2026 Gaming Deals Update: Major Acquisitions, Market Launches, and Strategic Shifts
SBC Americas outlines 2026 gaming M&A including Fertitta’s $17.6bn Caesars deal, a potential $18bn MGM bid, Underdog’s $1.3bn sale, and Evolution exiting a transaction. The report also covers bet365’s D.C. launch, NFL partnership renewals, ProphetX’s $35m raise, and multiple casino sales or acquisitions. (58 words)
SCCG Take — Broad activity signals consolidation favoring scaled operators alongside openings in prediction markets and horse racing, requiring investors to assess regional asset values and regulatory timelines closely.
SBC Americas has detailed ongoing consolidation across the gaming sector with a series of high-value transactions and operational moves in 2026.
Headline developments include Fertitta Entertainment reaching a $17.6 billion deal to take Caesars Entertainment private, Underdog agreeing to a $1.3 billion acquisition by IG Group, MGM Resorts International reviewing a reported $18 billion takeover bid from People Inc., and Evolution abandoning its planned acquisition of Galaxy Gaming.
U.S. Market Entries and League Partnerships
bet365 began offering online sports betting in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 8 as the official partner of three major pro sports teams, marking its 19th American market after a recent entry into West Virginia. The NFL re-signed DraftKings and FanDuel as official sports betting partners for terms extending beyond the 2025 season and added Fanatics Betting and Gaming in a non-exclusive deal, with Fanatics also named an official online casino marketing partner.
VICI Properties is collaborating with Caesars on plans for a potential Las Vegas NBA arena, according to comments by VICI President and Chief Operating Officer John Payne on the company’s Q2 2026 earnings call. VICI owns real estate assets tied to eight Caesars-operated casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
Divestitures, Acquisitions, and Corporate Pivots
ProphetX closed a $35 million fundraising round led by Parlay Capital and Data Point Capital, with participation from Connexa Capital, FDJ Ventures, Greenwave Ventures, Impellent Ventures, The Operating Group, and Sharp Alpha Advisors. The company received CFTC registration as a designated contract market in June.
Churchill Downs intends to sell nine regional casinos individually or in small groups, including the Hard Rock Casino in Iowa, Oxford Casino in Maine, Ocean Downs in Maryland, Del Lago in New York, and Presque Isle in Pennsylvania. Bally’s Corporation finalized a $30 million purchase of Sam’s Town Shreveport in Louisiana from Boyd Gaming, while Illitch Gaming closed on the remaining 50% of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, pending regulatory approval.
Gambling.com Group rebranded as Grandstand, updating its Nasdaq ticker to GRSD after flat first-quarter revenue and layoffs of around 25% of its workforce. Bragg Gaming Group completed its acquisition of Drayton International in late July to enter horse racing and advance deposit wagering.
These transactions reflect sustained deal flow in both land-based and online segments.
Reporting: SBC Americas
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
The big get bigger — Fertitta, MGM, IG Group — while bet365 grinds state-by-state and prediction markets draw serious capital.
We've been tracking this wave for months: scale is the new currency. Fertitta's Caesars deal, a potential $18B MGM bid, Underdog's $1.3B exit — these aren't one-offs, they're the new playbook. Operators without scale or clear exit paths need to move fast. SCCG works both sides: we help buyers find the right targets and sellers position for maximum value.
- Fertitta buying Caesars for $17.6B; MGM reviewing $18B takeover offer from People Inc.
- IG Group acquiring Underdog for $1.3B; ProphetX raises $35M as prediction markets heat up
- bet365 launches D.C., now in 19 U.S. states; NFL renews DraftKings, FanDuel, adds Fanatics
SCCG angle: SCCG has live conversations with consolidators, regional operators, and capital sources on both coasts. When a client asks whether to sell now or build for scale, we map the buyers, model the comps, and broker the intros — because we've done 545 partnerships across every deal type in this industry.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
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