Sci Games and FDJ in the hunt for Sporting Solutions acquisition

Scientific Games and French operator FDJ are among three potential bidders in the ongoing sale process of Sporting Solutions, EGR understands.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed a sale process was underway, with another unnamed bidder also in the mix.

One source pegged Scientific Games as the most likely buyer, as the US giant looks to improve the managed trading service of its OpenBet sportsbook for the US market.

However, the sale could be complicated by the nature of the Sporting Group business which is made up of the B2B arm, Sporting Solutions, and the B2C arm Sporting Index.

“I can’t see how Sci Games would want the B2C operation,” the source said, “but the two are intrinsically linked with the Sporting Index traders providing the odds for Sporting Solutions. You can’t have one without the other.”

Scientific Games has been overhauling its OpenBet sportsbook in recent months in a bid to make it more of a ‘one-stop shop’ for the US market, including the creation of a new sportsbook ops team in Gibraltar, and the acquisition of pricing provider Don Best.

However, those moves don’t rule it out of the Sporting Solutions bid, according to another source, who said Sporting Solutions and Don Best cover very different sports, and could offer “quite a few synergies”.

Keith O’Loughlin, SVP sportsbook for SG Digital, refused to comment specifically on the story, but said: “As you know, we can never comment on that. I would say we’re constantly trying to improve our offering – sometimes you do it organically, sometimes through acquisition. If it fits, that’s what you do.”

Sporting Solutions is owned by Pinnacle owner Magnus Hedman, who declined to comment. Hedman bought the business for approximately €40m three years ago.

FDJ did not respond to an EGR request for comment.