Morocco receives Lottomatica-CIRSA casino merger filing
The Lottomatica-CIRSA merger is now before Morocco’s Competition Council, with third-party observations due by October 5.
Morocco.- Morocco’s Competition Council has formally received notification of the proposed €2.8bn Lottomatica-CIRSA merger, with interested parties given until October 5 to submit observations on CIRSA’s casino interests.
In a September 24, 2026 notice concerning the proposed Lottomatica-CIRSA merger, the Council classified the transaction as a proposed economic concentration involving the absorption of CIRSA by Lottomatica. The deal falls within the sector covering games of chance and casino leisure.
The official notice reads: “The Competition Council has received notification of a proposed economic concentration concerning the merger by absorption of Cirsa Enterprises, S.A. by Lottomatica Group S.p.A., with the latter being the absorbing company.” Interested third parties have 10 days from publication of the notice to submit observations.
The notice adds: “In Morocco, this company controls three subsidiaries that operate casinos, namely the ‘Casino de Tanger’ in Tangier, the ‘Casino Atlantic’ and the ‘Casino Le Mirage’ in Agadir.”
The three casinos named in the notice are operated through CIRSA subsidiaries, while CIRSA’s broader Moroccan portfolio also includes its 50 per cent stake in Grand Casino La Mamounia in Marrakech. These interests cover four of Morocco’s seven casinos, including two in Agadir, one in Tangier and one in Marrakech.
Merger enters regulatory review
Beyond Morocco, CIRSA has interests across the gambling sector, covering casinos, bingo, gaming machines and sports betting, as well as the design, manufacture and distribution of gaming machines.
Lottomatica is an Italian company listed on Euronext Milan and, according to the Competition Council filing, operates gambling and betting services exclusively in Italy.
The proposed merger was announced on September 2, with Lottomatica set to absorb CIRSA. The transaction is expected to become effective in the second quarter of 2027, subject to shareholder approvals, regulatory clearances and other conditions.
The Competition Council has stressed that the information contained in the non-confidential summary was provided by the notifying parties, which are solely responsible for it. The Council said any inaccuracies do not prejudge its position on the proposed transaction.
It also said publication of the notice does not attest to the completeness of the filing required under Morocco’s competition framework.
