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Aspire Global: Interim Report Third Quarter 2021

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REVENUE INCREASED 46% AND EBITDA 38% IN Q3 2021

THIRD QUARTER

  • Revenues increased by 46.0% to €58.6 million (40.1).
  • EBITDA increased by 38.0 % to €9.1 million (6.6).
  • The EBITDA margin amounted to 15.5% (16.4%).
  • EBIT increased by 38.7% to €6.8 million (4.9).
  • Earnings after tax increased 68.1% to €6.4 million (3.8).
  • Earnings per share increased 62.5% to €0.13 (0.08).

NINE MONTHS

  • Revenues increased by 38.2% to €162.4 million (117.5).
  • EBITDA increased by 46.0% to €27.5 million (18.8).
  • The EBITDA margin increased to 16.9% (16.0%).
  • EBIT increased by 45.7% to €21.1 million (14.5).
  • Earnings after tax increased 79.0% to €19.4 million (10.8).
  • Earnings per share increased 77.2% to €0.39 (0.22).

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER AND AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER

  • Revenues increased 46.0% from Q3 2020 driven by strong development in all segments.
  • Organic growth of 39.0% from Q3 2020.
  • B2B revenues grew 40.5% from Q3 2020 with organic growth of 31.2%.
  • Strong performance in sub-segments Aggregation and Games – Pariplay and Sports – BtoBet.
  • Agreement to sell the B2C segment to Esports Technologies announced 1 October – closing expected by 30 November 2021 upon completion
    of certain contingent terms. The total value of the transaction sums up to about €65 million. The transaction also includes a four-year platform and managed services agreement with an estimated gross value of €70 million.
  • Aspire Global signed a platform deal with Esports Technologies in September for its leading brand Gogawi.
  • Pariplay further strengthened its position in the Americas – first contract in Brazil signed and granted full supplier license in West Virginia.
  • Pariplay signed a deal to provide its proprietary games to Holland Casino in the newly regulated Dutch market.
  • First brand live with BtoBet’s sportsbook on Aspire Global’s platform. To date six brands are already live.
  • Two deals covering Aspire Global’s complete offering signed.

CEO COMMENTS

“WE CLEARLY EXECUTE OUR GROWTH STRATEGY TO BECOME A WORLD LEADING IGAMING SUPPLIER”

With the sale of the B2C segment, Aspire Global will become a clearly focused B2B company and even stronger and more profitable. The sale will also give us additional resources to further develop and enhance our B2B offering as well as the opportunity to explore new M&A activities. In Q3 2021, we have made key progress towards our objective of establishing strong positions in the US and Brazil. Our success in these markets will be important steps in reaching our goal to become a world leading B2B iGaming supplier.

The sale of the B2C segment – expected to take place at the end of November 2021 – will have a significant positive impact on Aspire Global’s position as a focused B2B company and profitability. Excluding the B2C segment, revenues increased by 36.1% to €118.9 million and EBITDA increased by 54.1% to €22.7 million in the first nine months 2021 with an EBITDA margin of 19.1%. B2B organic growth in the nine-month period amounted to 27.1%.

We initiated the review of our B2C segment in March this year, and on October 1 we announced the agreement with US-based Esports Technologies to acquire the B2C segment. The consideration sums up to about €65 million, consisting of €50 million in cash, €10 million in a promissory note and €5 million in common stock in the listed entity of Esports Technologies. The transaction also includes a four-year platform and managed services agreement with an estimated gross value of €70 million, based on present volumes. The transaction is expected to close by November 30, 2021, pending Esports Technologies receipt of financing, and other closing requirements.

A TRANSFORMATIVE, STRATEGIC MOVE

The divestment of the B2C segment is a transformative, strategic move for Aspire Global. First of all, the change in business mix will affect the revenue so that it will consist only of B2B revenues and, at the same time, the share of managed services will increase. The divestment will also provide Aspire Global with additional resources to further develop the technology platform as well as its offering in casino, sports and managed services. The managed services part of our business is essential to us, not only because it is recurring, but also because it will secure our continued deep knowledge about player behaviour. Furthermore, we expect that Aspire Global will have other peers as a focused B2B company and that investors will find it easier to value the company.

Following the divestment, we will also look into M&A possibilities with the aim to control even more of the value chain. Our successful acquisitions of Pariplay in 2019 and BtoBet in 2020 are proof of our ability to identify and integrate companies that complement our offering in the value chain. In the first nine months of 2021, Pariplay has grown by 79.4% to €21.7 million with an EBITDA margin of 27.9%. BtoBet has also demonstrated strong growth of 68.7% to €7.8 million in the nine-month period with an EBITDA margin of 23.1%.

KEY PROGRESS IN THE US AND BRAZIL

The B2C divestment also provides us with increasing opportunities to continue to invest in establishing a considerable position in above all the big and quickly growing Brazilian and US markets. In Q3 2021, we have made key progress in the US and Brazil. Pariplay signed a deal with FansUnite Entertainment, entailing that Aspire Global enters the Brazilian market for the first time. FansUnite is a Canadian sports and entertainment company, and Pariplay will supply its wide portfolio of proprietary and third-party content, via its Fusion aggregation platform, to FansUnite’s B2C brands and B2B solutions in Europe and Americas and thereby allows Pariplay to enter Brazil for the first time.

Pariplay also further strengthened its position in Latin America by a deal with the world-famous land-based and online games provider Ainsworth Game Technology. The deal will see Ainsworth partnering exclusively with Pariplay for all new online releases in Latin America, with making its titles available to players through Pariplay’s Fusion aggregation platform.

Pariplay reached another milestone in its US expansion strategy during Q3 2021 after being granted a full iGaming Supplier License in West Virginia. Pariplay made its debut in the fast-growing US market when its content went live in New Jersey in February 2021 and Pariplay has applied for licenses in several states.

DEEPER ESPORTS RELATIONSHIPS

We are also proud and happy with the relationship we have established with Esports Technologies. Esports Technologies is a leading global operator and provider of products and marketing solutions in the quickly growing esports market. Beside the B2C deal, we also signed a strategic license agreement with Esports Technologies in Q3 2021. As part of the deal, Esports Technologies will launch its esports/sportsbook Gogawi.com in certain key markets on our platform and intends to launch an additional brand on the platform in the future. In addition, we will make the Esports Technologies proprietary esports feed available to our partners around the world.

Esports Technologies are at a rapid growth phase and aim to become the world’s number one esports company. As part of the B2C agreement, Karamba and our other B2C brands will join our B2B network, and will become one of our biggest B2B partners. I’m sure that the experience and excellence of our B2C team, together with the ambition and investment of Esports Technologies, will take the brands to new heights.

PROFITABLE GROWTH IN REGULATED MARKETS

In the quarter, Germany introduced a new regulation with higher gaming duties. Despite this regulatory change, the EBITDA margin in the B2B segment increased to 18.7% from 18.0% in Q3 2020. This clearly demonstrates Aspire Global’s ability to manage a profitable operation in regulated markets.

In October, the Netherlands opened for online gaming and Pariplay just a few days ago announced a deal to supply its proprietary games to Holland Casino. Holland Casino has a leading presence within the new regulated digital ecosystem in the Netherlands.

OUTLOOK

Aspire Global has consistently demonstrated its ability to execute its growth strategy, reaching its financial targets and create value. We see great growth opportunities by expanding with existing partners, gaining new partners and entering new markets. With the divestment of the B2C segment we will further enhance investments in our technology and product offering as well as geographic presence with focus on Brazil and the US. We will also put even more energy on increasing the M&A pipeline. We clearly execute our growth strategy to become a world leading iGaming supplier.

Tsachi Maimon, CEO.

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Vixio Announces the Finalists for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards

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Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, has unveiled its 2025 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) shortlist.

Now in their ninth year, the GRAs continue to recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry that have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling. This year’s awards shortlist features 21 award categories, over 190 finalists and more than 100 unique organisations represented. “Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists. Achieving a place on the shortlist is no small feat, especially in our most competitive year yet. The continued growth of the GRAs reflects how seriously the industry takes compliance and the ongoing drive for excellence in this field,” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of VixioWoolfrey added: “Our thanks go to the judging panel for their diligent and independent evaluation, which ensures the integrity of these awards. We look forward to celebrating with so many of you in November.”

The 2025 GRA presentation will take place on November 19, 2025, at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Due to the event’s popularity, the remaining tables will sell out fast. Vixio strongly advises booking now to ensure you don’t miss out. You can now secure your table online in minutes using Vixio’s quick and easy booking portal. Additional information on table bookings can be found here.

The GRAs 2025 shortlist is as follows:

 

AML or MLR Professional of the Year
1 Carlos Suárez, Catena Media
2 Cecile O’Connell, LeoVegas
3 Dave Foppert, DraftKings
4 Eleni Panagiotopoulou, SOFTSWISS
5 Georgi Iliev, Delasport
8 Kate Faulkner, BoyleSports
Award for Commitment to Compliance by a Supplier
1 BETBY
2 Digitain
3 Docaposte
4 GBG
5 GeoComply
6 GeoLocs by mkodo
7 Kambi
8 OpenBet
9 Play’n GO
10 Pragmatic Solutions
11 Soft2Bet
12 Wazdan
Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator Sponsored by: Gaming Associates
1 Betinia
2 CampoBet
3 DraftKings
4 Genting Casinos
5 LeoVegas
6 Tipico Games
 

Chief Compliance Officer of the Year

Sponsored by: eCOGRA

1 Abby Cosgrave, LeoVegas
2 Anton Sikström, Catena Media
3 Corinne Valletta, Betsson Group
4 Ed Bedrosian, Xpoint
5 Filippo Ferri, Delasport
6 Jennifer Aguiar, DraftKings
7 Lloyd Lemmon, Pragmatic Solutions
8 Ray Dunkle, Virginia Lottery
9 Sara Cass, IFX Payments
10 Sophie Bowler, Zodia Custody
11 Steve Richardson, Scientific Games
12 Tommaso Di Chio, Bragg Gaming
Compliance Innovator of the Year
1 BetComply
2 BizAcuity Solutions
3 GeoComply
4 Mindway AI
5 OneComply
6 OpenBet
7 Rightlander
8 Sharp Vision
9 Soft2Bet
10 Xpoint
Compliance Professional of the Year
1 Andrew Poole, Light & Wonder
2 Ardie Manuel, Virginia Lottery
3 Arshak Muradyan, Digitain
4 Bill Curtis, DraftKings
5 Christopher Lottering, Pragmatic Solutions
6 Denzil Mason, Genting Casinos
7 Jeremie Kanter, Continent 8
8 Jessica Feil, OpenBet
9 Juan Jose Daruich, Daruich
10 Martin Crowe, NexaCompliance
11 Ryan Farrah, LeoVegas
12 Tatevik Grigoryan, BetConstruct
Compliance Rising Star Special Award
1 Attila Hunter, Betika
2 Birgit Strauszberger, Greentube
3 Jasmine Yasin, Delasport
4 Kate Faulkner, BoyleSports
5 Kevin Kostreci, GLI
6 Kizzie Fenner, Evoke
7 Maša Tičar, Pragmatic Solutions
8 Medisha Moodley, Games Global
9 Robert Lo Giudice, BetMGM
10 Shacke Manukyan, BetConstruct
11 Sheena Patel, DraftKings
12 Vanessa Hurt, Paysafe
Compliance Team of the Year

Sponsored by: Docaposte

1 AGS
2 BetConstruct
3 Bragg Gaming
4 Continent 8
5 Delasport
6 Digitain
7 DraftKings
8 OpenBet
9 Playtech
10 San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission
11 Scientific Games
12 Wazdan
Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year
1 Carl Brincat, LeoVegas
2 Devon Dalbock, GLI
3 Emeline d’Ollone, Catena Media
4 Emőke Péter, Worldline
5 Filippo Ferri, Delasport
6 Hartwig Gerhartinger, Paysafe
7 Michael Karloutsos, Hard Rock International
8 Travis Foley, BMM Innovation Group
Legal Team of the Year
1 Alea
2 Altenar
3 Betika
4 Betsson Group
5 Bragg Gaming
6 Catena Media
7 Kambi
8 LeoVegas
9 Light & Wonder
10 OKTO
11 Paysafe
12 Virginia Lottery
Marketing Compliance Team of the Year

Sponsored by: White Bullet

1 BetMGM
2 Better Collective
3 Catena Media
4 Gentoo Media
5 LeoVegas
Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling
1 AiR HUB – UNLV International Gaming Institute
2 Betting and Gaming Council
3 Casino Guru
4 EPIC Global Solutions
5 Flutter Entertainment
6 GamProtect
7 Genting Casinos

The post Vixio Announces the Finalists for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BGaming Marks the First Anniversary of Viral Hit Aviamasters™ with Record-Breaking Metrics

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Popular iGaming content provider BGaming celebrates the first anniversary of the release of its viral casual game, Aviamasters™.  The game has broken multiple records over the last six months and has redefined what players can expect from aviation-inspired casual gaming.

Launched in July 2024, the game has proven to be a viral banger, demonstrating continued growth throughout the year. In the past six months, it has received over 500 million TikTok views, with over 200 new videos being posted daily on the platform. This incredible social media presence, combined with ad campaigns and affiliate strategies, has built a strong community of players around the game.

Beyond its viral popularity, Aviamasters™ distinguishes itself from the aviation-style crash games that have flooded the market in the last couple of years. Its unique physics-based mechanic shifts the focus from avoiding a crash to mastering a successful landing, making Aviamasters™ stand out as both intuitive and deeply engaging for players worldwide.

This unique approach has clearly resonated with players, with Aviamasters™ delivering excellent metrics. The game reported a 740% increase in new players over the course of five months, with a consistent week-on-week growth, including significant increases across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

All of this success has also led to strong market demand, with top-tier casinos adapting the product to fit their own brand, including Shuffle’s “Happy Bird” and RainBet’s “Aviamasters™.

Aviamasters™ and BGaming’s full portfolio of products will be on display at the upcoming SBC Lisbon event in September. The BGaming team will be on hand to discuss the game’s success in person and explore the value that other games in its portfolio can deliver, learn more.

 

Kate Puteiko, CMO at BGaming, said: “When we launched Aviamasters™ a year ago, we could have only dreamed about how successful it has been. The game’s viral popularity and strategic value are clear. Not only has it helped establish BGaming as a leading voice in the casual gaming space, but it has also helped our partners attract millions of customers.  We can’t wait to showcase the game, as well as many of our other gaming products, at SBC Lisbon this September.”

The post BGaming Marks the First Anniversary of Viral Hit Aviamasters™ with Record-Breaking Metrics appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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A fresh spin on the beautiful game, with every bounce bringing new rewards

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Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has announced the launch of Plinkgoal Ultimate, the latest instalment in its popular Plinkgoal series, where football fever collides with arcade-style Plinko action in a fast-paced, multiplier-charged showdown.

Building on the success of the original Plinkgoal, Plinkgoal Ultimate takes the action up a gear with dynamic new features, including the Multiplier Boost, Open Goal, and Lucky Wheel, each designed to ramp up engagement and deliver game-changing moments. With every ball drop, players dive into an electrifying stadium atmosphere, where the thrill of scoring meets the unpredictability of Plinko mechanics.

Set inside a vivid football stadium brimming with reactive lighting, and adrenaline-pumping sound design, Plinkgoal Ultimate invites players to place their bets and chase instant win payouts as the ball weaves and rebounds across the pitch. A shot into the Lucky Wheel could unlock one of four instant jackpot prizes: Mini, Minor, Major or the coveted Mega, worth up to 1000x the bet.

 

Alexandros Mavroudis, Product Owner at Gaming Corps, said: “The original Plinkgoal took a chance by merging two beloved worlds: football and Plinko, and the player response was phenomenal. Plinkgoal Ultimate keeps that excitement alive but raises every element: from the visual energy and sound to the new features that add suspense, strategy, and the potential for big wins.”

With medium volatility and three RTP variants (92%, 94%, and 97%), Plinkgoal Ultimate is built to appeal to a broad player base – from casual bettors to Plinko fans seeking unique mechanics. Players can also activate Hotbet mode for an extra 1.5x stake, doubling the chances of triggering the Lucky Wheel and its high-value rewards.

The post A fresh spin on the beautiful game, with every bounce bringing new rewards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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