Blackstone Group eyes Mexico’s PlayCity gambling business

Mexican casino and online gambling operator PlayCity is reportedly on the block, with the Blackstone private equity group believed to be among the suitors.

Last week, Mexican media outlet Milenio reported that local multimedia conglomerate Televisa was contemplating a restructuring of its business to focus on its core interests. Those core concerns reportedly don’t include the PlayCity Casinos division, which Televisa launched in 2005.

Milenio reported that Televisa had enlisted the help of Credit Suisse to drum up interest in PlayCity, which operates 24 land-based gaming venues in Mexico – but has licenses for up to 50 venues – as well as a Kambi-powered online sports betting site.

Televisa didn’t break out PlayCity’s revenue performance in the group’s most recent quarterly earnings statement, but Milenio reported that PlayCity’s land-based operations reported 4m visitors in 2017, a 42% rise over 2106’s visitation figure.