{{Short description|French gambling company}} {{Multiple issues| {{POV|date=January 2024}} {{Too few opinions|date=January 2024}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox company | logo = Winamax Logo.svg | products = Online poker & sports betting | foundation = {{Start date and age|1999}} | founders = Max Derhy | location_city = Paris | location_country = France | key_people = Christophe Schaming | industry = Gambling | homepage = {{Official URL}} }}
'''Winamax''' is a French gambling company that operates online poker and sports betting platforms. Founded in 1999 as a video game publisher, the company later transitioned into online gambling.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=20 May 2009 |title=Winamax, coup de bluff |url=https://www.liberation.fr/ecrans/2009/05/20/winamax-coup-de-bluff_948383 |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=Libération |language=fr |last=Mathiot |first=Cédric}}</ref>
==History== Winamax was founded in 1999 as a video game publisher. The company later shifted its focus to online gambling, developing platforms for poker and sports betting.<ref name=":0" />
==Sponsorship== Until 2015, the company was the main shirt sponsor of AS Saint-Étienne.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2015 |title=Winamax s'engage avec l'OM |url=https://www.sponsoring.fr/sponsoring/ligue-1-winamax-s-engage-avec-l-om-378314.shtm |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=sponsoring.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
In 2019, Winamax became the main shirt sponsor of Granada CF and renewed the agreement in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 August 2020 |title=LaLiga's Granada renews Winamax short deal as appeal against gambling ad ban goes to EU |url=https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2020/08/19/laligas-granada-renews-winamax-short-deal-appeal-gambling-ad-ban-goes-eu/ |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=insideworldfootball.com}}</ref>
In 2020, the company signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with RC Strasbourg Alsace.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 August 2020 |title=Winamax agrees three-season sponsorship of RC Strasbourg Alsace |url=https://www.gamingintelligence.com/marketing/sponsorship/124425-winamax-agrees-three-season-sponsorship-of-rc-strasbourg-alsace/ |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=gamingintelligence.com |language=en}}</ref>
In the 2022–23 season, Winamax was the main shirt sponsor of ES Troyes AC.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 June 2023 |title=Estac : Winamax s'en va aussi |url=https://www.lest-eclair.fr/id490144/article/2023-06-02/estac-winamax-sen-va-aussi |access-date=3 August 2023 |website=lest-eclair.fr |language=fr}}</ref>
On 3 August 2023, Winamax signed a sponsorship agreement with VfB Stuttgart.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2023 |title=VfB complete main sponsor group |url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/club/2023/hauptsponsor-und-trikotsponsor-2324/ |access-date=3 August 2023 |website=VfB Stuttgart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahadik |first=Gauresh |date=2023-08-09 |title=Winamax debuts in Bundesliga via VfB Stuttgart partnership |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/winamax-debuts-in-bundesliga-via-vfb-stuttgart-partnership/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=SportsMint Media |language=en-US}}</ref> The contract was terminated early in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2024 |title=VfB Stuttgart trennt sich vorzeitig von Hauptsponsor |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fussball-bundesliga-vfb-stuttgart-trennt-sich-vorzeitig-von-hauptsponsor-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-240728-930-187015 |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2025 |title=VfB ändert Pokal-Trikot kurzfristig |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/dfb-pokal/2025/05/im-pokalfinale-stuttgart-mit-neuem-trikotsponsor |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=Sport1 |language=de}}</ref>
==Controversies== In the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season, Winamax sponsored FC Girondins de Bordeaux.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=17 January 2022 |title=Bordeaux ends Winamax sponsorship over mocking tweets |url=https://igamingbusiness.com/marketing-affiliates/sponsorship/bordeaux-ends-winamax-sponsorship-over-mocking-tweets/ |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=iGaming Business}}</ref> The partnership ended after the company published social media posts that were criticised for mocking the club's performance.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Cunningham, Euan (17 January 2022). [https://www.sportcal.com/sponsorship/winamax-out-as-major-bordeaux-sponsor-after-mocking-twitter-posts/ "Winamax out as major Bordeaux sponsor after mocking Twitter posts"]. ''[https://casinonews.io/ CasinoNews]''. Retrieved 23 April 2026.</ref>
In 2025, VfB Stuttgart initiated legal action against Winamax, alleging that the company had suspended sponsorship payments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 June 2025 |title=VfB takes legal action against WINAMAX |url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/club/2025/winamax-klage-/ |access-date=15 June 2025 |website=VfB Stuttgart}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
Category:Online gambling companies of France Category:Gambling companies of France Category:Online poker companies Category:French companies established in 1999 Category:Gambling companies established in 1999 Category:Internet properties established in 1999 Category:Companies based in Paris