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SAZKA Group Q3 and 9M Results and Update on Current Trading

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SAZKA Group a.s.  announces its financial results for the three months to 30 September 2020 and provides an update on recent developments and current trading.

Q3 2020 Financial highlights

  • Consolidated gross gaming revenue increased by 66% year-on-year to €769 million. Excluding CASAG1, GGR increased by 1% year-on-year.
  • Consolidated Operating EBITDA2 increased by 37% year-on-year to €197 million. Excluding CASAG, Operating EBITDA increased by 6%.
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes certain one-off items, increased by 32% year-on-year to €207 million.
  • Consolidated profit after tax decreased by 33% year-on-year to €48 million, impacted by a €54 million restructuring provision at CASAG. Excluding CASAG, profit after tax increased by 3% year-on-year.

9M 2020 Financial highlights

  • Consolidated gross gaming revenue increased by 4% year-on-year to €1,421 million. Excluding CASAG, GGR decreased by 18% year-on-year due to the impact of COVID in the second quarter.
  • Consolidated Operating EBITDA decreased by 15% year-on-year to €364 million. Excluding CASAG, Operating EBITDA decreased by 26% year-on-year.
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes certain one-off items, also decreased by 15% year-on-year to €375 million.
  • Consolidated profit after tax from continuing operations decreased by 58% year-on-year to €90 million. Excluding CASAG, profit after tax decreased by 50%.

Pro-rata LTM Q3 2020 highlights3

  • Pro-rata LTM Adjusted EBITDA was €379 million.
  • Pro-rata net debt / Adjusted EBITDA was 3.2x and Pro-rata priority net debt / Adjusted EBITDA was 0.5x at 30 September 2020.

Key strategic initiatives

  • In July, the Supervisory Board of CASAG approved a plan to optimise the cost structure of the casino business in Austria.  This plan is underway and expected to achieve c.€45 million of annual cost savings by FY22.
  • In July and November, OPAP acquired additional interests in Stoiximan Group’s Greek and Cypriot business (“SMGC”), the leading online gaming business in Greece. OPAP now holds an 84.5% interest in SMGC.
  • In November, KKCG and SAZKA Group announced that funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, one of the world’s leading investors in gaming, will invest €500 million in a newly formed holding company which will become the owner of SAZKA Group at a valuation of €4.2 billion.

Trading update

  • Restrictions which had impacted some of our land-based businesses (in particular, in Greece, Italy and our casinos in Austria and internationally) in H1 were lifted at the end of Q2, and sales of these businesses recovered well in Q3.
  • Our land-based businesses in the Czech Republic and Austria, which were not materially impacted by restrictions in H1, have continued to perform well.
  • Online sales, which increased significantly during the period most impacted by COVID, have generally remained at these higher levels.
  • Since late October/early November, there has been a second wave of COVID restrictions, having some impact on our businesses.
  • The vast majority of the land-based POS of our businesses in the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy remain open and continue to sell our products.
  • The majority of the POS in these locations are located in shops and other outlets which provide essential products and services which therefore remain open. These include tobacconists, supermarkets and petrol stations.
  • Our land-based business in Greece and Cyprus as well as our casinos have been more affected by the current lockdown and are currently closed.
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Central Europe

Evoplay enters Czech market with exclusive Fortuna collaboration

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has made its debut in the Czech Republic through an exclusive collaboration with leading operator Fortuna.

As part of the agreement, 39 of Evoplay’s top-performing games, including popular titles like Penalty Shoot-out and The Greatest Catch, are now available to Fortuna customers in the Central European country.

The collaboration not only introduces Evoplay’s diverse portfolio to the Czech market but also solidifies the company’s commitment to expanding in key territories.

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Fortuna, a Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) brand, is a prominent online casino operator in the Czech market, and the partnership offers Evoplay a solid platform to reach more local players, supporting both companies’ growth objectives.

The strategic move marks a significant milestone for Evoplay, as it becomes the studio’s inaugural partnership in the market with plans for further expansion.

Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “Breaking into the Czech market with an exclusive partner like Fortuna underscores our strategic vision for regulated markets. We’re thrilled to bring our diverse content offering to Czech players and are confident this collaboration will yield outstanding results.”

Myke Foster, Group Head of Commercial Gaming Operations at FEG, said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering best-in-class entertainment and exceptional gaming experiences to all FEG customers, with Evoplay providing a broad content portfolio proven with players around the globe.”

“We are thrilled to be the first operator to take Evoplay’s titles live in the Czech market, and we anticipate a new level of engagement among our local audience.”

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Central Europe

Amusnet Partners with Kajot Intacto

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Amusnet proudly announces its strategic partnership with Kajot Intacto, a prominent Central and Eastern European gaming market operator. This collaboration aims to enhance players’ gaming experience by combining Amusnet’s cutting-edge offerings and diverse game portfolio with Kajot Intacto’s established market presence and expertise.

“At Amusnet, our focus is on enhancing player engagement and satisfaction, and our partnership with Kajot Intacto exemplifies this dedication. By utilizing the operator’s established market presence, we can effectively introduce our diverse portfolio of games to a wider audience in Slovakia. As we begin this collaborative journey, we are committed to evolving our offerings and remaining at the forefront of market trends, ensuring we meet the needs of players now and into the future,” said Irina Rusimova, Chief Commercial Officer at Amusnet.

“We are pleased to announce the addition of Amusnet as a valued game provider for our players. Renowned for its classic games enhanced with innovative features, Amusnet aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering quality gaming experiences. Notably, the most popular game at Kajot Intacto is 100 Burning Hot, which exemplifies Amusnet’s signature style and underscores our dedication to offering engaging content to our player base,” said André Kruf, Sales Director at Kajot Intacto.

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On Kajot Intacto’s platform, Slovak players can find some of Amusnet’s top-performing games, such as Hot Deco, 20 Golden Coins, Great 27, 100 Power Hot, Extra Crown, 100 Super Hot, 100 Burning Hot, Aztec Forest, Fruits & Gold, 20 Hot Blast and other top-notch titles like Secrets of Sherwood, Candy Palace, and Drops of Water.

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Central Europe

SOFTSWISS Steps In to Assist Southern Poland After Severe Flooding

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SOFTSWISS, a global tech supplier of software for the iGaming industry, along with its employees, has actively aided communities affected by the recent flooding in Southern Poland.

In September, Storm Boris brought devastating floods to Central and Eastern Europe, causing widespread damage. Torrential rains left thousands of homes submerged, severely impacting numerous cities in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. In Poland, the southern regions were hit the hardest, with dozens of towns requiring urgent evacuations and support for affected communities.

To provide immediate relief, SOFTSWISS made a financial donation to the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, a well-known Polish charity organisation. SOFTSWISS has two development offices in Poland, allowing employees to quickly join the relief efforts and offer their assistance during the flood.

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Under the company’s coordination, Polish employees packed boxes of over 100 kilograms of essential items, including food, hygiene products, and necessities such as matches, candles, and batteries. SOFTSWISS handed these supplies to Caritas Polska, a charitable organisation spearheading relief efforts for the affected areas.

Earlier this year, SOFTSWISS also organised a large-scale charity and awareness campaign to support flood-hit regions in Brazil. 

“Unfortunately, natural disasters happen, and we don’t want to stand idly by. We strive to help in any way we can. This aligns with one of our core values, We See People, which applies not only to our employees. We always see the people beyond the business, and I believe our ESG initiatives reflect this,” said Natalia Perkowska, Deputy Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS.

The aid campaigns in Poland and Brazil are part of SOFTSWISS’ broader global strategy focused on social responsibility and sustainable development (ESG). The company also dedicates to long-term social and environmental projects, with notable initiatives such as participation in World Environment Day, Pink October, Movember, and various environmental protection efforts.

Recently, SOFTSWISS was recognised as The Best Employer of 2024 at the SBC Awards.

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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.

The post SOFTSWISS Steps In to Assist Southern Poland After Severe Flooding appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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