Gaming1 acquires Pac-Man NV to take control of Carousel in Belgium

Gaming1 has acquired 100% of the shares of Pac-Man NV, the company that operates the Carousel brand, in a transaction completed on 22 September 2026. The takeover brings Pac-Man NV fully under Gaming1’s control and gives the Liège-based group access to Pac-Man NV’s licence and digital portfolio on the Belgian regulated market. The two organisations have worked together since 2012; the acquisition converts that long-standing partnership into full ownership.

How the Gaming1 acquisition of Pac-Man NV changes its Belgian regulated market presence

The purchase is explicitly framed as a move to strengthen Gaming1’s digital activities inside the Belgian regulated market. Gaming1 said the transaction lets it “profit from the licence and the digital portfolio that Pac-Man NV owns” and will allow the group to add new capabilities to its Belgian operations. The company describes the intended product positioning as a safer, responsible and distinctive offering for players in Belgium.

The acquisition also formalises a relationship that began in 2012. Gaming1 and Pac-Man NV have collaborated around the Carousel brand for more than a decade; the deal converts their commercial link into an ownership structure where Gaming1 holds all equity in Pac-Man NV.

Integration plan after Gaming1 acquires Pac-Man NV

Gaming1 said integration of Pac-Man NV’s activities begins immediately. Operational teams from both companies will work together to execute the integration “in a smooth and efficient manner,” the buyer stated. The communication from Gaming1 makes clear the legal entity Pac-Man NV will now sit fully within the Gaming1 group and that its digital assets and licence are now part of Gaming1’s regulated footprint in Belgium.

A notable feature of the transaction is the personnel treatment. Gaming1 confirmed there is no transfer of employees associated with the deal. The buyer indicated the relevant teams will nonetheless cooperate during the integration, but the acquisition does not include an automatic transfer of staff from Pac-Man NV to Gaming1.

Strategic rationale and executive comment on the Carousel takeover

Gaming1 presented the acquisition as a step to bolster its digital reach and to enhance the entertainment experience offered under the Carousel brand. Sylvain Boniver, operational director of Gaming1, said:

“We believe this acquisition will further strengthen our digital presence in Belgium and enhance the playful and attractive entertainment experience we offer our players. It will also support our ambition to deliver a safe, responsible and distinctive offering on the Belgian regulated market.” — Sylvain Boniver, operational director, Gaming1

The group links the purchase to a regulatory and commercial strategy: securing assets that are already operating under a Belgian licence and folding them into Gaming1’s regulated product set. That aligns ownership, licence control and in-market commercial strategy under one corporate umbrella.

What the deal means for operators, suppliers and the Belgian market

For operators and platform suppliers, the acquisition removes an intermediary structure: a partner that previously operated Carousel under its own company form is now owned outright by a licensee with broader ambitions in Belgium. That change can simplify decision-making around product roadmaps, compliance obligations and local market investments because licence control and product ownership now sit with Gaming1.

Suppliers that integrate with Casino platforms or with regulated digital portfolios may see a single interlocutor for Carousel going forward. Developers, content partners and payment vendors will be negotiating product and compliance changes with Gaming1’s teams rather than a separate Pac-Man NV board.

The deal also has implications for the regulated market itself. By folding Pac-Man NV into a local operator with existing Belgian operations, the acquisition keeps Carousel’s regulated activity within the licensed ecosystem. Gaming1 couched the move in regulatory language, emphasising safety and responsibility as part of the commercial rationale and the company’s stated ambition for the Belgian market.

Background: the companies, the brand and the timeline

Gaming1 is a Liège-based gaming group active in regulated markets. Pac-Man NV is the corporate vehicle behind the Carousel brand in Belgium. The two companies entered into a working relationship in 2012; after more than ten years of cooperation, Gaming1 acquired 100% of Pac-Man NV’s shares, completing the operation on 22 September 2026.

The acquisition centres on digital assets and the licence that Pac-Man NV holds for operating Carousel in Belgium. Gaming1 said it intends to use these assets to add capabilities and to strengthen its digital offering under the Carousel banner.

What to watch next

The immediate items to monitor are the operational integration steps and how Gaming1 manages the transition without a transfer of employees. Market participants will watch whether Gaming1 announces product roadmap changes for Carousel, new partnerships, or platform consolidation steps now that licence and product ownership are aligned.

Operators and vendors looking for regulatory or commercial insight into Belgian activity may find the group’s statements useful; Gaming1 has framed the acquisition as both a commercial and a compliance-focused move, highlighting its intent to keep Carousel’s activity squarely inside the licensed Belgian market. For coverage of regulatory context and Belgian compliance developments, readers can refer to the site's regulation section. For supplier and partner effects around platforms and integrations, the b2b hub is a relevant reference. Readers focused on product and casino-level changes can consult the casino coverage.