CVC Capital Partners is preparing to take over Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the most prominent names in gaming certification and testing, via a UK-registered vehicle known as Avalon Buyer Limited. Regulatory filings submitted in Austria and Malta indicate the move will grant CVC sole control over GLI, as well as its affiliates Kobetron LLC and Worldwide Laboratories LLC. Though the companies involved have yet to comment publicly on the matter, the filings offer the clearest insight yet into the scope of the proposed acquisition.

Avalon Buyer Limited: A New Investment Arm Backed by CVC

The Austrian submission, dated July 3, allows interested parties until July 31 to submit any objections. According to that document, Avalon seeks full control of all three entities, which specialize in testing, inspection, and certification services for the regulated gaming sector. A similar filing appeared on Malta’s Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority portal on July 11, with a now-expired seven-day comment period. No financial figures were disclosed in either document.

Avalon Buyer Limited was formed in April 2025, and its directors, Zachary Kelly and Matthew Turner, are both affiliated with CVC Capital Partners. Kelly serves as an investment director, while Turner leads CVC’s strategic opportunities in North America. Though newly incorporated, Avalon is indirectly financed by CVC Funds and serves as the vehicle for this high-profile acquisition.

The deal signals a potential strategic re-entry into the gaming industry for CVC, which has scaled back its exposure to the sector in recent years. However, it retains a long history in gaming and sports investments, with prior holdings in William Hill, Sisal, Sky Bet, and IG Index. The GLI acquisition could represent a renewed focus on infrastructure and compliance services in a rapidly expanding global market.

Founded in 1989 by James Maida and Paul Magno, GLI has grown from a modest New Jersey operation into a global compliance powerhouse. With headquarters in Lakewood, New Jersey, the company operates in over 35 jurisdictions and maintains roughly 1,800 employees. GLI’s role extends well beyond land-based product testing. The company has diversified into iGaming, sports betting, cybersecurity, responsible gambling services, and consulting. It has played an integral role in launching regulatory frameworks across new and emerging markets, including Brazil, the UAE, Australia, and Macau.

GLI has also hosted its annual Regulators Roundtable for the past 25 years—an educational fixture within the gaming industry. The company’s prominence and diversification suggest a high valuation, even though its financials remain private.

Although GLI representatives declined to comment on the acquisition, co-founder James Maida had previously stated to Fantini Research, “We never take anything off the table,” when asked about a possible sale, as iGaming Business reports. He added, “But it’s important that we’re thinking about, ‘What does GLI look like in the next 35 years?’ … So that’s really what I’m focused on, not just about me and my mortality.”

Industry Trend: Testing Giants Attract Private Equity

Should the transaction proceed, both of the gaming sector’s largest independent testing firms will have entered private equity ownership in 2025. GLI’s main competitor, BMM Testlabs, was acquired by Visualize Group in April. That deal excluded BMM’s responsible gambling unit and saw founder Martin Storm retain a “significant stake.” Whether a similar arrangement is being made between CVC and GLI’s leadership has not been confirmed.

Visualize Group’s managing partner, CC Melvin Ike, emphasized the strategic importance of testing and compliance in the current climate: “Our team has closely studied the rapid global expansion of regulated gaming markets and we believe this trajectory will continue. As new jurisdictions open around the world, the need for safe and compliant gaming continues to rise.”

While pursuing the GLI acquisition, CVC has also been repositioning its global sports portfolio. In June 2025, the firm established a new holding company, SportsCo, as part of a refinancing effort involving over £9 billion in investments. SportsCo’s assets include stakes in LaLiga, Ligue 1, the Women’s Tennis Association, and other high-profile organizations. Goldman Sachs and other financial firms have been enlisted to support the refinancing strategy, potentially paving the way for new capital injections from institutional investors.

This broader context underlines CVC’s continued ambition across the intersection of sports, entertainment, and gaming infrastructure. If finalized, the GLI deal will represent a significant reentry into gaming compliance—an area increasingly viewed as foundational to the industry’s global growth.