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LeoVegas AB Q4: Year-end report 2020

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“Yet another record year for LeoVegas with a strong close” – Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO

fourth quarter 2020: 1 october–31 december        

  • Revenue increased by 13% to EUR 98.4 m (87.1). Organic growth in local currencies was 14%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 11.5 m (9.2), corresponding to an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.7% (10.6%). Reported EBITDA includes EUR -3.5 m (5.3) in items affecting comparability.
  • The number of depositing customers was 461,983 (372,032), an increase of 24%.
  • Adjusted earnings per share were EUR 0.08 (0.06).

Events during the quarter

  • LeoVegas was the first company in the gaming industry to offer payments via Open Banking.
  • During the quarter the Group’s unique and record-large jackpot was launched under the name LeoJackPot.
  • LeoVegas secured long-term and diversified financing through a combination of a bank credit facility (RCF of EUR 40 m) and a bond issue of SEK 500 m under a total framework of SEK 800 m.
  • During the quarter, LeoVegas repurchased its own shares for approximately EUR 5 million.
  • Ahead of the forthcoming regulation in Germany, a number of changes were implemented. This led to lower revenue during the quarter, with the greatest effect during the month of December.
  • LeoVegas has changed its interpretation of the calculation of gaming taxes in Denmark for earlier periods. This resulted in a self-correction, and a one-off cost of EUR 3.5 m has been charged against EBITDA.
  • Decision has been taken to migrate the Royal Panda brand to the Group’s proprietary technical platform.

Events after the end of the quarter

  • Preliminary revenue in January amounted to EUR 32.5 m (29.9), representing growth of 9%.
  • The Board of Directors proposes a raised dividend totalling SEK 1.60 per share (1.40), an increase of 14%, to be paid out on four occasions during the year.

 

COMMENT FROM GUSTAF HAGMAN – GROUP CEO

STRONG CLOSE TO 2020
LeoVegas concluded the record year 2020 with its strongest fourth quarter ever. And we did this despite frequent changes to the gaming requirements in our markets in addition to finding ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic. I am proud of our ability to quickly adapt to changed conditions through a high capacity for innovation at the same time as we are building an increasingly solid and diversified business. It is a demonstration of strength that LeoVegas delivered adjusted EBITDA growth of 25% for the full year while the operating cash flow increased almost 90 %. This was achieved despite maintaining a high investment pace with launches of new brands, new markets and product improvements.

During the fourth quarter we increased our revenue organically by 14%. Growth was mainly driven by a continued rise in depositing customers, which grew 24% to a new record level. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 25% during the quarter to EUR 11.5 m.  Reported EBITDA was charged with a one-off provision of EUR 3.5 m related to a changed interpretation of the calculation of gaming taxes in Denmark for earlier periods.

MarkETS
With the exceptions of Sweden and the UK, our core markets showed high double-digit growth during the quarter. Above all I want to highlight Italy, which has now become one of our five biggest markets. During the quarter we launched the Pink Casino brand in Canada. The launch is part of our multibrand strategy, where we are utilising existing resources and our technical platform to expand through scale.

In the German market, LeoVegas has implemented a number of changes ahead of the forthcoming licence system in July 2021. As expected, this affected revenue during the period. Operators in the market are acting differently with respect to the new restrictions, and at present necessary clarity is lacking in the ongoing transitional period, which unfortunately has led to a skewed competitive situation until the licence system has been fully implemented.

TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS
During the quarter we carried out and launched several major projects and innovations. In particular I want to highlight our new exclusive jackpot – LeoJackpot – where our customers can win over SEK 50 m directly from their smartphones. We were also first in the industry to offer payments via Open Banking. This will benefit LeoVegas and our customers in many ways, including through more secure and faster payments and lower transaction costs.

During the quarter we began the migration of Royal Panda to our joint technical platform. As a result, in 2021 all brands will be operated on the same platform. The migration will lead to cost synergies such as lower platform and product costs and a more efficient organisation. The decision has also resulted in impairment of intangible assets attributable to Royal Panda’s platform, which was charged against EBIT in the amount of EUR 1.9 m.

FINANCING AND INVESTMENTS
At the end of the year we secured the Group’s long-term financing needs through the combination of a renewed bank credit facility of EUR 40 m and a newly issued corporate bond of SEK 500 m.

Stable financing combined with a strong balance sheet gives us a solid base for continued expansion, both through organic initiatives and potential acquisitions. During the fourth quarter we carried out share repurchases for approximately EUR 5 m. In addition, the Board of Directors proposes an increase in the dividend to SEK 1.60 per share.

COMMENTS ON FOURTH QUARTER
Revenue for the month of January amounted to EUR 32.5 m (29.9), corresponding to annual growth of 9%. In January revenue was fully impacted by the changes carried out in Germany ahead of the forthcoming regulation.

On the tailwinds of a strong 2020 we are now looking forward to a year with many exciting growth initiatives and an even stronger customer offering.

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Stats Perform Named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at EGR B2B Awards 2025

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Stats Perform has been named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at the EGR B2B Awards 2025, in recognition of the strength, innovation, and global scale of its Bet LiveStreams platform for licensed sportsbook apps, websites and retail betting venues.

Bet LiveStreams, first launched as ‘Watch&Bet’ in 2005, now delivers more than 40,000 exclusive low-latency live events each year, across 15 sports. Football, the world’s largest betting sport, accounts for more than 15,000 matches, with rights including LaLiga, CONCACAF, English Football League and top domestic leagues and cups across Europe, South America, and APAC. Other sports include tennis, basketball, volleyball, darts, badminton, rugby and cricket.

Judges noted that Stats Perform’s Bet LiveStreams is unique because of its extensive year-long, round-the-clock coverage and high performance. In 2024, the platform securely delivered billions of live video sessions to hundreds of licensed global sportsbooks such as bet365, Betano, Superbet, Betfair, FanDuel and many more.

They also praised its interactive, built-for-betting features like betslip integration, instant highlights, and in-stream contextual stats (also known as Opta Interactive Overlays) that have made the watching and betting experience more engaging for bettors.

“Our focus with Bet LiveStreams has been to make live streams easy to watch and bettable, whoever is playing,” said Mike Perez, Chief Operating Officer at Stats Perform. “The features give bettors more entertainment from every stream, whether it’s a headline fixture like Tottenham v Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, or a six-goal thriller in South America that might otherwise have been overlooked. We’re delighted our efforts have been recognised with this award.”

The judging panel pointed to three standout recent Bet LiveStreams innovations:

  • Opta Interactive Overlays: Live game and player stats and odds available directly in-stream, with bets added to the slip in one click
  • Instant Highlights: Key moments can be replayed during the game to help bettors quickly catch up on relevant action, such as the moment their bet won, or see action they missed in other live games, with multi-game playlists across competitions
  • Live Match Gallery: Easier discovery of concurrent events, helping bettors follow more matches and sports at the same time

Adoption of these features has been fast and operators have reported a 7x increase in interactions per session, longer watch times and more in-play bets placed.

“This award is a reflection of how far streaming can go when it’s built for betting, not just viewing. We’re excited to continue to integrate our Opta data and AI into the experience to make the future of streaming on sportsbooks more engaging, intuitive and bettable,” added Perez.

The post Stats Perform Named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at EGR B2B Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

WorldMatch gains Malta Gaming Authority recognition

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WorldMatch, leading provider of online casino games, is pleased to announce that it has obtained the Recognition Letter from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This important milestone officially authorizes WorldMatch to provide its services to B2C operators holding an MGA license.

The acquisition of the Recognition Letter represents a significant step forward for WorldMatch, greatly expanding its commercial opportunities in regulated markets beyond those it currently serves, and further strengthening the company’s position in the online gaming sector.

“We are extremely proud to have received the Recognition Letter from the Malta Gaming Authority,” said Andrea Boratto, CEO of WorldMatch. “This recognition not only confirms our commitment to high standards of compliance and transparency, but also serves as a key lever to consolidate our presence in regulated markets and grow our customer base globally. In many ways, it’s a return to Malta and at the same time a new opening toward growth opportunities.”

The Malta Gaming Authority is widely recognized for the excellence and rigor of its regulatory standards. Obtaining the Recognition Letter complements a series of certifications already acquired by WorldMatch in major European markets, further strengthening the company’s reputation as a reliable, compliant, and innovative partner.

With this new authorization, WorldMatch is ready to strengthen its presence in international markets, providing its B2C operator partners with a broad library of high- quality, technologically advanced games.

The post WorldMatch gains Malta Gaming Authority recognition appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Spinomenal presents new slot: Queen of Oasis

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Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has released its latest title, Queen of Oasis.

Set against the rolling ancient Egyptian dunes and lush, palm-lined oases, Queen of Oasis immerses players in an elegant world of riches. Camels, vultures, antelopes, snakes, and the powerful Queen herself bring this 5-reel slot to life. The reels sit within two ornate marble pillars where the bejewelled Queen represents the Wild symbol.

During the main game, the Queen counts for any symbol except Free Spins and Bonus symbols. Finding five Wild symbols on a winning line pays x2,000 the bet.

Queen of Oasis is a crowning triumph thanks to the two superb features, a Bonus game and Free Spins. Three or more Scattered Free Spins symbols trigger the special feature. Before Free Spins commence, players can either accept the current number awarded or throw caution to the wind to earn more – up to 50 free spins. Once activated, one to three stacked Wilds are placed on random reels during each spin and boosting potential returns.

The bonus game is initiated when three or more Scattered Bonus Symbols land on the reels. Players kick off with three spins and the goal is finding as many urns as possible to increase the multiplier metre which pays out once the spins are finished. Each sector of the multiplier metre is filled by five winning symbols and there is an opportunity to bag an extra spin by finding the +1 symbol.

Synced Reels and Expanding Reels add another exciting element to the Bonus Game.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Queen of Oasis is a beautiful blend of visual elegance and bold gameplay. Every feature has been created to captivate, reward, and raise the bar for what an Egyptian-themed slot can deliver.”

The post Spinomenal presents new slot: Queen of Oasis appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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