Commission européenne, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Bruxelles, BELGIQUE  
Europese Commissie, DG COMP MERGER REGISTRY, 1049 Brussel,   BELGIË  
 
Tel: +32 229 -91111. Fax: +32 229 -64301. E -mail: COMP -MERGER -REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu . 
  EUROPEAN COMMISSION  
Brussels, 16.11.2020  
C(2020 ) 8058 final  
PUBLIC VERSION  
To the notifying parties  
Subject : Case M. 9882  – SAZKA GROUP / ÖBAG / CASINOS AUSTRIA  
Commission decision pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of Council Regulation 
(EC) No 139/20041 and Article 57 of the Agreement on the European 
Economic Area2  
Dear Sir or Madam,  
1. On 20 October 2020 , the European Commission received notification of a proposed 
concentration pursuant to Article 4  of the Merger  Regulation by which  SAZKA Group 
a.s (“SAZKA Group”, Czechia), belonging to the KKCG Group , and Österreichische 
Beteiligungs Aktiengesellschaft (“ÖBAG”, Austria), owned by the Austrian state , 
acquire within the meaning of Article s 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation join t 
control of Casinos Austria Aktiengesellschaft (“CASAG”, Austria), currently solely 
controlled by SAZKA Group.  The concentration is accomplished by way of  contract .3 
2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:  
 for SAZKA Group: the parent co mpany of a European lottery group. It is 
principally a holding company, but also provides gaming consulting services. Its 
subsidiaries provide lottery, gaming and betting services (as well as other 
services) in Czechia, Greece, Cyprus and Italy ; 
 for ÖBAG: an autonomous state -owned holding company, which administers 
state investments and is mainly active in (i) active participation management, (ii) 
acquisition of share rights in existing investments and in third companies, (iii) 
measures to promote the devel opment of Austria as an economic location, (iv) 
external participation management and (v) privatisation management ; 
 for CASAG: active in the gaming area in Austria through the operation of (i) 
casinos; (ii) lotteries; (iii) Video Lottery Terminals; (iv) sp orts betting and (v) 
                                                 
1 OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 ( the ‘Merger Regulation ’). With effect from 1 December 2009,  the Treaty on 
the Functioning of the European Union ( ‘TFEU ’) has introduced certain changes, such as the 
replacement of ‘Community ’ by ‘Union ’ and ‘common market ’ by ‘internal market ’. The terminology 
of the TFEU will be used throughout this decision.  
2  OJ L 1, 3.1.1994, p . 3 (the ‘EEA Agreement ’). 
3  Publication in the Official Journal of the European Union No C 365, 29.10.2020 , p. 8. 

2 online gaming. In addition, CASAG  operates , through its subsidiaries , casinos in 
Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Liechtenstein, Germany, Hungary, 
Palestinia and Switzerland, as well as a video lottery terminal operation in North 
Macedonia.  
3. After examination of the notification, the European Commission has concluded that 
the notified operation falls within the scope of the Merger  Regulation  and of 
paragraph 5(b) of the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of 
certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 .4 
4. For the reasons set out in the Notice on a simplified procedure, the European 
Commission has decided not to oppose the no tified operation and to declare it 
compatible with the internal market and with the EEA Agreement. This decision is 
adopted in application of Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger  Regulation  and Article 57 of 
the EEA Agreement . 
For the Commission  
 
 
(Signed)  
Olivie r GUERSENT  
Director -General  
 
                                                 
4  OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5 .