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About Celestial Buffalo
Lottomatica and Cirsa have agreed a blockbuster merger that would create the second-largest listed gaming and sports betting operator in the world.
Announced on Wednesday, the all-share deal is expected to close in Q2 2027, forming a combined group with a pro forma adjusted EBITDA of around €2 billion ($2.3 billion).
Cirsa’s implied pro forma value, before synergies, corresponds to an multiple of approximately 6x its expected 2026 EV/EBITDA which will be between €800 million and €820 million, according to the operator’s most recent earnings.
What is Celestial Buffalo?
It coincided with the beginning of the NFL season in the US, viewed as a peak commercial period for sports data monetisation. Genius also maintains partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel, both of which signed extensions to remain as NFL partners ahead of this season.
Citizens gaming analyst Jordan Bender wrote in a 16 Sept. note that with the NFL season now under way: “Genius should benefit from increased spending across both traditional sports betting and the emerging prediction market industry.”
Added Bender: Genius’ recent deals with Kalshi and Polymarket “have provided an incremental positive catalyst for [Legend founder] Mr Kisberg and team”.
How to play Celestial Buffalo
Greg Abel took over as CEO of the $1 trillion organization in early 2026. While Buffett continued to visit the office daily, he indicated he is now ready for a slower pace.
“Recently, I celebrated my 96th birthday with family and friends, including one of my great-grandchildren, who had just turned one. He’s moving a bit faster than I am these days,” Buffett wrote in a letter to shareholders. The billionaire credited Abel with exceeding his “sky-high” expectations, giving him complete confidence in completing the transition.
“The timing is right. I will become chairman emeritus and remain a director. My son, Howard, will succeed me as chairman,” Buffett told investors. “The company is in excellent hands, and I look forward to remaining a shareholder alongside you.”
