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Sportech Revenue Declines 40.6% in 2020
Sportech has posted a 40.6% year-on-year decrease in revenue for 2020.
The company brought in revenue of £20.0m ($27.5m) and made a £12.8m loss, after selling both its Global Tote business and the Bump 50:50 lottery brand in 2020.
As it sold the Global Tote business, wagering at venues made up most of the continuing Sportech business’ revenue, down 36.0%. Food and beverage sales at those venues brought in an additional £1.5m, down 66.5%. The business made £2.9m from its lottery business, down 43.3% year-on-year.
Sportech paid £9.4m in costs of sales, for gross profit of £10.5m, down 42.6%. After marketing and distribution costs of £319,000, down 62.0%, Sportech was left with £10.2m, 41.7% less than in 2019.
The business then paid a further £12.3m in operating costs and £261,000 in investments for adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) loss of £2.3m.
Following share options, depreciation, amortisation and impairment, Sportech’s operating loss was £10.0m.
It incurred a further £557,000 in finance costs for a £10.6m pre-tax loss. After a £297,000 tax benefit, Sportech’s overall loss from continuing operations was £10.3m, 41.7% less than the same segments lost in 2019.
In addition, the operator’s Global Tote business, which was sold to BetMakers, and its Bump 50:50 business, which was sold to Canadian Banknote, made a combined £2.6m loss after recording revenue of £25.7m.
When these segments are accounted for, Sportech made a final loss of £12.8m, which was 11.7% less than 2019’s loss.
Sportech chief executive Richard McGuire said it was an extremely difficult year for the business because of the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, but noted that it performed better than its March expectations.
McGuire said: “Covid-19 created unprecedented challenging conditions for our businesses and the industries we serve. We continue to take the necessary actions to safeguard the Group and to progress our strategic agenda.
“In line with this, the Group took steps to generate tangible investor returns by exiting certain businesses and assets, advancing the sale of the racing and digital division’s Global Tote business to BetMakers, the sale of the Bump 50:50 raffle business to Canadian Bank Note, and the disposal of a freehold property in Connecticut.
“Despite the challenging global environment, our performance in 2020 was better than initially forecast in March 2020, with Sportech delivering on key 2020 performance metrics, namely cash generation from operational activities, effective capex management, and delivery of a more efficient lower operational cost base going forward, resulting in only a modest cash outflow since the outbreak of COVID-19.”
Bart Myers
Lottery.com Inc. Relaunches Sweepstakes Operations
Lottery.com Inc. announced the restart of its sweepstakes operations in conjunction with the WinTogether Trust, a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. The proceeds from the sweepstakes will benefit Street Child United. The sweepstakes had a soft launch on April 3, 2024, and is available at http://donateto.win, the successor to Lottery.com’s WinTogether.org platform.
Street Child United is a global organization dedicated to improving the lives of street-connected children. The organization focuses on four key pillars: Ensuring every child has birth registration which provides access to healthcare and education; protecting children against abuse, exploitation, and trafficking; securing access to education; and setting a foundation for gender equality.
Donors are incentivized to give by receiving entries to win an Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset. More information and donation options can be found at https://donateto.win. The sweepstakes to support Street Child United will continue until 11:59PT on August 31, 2024. The winner will be announced on or around September 20, 2024.
Matthew McGahan, CEO of Lottery.com, said: “This is a significant milestone for Lottery.com. The Company, through its partnership with the WinTogether Trust, is resuming its commitment to supporting philanthropic initiatives that focus on responsible gaming along with local, regional, and global charitable initiatives. Street Child United is a wonderful organization. We believe their mission will resonate with the Sports.com’s growing global user base.”
Bart Myers, Director of the WinTogether Trust, said: “The WinTogether Trust board is excited for our organization to play a role in the resurgence of Lottery.com. Being able to leverage their powerful brands, Lottery.com and Sports.com, will allow us to exponentially expand the number of organizations we support and the financial impact our sweepstakes make for them.”
Chris Schroder
Colorado Launches Illegal Gambling Awareness Campaign
The Colorado Division of Gambling has launched a new illegal gambling awareness campaign.
The “Play Legit. Gamble Only Where Legal.” campaign aims to educate the public about the risks associated with illegal gambling and the importance of supporting regulated gaming venues.
The campaign emphasizes legal gambling options, including casinos in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek, as well as online sports betting and off-track betting.
“With many certified and legal gambling sites available, it’s never worth it to put yourself in danger. Together, let’s play by the rules and ensure that Colorado remains a safe and responsible gaming destination. By recognizing and preventing illegal gambling, we all win,” Chris Schroder, Director of the Colorado Division of Gaming, said.
In Colorado, gambling opportunities abound, but not all are legal. Illegal gambling operations not only fail to protect players but can also serve as a breeding ground for serious crimes, including fraud, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and burglary, posing a threat to public safety and community well-being. Participants in illegal gambling activities also compromise personal and financial information, putting individuals at risk of identity theft, unreliable payouts, and potential legal consequences, such as fines and imprisonment.
Justin Psaila CFO White Hat Gaming
White Hat Gaming strengthens executive team with Justin Psaila announced as new Chief Financial Officer
Appointment comes as White Hat Gaming continues its US expansion
Leading iGaming platform provider, White Hat Gaming, has appointed industry expert Justin Psaila as its new Chief Financial Officer as the company continues to grow its operations worldwide.
Psaila joins with nearly two decades’ worth of industry experience following eight years at Betsson Group and close to nine years in his former role as CFO at Gaming Innovation Group.
He will now oversee White Hat’s financial division to assist in the provider’s goal of enhancing its operations across the globe, in particular in the US, where it has made significant progress.
White Hat has already partnered with iGaming giants Bally’s and New Jersey-based lottery operator Jackpocket to supply its cutting-edge Player Account Management solution, while also bolstering its presence in Oklahoma through an agreement with the Choctaw Nation.
Phillip Gelvan, CEO, White Hat Gaming, said: “We are delighted to announce that Justin Psaila will be joining the White Hat Gaming team as CFO. Justin is well respected in the industry, and I have no doubt his appointment will strengthen our already impressive executive team.
“White Hat is consistently working to deliver on its global expansion goals, and Justin will be key in ensuring the company’s financial objectives are attained.”
Justin Psaila, CFO, White Hat Gaming, said: “I am very happy to be starting my new position as Group Chief Financial Officer at White Hat Gaming.
“I am joining a brilliant team and look forward to helping deliver on White Hat’s ambitious growth plans across the US and beyond.”
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