
By Phil - 23 October 2019
Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) is buying 75 per cent of Croatian company Top Games, a company which qualifies for a remote gambling permit.
The agreement provides market access to one of GiG’s in-house brands. It is based on a collaborative partnership model, expanding GiG’s B2C online gaming offering in a growing regulated market. Both parties will co-operate in the ongoing operation of the business.
The remaining 25 per cent of Top Games will be retained by the local partner who has a successful history in land-based casino businesses. The payment for this acquisition is solely based on a contribution of resources by the shareholders with no cash being paid. The local partner will upfront the initial costs, whereas GiG will provide rights of use of brand, a gambling platform and operational expertise.
GiG is planning to enter the online casino market in Croatia via this partnership in the first half of 2020. GiG expects moderate impact on its revenues deriving from this agreement from H2 2020 with an accelerated increase in revenue contribution from H1 2021.
Croatia has a population of approximately 4.1m and is a regulated market, currently with six licensed online casinos. Croatia supports the locally regulated online operators by IP blocking both offshore and other non-regulated operators. The total gambling gross win in Croatia has an estimated total value of approximately €360m in 2020e. Online gambling in Croatia is subject to a gambling duty of 15 per cent.
Richard Brown, acting CEO of GiG, said: “I’m excited to further expand our B2C business by entering another regulated jurisdiction. Croatia is a very interesting marketplace for gambling and supports our strategy to grow our own brands in high potential and regulated markets. GiG has a track record of creating responsible gaming experiences with a captivating UX. This is a good opportunity to showcase the strength of our online casino offering and our passion for providing end users with a safe, responsible and competitive online gambling experience.”
