Magic Piggy

About Magic Piggy

Merkur Spielbanken Beteiligungs GmbH, a subsidiary of Merkur AG has reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Société Française de Casinos (SFC).

The development marks a significant move by Merkur to expand its footprint within the French regulated gambling market.

On 27 August, Merkur signed a put option agreement with GPG Groupe Philippe Ginestet and DOFA, enabling the purchase of Casigrangi.

What is Magic Piggy?

The president’s critical view of betting is on par with other candidates. Studies by the Workers’ Party (PT) indicate that three out of four Brazilians are against betting establishments. This is the president’s justification against the sector.

What the president didn’t address is the tax revenue from betting.

In 2025, Brazil collected almost BRL10 billion ($1.97 billion) in tax revenue from the licensed sector. In the first seven months of this year alone, BRL8.7 billion generated by the activity was delivered to public coffers. The Federal Revenue Service itself estimates that the sector should reach BRL16 billion in revenue during 2026.

What is Magic Piggy?

Cambodia’s gambling regulatory authority, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC), is advancing plans to introduce a formal suitability screening process for casino licence renewals. 

The CGMC reviewed a draft of the new evaluation framework during a meeting chaired by Secretary General Yeth Vinel on 4 September. 

The proposed “integrity and quality” framework aims to establish minimum conditions that operators must meet to maintain or obtain a licence, signalling a strengthening of oversight in the sector. The details of the scoring criteria and an official implementation date remain unpublished.