Canada
The US Online Sport Betting and iGaming markets – choosing the right partner for a brighter future
In the United States, Online Gaming* has grown in popularity over the last year, increasing customers base and gaming revenue. The US Online Gaming market is valued at 2B USD and the forecast is to grow further and reach 8.5B USD GGR by 2025, representing a CAGR of over 15%.
*Online Gaming is referring to iGaming (aka internet casino/poker gaming) and online Sports Betting (aka Mobile Sports Wagering)
Circa one-third of states already legalized at least one form of online gaming and others are in the process. I It is clear the growth potential is massive after the pandemic put the entire online industry on steroids. Struggling brick-and-mortar organizations realized that online presence is not just good, but a must-have. It is estimated that the portion of the online gaming revenues from the total gambling revenue in the US is now 20% and it is predicted to double by 2023, on account of additional skins going live, enlarged customers base and more states legalizing online gaming. In 2020, the total GGR from Online Gaming in four of the states- Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia and Pennsylvania reached over 1.5B USD, representing 200% Y2Y growth. New Jersey with share out of it is almost $1B and Pennsylvania above $500m. New Jersey is currently the largest market for regulated online gambling in the United States. In March this year, the New Jersey operators scooped up 113.7m USD 21%+ M2M. Pennsylvania is the fastest growing market in the US and it attracts operators and providers even though the tax rates – Video Slots 54%, Table games 34% and Poker 16%.
Enjoying the politician support, giving additional state tax revenues from GGR and licensing, increasing in-state employment and decreasing illegal betting through a regulated framework, the online gaming market will continue to thrive. Online Gaming holds a broader potential than the immediate market operators and providers. There is an entire ecosystem of providers in many fields like KYC automation, Anti-fraud and AML systems, AI and machine learning systems, CRM, BI, Gamification tools, payment processors and many more. In other words this means more indirect taxation and more jobs. Seeing the potential, operators can also take advantage of the growing interest of venture capital organizations and investment banks which have started investing their time, effort and money in the industry. Apart from Tennessee, the regulator has given advantage to the brick-and-mortar establishments, which should remove some of the fear of losing revenues. As online regulation will cannibalize land based establishment revenues, mainly from the younger demographic (under 50 years old), going online is a necessity. Not doing so would simply mean that potential online customers will seek to do business elsewhere.
The potential to boost land-based establishments with online gaming revenues comes from the fact that online availability is 24/7, richer products and betting options. It is easily accessible on mobile devices and it extends the business, geographically, throughout the given state boundary
The twelve years between the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 and the supreme court ruling in New Jersey in 2018 have created an online gaming knowledge gap that US gambling professionals are steadily catching up with by self-learning or/and M&A deals with European technology companies which already have the know-how. The Black Friday in 2011 has left a strong impression that things have changed and being compliant is crucial. Land-based establishments which wish to go online are required to close the gaps regarding online gaming products as well as having better understanding of the regulatory framework requirements of each state and implement technologies which are quite different from the land-based ones. As the payment processing options are richer, player acquisition and retention techniques are various, CSD will also need to be brought up in line with the changes. Unlike the players in Europe who were gradually introduced to new services, products and functionalities over the last decade, the US players are getting almost complete product in one step.
While the potential is clear, the road to success is not without hurdles, starting with skin licensing, liquidity allocation and financing. A crucial challenge on hand is to identify the right provider to partner up with. Some Casino owners will look for complete control over the new B2C operation, while others may be reluctant to obtain the know-how and would like to hand the operation to a trusted and experienced 3rd party to run it for them, or to “sell” one of their skins, if multiple skins are allowed. Some states allow just one skin per license, while others do not specify a limit. For instance, PGCB in Pennsylvania offers unlimited skins for iGaming licenses, but only one for Sports Betting licenses. Seven jurisdictions are now allowing iGaming and 22 legalized online sports betting. The multi-skin approach is crucial to maintain the diverse and healthy competition. Consumers will be empowered and enjoy better service, and online offering as many more operators are in a given state
Running an iGaming and/or Sports Betting operation is a complex task. Some land-based Casinos are familiar with only running a slot and table games business. With only five states legalizing online casinos, the know-how of Sports Betting is critical; therefore, partnering with the right Sports Betting and Casino partner, like Delasport, is vital. Choosing the right partner can put the land base organizations in the best position to capitalize on Casino and Sports Betting’s opportunities.
Delasport brings to the table the right ingredients to support the local brick-and-mortar establishment. We offer not just technology but also many years of experience in running successful online Sports Betting and Casino operations from the ground up. We support both strategies of turnkey solutions, allowing operators to run their brand and fully managed solutions while we run the day-to-day operations.
Blanka Homor
Playson Signs Agreement with Light & Wonder in Global Distribution Deal
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has forged a major global content deal with Light & Wonder to significantly enhance the reach of its extensive games portfolio.
This landmark agreement will enable Light & Wonder’s expansive operator network across the UK, Canada, and Latin America to gain access to Playson’s engaging offering.
UK-based operator Dazzletag Entertainment Ltd was the first to go live with the studio’s creative releases last month, with SUPERCHARGED CLOVERS: HOLD AND WIN and 3 POTS RICHES: HOLD AND WIN launched across its online casino brands.
Light & Wonder’s content marketplace is utilised by some of the biggest operator brands from across the globe, providing them with access to more than 3500 games from a host of third-party studios to allow them to build personalised, mobile-ready player experiences and stay ahead of regulatory changes.
The partnership signifies the strength of Playson’s reputation as a respected and highly sought-after provider to operators globally, as the rising demand for its games looks set to take the studio to new heights for 2025.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Our deal with Light & Wonder is a major milestone in our strategic roadmap, as we embark on the next chapter of our global growth. This agreement expands our reach and allows us to deliver our appealing titles to new operators and players.
“The launch of our titles across Dazzletag’s two brands is a great start, and we are confident this relationship will further elevate our presence in the ever-evolving online casino space.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partnerships at Light & Wonder, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a highly respected digital entertainment provider and deliver their portfolio to our network. This strengthens our commitment to offering operators the best game releases available.
“We look forward to other successful launches in 2025, as we continue to support our operators with diverse content.”
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Bragg Gaming Group
Bragg Gaming Announces Preliminary Unaudited Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 Strategic Initiatives and Guidance
Bragg Gaming Group announced its preliminary unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2024 based on information currently available to management and certain strategic initiatives and issued financial guidance for 2025, highlighting anticipated double-digit growth in Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA driven by a strategic focus on proprietary and exclusive content.
Anticipated Full Year 2024 Results Highlights
The Company expects the financial results for full year 2024 to include the following highlights: Revenue not less than EUR 102 million, an increase of 9% from EUR 93.5 million for 2023, Adjusted EBITDA of not less than EUR 15.4 million, an increase of 1% from EUR 15.2 million for 2023.
Anticipated Financial Highlights for 2025
Revenue Guidance: Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, is expected to reach between EUR 117.5 million and EUR 123.0 million, representing double digit growth compared to the Company’s anticipated 2024 revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA Guidance: Adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to range between EUR 19.0 million and EUR 21.5 million, supported by a shift toward higher-margin product offerings.
Strategic Business Drivers
The Company is expecting to realize its anticipated 2025 results in part, as a result of certain strategic initiatives, including:
• Shift in Revenue Concentration: The percentage of revenue from the Company’s proprietary and exclusive content business is expected to increase providing a more margin-accretive mix and improving profitability with reduced reliance on third party content revenue by year end.
• Growth in Key Markets: Content-focused products, including proprietary, exclusive and aggregated content are projected to drive significant revenue growth in North America and Brazil, which are expected to contribute up to 10% and 15% of revenue, respectively by year-end.
• Brazil’s Growth Potential: The Company believes that its proprietary and exclusive content and aggregation businesses are strategically positioned to capture a significant share of Brazil’s $1.5 billion iGaming market, projected to more than double to over $3.3 billion by 2029, according to H2 Gambling Capital.
• US Market Penetration: The Company believes that it is strategically positioned for significant growth in the US market by leveraging its proprietary and exclusive content portfolio. Through integration with top-tier operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Rush Street, Caesars and BetMGM, and licenses in all key iGaming states, the Company’s content is accessible to over 90% of the US iGaming market, valued at over $9.5 billion, according to H2 Gambling Capital. Under the leadership of Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer, and Garrick Morris, SVP (Commercial, US & Canada), veterans of the iGaming industry with multi-decade successful market penetration experience under their belt, the Company has strong leadership to garner enhanced market share. It is expected that proprietary and exclusive content growth in the US will be further driven by the recently announced technology and content partnership with Caesars Entertainment Inc. This partnership, which leverages the Company’s cutting-edge technology and innovative development strengthens the Company’s profile in a competitive and dynamic market.
• Stronger Penetration in Major European Markets: Bragg aims to expand content distribution in key Western European markets, including Italy, UK, Spain, and Sweden, by leveraging existing integrations with top operators and implementing targeted sales strategies.
• Expand Exclusive Partnerships: The Company plans to increase its roster of partner studios to enhance the release cadence of titles in North America. Additionally, Bragg aims to grow exclusive content distribution in Central European markets, including the Czech Republic and Germany, through strategic partnerships with studios such as Gamomat and King Show Games.
• Stability in PAM Business: The Company’s PAM business is expected to remain flat year-over-year, an overall positive, despite the anticipated contraction of the Netherlands market in 2025 due to regulatory changes made in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Enhanced Technology Profile: The Company continues to innovate with technologies such as FUZE, which provides bonuses, free rounds, tournaments, jackpots, recommendation engine and other engagement and promotional tools seamlessly across all iGaming, Sportbetting and iLottery products, requiring no additional integration. These advanced features enhance player experience and contribute to the growth of the Company’s product portfolio revenue.
• Data and AI Enhancements: By leveraging extensive gaming data, the Company generates actionable insights and employs AI-driven optimizations to elevate player experiences and enhance operator profitability, thereby accelerating profitable growth in proprietary and exclusive content verticals. Opportunities to leverage AI to reduce costs and enhance product margins are also being actively explored.
• Pipeline Opportunities: A robust pipeline of opportunities is under development, which, if realized, could further enhance 2025 performance but are not yet reflected in the current guidance.
• Stock Appreciation Rights Plan: Bragg has also introduced a new Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) plan for its executive management team, further aligning management interests with those of shareholders. The SAR plan has been implemented under the Company’s Amended and Restated Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and pays out only if the Company’s share price increases over a three-year period, with a full payout contingent on achieving a four-fold increase from a base price of $5 CAD. This structure ensures that executive compensation is firmly tied to delivering significant shareholder value. Additionally, the plan includes accelerated vesting provisions in the event of a change of control, preserving alignment with shareholder interests in all value-creation scenarios. SAR award payouts may be settled through the payment of cash, the issuance of shares, or through a combination of both, subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board and availability of shares under the Company’s equity incentive plan at the time.
“I am pleased with where we believe 2024 results will land and very excited about the strong growth trajectory outlined in our 2025 guidance. Our strategic investments in proprietary and exclusive content as well as various Data, Player journey and AI enhanced engagement features, are expected to drive our growth in 2025. By focusing on margin-accretive products, we are well-positioned to boost both revenue and profitability while pursuing opportunities in key markets such as Brazil and the United States. Our PAM product remains a top-tier performer, and while our 2025 growth will largely come from the content side of the business, we have exciting prospects to expand our PAM offering. Additionally, I’m particularly proud of the strong executive team that we have assembled at Bragg this past year. The recently announced Caesars deal highlights their impressive capabilities,” said Matevž Mazij, CEO of Bragg.
The post Bragg Gaming Announces Preliminary Unaudited Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 Strategic Initiatives and Guidance appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
NorthStar Gaming Announces $43.4 Million Long-Term Debt Financing
NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. announced that the company has, subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) in respect of a senior secured first lien term loan facility providing for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $43.4 million CAD (being the approximate equivalent of $30,000,000 USD) (the “Credit Facility”) to be made available by Beach Point Capital Management LP (“Beach Point”). Playtech plc (“Playtech”) and certain Playtech subsidiaries have agreed to provide credit support for certain obligations under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility represents a significant milestone for NorthStar, strengthening its balance sheet and enabling the Company to continue to accelerate its growth initiatives.
“This is a pivotal moment for NorthStar, marking the largest financing in our history. This Credit Facility strengthens our balance sheet and directly supports our ability to scale operations and drive the business towards profitability with a single-minded focus. We are grateful to Beach Point Capital Management for their trust in our strategy and vision. We are also thankful for Playtech’s steadfast partnership which was instrumental in securing this funding, reinforcing their value both strategically and as a technology provider,” said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar.
“Beach Point has deep experience investing across the gaming sector and is excited to partner with NorthStar to support their strategic initiatives. The online gaming sector has been growing rapidly, and this investment reflects our confidence in the Company’s leadership, market potential, and ability to deliver long-term sustainable growth. Likewise, we value the partnership with Playtech, who are contributing their leading technology, global reach, and strategic vision towards NorthStar’s continued success,” said Gabriel Fineberg, Managing Director at Beach Point.
The purpose of the Credit Facility is to support NorthStar’s continued growth by significantly strengthening the Company’s balance sheet. The Company will use the proceeds of loans made pursuant to the Credit Facility: (i) to repay the aggregate $9.5 million CAD principal amount (plus accrued interest) loaned to the Company by Playtech pursuant to unsecured, interest-bearing promissory notes dated April 25, 2024, September 13, 2024 and December 16, 2024; (ii) to fund an interest reserve account in respect of the Credit Facility in an amount equal to $7,000,000 CAD; (iii) for working capital and general corporate purposes; and (iv) to pay transaction costs in connection with the Credit Facility.
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