DoubleDown Expands European Presence with €65 Million Acquisition of Whow Games

DoubleDown Enhances Global Reach with Whow Games Acquisition
DoubleDown Interactive has achieved a key growth milestone by acquiring Whow Games, a Germany-based developer known for its free-to-play social casino games. The deal, valued at €65 million, includes an upfront payment of €55 million and a potential performance-based earn-out worth up to €10 million.
Strategic Benefits of Adding Whow Games
This acquisition marks the transfer of Whow Games from Dutch digital advertising technology company Azerion, which is divesting its gaming assets to concentrate on advertising, artificial intelligence, and cloud services. This move follows Azerion’s recent sale of its social card games division for over €81.3 million.
Located in Hamburg, Whow Games has built a strong reputation with popular social casino titles like MyJackpot and Lounge777, as well as offering successful white-label solutions for corporate clients. Their browser and mobile games have garnered a dedicated following across Europe, especially in Germany. For DoubleDown, gaining Whow Games enhances access to the thriving European social gaming market.
This acquisition follows DoubleDown’s prior expansion in Europe through the purchase of SuprNation AB, a Malta-based company extending their reach to the UK, Sweden, and the Isle of Man. Experts view Whow Games as a complementary addition that brings scale, quality users, and in-house social game development expertise.
Azerion’s Shift Towards Digital Infrastructure and Advertising
For Azerion, selling Whow Games aligns with its strategic pivot towards growth areas outside gaming, including digital infrastructure and privacy-focused advertising. Their recent launch of the Azerion Intelligence program provides European businesses with locally hosted cloud and AI tools, aimed at reducing reliance on US technology firms.
Sebastiaan Moesman, Azerion’s Chief Strategy Officer, described the sale as a natural progression in the company’s transformation, creating long-term shareholder value while positioning Azerion to capitalize on evolving digital infrastructure trends. He emphasized confidence in Whow Games’ future under DoubleDown’s stewardship.
“We are excited to further strengthen our digital advertising business. This sale allows us to focus even more resources and attention on pursuing our growth and expansion objectives,” Moesman stated.
Future Prospects for Whow Games under DoubleDown
Industry analysts expect DoubleDown to integrate Whow Games into its broader marketing, development, and analytics framework while maintaining the distinct brands that have resonated with players. While many gaming companies withdraw from saturated or uncertain markets, DoubleDown recognizes growth potential in Europe’s social gaming sector, which continues to see strong engagement with relatively low regulatory barriers.