Merkur Spielbanken Beteiligungs, a subsidiary of Merkur AG, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in French operator Société Française de Casinos. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027 pending regulatory approval.
Merkur will purchase 95% of Casigrangi, the parent company of the Le Stelsia chain, which operates seven casinos across France including venues in Megève, Granville and Mimizan, as well as hotel and restaurant assets. The remaining 5% will stay with current shareholder DOFA under mutual future options. Through Casigrangi, Merkur will gain 81.2% of SFC, which operates casinos in Châtel-Guyon, Collioure, Gruissan and Port-la-Nouvelle.
The offer price is €6.19 per SFC share, a significant premium to the market valuation. Following completion, Merkur is required to launch a mandatory tender offer for the remaining SFC shares at the same price. If the tender succeeds, the company intends to squeeze out minority shareholders and delist SFC from Euronext Paris. The tender is scheduled for the first half of 2027, subject to approval from French market regulator AMF and the Ministry of the Interior.
SFC expects GGR of around €22.5 million and NGR of €13.3 million for the 2025/26 financial year. For Merkur, this is the second major French market entry after its recent acquisition of the 33-casino JOA network from Tipico and Betclic.
Merkur is the gaming division of German family group Gauselmann. In 2025 the company acquired Nevada-licensed slot supplier Gaming Arts, then White Hat Studios to strengthen its US position. Group founder Paul Gauselmann died earlier this year aged 91.
