Lottomatica Bets on Cirsa Deal to Reach Global Gaming Industry Podium

Lottomatica’s planned absorption of Spanish gaming multinational Cirsa marks the latest move in an aggressive expansion that has transformed the Italian group from a domestic operator into an international force.

The strategic agreement would consolidate Lottomatica as the second-largest international giant in the gaming and betting industry. The group says its annual betting volume exceeds 45 billion euros. It employs 2,600 people directly, or more than 17,500 when its franchise network is included.

Digital gaming drives the business. Lottomatica operates betting and casino applications and online platforms, supported by a large physical network in Italy. That network includes more than 4,000 sports-betting outlets and 1,100 specialized gaming halls, as well as distribution agreements with tobacco shops and hospitality businesses. The group also manages thousands of video lottery terminals and amusement machines across the country.

The company’s current structure took shape through the integration of Gamenet, Intralot Italia and GoldBet between 2016 and 2019. A larger turning point came in 2020 and 2021, when Apollo Global Management backed the purchase of Lottomatica’s consumer betting and machine operations from IGT for 950 million euros. The resulting holding company adopted the Lottomatica Group name.

Lottomatica listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in May 2023. After strengthening its digital business and Apollo gradually exited, the company became fully publicly owned in 2025. It joined the FTSE MIB, Italy’s benchmark index of 40 leading listed companies, on Sept. 22, 2025. The group is led by chairman and chief executive Guglielmo Angelozzi, with Laurence Van Lancker as chief financial officer and deputy CEO. The Cirsa deal addresses Lottomatica’s concentration in Italy and its smaller presence in traditional physical casinos.