Tech-driven affiliate and media company Already Media has acquired Live Casino Comparer for an undisclosed sum.

Live Casino Comparer is a well-established review portal focused on the live dealer niche. It was founded in 2014, and its team brings more than 30 years of casino experience to every review it publishes.

The site’s founder, Neil Walker, will stay on both as an advisor and an active part of the content team, helping to scale Live Casino Comparer’s output across both the B2C and B2B verticals.

Already Media will also rebuild the site’s platform and has plans to enter into new geos and content formats.

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The deal was brokered by Corfai, the specialist M&A advisory founded by Ben Robinson.

Alina Famenok, CEO at Already Media, said: “This is another landmark for Already Media, as we continue to acquire brands that expand our reach and can benefit from our technology. We’re excited to get to work alongside Neil to take Live Casino Comparer to new heights. Huge thanks to Ben and the Corfai team for helping us close this deal in just two weeks, which is surely the fastest M&A deal in iGaming history.”

Neil Walker, founder at Live Casino Comparer, added: “I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter for Live Casino Comparer as part of the Already Media team. They bring the technical and operational firepower to scale globally, while keeping the spirit of honest, expert-driven reviews at the core.”

The acquisition aligns with Already Media’s strategy of acquiring trusted affiliate brands and elevating them through its technology-led approach.

Last year, the company acquired PokerListings, and has since migrated it to a new platform, entered new regions and developed a vibrant community around the brand.

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NODWIN Gaming, a leading company in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports and a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: NAZARA), announces the full acquisition of StarLadder, a driving force in the global esports ecosystem. This acquisition will unite StarLadder’s capability of producing AAA events with NODWIN Gaming’s bold vision to redefine live entertainment for the youth. StarLadder will maintain its identity and the founder Roman Romantsov will continue to run the business while becoming a shareholder of NODWIN Gaming.

A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth and Innovation

The acquisition comes at a time when NODWIN Gaming is expanding its footprint globally through its recent strategic moves of acquiring Comic Con India, influencer and MCN business Trinity Gaming, the agency business of AFK Gaming, the global esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming based in Germany, West Asia and Turkey-focused marketing and esports agency Ninja Global, and Singapore-based live events firm Branded. The acquisition of StarLadder marks a significant step in NODWIN’s strategy to enhance AAA content and event offerings on a global level, catering to both emerging and developed markets, while creating synergies between the companies. 

What This Means for the Industry and Community

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For StarLadder’s existing partners, this acquisition unlocks exciting new opportunities to expand their reach and connect with diverse communities worldwide. With access to NODWIN’s extensive network, StarLadder will be able to enter new markets, forge new strategic partnerships and strengthen its global presence.

Fans of the brand can look forward to an even bigger and bolder future, with new grand events on the horizon set to shake up the industry.

While the company will continue to operate with its core identity and creative spirit intact, Roman Romantsov will remain at the helm, ensuring continuity and authenticity in its vision. By joining NODWIN Gaming’s extensive network of industry-leading companies and experts, they will gain access to new resources, and new creative and distribution channels. This synergy will not only amplify overall impact but also create fresh collaborations and innovative content experiences for fans.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, commented: “StarLadder and Roman are the superstars behind the Creme de la Creme events that esports fans have loved to see. Roman is considered one of the pioneers of esports event production with his deep insight in stage design, creative broadcast solutions and entrepreneurial energy. I have been a fan of his work for the longest time and cherish the opportunity to work and build NODWIN with one of my heroes. We have a vision of elevating and creating incredible community experiences, including more CS:GO tournaments for our amazing fans and partners and look forward to taking them to more emerging markets. We are so proud to welcome such an amazing brand and founder into the NODWIN Gaming family.”

The StarLadder team, led by Roman Romantsov, brings over two decades of expertise in esports event management, having organized some of the industry’s most prestigious tournaments. Their portfolio includes iconic events such as CS:GO and Dota 2 Majors, the PUBG Europe League, and long-running series like StarSeries – spanning 18 seasons for CS 1.6 and CS:GO, and 17 seasons for Dota 2. In addition to their own flagship events, they have successfully delivered white-label projects for major publishers, including Valve, Tencent, Krafton, Blizzard, Riot Games, Supercell, Com2us, Moonton, Smilegate, and many more.

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Roman Romantsov, Founder of StarLadder, stated: “We live in an era of globalization, where the synergy of resources, expertise, and potential drives success and paves the way for future growth. We are thrilled to have found partners and like-minded individuals who share our vision and ambition. Together with NODWIN Gaming, StarLadder is committed to creating extraordinary experiences for fans, delivering unforgettable events across multiple games and regions. Stay tuned for what’s to come!”

The deal is valued at an initial consideration of USD 5.5 million (INR 46.75 crores) with a second part of the consideration payable on meeting the earn-out targets.

NOVOMATIC AG signed an agreement to acquire the French casino group Vikings Casinos SAS, subject to certain conditions such as regulatory approvals.

With this strategic move, NOVOMATIC continues its international growth strategy in the French market and significantly expands its portfolio in one of the largest gaming regions in Europe. The Vikings Casinos Group, based in Falaise, is one of the leading French casino chains, operating more than 10 live gaming casinos throughout France, including on the Côte d’Azur.

“With the acquisition of Vikings Casinos, we are consistently pursuing our international growth strategy and strengthening our position as a leading provider in the European gaming market. With this step, we have successfully laid the foundation for further sustainable growth in France” explains Stefan Krenn, Executive Board Member of NOVOMATIC AG.

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“The acquisition by NOVOMATIC opens up new opportunities for growth and further development. We are confident that the integration into such an experienced and successful company as NOVOMATIC will help us to further strengthen our position on the French market. This change will enable us to work even more efficiently and benefit from the resources and expertise of the new owner” emphasizes Luc Le Borgne, CEO of Vikings Casinos SAS.