A Strategic Bet on Compliance and Growth
In a bold move aligning with the global surge in regulated gaming markets, The Visualize Group has acquired BMM Testlabs—one of the world’s leading gaming product certification labs. The deal, which excludes BMM’s responsible gaming training division (RG24seven), signals more than just a corporate transaction. It’s a strategic investment in the future infrastructure of legal gaming, where compliance is currency.
As governments around the world continue opening their doors to regulated betting and iGaming, the need for trusted, certified systems has never been greater. BMM, with 16 offices globally and more than 700 licenses, is a pillar in that space. With Visualize backing it, the company is now uniquely positioned to accelerate its leadership in regulatory testing, cybersecurity, and technical innovation.
Why BMM, and Why Now?
BMM has been a staple in the gaming industry since 1981, serving as a critical checkpoint for operators looking to launch games in licensed markets. The company ensures software meets technical standards, helps mitigate fraud and risk, and supports new jurisdictions as they bring gaming frameworks online.
For Visualize, the acquisition represents more than just assets—it’s a bet on the infrastructure supporting billions in global gambling revenue. As new markets emerge and existing ones mature, BMM stands to benefit from increased demand for third-party verification and regulatory trust.
In fact, regulatory hurdles are one of the primary barriers to entry in gaming. By acquiring a lab that already has licenses in every major market and a deep bench of compliance expertise, Visualize bypasses those roadblocks entirely.
Employee Ownership and PE Trends in Gaming
Unlike some takeovers that trim operational fat, Visualize is taking a different approach—doubling down on its investment in people. The company has announced a broad-based employee ownership program that will allow BMM’s 600+ employees to benefit from the firm’s long-term growth strategy. This structure is becoming increasingly popular in private equity, not just to retain talent, but to foster a growth-minded internal culture.
The deal also underscores a growing trend: private equity’s aggressive push into gaming. As valuations for public gaming companies fall, firms like Visualize, Apollo Global Management, and Brightstar Capital are swooping in. From operators to suppliers to back-end infrastructure, no segment of the industry is off limits.
This isn’t just consolidation. It’s transformation.
What This Means for the Industry
For operators and regulators alike, the deal offers stability. BMM’s independence as a testing entity won’t disappear—but its ability to scale, innovate, and support an evolving ecosystem just got a major boost.
At the same time, Visualize is now positioned as a quiet but powerful player in the compliance economy. In a world where gaming is becoming more digitized, more scrutinized, and more competitive, owning the rails that ensure trust and security might be one of the smartest bets yet.
