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Aspire Global: Interim Report Second Quarter 2021
ALL-TIME HIGH REVENUES AND EBITDA IN Q2 2021
SECOND QUARTER
- Revenues increased by 27.7% to €55.8 million (43.7).
- EBITDA increased by 40.1% to €9.9 million (7.1).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 17.7% (16.1%).
- EBIT increased by 37.5% to €7.8 million (5.7).
- Earnings after tax increased 53.7% to €6.9 million (4.5).
- Earnings per share increased 56% to €0.14 (0.09).
SIX MONTHS
- Revenues increased by 34.2% to €103.9 million (77.4).
- EBITDA increased by 50.3% to €18.4 million (12.3).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 17.8% (15.8%).
- EBIT increased by 49.3% to €14.3 million (9.6).
- Earnings after tax increased 84.9% to €13.0 million (7.0).
- Earnings per share increased 93% to €0.27 (0.14).
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER AND AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER
- Revenues increased 27.7% from Q2 2020 driven by strong development in all segments and the acquisition of BtoBet, a leading sportsbook provider, in September 2020.
- Organic growth of 21.6% from Q2 2020.
- B2B revenues grew 24.4% from Q2 2020 with organic growth of 16.2%.
- Significant progress in sub-segments Aggregation and Games – Pariplay and Sports – BtoBet.
- Good progress in the US with deals covering game aggregation and proprietary games.
- Platform and managed services deal with Ireland’s biggest land-based casino group.
- Three deals covering Aspire Global’s complete offering for the launch of new brands in Europe and Latin America.
- First brand live with BtoBet’s sportsbook on Aspire Global’s platform.
- New license for games in Greece. Aspire Global now operates in 30 regulated markets.
- Sports deals signed with, among all, esports operator Luckbox.
- BuyWin, a new innovative tool, which addresses the new German regulation, was launched in July. BuyWin also gives a higher return to player and access to a wider range of content.
CEO COMMENTS
“WE ARE CONFIDENT TO REACH OUR 2021 FINANCIAL TARGETS”
Aspire Global reports its sixth consecutive quarter with solid growth. We made significant progress in the quarter by growing our business with both existing as well as new partners in the US, Europe, Latin America and Africa. Taking into account our strong business momentum and deal flow, we are confident to reach our 2021 financial targets.
Revenues increased by 27.7% from Q2 2020 to an all-time high €55.8 million, with organic growth of 21.6%. Growth was particularly strong in the UK and Ireland as well as in region rest of world which reflects our successful expansion in the Americas as well as the consolidation of BtoBet. It is especially gratifying to note the strong organic growth taking into account that Q2 2020 was positively impacted by the pandemic.
EBITDA increased by 40.1% to record high €9.9 million and the EBITDA margin improved to from 16.1% to 17.7%. The increased profitability is driven by strong topline growth, impressive performance in BtoBet and Pariplay, acquired in 2020 and 2019, respectively, as well as our continuous focus on cost control.
KEY WINS FOR OUR PLATFORM OFFERING
Our recent contract wins with new partners, covering Aspire Global’s complete iGaming offering, show that we are in the forefront of the industry. In June, we signed a deal with Stake.com for its upcoming launch of a new brand in the UK. Stake.com is an international, fast-growing casino and betting site with more than 30 billion bets every year. We are happy to support Stake.com with our complete offering in launching its new casino and betting site stake.co.uk in the large UK market. In April, we signed the deal with Luckster.com, a new multi-vertical brand founded by industry veterans, for its upcoming launch in Europe and Latin America. Two weeks ago, we signed an agreement with JNS Gaming which we will support in building a new, global casino and sports brand.
A key growth segment to us is landbased casinos that want to go online. We are proud to partner with Funfair Casino, Ireland’s biggest land-based casino group, and to support in taking their business online.
SUCCESS FOR BTOBET
Just shortly after our acquisition of BtoBet last fall, BtoBet announced a deal with Betfair in Colombia. Betfair launched its sportsbook in Q1 2021 and we can now see a satisfying development in deposits which demonstrates BtoBet’s capabilities. This mutually rewarding collaboration can open up for other opportunities and is a good case study of how Aspire Global approaches tier 1 operators.
Esports is a quickly growing segment and we are excited to team up with the award-winning esports operator Luckbox. BtoBet will be providing Luckbox with its cutting-edge sportsbook in European and Latin American countries. This will enable Luckbox to build an entirely bespoke player journey, customizing the sportsbook experience to its liking and providing players with a unique customer experience.
BtoBet’s proprietary sportsbook is a key competitive advantage when talking to new as well as existing partners. In the quarter, we initiated the first projects where partner brands will replace their existing sports solution with the BtoBet sportsbook and mid-August the first brand went live with BtoBet’s sportsbook on our platform. We expect the shift of partner brands to the BtoBet proprietary platform to positively impact revenues and margins throughout 2021.
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE US
Our expansion plans for the US market are running according to plan. Since early August, we have Quincy Raven in place as the Managing Director of Aspire Global’s US operations. The US iGaming market is growing at an impressive rate, and we want to be at forefront of the developments. Quincy has vast experience and will focus on accelerating sales and setting up the relevant operations in order to make sure Aspire Global can establish a significant presence in the US.
In May, Pariplay signed a deal with Amelco that will integrate Pariplay’s premium Fusion GROWTH IN NEW MARKETS
Aspire Global today operates in 30 regulated markets spanning Europe, the Americas and Africa. Our objective is to continue our growth in regulated markets, both with existing and new partners. We have a strong focus on gaining more certifications and licenses mainly in Europe and the Americas. In the Americas, we focus especially on the US and Brazil. In Europe we see a huge potential for our sportsbook. The introduction of our sportsbook offering has just started in the UK and we have certification processes ongoing in other key European markets. In June, Pariplay was granted a Greek suitability license and the license allows us to enter the Greek market for the first time. NEW INNOVATIVE FEATURES
To stay at the forefront of the industry development, innovation is important to us. In order to meet the new requirements in the German market, we launched BuyWin in July. BuyWin addresses the new German regulation by a unique bet contribution on transactions, enabling operators to offer all the games German players are used to, at the standard, high RTP of 95-96%. The innovative tool delivers better player acquisition opportunities due to the higher RTP and wider range of gaming content. AspireEngage, our new CRM tool, was launched earlier this year and is a key contributor to the strong growth.
VALUE CREATING ACQUISITIONS
In Q2 2021, Pariplay reported revenue growth of over 72% and BtoBet of more than 105% with good profitability. These two acquisitions have significantly contributed to Aspire Global’s strong performance and have been essential in positioning Aspire Global as the powerhouse for iGaming operators. It is satisfying to see that Aspire Global has so clearly demonstrated its ability to make value creating acquisitions.
STRONG B2C GROWTH Also in this quarter, the B2C segment demonstrated strong revenue growth. In March 2021, we initiated a review of the role of the B2C segment within the Group structure and we expect to finalize the review during the fall. The review will assist us to better assess our options to further accelerate its growth. Such a move could help improve Aspire Global’s overall margins and EBITDA and potentially support us in accelerating new B2B initiatives and enter fresh markets.
OUTLOOK
Aspire Global has consistently demonstrated its ability to execute its growth strategy and create value. We see tremendous growth opportunities by expanding with existing partners, gaining new partners and entering new markets. Aspire Global’s financial targets for 2021 are €200 million in revenue and €32 million in EBITDA which implies an EBITDA margin of 16%. Taking into account our strong business momentum and deal activity, we are confident that Aspire Global will reach its 2021 financial targets.
Tsachi Maimon, CEO
Central Europe
IGT Modernizes Central Lottery System for LOTTO Thüringen in Germany via Seven-Year Contract Extension
International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Services Limited, has signed a seven-year contract with the Thuringian State Lottery (“LOTTO Thüringen”) in Germany to deploy its retail central system technology, Aurora™, and related software upgrades. The contract term will begin upon go-live of the new platform, planned for March 2026.
An integral part of OMNIA™, IGT’s player-centric, omnichannel solution for lotteries, Aurora helps drive lottery innovation and profitability. The platform will provide intuitive, user-friendly applications, tools and reporting capabilities which will handle all of LOTTO Thüringen’s transaction processing, game management and back-office operations.
“LOTTO Thüringen has relied on IGT’s versatile and strong-performing central system technology throughout the course of our decades-long relationship,” said Jochen Staschewski, LOTTO Thüringen Chief Executive Officer. “Upgrading our central retail system to IGT’s advanced platform and back-end software will enable us to streamline our business processes and continue operating with the highest levels of efficiency.”
“IGT’s retail central system incorporates a suite of flexible solutions designed to help manage, transform and further grow LOTTO Thüringen’s business,” said Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Global Lottery. “With this long-term contract extension, LOTTO Thüringen is well-positioned to continue benefiting from IGT’s secure, responsible and modernized technology and software. Leveraging these best-in-class solutions will aid in the Lottery’s goals of supporting good causes throughout the state.”
The post IGT Modernizes Central Lottery System for LOTTO Thüringen in Germany via Seven-Year Contract Extension appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
bet365
INCENTIVE GAMES LAUNCHES CRASH GAME WITH BET365 IN BRAZIL
Incentive Games, a leading B2B games provider, today announced the launch of its new crash game, Velocity, with bet365 in Brazil.
This marks a significant milestone for Incentive Games as it represents their first Pay-to-Play Crash game developed in partnership with bet365. The bespoke game has been meticulously designed by Incentive Games’ expert developers to ensure maximum player engagement.
Seamlessly integrated with bet365’s platform, the game leverages the expertise of Incentive Labs – a powerhouse of data and AI specialists. The Incentive Labs team will continuously analyse player interactions to refine the game and deliver an ever-evolving experience, turning millions of user touchpoints into unique solutions that enhance player satisfaction.
John Gordon, CEO of Incentive Games, said, “While the market is saturated with crash games, Velocity stands out from the crowd. It is the first in a series of exciting crash game offerings and we’re so proud to be launching this groundbreaking game with bet365. With their global reach, there’s no better partner to introduce ‘Velocity’ to the Brazilian market.”
A bet365 spokesperson said of the launch, “We’re delighted to yet again partner with Incentive Games in what promises to be an amazing gaming experience for our players.”
The post INCENTIVE GAMES LAUNCHES CRASH GAME WITH BET365 IN BRAZIL appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Latest News
Prepare to be Amazed in Mythical Legends Carnival, a Mythic Video Slot!
The new title from leading Spanish e-Gaming provider MGA Games is an innovative game with a truly original theme: a journey through carnival festivities filled with legendary creatures. Its design combines the excitement of street parties with the richness of mythological creatures from around the world, providing a totally unique experience.
This new casino slot features 25 paylines, with winning combinations paid from left to right. By landing 3 or more Scatter symbols, players gain access to the Free Spins screen, which includes an innovative prize system. Players can enjoy an accumulator feature and a final Super Respin spin that awards the accumulated winnings. It also includes Money and Collect symbols, which when combined offer an additional bonus prize.
Global Audience
By showcasing mythologies from all over the world, the game is set to appeal to a global audience, enhancing its market potential and attracting players from various countries. Its visual and auditory elements, featuring vibrant graphics and immersive music, will captivate players and deliver a fully immersive experience in a fantastic world.
In this new release, every spin of the reels will surprise players with its themed symbols. As if that weren’t enough, the game features an optional Buy Free Spins button, speeding up the path to big rewards. Mythical Legends Carnival will be available in all of Spain’s best online casinos starting February 3rd and across .com markets from January 27th.
The post Prepare to be Amazed in Mythical Legends Carnival, a Mythic Video Slot! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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