Adult gaming centre operator Talarius has acquired Leisurama Entertainments and Leisurama Holdings for £12m and will integrate the companies’ 19 gaming centres and bingo lounges into its Quicksilver brand.

The deal was financed following a placing of six million new shares in January this year.

Talarius, which now operates around 10,000 gaming machines, has invested £42m in acquisitions over the past seven months following its listing on AIM in April 2005.

Talarius CEO Nick Harding (pictured) said: “It’s been an incredibly significant and rewarding period for Talarius.

“We represent the dominant brand in many of the country’s major conurbations. With more people in the UK associating adult gaming centres with the Quicksilver experience than with any other chain, we will be at the vanguard of demonstrating that high street adult gaming is both profitable and socially responsible.

“Leisurama is a business with which we are very familiar. We know the management team well and are confident that the business will be integrated seamlessly.”

In the year to 21 December 2005, Leisurama reported sales of £4.7m generating EBITDA of £2.2m and operating profit of £1.7m.