Industry News
Evolution Publishes Interim Report for the First Quarter of 2022
Gambling technology supplier Evolution AB has published its interim report for the first quarter of 2022.
Highlights
- Operating revenues increased by 38.6% to EUR 326.8 million (235.8)
- EBITDA increased by 43.4% to EUR 229.7 million (160.1), corresponding to a margin of 70.3% (67.9)
- Profit for the period amounted to EUR 197.7 million (132.0)
- Earnings per share before dilution amounted to EUR 0.93 (0.62)
Events During the First Quarter of 2022
- In the quarter, 747,000 own shares were acquired. A total of 1,905,865 shares have been acquired and the repurchase programme, announced on 3 December 2021, is thereby completed.
- Launch of Lightning Roulette in New Jersey with other states to follow.
- After the end of the period, Evolution went live with an extensive set of online casino services for multiple operators in the new regulated online gaming market in Ontario, Canada.
- After the end of the period, the first tables are live in our new Madrid studio.
CEO’s Comments
“I’m very happy to see the great work of all Evolution employees producing yet another strong quarter. We continued the strong development from 2021 also during the first quarter of this year. Revenues in the quarter increased by 38.6 percent to EUR 326.8 million, supported by continued strong demand for Live Casino, and the EBITDA increased to EUR 229.7 million, which corresponds to an EBITDA margin of 70.3 percent.
Looking back at the start of this year the developments outside of Evolution are very much in my thoughts. Even though we were happy to see the effects of the pandemic slowly subsiding in Europe and North America during the quarter our attention moved to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine created by the unprovoked invasion from Russia. At the start of the war Evolution had approximately 100 co-workers based in Kyiv. As for now, the war has limited direct financial impact on our business but emotionally it has affected us all. We will naturally continue to follow the development closely.
The first quarter for Live Casino has started very well with good momentum on most metrics resulting in a strong growth of 44.0 percent. We experienced exceptional growth in the first half of 2021 so the comparable figures are demanding. 2022 has started very well and the entertainment and excitement that Live games offer continues to drive new as well as existing customers to our games.
RNG growth of 1.8 percent year on year pro-forma is in line with our expectations. While structural efforts, such as the One Stop Shop and other cross sales activities are important elements, at the end of the day the key for improved growth is developing great games to all players. End-user satisfaction is always key and taking us there is not done overnight. The road to success will not be straight-lined but the focus and ambition is clear and I’m convinced that we will reach our growth ambitions over time.
The EBITDA margin of 70.3 percent is a step up from the same period last year and within our guidance of 69-71 percent for 2022. I’m happy with this delivery during Q1, especially considering the situation in the world with general cost increases not only relating to transport and energy. Looking ahead we see that the guidance of 69-71 percent EBITDA margin remains.
For us at Evolution, launching new games is what we live for. Creating new fantastic end-user experiences and simply put – to innovate! New games build loyalty among our existing players, introduce existing players to new games they have not played before and attract completely new categories of players. In Q1 we launched Bac Bo, a unique dice game which combines elements of the classic games Baccarat and Sic Bo. We also released Peek Baccarat which is another version of the classic Baccarat. In the quarter we also introduced new RNG titles such as Narcos Mexico and Knight Rider, as well as home grown brands like Doggy Riches Megaways and Zillard King. During the remaining part of the year, we have a very strong line up of new games both in RNG as well as in Live – a very exciting time indeed.
There is a continued strong demand for online casino across the globe. In North America we continue to expand all our studios, with Connecticut as the next studio to be launched during 2022. In Asia we also continue to experience good growth, while the more mature European markets are, in general, in slower growth mode – some due to regulatory changes affecting operators. However, we still see growth opportunities in Europe. LatAm also offers good potential going forward and continues to develop with several markets in discussions regarding regulation of their market for online gaming.
As I write this we are in the final preparations of Go-Live in our new studio in Madrid and as you read this the first tables are just opening! Also, we are moving closer to open our Yerevan studio to add even more capacity to the Evolution network. A lesson learned during the pandemic years is to not be too dependent on any one studio. Today we can efficiently allocate our resources within our network of fifteen studios and shift resources from one site to another when needed, without any impact on our delivery capacity. As we add studios to the network this becomes even more of a strength benefiting our operators. As earlier communicated, we expect total investments in new studios to increase also in 2022.
We are well on our way into 2022, leaving the first quarter with good delivery and momentum. We strive to be better every single day, every single one of us, and we fight every day to increase the gap to our competitors. With our 88 new games 2022 we have shown what thousands and thousands of fantastic Evolution employees can achieve together. Evolution is a workplace where everyone is accepted and respected. Together, we hope for a brighter end of 2022 than the beginning.”
Industry News
Double win for Kaizen Gaming at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024
Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, had an impressive double-win at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024 on the 31st October in Miami, Florida. Awarded ‘Brazilian Market Entrant of the Year’, and ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’, the two wins follow an impressive year of growth and exposure for Kaizen Gaming, as well as its premium brand Betano, across Latin America and globally.
Betano is rapidly growing its user base and presence in Brazil, serving as the main and title sponsor of Brasileirão Betano and Copa Betano do Brasil. As a founding member of the ANJL and IBJR regulatory bodies, Betano is recognised for its dedication to upholding the highest standards of responsible gaming and integrity. Furthermore, the Betano brand has launched multiple CSR initiatives across the country in partnership with sponsored team, Clube Atlético Mineiro. It also recently launched the “Juntos em Campo” long-term program in cooperation with CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to promote initiatives focused on gender equality.
Awarded for the results and creativity of its innovative “Football in America” marketing campaign, Betano successfully introduced Latin America to its “Confia” brand platform by leveraging on its CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 sponsorship. The campaign chimed with the spirit of fans across the continent by celebrating Latin America’s rich football heritage, playfully responding to Kylian Mbappe’s 2022 comments questioning the region’s football quality.
Vangelis Skarkalis, Kaizen Gaming Senior Commercial Director LATAM, said: “Latin America is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting regions for i-gaming. Being recognised as a leading player in this important market with two wins at the prestigious SBC Awards Latinoamérica is a great honour – especially on the heels of our recent double-win as ‘Operator of the Year’ at both the EGR Operator Awards and SBC Awards. Achieving this success requires an exceptional team of dedicated, ambitious professionals. This award honours everyone’s hard work and commitment to always going above and beyond in delivering the best experiences for our customers not only in Latin America, but worldwide too.”
Industry News
Amusnet Italy Wins Casino Content Supplier at EGR Italy Awards
Amusnet Italy announced that it has again been recognised as Casino Content Supplier of the Year at the prestigious EGR Italy Awards. This consecutive win, presented to the team by Marco Castaldo, CEO at Microgame, highlights the company’s exceptional contributions and leadership within the iGaming industry, solidifying its reputation as a top-tier content provider in the European market. Demonstrating its support to the Italian gaming industry, Amusnet Italy served as a Headline Sponsor at the Gala event, where Polina Nedyalkova was honored to present two awards: Operator of the Year to Sisal and Casino Operator to 888casino.
“This consecutive recognition by EGR Italy Awards is a reflection of our team’s dedication to excellence and progress in every aspect of our business. We are honoured to receive this award and remain focused on driving the future of iGaming in the region with forward-thinking solutions that create exceptional value for operators and players,” said Polina Nedyalkova, Director at Amusnet Italy.
Amusnet Italy has recently achieved several notable milestones that enhance its presence in the country. Last November, in tough competition, the company was recognised as Casino Content Supplier of the Year at the EGR Italy Awards. According to iGaming Tracker, Amusnet Italy ranks as the fourth-best casino provider (results for June 2024), marking a significant leap of three positions in the rankings. Additionally, since January, Amusnet Italy has forged nine new long-term partnerships with operators, increasing its total to over 30. The company has released 15 new games since the beginning of the year, with more games planned for release by the end of 2024, such as 5 Power Hot, 10 Glossy Hot and a special Christmas slot collection, boasting a portfolio of more than 100 certified signature and top-performing casino games.
The EGR Italy Awards is an esteemed annual event organised by EGR Global that recognises excellence in the Italian online gaming industry. Celebrating innovation and operational excellence, the awards cover a range of categories, including Best Casino and Best Sportsbook, with winners determined by a panel of industry experts. The event highlights the achievements of leading operators and suppliers. It serves as a vital networking platform for industry professionals to connect and collaborate, reinforcing the dynamic nature of the Italian gaming market.
The post Amusnet Italy Wins Casino Content Supplier at EGR Italy Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
SOFTSWISS Wins SBC Latinoamérica Award for Help Brazil Initiative
SOFTSWISS has won the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year nomination at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024 for its impactful ‘Help Brazil’ initiative. This recognition underscores the company’s support for Brazilian communities affected by severe flooding earlier this year and its dedication to implementing meaningful social responsibility projects.
The SBC Awards Latinoamérica celebrates excellence in the Latin American gaming industry, gathering leading experts to acknowledge the achievements of operators, platform providers, affiliates, and suppliers across various sectors. SOFTSWISS’ ‘Help Brazil’ initiative distinguished itself among the top entries, with judges marking its focus on community sustainability and industry engagement.
Launched in May 2024, ‘Help Brazil’ provided immediate relief by delivering food, clothing, and clean water to flood-affected areas in Rio Grande do Sul in coordination with Movimento União BR. Further committed to sustainable recovery, SOFTSWISS partnered with PWTech, funding water purification installations in affected schools to guarantee long-term access to clean water.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, noted: “This prestigious award affirms our commitment to making a real difference. As we expand our business in Latin America, we build lasting relationships with people and partners in this region and see ourselves as part of the local communities. When action was needed, we could not remain on the sidelines. We are grateful that the Latin American industry recognised and supported our initiative and immensely thankful to everyone who joined us in this effort, both locally and internationally.”
Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America, who helped raise awareness for the initiative, added: “I am incredibly proud of SOFTSWISS’ commitment to a sustained and compassionate approach. This recognition underscores our dedication to supporting communities in Brazil, where we focus on making a meaningful impact. Together, with such comprehensive projects, we are demonstrating how our industry can step up when it matters most.”
Continuing its commitment to local communities, this September, SOFTSWISS and its employees provided financial aid and essential supplies to flood-affected regions in Poland, where the company operates two offices. The aid campaigns in Poland and Brazil reflect SOFTSWISS’ commitment to being a responsible partner for local communities and its broader focus on ESG principles through long-term health, environmental, and social initiatives, including World Environment Day, Pink October, and Movember.
SOFTSWISS welcomes its partners and clients to visit stand 2145 at the SiGMA Europe Summit to explore future collaboration opportunities.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
-
gaming2 years ago
ODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News6 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News6 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018