Our story
Swipe
2024
2024 gets off to a strong start for Gaming1 with the launch of MyCircus.net in February, through its Circus Casino France subsidiary. At MyCircus, players enjoy a unique and fully gamified casino experience, allowing them to play their favorite games 100% free through the use of a virtual currency, and to win a wide variety of gifts and coupons.
2023
The group continues its development in Switzerland, including the acquisition of concessions for two high-profile casinos, Davos and Crans-Montana, confirming the quality of its management approach as part of its development strategy aimed at providing an innovative, dynamic and regulated offer of entertainment. Valid until 2044, these two operating concessions enable Gaming1 to consolidate its strategic position and its commitment to the Swiss market, a leader in regulation and player protection.
2022
The year started with a bang with the arrival of Gaming1 on the Dutch market with the website circus.nl, in collaboration with Gran Casino and Van der Valk International. Gaming1 became a majority shareholder in the Swiss casino Crans-Montana, following the purchase of Partouche’s shares. The group also launched its first website in the USA and its very first mobile application with betly.com.
2021
The start of 2021 was marked by the arrival of Gaming1 on the American market. The group joined Delaware North to start the joint venture Gamewise and offer its sports betting platform to North American land-based operators. 2021 also marked the arrival of a new shareholder, the giant CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII, who will bring their expertise to stimulate the group’s growth.
2020
2019
Gaming1 continues its development on the French market with the opening of Club Circus Paris and the takeover of Allevard Casino, as well as the launch of the website joa-online.fr.
2018
To be better equipped to face the challenges of tomorrow, the structure of the different activities is reviewed and the interests of the shareholders are aligned. All the gaming activities of the Ardent Group are regrouped with those of the original company Gaming1 sprl. The new merger, established on 15 October 2018, adopts the name Gaming1 Group. The corporate vision and values are aligned to allow all our teams to clearly focus on their mission.
2017
A year rich in developments: 10 new Circus gaming rooms in Flanders, the acquisition of a holding in Davos Casino in Switzerland, the launch of a first website outside of Europe, Zamba.co in Colombia, and the signing of a deal with JOA casino group in France. There’s no stopping the group’s expansion!
2016
The group continues its international expansion with the acquisition of three casinos in France (Briançon, Port-Leucate and Carnac). It expands its sports betting activities with the opening of 2 betting shops and the installation of terminals in newsagents in Belgium. New online gaming operations are launched in parallel in Romania, Serbia and Spain, as well as in Portugal, where the website estorilsolcasinos.pt quickly becomes number 1 in the country!
2015
The Ardent Group is founded to underline the regional roots in Liège, highlight the convivial side of the family group and promote the prevailing sense of optimism.
2014
A firm believer in its unique partnership business model that allows land-based operators to develop an online gaming presence, Gaming1 opens an office in Malta, the global hub of iGaming. Its goal? To manage our international activities, which begin with the launch of Circus.es in Spain. Partnerships in other countries will quickly follow.
2012
Encouraged by the success of Circus.be, Gaming1 launches 8 new Belgian gaming websites. It offers a full turnkey software solution for land-based partner operators.
2011
Nicolas Léonard joins the Circus adventure. Circus and ProduWeb decide to team up and combine their respective expertise as a gaming operator and technology developer, giving birth to the company Gaming1 and launching the website Circus.be. The success is immediate! The latter very quickly becomes the number 1 online gaming website in Belgium.
The websites casino777.be and pokerstars.be are launched in parallel.
2003
Circus acquires the casinos in Namur and Spa. The group becomes the leader in land-based gambling with its gaming rooms and casinos.
2002
Sylvain Boniver, Christophe Boniver and Gérard El Allaf found the web agency ProduWeb. It will become one of the most important agencies in Wallonia within just a few years.
1998-1999
The Circus brand expands and opens its 10th gaming room in Belgium in Boncelles, Wallonia.
1992
The adventure begins with Jean-Marie Léonard and Emmanuel Mewissen, in association with the Bosquin family. They open their first gaming room in Liège in Belgium under the brand name Circus.
