Connect with us

Industry News

Net Gaming carries out restructuring and issues forecast for Q2 2020

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Net Gaming’s operations have performed well during Q2, showing both organic growth and improved underlying profitability in adjusted EBITDA. The Company is in an intensive transformation phase, after Robert Andersson took over as CEO, which means that a reorganisation has been initiated. The reorganisation, which is aimed at creating better conditions for future growth, means that the second quarter has been affected by non-recurring costs.

The reorganisation of the business and transformation to Acroud AB have begun during Q2. The reorganisation involves, among other things, closing the Swedish office and centralising the business to Malta, in order to create a more efficient and cost-effective organisation. The reorganisation will bring annual savings of EUR 0.3m, with full effect from Q3. The reorganisation will give rise to non-recurring costs of EUR 0.5m during Q2 2020, charged to operating profit (EBITDA). The Company has also decided to recognise an impairment loss of EUR 0.5m on assets related to the PokerLoco brand, which will not be included in the new growth strategy adopted in 2020, focusing on fewer products. In parallel, refinancing of the business has been successfully secured in Q2, also resulting in non-recurring costs of approximately EUR 0.3m related to a consent fee, charged to net financial items. Net financial items have also been adversely affected by EUR/SEK exchange rate fluctuations of approximately EUR 1.2m in the first two months of the quarter, as the bond loan is denominated in SEK. The Company’s reported profit after tax for Q2 has been negatively affected by the above factors.

“The underlying operations have shown positive development during Q2, with sequential organic growth of 14%, but also compared with the previous year. It should be noted that a large proportion of the items having a negative impact on Q2 earnings are non-cash items and of an accounting nature. The offensive initiatives and the reorganisation we are now implementing create the conditions for future growth and a brand new Acroud AB that will stand stronger in the future. With Sports betting on the doorstep and a company that is now optimised for the future, we feel strong as we embark on the growth journey we have begun. As proposed to the AGM, we also hope to be able to change our track to the new Acroud AB, which will be a new milestone,” says CEO Robert Andersson.

Forecast Q2 2020

Revenue is expected to amount to EUR 3.6m in Q2 2020, 14 percent higher than in Q1 2020 and 4 percent higher than in Q2 2019.
Adjusted EBITDA (adjusted for non-recurring costs related to reorganisation and rebranding) is expected to amount to EUR 2.1m, 21 percent higher than in Q1 2020 and 4 percent higher than in Q2 2019. The adjusted EBITDA margin for Q2 2020 is expected to be 58 percent.
Reported EBITDA is expected to amount to EUR 1.6m, 10 percent lower than in Q1 2020 and 23 percent lower than in Q2 2019. The EBITDA margin for Q2 2020 is expected to be 43 percent
Reported profit after tax is expected to amount to EUR -1.2m, compared with EUR 2.8m in Q1 2020 and EUR 1.2m in Q2 2019, which was adversely affected by the above-mentioned non-recurring costs and exchange rate fluctuations related to the loan financing. Adjusted for non-recurring costs and exchange rate fluctuations, Adjusted profit after tax for Q2 2020 amounts to EUR 1.4m.
At 30 June 2020, the cash position is estimated at EUR 3.0-3.2m. The Company’s interest-bearing net debt is expected to be EUR 21.5m, corresponding to a debt/equity ratio, defined as net debt/EBITDA, of 3.0x, based on estimated LTM EBITDA at 30 June 2020.
Robert Andersson, President and CEO

All figures are unaudited and based on management accounts. The next financial update is scheduled to take place in connection with this year’s Q2 report on 13 August 2020.

About Net Gaming:
Net Gaming owns, operates and develops high-quality comparison sites, mainly in iGaming affiliation, for the purpose of helping our partners by channelling high-quality users to the Company’s customers – primarily iGaming operators. Through the sites, Net Gaming generates high-quality users, primarily to global iGaming operators. The Company, which was founded in 2003, has just over 70 employees and is headquartered in Malta.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17

Published

on

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-august-11-17
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

AU10TIX announced the launch of a free Child Safety Age Assurance Risk and Readiness Assessment and Age Assurance Readiness Guide designed to help businesses better understand their risk and tailor their strategy to meet regulatory obligations. They support AU10TIX’s Selfie-based Age Estimation service, which delivers the industry’s most precise and unbiased age assessment in just two seconds. In the US, federal legislation such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires parental consent for users under 13, while the California Consumer Privacy Act mandates age verification for websites accessed by users under 16. Additionally, 19 U.S. states now enforce mandatory age checks for adult content and gambling platforms. Similar regulations are impacting social media and online services in the UK, EU and Australia.

Caesars Entertainment has launched its third fully in-house developed proprietary online casino title: Signature American Roulette. Now live in New Jersey, the game is available across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, bringing another standout addition to the Company’s Signature table game series. Developed by Empire Creative, Signature American Roulette reflects Caesars’ growing investment in building its own proprietary content, a cornerstone of its online casino strategy aimed at delivering a best-in-class player experience. Signature American Roulette follows the recent launches of fan-favourite Signature titles, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender in May and Signature Blackjack Surrender in June, both also developed by Empire Creative.

Novig announced the successful close of an $18 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Forerunner, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, NFX, Perceptive Ventures and Gaingels. Founded by Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah, Novig is reimagining sports predictions as a transparent and fair marketplace. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, Novig allows users to trade directly with one another, rather than against the house, eliminating hidden fees, biased odds and the risk of being penalised for winning.

Partnerships

IGT announced that it has secured a multi-year sports betting technology and services agreement with Hipodromo de Agua Caliente SA de CV and Distribuidora Internacional de Equipos de Juego, S. De R.L. De C.V. that will significantly extend IGT PlaySports’ footprint to Mexico and Latin America via Corporación Caliente. Per the agreement, 42 Caliente sportsbooks in Mexico will leverage the IGT PlaySports platform and services from the Company’s Trading Advisory Services Team. Through a phased rollout, Caliente will also be able to provide select sportsbooks operators throughout Latin America access to IGT PlaySports’ technology, extending the technology’s reach to more than 100 additional venues across eight countries.

CT Interactive has announced a strategic partnership with Ondiss. Through this collaboration, CT Interactive’s top-performing titles are now integrated into the Ondiss platform, significantly expanding the company’s reach within the region’s regulated iGaming market. This integration adds value to the broad Argentine audience of Casino & Hotel Casino Magic S.A., which successfully uses the Ondiss platform. With CT Interactive’s certified and player-favourite content now available, operators on the platform are empowered to diversify their offerings and meet the increasing demand for engaging, high-quality games.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Industry News

PAGCOR Opposes Online Gambling Ban Amid Pressure to Criminalise the Industry

Published

on

pagcor-opposes-online-gambling-ban-amid-pressure-to-criminalise-the-industry
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

PAGCOR, the Philippine gaming regulator, has opposed a proposed ban on online gambling, despite mounting nationwide calls to criminalise it over soaring numbers of addiction, debt and mental health cases.

The online gambling sector in the Philippines has been growing exponentially, with gross revenues jumping from $140M in 2022 to $2.4B in 2024, according to Senate Committee on Games and Amusement data.

The committee held a hearing last week, highlighting the human cost of the industry, with its members demanding to outlaw it, saying the country was facing a full-blown public health and social crisis.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who led the hearing on online gambling, warned that “as long as online gambling exists, we are breeding the next generation of addicts, debtors, and broken families.”

He called for a ban and to “prosecute not only the operators, but also the enablers — in the government and in the private sector — who profit from this misery.”

PAGCOR, which is both an operator and regulator, said it “is not in favor of a total ban and instead advocates for stricter regulation.”

The regulator said that illegal operators are the real problem.

“Unfortunately, many of these unregulated online operators are based overseas who target Filipinos, most of whom do not realize that the sites they are playing on are not licensed by PAGCOR. This is where problems arise, especially regarding age restrictions.”

But a survey cited by senators indicates that age was not the main issue. It indicated that 66% of Filipinos aged 18 to 40, and 57% of those aged 41 to 55 were engaged in online gambling. Nearly a third bet multiple times a week, some wagering up to $53 per session.

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva warned online gambling is a “growing national crisis” in the Philippines.

“People are not just risking their hard-earned money. They are putting their futures, families, and lives on the line. The lure of instant wealth has already led many down a path of addiction, debt, and despair,” he said.

“Online gambling is not just a matter of financial loss. It is strongly associated with serious mental and physical health issues, broken relationships, family conflict, increased cases of domestic violence and suicide, crime against persons and property, and ultimately, the erosion of opportunities and dignity in the lives of many Filipinos.”

The post PAGCOR Opposes Online Gambling Ban Amid Pressure to Criminalise the Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Industry News

UNLV International Gaming Institute Launches New AI Research Hub

Published

on

unlv-international-gaming-institute-launches-new-ai-research-hub
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The UNLV International Gaming Institute has launched a new AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the gaming industry’s digital transformation.

Co-founder Kasra Ghaharian, the institute’s director of research, said the AiR Hub will address critical questions reshaping the sector: How is artificial intelligence transforming gaming operations? What governance frameworks should guide AI implementation in this traditionally regulated industry? Which emerging technologies must operators master to stay competitive? And how can the sector effectively integrate responsible AI practices with cutting-edge academic research?

“So all of these things that you might expect a research institution to do,” Ghaharian said, “we wanted to do specifically for this intersection of AI with gambling.”

While scattered research around AI in gaming has existed, Ghaharian said there hasn’t previously been a central hub for it. He and AiR Hub co-founder Simo Dragicevic, an International Gaming Institute (IGI) adjunct fellow, saw the opportunity to generate evidence, research and insight that could help the industry better understand and navigate AI technology.

“I think IGI has always had this place to be a thought leader in terms of knowledge, insights for the breadth of stakeholders across the gambling industry. And with the growth and expansion of this new technology, which is artificial intelligence, I think it’s important for us to continue that reputation,” Ghaharian said.

AI is and will continue to have a fundamental impact on all aspects of society, said Dragicevic, who is an industry veteran with experience in gaming software, regulation and AI.

As the gaming industry naturally focuses on product innovation and growth, it’s important someone is also looking at the potential safety aspects that may arise from AI — and AiR Hub is prepared to take on this critical role, Dragicevic said.

“Given the arguably controversial nature of the gambling industry and the gambling product, when it intersects with this technology — which, in and of itself, is controversial — I think that highlights the need for scrutiny; for some research to help guide the ship,” Ghaharian said.

The AiR Hub has received financial support from a variety of industry stakeholders, Ghaharian said. Founding industry members will also serve on an industry advisory panel to ensure that what the hub is doing is practical and relevant.

“It’s kind of that analogy of the ivory tower, right?” he said. “We don’t want to be just in a silo, not speaking to the industry, doing research that we think is relevant, that might not be applicable.”

There’s a reason the new entity is called a “hub” and not a “lab,” Dragicevic said, and that’s to emphasize its collaborative nature.

AiR Hub will build a framework and tools for regulators to help them ask the right questions before making any decisions on whether regulations need to adapt to change, he said, by inviting them to work with academics and partner universities in the early stages of projects.

It will also be important to engage the industry to ensure framework and tools are practical and factor in the complexities and nuances of the industry, Dragicevic said.

The post UNLV International Gaming Institute Launches New AI Research Hub appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Trending