Esports Entertainment inks deal to acquire Swedish and Spanish-licensed sports betting operator Bethard

Esports Entertainment Group Inc (NASDAQ:GMBL) has signed an agreement to acquire sports betting operator Bethard Group Limited, which operates the business-to-consumer arm of Gameday Group PLC. Esports Entertainment will pay €16 million ($19.5 million) in cash and a 12% net gaming revenue share for two years, the company said. The deal is expected to close on July 1. Bethard generated $31 million in revenue in 2020, and as a result of the transaction, Esports Entertainment raised its fiscal 2022 revenue guidance from $100 million to $105 million. READ: Esports Entertainment says New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement formally accepts subsidiary GMBL’s gaming license application The deal adds licensed gaming businesses in Spain and Sweden to Esports Entertainment’s roster. Bethard, based in St. Julians, Malta, has a strong focus on responsible gambling with best-in-class compliance functions in order to act properly and in a sustainable way in regulated markets, the company said.  "This is another great addition for Esports Entertainment Group that substantially increases our revenues, and available markets," CEO Grant Johnson said. "With this transaction, we expect to gain two new gaming licenses, including one in the strategically important Swedish market. At the completion of the license handover, we will have six tier-one licenses." Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel