We will not be pushed into acquisitions, says 888 chief  

COO Itai Frieberger says the firm is in a strong position and can go it alone amid ongoing market consolidation

888 chief operating officer Itai Frieberger has said his firm “is under no pressure” to return to the M&A fold after losing out to GVC Holdings in the race to acquire bwin.party. [private]

Speaking to eGR North America this morning, Frieberger said 888 was in a strong position and could go it alone in the face of ongoing market consolidation.

“Our business is doing very well, so we need to make the right decision regardless of any external pressure to push us towards doing a deal – we will not be pushed around,” Frieberger said.

“We will do the right deal for us when it comes and we feel comfortable that we want to do it. We are not going to do a deal just for the sake of doing something,” he added.

But Frieberger admitted 888 still had a number of potential acquisition targets in its sights, and is particularly interested in acquiring its own sportsbook platform.

Earlier in the year UK bookmaker William Hill launched a bid to acquire 888, however talks collapsed after key shareholders, believed to be the Shaked family, rejected the $1.2bn offer.