CVC to Acquire GLI in Significant Gaming Industry Development
Overview of the Acquisition
CVC Capital Partners, a prominent global private markets firm with a network spanning 30 local offices worldwide, is set to acquire Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a leading company known for its testing and compliance services in the gaming industry.
This acquisition was revealed through antitrust regulatory filings in Austria and Malta, indicating that CVC would obtain full control over GLI and its subsidiaries, Worldwide Laboratories and Kobetron.
Acquisition Process and Regulatory Review
The transaction will be executed through Avalon Buyer Limited, a UK-registered entity established in April of this year and managed by two CVC executives based in the United States.
The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has declared that Avalon will assume “sole control” of GLI, focusing on the company’s core activities of testing, inspection, and certification services within the gaming sector.
Stakeholders in Austria with potential legal or economic interests affected by the merger are invited to submit their feedback in writing by July 31. Meanwhile, Malta’s competition authority had a comment period that began on July 11 but has since closed.
GLI’s Legacy and Industry Influence
Founded in 1989 in New Jersey by James Maida and Paul Magno, GLI has become a pivotal entity in gaming regulation over the past 35 years.
The firm’s expertise spans far beyond traditional casino games, extending across 35 global jurisdictions and employing around 1,800 people.
Regulatory bodies worldwide depend on GLI’s esteemed certification to verify that gaming products meet the industry’s highest technical and security benchmarks.
Future Outlook and Industry Trends
Speculation about GLI’s future has grown as the company evolves. Last year, founder James Maida expressed openness to new ownership possibilities while emphasizing a vision for GLI’s next 35 years.
For CVC, acquiring GLI represents a return to the gaming market, after previously holding investments in companies such as William Hill, Sky Bet, and Sisal, before divesting several assets in recent years.
This deal also resembles the acquisition of BMM Testlabs earlier this year by Visualize Group, a private equity-backed transaction in which BMM’s founder retained a significant stake and a leadership position.
The parallels have sparked curiosity about a similar arrangement that GLI founders Maida and Magno might negotiate with CVC.
Notably, private equity firms are increasingly interested in gaming compliance as regulatory scrutiny intensifies and more regions legalize gaming.
Industry experts highlight a growing demand for secure and compliant gaming environments, underscoring the strategic value of GLI’s services.