Gaming1 Buys Carousel Operator Pac-Man NV to Grow Its Belgian Online Casino Reach
Gaming1 has bought Pac-Man NV, taking over Carousel's Belgian online casino licence and Harelbeke gaming hall. What the deal means for players.
What Gaming1 Has Bought
Belgian gaming group Gaming1 has acquired all of the shares in Pac-Man NV, the company behind the Carousel online casino, expanding its online casino business in its home market.
The transaction was made public on 23 September 2026. Neither side disclosed the price.
Gaming1 takes over Carousel's online operator licence, its digital assets including the Carousel.be site, and the gaming hall in Harelbeke that supports the licence. No employees are moving between the two companies.
The two businesses already know each other well. Gaming1 and Carousel have worked together since 2012, and Gaming1 expects integration to start almost immediately.
The companies have not said whether the deal needs further sign-off from the Belgian Gaming Commission or when it will formally complete.
Why a Gaming Hall Comes With the Licence
Belgium ties online gambling to physical venues. An operator can only hold an online B2C licence if it also runs licensed land-based premises, so a gaming hall is part of what makes an online casino licence possible.
That structure limits the number of online casino operators in the market and makes existing licences valuable. Buying a company that already holds one is usually faster than building a new land-based and online business from scratch.
Gaming1 already runs 777, which the Blask Index ranks as the fifth-largest online casino brand in Belgium. Adding Carousel's licence and customer base widens that footprint.
Who Is Selling and How the Deal Fits Gaming1's Strategy
According to Dutch outlet Casino Nieuws, Pac-Man NV was owned by the De Backer family, which also controls the 711 gaming group, so the deal separates Carousel from its sister business.
711 ranks sixth in the Dutch online market by traffic on the Blask Index and is expanding internationally, with an existing presence in Belgium and a base being built in Malta.
Gaming1 is based in Liège and is 55% owned by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, with the founding families holding the rest. Its chief executive is Emmanuel Mewissen.
The Carousel purchase follows other digital moves. In December 2025 Gaming1 bought the remaining 50% of Dutch site Circus.nl from Gran Casino, and in summer 2025 it launched an online-only brand, Casino1.
Chief operating officer Sylvain Boniver said the deal would strengthen Gaming1's digital presence in Belgium and support its aim of a safe, responsible and distinctive offer in the regulated market.
What Carousel Players Should Know
Belgium is one of Europe's more tightly controlled gambling markets. The minimum age for casinos, betting, arcades and bingo is 21, and online players face a standard €200 weekly deposit limit.
Bonuses and free bets have been banned since 2020, and a near-total ban on gambling advertising has applied since 1 July 2023, with sports sponsorship being phased out.
Those rules apply whoever owns the operator, so Carousel customers keep the same protections after the change of ownership.
Gaming1 has not announced changes to Carousel accounts or branding. Players who want to confirm that a site is licensed can check with the Belgian Gaming Commission, which also publishes a list of blocked illegal sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gaming1 has acquired 100% of Pac-Man NV, the company behind Carousel. The sellers are the De Backer family, who also own the 711 gaming group.
The price has not been disclosed by either company.
Belgian law links online licences to physical premises, so an operator must run licensed land-based gaming to hold an online B2C licence. Carousel's licence is supported by its gaming hall in Harelbeke, which is part of the deal.
Gaming1 has not announced changes to accounts or the brand. Belgian player protections, including the minimum age of 21 and the standard €200 weekly deposit limit, continue to apply.
Paolo Pellegrini is Casino Adventurer's news editor, based in Rome, where he was born and raised. He covers the stories shaping the online gambling industry, from new regulations and tax changes to market openings and major deals, and always explains what they mean for players. He's naturally curious and starts every morning with the news and a strong espresso. Outside work, he's a lifelong AS Roma fan and loves cooking for friends on Sundays.
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