Industry News
GVC Holdings: Q1 Trading and COVID-19 Planning Update
GVC Holdings PLC, the global sports betting and gaming group, today reports trading for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2020 (“Q1”) and provides a further update on the impact of COVID-19 and the mitigating actions being taken. This follows the Group’s previous announcements of 16 and 17 March 2020.
Summary
- GVC started the year well, with Group net gaming revenue (“NGR”) +1% and Online NGR up +19%cc1 in the first quarter
- However, the closure of retail outlets and the cancellation of sports events significantly reduced revenue from mid-March
- In previous announcements the Group estimated the impact of COVID-19 before any mitigating actions equates to a reduction in EBITDA2 of approximately £100m3 per month
- However, following the initiation of a number of mitigating actions the Group now expects to reduce this EBITDA impact to approximately £50m per month
- As a result, the average monthly cash outflow would be limited to approximately £15m per month, and the Group is confident that further cost actions will enable it to achieve its target of reducing the cashflow to breakeven
- The Group’s financial position remains robust, however given the ongoing uncertainty regarding timings of the easing of shutdown measures around the world, the Board has taken the prudent decision to withdraw the second interim dividend that is due for payment on 23 April 2020
Kenneth Alexander, GVC’s CEO, commented:
“As our Q1 trading numbers once again demonstrate, GVC is a business that, in normal times, delivers an outstanding performance. However, while our global and product diversification is standing us in good stead during the current uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic is posing an unprecedented challenge to our business and our industry. We are responding decisively, and have put in place a range of measures to keep our people safe, strengthen our financial position, limit cash outflow, preserve jobs and maintain a compelling customer offer. I am confident that we will emerge from this period in a position of strength, and we will be well placed to take advantage of a range of attractive growth opportunities which we believe will be available to us.
“We are also sensitive to the fact that at this time of economic stress and isolation, it is vital that we ensure a safe, responsible and enjoyable gaming environment for our customers and do everything that we can to minimise the potential for harm. Accordingly, not only have we supported the Betting and Gaming Council’s 10 pledge action plan on safer gambling, but we have gone further and introduced a range of additional safeguarding measures to ensure that we are able to rigorously monitor and protect anyone who may be vulnerable at this time.
“Finally, I would like to thank our outstanding teams around the world for the manner in which they have rapidly adapted to the challenge, and for their continuing hard work and commitment to ensuring GVC’s long-term success.”
Current trading
In its 2019 full year results on 5 March 2020, GVC reported that the current year up to 23 February 2020 had started strongly. That momentum continued until the Group started to see the impact of COVID-19 on sporting events and store closures in mid-March.
The performance of the Group for the year to 31 March 2020 is set out in the table below, with key highlights as follows:
- Total Group NGR +1% (+2% cc1)
- Online NGR +16% (+19% cc1), with continued strong growth in all major territories
- UK Retail like-for-like (“LFL”)4 NGR -19%
- European Retail NGR -3% (flat cc1) supported by continued market share gains in Italy
- For the period 1 January to 15 March 2020 all divisions performed strongly, supported by favourable sports margins:
- Group NGR +9% (+11% cc1)
- Online performed strongly across both gaming and sports, with NGR +20% (+23% cc1). Since then there has been an encouraging performance in gaming in the absence of sporting events, in line with the Group’s expectations
- UK Retail like-for-like (“LFL”)4 NGR -5% despite the annualisation of the triennial review impacts
- European Retail delivered strong NGR growth at +20% (+24% cc1)
| Period 1 January to 31 March 2020 | ||||
| Total NGR | Total NGR cc1 | Sport Wagers | Sports Margin | |
| Online | ||||
| Sports | 17% | 21% | (12%) | 2.5pp |
| Gaming | 17% | 18% | ||
| Total Online | 16% | 19% | ||
| UK Retail (LFL3) | (19%) | (19%) | (8%) | 3.3pp |
| European Retail | (3%) | flat | (21%) | 3.7pp |
| Total Group | 1% | 2% | ||
For the avoidance of doubt, the guidance provided on 5 March 2020 is withdrawn.
Impact of COVID-19
On 16 and 17 March 2020 GVC provided assessments of the impact of cancellations of sporting events and store closures on Group EBITDA3 for the year to 31 December 2020. These announcements were based on the Group’s modelling which assumed that: a) football is suspended across Europe; b) major sporting events are cancelled or postponed (Aintree, Royal Ascot, Euro 2020 etc); c) horse racing in the UK and Ireland is suspended; d) all retail outlets in the UK, Republic of Ireland and mainland Europe are closed; and e) there would be a modest increase in GVC’s gaming business which accounts for 57% of Online NGR. Taken together, GVC estimated that these events would result in a reduction in EBITDA of approximately £100m3 per month before any mitigating actions. This would break down by the Group’s key reporting divisions as approximately 20% for Online, 63% for UK Retail and 17% for European Retail.
Mitigating actions
GVC’s teams around the world are working hard to reduce costs and re-prioritise activity in order to preserve free cash, whilst continuing to offer its customers great gaming experiences and to position the Group to emerge from the current restrictions in a position of strength. A number of opportunities have been identified so far which reduce costs by approximately £50m per month.
For example, in the UK GVC is eligible to receive the government grant towards employment costs as we furlough retail colleagues and retain them on full pay, as well as the business rates relief, which together the Group estimates will reduce costs by nearly £20m per month.
In Italy and Belgium GVC operates a franchising model where the store operating costs (rent, employment, utility and other costs) primarily reside with the franchisee.
Other measures taken include reductions in online sports marketing, sports content and trading costs.
Resultant estimated cash outflow
After adjusting for the impact on EBITDA, adding additional cash costs incurred (such as interest, capex, tax and other costs) and allowing for retail capex reduction, the average monthly cash outflow would be approximately £15m per month. The Group continues to work through cost mitigation opportunities and is targeting a break-even cashflow per month objective, thereby preserving cash at broadly current levels during this period of retail closures and reduced sporting events.
The following table sets out, for illustrative purposes only, the effect of our modelling and mitigating actions on EBITDA and average cashflow over a month of severe COVID-19 impacts:
| Impacts of COVID-19 and mitigations | Estimated average monthly amounts |
| Consensus EBITDA2 for FY2020 as at 31/1/20 | £65m |
| Total EBITDA impact before mitigating actions | £(100)m |
| Mitigating actions | £50m |
| Net EBITDA | £15m |
| Other cash costs incurred (including capex, interest, tax and other items) after retail capex mitigation | £(30)m |
| Net cash utilisation | £(15)m |
Financial position
GVC is in a robust financial position, with net debt/EBITDA as at 31 December 2019 of 2.69x. The Group had accessible cash of over £350m at 31 March 2020, of which over £250m is cash at hand after excluding cash held on behalf of customers, cash in shops, ringfenced PSP funds and other items which may not be immediately available.
In addition, GVC has a £550m Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) which is currently undrawn. This facility has a financial covenant which is only tested if the facility is drawn by more than 35% at a quarter-end. The covenant measure is calculated on a trailing 12-month pre IFRS 16 basis with a net debt/EBITDA limit of 4X. Unrealised synergies can be added to EBITDA.
GVC currently has two bonds in issue, totalling £500m. One of £100m is due 2022 and one of £400m is due 2023. In addition, the Group has Term Loans of €1,125m and $786m, both due 2024.
Dividend
Due to the ongoing uncertainty as to how long restrictions as a result of COVID-19 will be in place around the world, the Board has taken the prudent decision to withdraw the payment of the second interim dividend of 17.6p per share announced on 5 March 2020. This was due to be paid on 23 April 2020 with a total cash cost of £103m. However, the Board recognises the importance of dividends as a part of shareholder returns and will consider dividends with future results announcements.
2019 Annual Report and Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) and Directors Remuneration
The Group’s annual report for 2019 is today published on the Group’s website at gvc-plc.com. Copies will be posted to those shareholders requesting a hard copy as soon as it is practical to do so. The 2020 AGM was scheduled to be held on 30 April and in normal circumstances an AGM Notice would be circulated with the annual report. Owing to the public health guidance on social distancing, the Board has decided to postpone the AGM. The Group will issue an AGM Notice once the Board is confident it can safely hold a meeting on a specified date.
The 2019 Annual report sets out details of the directors’ 2019 incentive outcomes and 2020 implementation. However, the payment of directors’ 2019 bonuses and the grant of the 2020 LTIP awards have been postponed. The Remuneration committee will consider the impact of COVID-19 on GVC’s performance and remuneration in due course and review the implementation of the policy for 2020 as appropriate.
Notes
- Growth on a constant currency basis is calculated by translating both 2020 and 2019 performance at the 2020 exchange rates.
- As at 31 January 2020, company compiled EBITDA consensus for the financial year to 31 December 2020 was £776.3m on a pre-IFRS 16 basis.
- The £100m approximate impact on monthly EBITDA is derived from the two announcements of 16 & 17 March as follows: The EBITDA impact over 3.5 months of sports and major events cancelations and European Retail closures of approximately £130m – £150m equating to approximately £37m – £43m per month; the EBITDA impact of UK Retail store closures of approximately £45m – £50m per month; and the EBITDA impact of the cancellation of horse racing in the UK & Ireland of approximately £20m- £25m per month. Taking each of these at the mid-point and allowing for overlap derives an approximate monthly impact on EBITDA of £100m.
- UK Retail numbers are quoted on a LFL basis. During the period, there were an average of 3,131 shops in the estate, compared to an average of 3,464 in the same period last year.
About GVC Holdings PLC:
GVC Holdings PLC is one of the world’s largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all of its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports-betting and gaming opportunity in the US. The Group, incorporated in the Isle of Man, is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index and has licences in more than 20 countries, across five continents.
For more information see the Group’s website: www.gvc-plc.com
Jennifer Shatley, a recognized expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director.
Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils, and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.
“Many of America’s largest legal mobile gaming operators will be establishing a framework that helps to aid in responsible gaming education and awareness. By coming together with a clear set of objectives, ROGA and our members will work to enhance consumer protections and help provide easier and more efficient access to responsible gaming tools for consumers to enjoy the entertainment of online gaming,” Shatley said.
IDnow, a leading identity verification provider in Europe, has unveiled VideoIdent Flex, a new version of its expert-led video verification service that blends advanced AI technology with human interaction. The human-based video call solution, supported by AI, has been designed and built to boost customer conversion rates, reduce rising fraud attempts, increase inclusivity, and tackle an array of complex online verification scenarios, while offering a high-end service experience to end customers.
The company’s original expert-led product, VideoIdent, has been a cornerstone in identity verification for over a decade, serving the strictest requirements in highly regulated industries across Europe. VideoIdent Flex, re-engineered specifically for the UK market, represents a significant evolution, addressing the growing challenges of identity fraud, compliance related to Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes and ensuring fair access and inclusivity in today’s digital world outside of fully automated processes.
As remote identity verification becomes more crucial yet more challenging, VideoIdent Flex combines high-quality live video identity verification with hundreds of trained verification experts, thus ensuring that genuine customers gain equal access to digital services while effectively deterring fraudsters and money mules. Unlike fully automated solutions based on document liveness and biometric liveness features, this human-machine collaboration not only boosts onboarding rates and prevents fraud but also strengthens trust and confidence in both end users and organisations. VideoIdent Flex can also serve as a fallback service in case a fully automated solution fails.
Bertrand Bouteloup, Chief Commercial Officer at IDnow, said: “VideoIdent Flex marks a groundbreaking advancement in identity verification, merging AI-based technology with human intuition. In a landscape of evolving fraud tactics and steady UK bank branch closures, our solution draws on our decade’s worth of video verification experience and fraud insights, empowering UK businesses to maintain a competitive edge by offering a white glove service for VIP onboarding. With its unique combination of KYC-compliant identity verification, real-time fraud prevention solutions, and expert support, VideoIdent Flex is a powerful tool for the UK market.”
Whereas previously firms may have found video identification solutions to be excessive for their compliance requirement or out of reach due to costs, VideoIdent Flex opens up this option by customising checks as required by the respective regulatory bodies in financial services, mobility, telecommunications or gaming, to offer a streamlined solution fit for every industry and geography.
Bouteloup added: “Identity verification is incredibly nuanced; it’s as intricate as we are as human beings. This really compounds the importance of adopting a hybrid approach to identity – capitalising on the dual benefits of advanced technology when combined with human knowledge and awareness of social cues. With bank branches in the UK closing down, especially in the countryside, and interactions becoming more and more digital, our solution offers a means to maintain a human relationship between businesses and their end customers, no matter their age, disability or neurodiversity.
“VideoIdent Flex is designed from the ground up for organisations that cannot depend on a one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring their customers are who they say they are. In a world where fraud is consistently increasing, our video capability paired with our experts adds a powerful layer of security, especially for those businesses and customers that require a face-to-face interaction.”
The post IDnow Bridges the AI-human Divide with New Expert-led Video Verification Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Shane Cotter at Real Dealer Studios walks us through the groundbreaking new release, Volcano Roulette, and discusses whether classic table games need a makeover for today’s online audience.
Roulette is probably the most timeless casino game out there. Here’s what happened when we gave it a couple more balls. And a volcano.
The game we’re now launching is Volcano Roulette, and it’s fair to say that it’s a huge departure from what the industry is used to. The first thing players will see is the sleek, steampunk environment and a roulette wheel with that smoking volcano right in the middle. The game’s visuals, compared with typical RNG games, are several steps ahead thanks to the Cinematic RNG technology that Real Dealer invented. Essentially, this means the game was built on video that was produced the same way Hollywood films are made.
As cool as this game looks, it’s really the mechanics that set it apart. In every round, once the spin starts, one or two glowing lava balls can randomly shoot out of the volcano to become part of the action. These extra balls increase the chance of hitting a straight-up bet. If the player does land any straight-up bet, a special sequence starts where the numbers on the wheel shift, steampunk style, into multipliers. Then another lava ball erupts out to pick the multiplier for the straight-up bet win. These multipliers can be as much as 333x and apply to all straight up bets that land in the round. That means the player could win up to 999x their bet.
An eruption of innovation
What sparked this game’s theme is once again related to Cinematic RNG. We’ve got this amazing technology that gives us a huge amount of flexibility. It lets us make hyper-realistic looking games with any kind of action and put them in any setting we choose.
So one of our designers got the idea to have a roulette wheel where the numbers could drop down, shift, flip over and pop back up with different numbers, all of which would happen in an old-fashioned, mechanical looking way.
We were also having ongoing discussions about how to revamp the process of releasing the ball onto the table. And after a few sessions at the drawing board, we had the great idea of including a volcano.
Between the steaming volcano and the mechanical action of the changing numbers, the steampunk theme basically chose itself. Our 3D designers then set to work creating all the mechanical lightbulbs, cogs turning and all these different dials that give the game its character.
A degree of familiarity
Volcano Roulette is obviously a huge departure from what long-time players are used to. The challenge with revamping a classic is ensuring that when you innovate, you retain those elements of the game that the players love. That’s a balance that I believe Real Dealer Studios has managed to achieve.
That brings us to the question of whether online roulette needs a makeover. And the answer is both yes and no. As you can imagine, different players are after different experiences from the games that they play. Some prefer the classics while others want something completely new.
When this table game first moved into the digital space, it started off as a computer animation. It later improved, but still has that animated RNG feel. Later live games came in and have gained their own following. But for existing table game players used to that classic bricks-and-mortar casino feel or just looking for something higher quality, there was nothing out there.
Seeing this, we developed cinematic RNG to deliver a much better online experience, with enhanced audio-visual quality and heightened gameplay compared to other table games you find online. I wouldn’t call this a makeover – it’s getting back to what this game is all about and doing a better job of it in the online environment.
Of course, there are other players who are expecting new twists to the game. The key to catering to these different demands from players is to have an extensive portfolio that spans multiple themes and includes a range of features. Some might be done in classic style and include a dealer, others might be automatic and have multipliers.
Attracting new audiences
Where a full-fledged makeover becomes useful is when you’re trying to cross-sell table games to the larger pools of players coming from sportsbook and slots. The challenge here, however, is that each of these two demographics requires a completely unique approach.
To reach sports bettors, for example, we have created games that tie into real-world sporting events. Just last year, we had Hockey Fever Roulette which was launched for the Ice Hockey World Championship in May. The game was set in a man cave loaded with fan memorabilia and had rock music playing in the background. It was everything you would want in a hockey-themed game.
That was then followed by Rugby Fever Roulette, which was launched ahead of the Rugby World Cup. We wanted to make this game more personalised for each player, so we built a feature where players could choose between dealers and switch the visuals and thematics to match their favourite team.
Obviously, attracting new audiences was a major focus for these two games. But creating sports-themed titles also provided our operator partners with an opportunity to work our games into their event promotions. So, it had marketing benefits too.
Engaging with slots players is a completely different ballgame, however. Traditionally, there isn’t much cross-over between slots and table games. We therefore had to find a common ground between the two verticals. This is where slots-type features like multipliers, collect features and unique designs came into play. Cinematic RNG has really helped us here, letting us create some fantastic mechanics and immersive designs catering to the slots crowd.
Recently we took an even bolder step into the slots realm by partnering with the producers of an enormously popular slots title, 9 Masks of Fire. Our roulette version of the legendary game became an instant hit.
As 2024 progresses, we have plenty more titles in the pipeline which we are confident will offer a new spin on the classics and continue to drive engagement with players. Stay tuned!
The post Real Dealer Studios: Offering a fresh spin on classic roulette appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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