Evoke Expands Romanian Presence with €10m Acquisition of Winner.ro

The deal will see Evoke combine Winner.ro with its existing Romania-facing 888.ro business. According to the company, this merger will establish Evoke as the fourth-largest operator in the Romanian online gambling market, commanding a 7% share. Upon completion of the transaction, Evoke will own up to 57% of Winner.ro, with the option to acquire the remaining stake three years after the acquisition is finalized.

Per Widerstrom, CEO of Evoke, explained how the acquisition aligns with the company’s broader growth strategy. “We have enjoyed significant success in Romania, which is an exciting growth market. This combination will cement a leading position for Evoke,” said Widerstrom.

He added, “I am looking forward to working with the whole team at Winner to deliver ongoing profitable growth and market share gains, as we deliver exceptional products through two incredibly strong and complementary brands.”

Winner.ro’s Revenue Marks Strong Foundation for Evoke Merger

The Winner.ro brand was launched in 2019, utilizing an omnichannel approach that included 20,000 retail deposit points. In the first half of 2024, the brand generated gross gaming revenue of approximately €19.0m. The acquisition will allow Winner.ro to integrate into Evoke’s existing operations, benefitting from a combined team of 500 employees in Romania.

Nicklas Zajdel, the current CEO of Winner.ro, will continue to lead the brand. The newly merged business will operate using the third-party Newton platform, a highly localized technology platform that offers tailored products and services to Romanian players.

This acquisition reflects Evoke’s commitment to expanding in markets where it sees significant potential for growth. By bringing together the strengths of Winner.ro and 888.ro, the company is positioning itself as a leading player in the Romanian online gambling industry.