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BETSSON AB (PUBL) INTERIM REPORT APRIL – JUNE 2022
All-time high revenue driven by sportsbook performance and growth in Latin America and the CEECA region
QUARTER APRIL – JUNE 2022
• Group revenue was EUR 186.3 (172.8) million, an increase of 8%. Organic increase of 13%.
• Casino revenue increased by 1%. Sportsbook revenue increased by 22% and the sportsbook margin was 8.3% (8.5%).
• EBITDA was EUR 39.3 (46.6) million, a decrease of 16%. The EBITDA margin was 21.1% (27.0%).
• Operating income (EBIT) was EUR 29.2 (37.8) million, a decrease of 23%. The EBIT margin was 15.7% (21.9%).
• Net income was EUR 28.6 (33.3) million, corresponding to EUR 0.21 (0.24) per share.
• Operating cash flow was EUR 37.8 (56.3) million.
• Net debt was EUR -19.8 (14.6) million.
• Active customers increased by 21% to 1,246,719 (1,027,635).
CEO COMMENT
“All-time high revenue driven by sportsbook performance and growth in Latin America and the CEECA region”
Betsson’s second quarter featured continued good growth with all-time high revenue and further investments to support our expansion. The Group’s organic growth was 13 percent, mainly driven by Latin America and the CEECA region (Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia), where we see long-term growth potential as these markets still have a low share of online gaming.
The sportsbook business showed a strong development in the quarter – gross turnover increased by 20 percent and the margin was 8.3 (8.5) percent – leading to all-time high revenue. Some of the football World Cup qualifiers in June ended in particularly favourable outcomes for Betsson and contributed positively to the margin in the quarter. Casino gross turnover also reached a new quarterly all-time high, while revenue came in at the second-best level ever.
Betsson’s strategy is based on diversified revenues from existing and new markets, and in June Betsson became majority owner of the local gaming operator Betbonanza in Nigeria. Since last year, the regulated market in Germany is marked by a low level of channelisation, due to extensive restrictions, high taxes, and an unclear licensing process. During the quarter, a decision was taken to only apply for one online casino license in Germany. On the sports side, Betsson continues to offer betting on horses through the Racebets brand and has a sportsbook license which is currently not operated.
The B2B initiatives continue according to plan, and discussions are currently being held with several potential sportsbook customers in both North America and other parts of the world. The Group’s ownership in the technology platform provider Strive, focused on North America, increased from 35 to 40 percent during the quarter. Strive provides a new, purpose-built and modern US iGaming platform, i.e. Player Account Management system (PAM), which supports Betsson’s US strategy.
Operating income (EBIT) amounted to 29.2 (37.8) MEUR, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 15.7 (21.9) percent. The cost increase compared to last year was driven by the general expansion while the change in geographic mix, with a higher revenue share from Latin America and no revenue from the Netherlands, led to a lower realised margin. We continue to invest in product and tech development to secure that we have a competitive product for all our markets. Our sportsbook offering was strengthened in motor sports, table tennis and esports, resulting in a significant increase in the number of live events offered for betting. In Sweden, a new native app was developed for the brand Jalla Casino, and our live casino offering was broadened in Italy. On top of the positive financial development in the second quarter, we also won six industry awards in different categories related to an attractive customer offering and a sustainable business model for gaming.
Betsson’s commitment to football continues. After eleven years of waiting, AC Milan once again were crowned Italian champions and we share the fans’ great joy in recapturing the scudetto. In May, the sponsorship with AC Milan was renewed, which means that Betsson now also becomes exclusive sponsor for the club in Latin America. The region is important for the club with millions of fans and the history of stars like Kaká and Ronaldinho. Further, similarly to last summer Betsson is a proud sponsor of Copa America Femenina 2022, which is the Latin American equivalent of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and takes place during July. The interest in women’s football is growing strongly and the previous championship had more than 20 million TV viewers.
In conclusion, we see that macro and geopolitical factors continue to dominate the world around us, with great uncertainty and concerns around war, inflation, higher interest rates and potentially a coming recession. Despite uncertain capital markets, we recently refinanced our bond until 2025, which gives us financial flexibility to continue investing in both organic growth and selective acquisitions. We continuously monitor the macroeconomic trends but also note that historically Betsson’s business has been relatively unaffected by the general business cycle. The first weeks of July are off to a good start and despite the macro factors, we are rather optimistic as we look ahead to the rest of 2022, which has many planned activities for Betsson, including market launches in Mexico and Ontario, as well as the football World Cup during the seasonally strongest fourth quarter.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is on point with its latest sharply designed game, Golden øks. This Norse-inspired adventure carries on from the popular Axe of Fortune title that hit the market at the turn of the year. Golden øks is set against a 5×3 layout and is brought to life with a powerful soundtrack to heighten the atmosphere.
Endorphina, has announced the release of its brand-new title, Jolly Queen, which will join its portfolio on April 27th. Jolly Queen is a 5-reel, 5-row fruit slot with 50 fixed paylines, introducing players to the lifestyle of the nobles. On top of the aristocratic ambiance, Jolly Queen provides players with Free Games, allowing them to master the reels.
Evoplay has released Candy Craze, a vibrant slot stacked with features and modifiers, including the powerful Gum Drop Multiplier which boosts win potential. Set amidst the backdrop of sumptuous sweets within a cloudy landscape, the 5×5 cascading reels title gives players a sugary rush when the Gum Drop Multiplier activates, revealing a mystery value at the end of each winning spin up to x100, enhancing the chance for wins during the main game and Free Spins.
Yggdrasil, a leading iGaming publisher, has revived the gold rush in a jackpot-filled game that embodies the spirit of old west prospecting in Gold Frontier Jackpots FastPot5™. Fans of lower volatility slots with straightforward mechanics that get fortune seekers right to the heart of the action are tasked with gathering keys to enter the treasure bonus game.
Relax Gaming is offering players some opulence in its latest release Sultan Spins. This high volatility slot sees its gold-trimmed reels set against a sprawling desert metropolis. Players have the chance to rack up riches via an entertaining free spins feature and lucrative local jackpot.
Greentube has introduced its latest title in the popular Diamond Link ™ series, Diamond Link ™: Mighty Dwarves Inc. Set deep in underground mines, this adventurous 5×3 slot is packed with innovative features for ample chance to win across its 25 paylines when players spin the reels adorned with hammers, hard hats and laser symbols.
Get your eyes ready because it’s time to take a trip to the pet centre to meet the ugliest, quirkiest, wildest-looking pets you’ve ever seen in the brand new slot, Fugly Pets, from Stakelogic. Fugly Pets takes players to a banged-up old pet store to explore its collection of weird and charming, downright ugly pets. Meet a scruffy parrot, a catnip crazed kitty, and an unfortunate-looking little dog.
Load your tackle box, bait your hook and get ready to reel in the catch of the day in Fishin’ The Biggest from Apparat Gaming, the in-demand German software provider’s latest splash hit slot that sees players trawl the sea for free spins and massively multiplied prizes. Played over five reels, three rows and ten fixed paylines, Fishin’ The Biggest is a highly-volatile title with an outdoor angling theme.
Thunderkick has announced the launch of Midas Golden Touch 2, the highly-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2019 original. This latest release invites players to rediscover an enchanted realm where everything King Midas touches turns to gold. The 3×5 video slot boasts 15 paylines and showcases Thunderkick’s signature high-quality design and innovative features.
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has served up another classic with its tasty Chef’s Sticky Fruits slot. This latest release from Belatra’s studio is a vibrant and juicy addition to its renowned catalogue of slots. It’s a 5×4 slot game bursting with colour that’s heightened with an upbeat, retro soundtrack that perfectly captures the essence of fun at the heart of every play.
3 Oaks Gaming has launched 3 China Pots: Hold and Win, the first time the company has integrated the popular 3 Pots mechanic within a Far East-themed title. The latest instalment from 3 Oaks to incorporate the 3 Pots functionality sees players transported to the allure of the Orient, where the Extra, Double and Multi modifiers influence the Bonus Game once activated.
Pragmatic Play has unleashed roaming wild re-spins and random guaranteed wins in Release the Bison. Symbols of the American frontier abound in this 5×4 slot, where hitting four or more rampaging bison triggers the wild re-spin feature, during which all wilds roam the reels to boost win potential.
Blueprint Gaming’s latest slot release tasks players to look for the leprechaun’s pot of gold under the water rather than at the end of the rainbow in Plenty O’ Fish, a 6×4 hybrid of sea creatures and shimmering rewards. Players must look to unlock a tackle box of treasure with a jaunty leprechaun being the key to wins, lurking behind a dynamically coloured underwater background that changes when the bonus game is triggered.
Booming Games has launched its latest sweet sensation to its collection of engaging slot games – Fruit Heaven Hold and Win™. This is a deliciously designed 5×3 slot game with 25 paylines, which promises players an exciting experience full of fantastic fruity features and Stacked Wilds.
Wazdan is multiplying jackpots in the follow-up to its top-performing game Mighty Wild™: Panther Grand Gold Edition. Venturing to the depths of the jungle where a black panther rules the reels on a 5×3 gameboard, the new edition provides even larger win potential. With the increased value of the Cash symbols and Cash Infinity™ symbols, there is also a more lucrative Grand Jackpot of 1500x the base bet.
The post Week 17/2024 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BiS SiGMA Americas
GR8 Tech Brings “Best Workplace 2024” and Fresh LatAm Insights from BIS SiGMA Americas
GR8 Tech’s participation at the recent BIS SiGMA Americas event held in São Paulo was quite successful, highlighted by winning the ‘BEST WORKPLACE 2024’ award at the SiGMA Americas Awards and holding over 150 meetings with operators and other stakeholders. These interactions have laid a solid foundation for GR8 Tech’s strategic expansion in the region and provided the team with significant insights into the evolving Latin American iGaming market.
A Closer Look at the Brazilian Market and Wider LatAm
“Brazil is not synonymous with Latin America. Each country on the continent has its own unique characteristics,” Evgen Belousov, GR8 Tech CEO.
The most important thing to understand in the LatAm region is that it’s very diverse. There are significant cultural and operational differences that necessitate a localized approach. For example, “Brazil’s rhythm is distinct; life starts in the afternoon, and business interactions reflect this laid-back pace. To thrive here, understanding and integrating into the local lifestyle is essential.”
Belousov further discussed the Brazilian market’s competitive nature, highlighting retention strategies’ crucial role. “The churn rate is high as players frequently shift between operators lured by aggressive marketing. Hence, having robust retention mechanisms, such as real-time tools and enticing bonus mechanics, is crucial to maintaining a loyal customer base,” he added.
Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO, addressed trending compliance and market preferences. “Regulation is a hot topic, with a keen focus on product compliance. Moreover, while classic sportsbooks saturate the market, emerging interests lie in areas like fantasy sports and social gaming, which present new opportunities for differentiation and growth.”
Thomas Carvalhaes, Senior Business Development Manager for the Latin America region, provided his expertise during the panel discussion “Understanding the demands and evolution of the B2B market”, highlighting the demand for localization and intuitive technology. “In Latin America, where many markets are still learning the ropes of iGaming, the simplicity of the technology is key. Products need to be user-friendly to ensure they meet the expectations of a clientele that values straightforward and engaging gaming experiences,” Carvalhaes explained.
Future Directions and Engagements
Building on the insights and achievements from BIS SiGMA Americas, GR8 Tech is actively expanding its presence in Brazil and LatAm, establishing its reputation as a key player in the region. The company is also exploring opportunities in other global markets, with Asia as the next target at SiGMA Asia, scheduled for June 3-6 in Manila, Philippines. This upcoming event presents another fantastic opportunity for GR8 Tech to demonstrate the capabilities of its flagship GR8 Sportsbook platform and forge new partnerships in another exciting and diverse region. We invite all our partners and clients to stay tuned, following our updates at https://gr8.tech/.
The EL Executive Committee has named Mr. Ionut-Valeriu Andrei as its newest member during its meeting on April 5. Mr. Andrei is the General Manager of Loteria Română since 2022, and succeeds Mr. Olgierd Cieslik, whose term as CEO of Totalisator Sportowy (Poland) has concluded.
”It is with great pleasure to welcome Mr Ionut-Valeriu Andrei as a new Executive Committee member. As an experienced executive, Mr Andrei has already contributed in various ways to our Association and the EL Executive Committee members trust he will continue to do so in the future,” Arjan van ‘t Veer, Secretary General of EL, said.
Mr Andrei will oversee the learning and development activities of EL. His appointment underscores the further commitment of the European Lotteries to inclusivity and collaboration among its members.
”I am honoured to join the EL Executive Committee and look forward to working closely with my colleagues to advance the mission and values of the Association,” Ionut-Valeriu Andrei said.
Mr Andrei’s co-optation will be formalised during the upcoming EL General Assembly in Salzburg (Austria) on 17 June 2024.
The post EL Executive Committee Names Mr Ionut-Valeriu Andrei as New Member appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Week 17/2024 slot games releases
GR8 Tech Brings “Best Workplace 2024” and Fresh LatAm Insights from BIS SiGMA Americas
Kambi Group plc Signs Landmark Sportsbook Partnership with Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Play’n GO announces expansion of PokerStars partnership with Pennsylvania launch
EL Executive Committee Names Mr Ionut-Valeriu Andrei as New Member
Paddy Power launches new innovative Checkd Dev betting tool Mix ‘N Match
Play’n GO digs deep for the treasures of ancient kings
Atlas-IAC’s CEO Maxim Slobodyanyuk Talks Winning Strategies & Vision for Future Growth in the iGaming Sector
Gaming1 renews contract with ComplianceOne Group for fifth consecutive year
Romania Bans Gambling Venues in Small Towns and Villages
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