Paf Acquires Bell Casino, Expands Gaming Presence to 80 Ships

Paf, a major Finnish gambling operator, announced the acquisition of Bell Casino, a Swedish business that operates casinos across 50 ships. According to the announcement, the arrangement will significantly expand Paf’s ferry presence.

Paf Confirmed Its Acquisition of Bell Casino

According to the announcement, the agreement aligns with Paf’s ambition to expand its presence to more ferry routes and destinations across Europe. The company emphasized that Bell Casino currently provides gambling onboard roughly 50 vessels.

The ships in question travel routes between major European countries, such as Sweden, Germany, Poland, the Baltic countries, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands.

According to Paf, the acquisition complements its own onboard gaming offering. For reference, the Finnish company operates gambling onboard 26 vessels, mainly in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions. Together, Paf and Bell will provide gaming entertainment across 80 ships, with their total offering encompassing 1,500 gaming machines and 450 arcade games.

At the same time, Bell, which is a family business, will continue operating with the same team and will keep its own brand and business model. For reference, Bell employs 28 people, including founder Morgan Eliasson and his son, Marcus Eliasson. The former will retain his role as a senior advisor, while the latter will continue as CEO of Bell Casino.

Bell Trusts Paf with the Future of Its Business

Paf CEO Christer Fahlstedt commented on the deal, saying that his team is “very pleased” to have brought it to a successful conclusion. He emphasized that the arrangement is of crucial importance to the future of Paf’s business.

The acquisition is strategically important for our Land & Ship business, as it gives us the right conditions to continue developing our operations over the long term.

Christer Fahlstedt, CEO, Paf

Lasse Danielsson, COO of Paf’s Land & Ship division, added that the combined business will provide everyone involved with significant advantages. For Paf, the acquisition provides “the right foundation to continue investing and growing,” Danielsson said.

Bell complements Paf’s existing business both geographically and commercially. I look forward to the positive opportunities and synergies that our combined operations can create.

Lasse Danielsson, COO Lanf & Ship, Paf

Morgan Eliasson, the founder of Bell Casino, noted that handing the reins of the company he has built from the ground up is a nostalgic moment for him. However, he said that he trusts that Bell Casino is in good hands.

At the same time, I feel both reassured and confident about the future when Bell is a part of the Paf Group. Paf is a company in our industry with a long-term perspective and both feet firmly on the ground.

Morgan Eliasson, founder, Bell Casino AB

The deal was officially closed on June 1.