SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Super affiliate Better Collective is extending its presence in the regulated Polish market by picking up the assets of the popular Goal.pl Group, marking the eighth major acquisition achieved by the company in 2017.
Better Collective says that this particular acquisition helps further its long term strategy of expanding its presence within regulated markets. The firm is particularly interested in boosting its reach in the Polish market, due to its growing economy and recent regulation of the sports betting market.
Goal.pl was an attractive prospect thanks to its alignment with Better Collective’s core competencies relating to sports betting. Founded in 2002, the Goal.pl Group consists of over 15 domains that attract over a million visitors per month thanks to its engaging approach to sports content.
Run by CEO and sports journalist Cezary Brzuzy, the Goal.pl group’s assets are all built around sports journalism and high quality sports content. Its biggest site, goal.pl with domains including PrimeraDivision.pl and seriea.pl, has become one of Poland’s biggest and most trusted sources for European football news. Another major site in the Goal.pl Group’s inventory includes wislakrakow.com, which is the biggest news site for fans of the top tier football team Wisła Krakow.
As part of the deal, Brzuzy will remain on board with his editorial team to continue their journalism work, while working in close co-operation with Better Collective’s office in Copenhagen.
He explained: “We have decided to sell our assets to Better Collective because we believe that together we will be able to further develop the websites belonging to Goal.pl Group. I am convinced that with the support of specialists working for Better Collective and their industry experience, our sites will become a more attractive place for both football fans and our business partners, including the legal bookmakers present on the Polish market.”
Michal Kopec, Head of M&A at Better Collective, commented: “We are very excited to announce this acquisition. We see a lot of potential in the sports betting sector in Poland, and we are confident that with the 2018 World Cup around the corner, and new operators applying for Polish sport betting licences, we will be able to drive this business forward.
“Goal.pl Group’s previous owner has done a great job in developing their network, and we are keen to add our own expertise to bring the sites to the next level. Plus, after making seven other acquisitions across Europe in 2017, I’m personally very happy to close out the year with a deal being reached in my home nation of Poland.”
Kopec will be discussing the M&A environment at this year’s Betting on Football Conference, held at Stamford Bridge across 20-23 March. He will be part of a panel looking at investment in the gambling and affiliate industries. To find out more, click here.
