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Sportradar Reports Strong Growth in Second Quarter 2022 and Increases Its Revenue Outlook for Fiscal 2022 Projecting Revenue Growth of 24% to 27%

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Sportradar Group AG, the leading global technology company enabling next generation engagement in sports, and the number one provider of business-to-business solutions to the global sports betting industry, today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • Revenue in the second quarter of 2022 increased 23% to €177.2 million ($186.0 million)1 compared with the second quarter of 2021, driven by strong growth across all business segments. In particular, U.S. segment revenue grew by 66% to €29.1 million ($30.5 million) compared with the second quarter of 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 in the second quarter of 2022 decreased 13% to €27.6 million ($28.9 million)1 compared with the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to costs associated with additional organic and inorganic headcount growth and new and renewed sport rights contracts and the impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 16% in the second quarter of 2022, compared with 22% over the prior year period.
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 in the second quarter of 2022 increased to €35.7 million, compared to negative Adjusted Free Cash Flow of €2.3 million for the prior year period. The resulting Free Cash Flow Conversion2 was 129% in the quarter.
  • Net Retention Rate2, based on the last twelve months, was strong at 115% at the end of the second quarter of 2022 highlighting the continued success of the Company’s cross-sell and upsell strategy across its global customer base. For second quarter 2021, the Net Retention Rate was 120%.
  • Cash and cash equivalents totaled €715.6 million as of June 30, 2022. Total liquidity available for use on June 30, 2022, including undrawn credit facilities, was €825.6 million.
  • In July 2022, Sportradar prepaid €200.0 million principal amount of its €420.0 million senior secured term loan Facility B. Significant cash flow generation has allowed the Company to reduce its debt while maintaining flexibility for acquisitions and additional investment in technology and products.
  • The Company upgraded its previously provided annual outlook for full-year 2022 for revenue and maintained its outlook for Adjusted EBITDA2. Please see the “Annual Financial Outlook” section of this press release for further details.
Key Financial Measures Q2 Q2 Change
In millions, in Euros 2022 2021 %
Revenue 177.2 143.6 23%
Adjusted EBITDA2 27.6 31.6 (13%)
Adjusted EBITDA margin2 16% 22%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 35.7 (2.3)
Free Cash Flow Conversion2 129% (7)%

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1 For the convenience of the reader, we have translated Euros amounts in the tables below at the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank on June 30, 2022, which was €1.00 to $1.05.
2 Non-IFRS financial measure; see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” and accompanying tables for further explanations and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.

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Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar said: “As the world’s leading provider of technology solutions to the sports betting industry, our Q2 revenue exceeded our expectations for the quarter, growing 23% year-over-year. Confident about the momentum we have built in our business, we are raising our revenue guidance for the year. Given our strong cash flow generation and demonstrated good stewards of our capital, we have also chosen to pay down about half of our outstanding debt. We remain as confident as ever in the leverage and scalability of our business, and our ability to deliver results in the face of global challenges and economic conditions.”

“Separately, our Chief Financial Officer, Alex Gersh, has decided that he will be leaving the company to accept another position in the United States where he will move with his family. I appreciate Alex’s many contributions to Sportradar and invite you to join me in wishing him well as he embarks on his next chapter. We have launched a search for a new CFO, and have named Ulrich Harmuth as interim CFO. Ulrich, who has been with the company since 2013, has served as Chief Strategy Officer since 2020 and has been a member of my management team overseeing corporate development activities, including M&A, strategic partnerships, and ventures. I am confident in Ulrich’s leadership to support Sportradar’s growth and the continued execution of our financial priorities.”

Segment Information

RoW Betting

  • Segment revenue in the second quarter of 2022 increased by 21% to €95.5 million compared with the second quarter of 2021. This growth was driven primarily by increased sales of our higher value-add offerings including Managed Betting Services (MBS) which increased 65% to €32.9 million and Live Odds Services, which increased 9% to €28.5 million. MBS growth was attributable to record turnover3 and Live Odds Services grew as a result of upselling content to existing customers. Additionally, increased content sales from last year’s Synergy Sports acquisition contributed to the growth in revenue.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the second quarter of 2022 decreased by 8% to €43.3 million compared with the second quarter of 2021. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 decreased to 45% from 59% in the second quarter of 2021 driven by the impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, acquisition of new sport rights as well as temporary savings in sport rights and scouting costs in the prior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RoW Audiovisual (AV)

  • Segment revenue in the second quarter of 2022 increased by 9% to €39.7 million compared with the second quarter of 2021. Growth was driven by new customers and traction with our Synergy Sports acquisition, offset by the impact of the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the second quarter of 2022 increased 22% to €13.1 million compared with the second quarter of 2021. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 increased to 33% from 29% compared with the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to lower sports rights costs.

United States

  • Segment revenue in the second quarter of 2022 increased by 66% to €29.1 million compared with the second quarter of 2021. This growth was driven by increased sales of U.S. Betting services primarily as a result of new states legalizing betting. We also experienced growth from increased sales to media companies and a positive impact from the acquisition of Synergy Sports.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the second quarter of 2022 was (€5.5) million compared with the second quarter of 2021 of (€4.6) million, primarily due to increased investment in the Company’s league and team solutions focused business. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 improved to (19%) from (27%) compared with the second quarter of 2021 reflecting an improvement in the U.S. segment operating leverage.

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2 Non-IFRS financial measure; see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” and accompanying tables for further explanations and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.
3 Turnover is the total amount of stakes placed and accepted in betting.

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Costs and Expenses

  • Purchased services and licenses in the second quarter of 2022 increased by €10.6 million to €43.2 million compared with the second quarter of 2021, primarily resulting from increased costs of content creation and processing.
  • Personnel expenses in the second quarter of 2022 increased by €17.6 million to €64.4 million compared with the second quarter of 2021 primarily resulting from additional organic and inorganic hires in the Company’s product and technology organizations. Employee headcount increased by 789 (of which 354 were inorganic) to 3,520 full-time employees at the end of the second quarter of 2022 compared with the second quarter of 2021.
  • Other Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2022 remained substantially unchanged at €21.2 million.
  • Total Sport rights costs in the second quarter of 2022 increased by €13.8 million to €48.7 million compared with the second quarter of 2021, primarily a result of new acquired rights in 2022 for the NHL, UEFA, ATP and a normalized schedule in many sports, including the NBA, as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased.

Recent Business Highlights

  • In July 2022, Sportradar repaid €200 million principal amount of its €420 million senior secured term loan Facility B. Continued revenue growth and our strong liquidity position enabled the Company to prepay a portion of the outstanding term loan and the Company has confidence that future cash flow generation will allow it to invest in the business and take advantage of market opportunities as they arise.
  • Sportradar partners with Turkish Basketball Federation on comprehensive rights deal. Encompassing the first-tier Turkish Basketball Super League (BLS), the second-tier Turkish Basketball First League (TBL) and all cup competitions, Sportradar will have (i) international rights to all BSL and TBL games starting with the 2023 season and (ii) domestic rights beginning in the 2024-2025 season. The partnership includes a comprehensive set of Sportradar solutions including Universal Fraud Detection Systems, Synergy Automated Camera Systems, and AI video capture technology in 27 venues in Turkey.
  • Sportradar launches Athlete Wellbeing. This global program was developed for leagues and federations, teams, and collegiate governing bodies to help support athletes’ and reduce the potential impact of sports betting on their mental health. This program will offer a comprehensive curriculum including on-demand virtual sessions, pre-recorded webinars and in-person workshops.
  • Sportradar bolster’s cricket offering with launch of world’s first virtual cricket in-play solution. Modeled on the popular T20 cricket format, Sportradar brings hyper-real 3D animation with over 400 million unique game situations. With over 2.5 billion cricket fans worldwide, our solution offers over 3.8 billion unique video seconds featuring the top eight teams from India’s leading T20 competition.
  • Sportradar to deepen fan engagement for groupe FDJ with launch of automated near-live short-form video content. Our company is providing ParionsSport en ligne, the French operator FDJ’s online sports betting activity, with an artificial intelligence driven, near-live premium sports video content offering to create deeper engagement with the sports betting service’s customer base of sports fans.

Annual Financial Outlook

Sportradar is upgrading its revenue outlook and reiterating its Adjusted EBITDA outlook for fiscal 2022 as follows:

  • Sportradar is upgrading its revenue outlook for fiscal 2022 from its previous range of €665.0 million to €700.0 million ($698.3 million to $735.0 million) 1 to a new range of €695.0 million to €715.0 million ($729.8 million to $750.8 million), representing prospective growth of 24% to 27% over fiscal 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2, impacted by the Russia/Ukraine conflict, is expected to remain in the range of €123.0 million to €133.0 million ($129.2 million to $139.7 million)1, representing growth of 21% to 30% over fiscal 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin2 is expected to be in the range of 17% to 19%.
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USDT Casino Launches Industry-First ‘Sunday Brunch Free Spins’ with Zero Wagering Requirements

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USDT Casino has unveiled a groundbreaking promotion that is set to transform weekend gaming for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. The innovative ‘Sunday Brunch Free Spins’ offer provides players with 20 free spins on Evoplay’s popular Food Feast slot, featuring zero wagering requirements and no maximum win limits.

This player-centric initiative marks a significant departure from traditional casino promotions, offering unprecedented flexibility and instant cashout capabilities for USDT players.

The promotion, available every Sunday, targets active players who have made at least one deposit during the previous week, with a minimum qualifying deposit of $20 USDT required to participate.

Key features of the Sunday Brunch Free Spins include:

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  • 20 Free Spins on Food Feast by Evoplay
  • Zero wagering requirements on all winnings
  • No maximum win limits
  • Instant cash rewards
  • Available exclusively for USDT players
  • Simple claim process via 24/7 Live Chat

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Industry-Leading Player Benefits

Unlike conventional casino promotions that typically impose 35x-50x wagering requirements, USDT Casino’s Sunday Brunch Free Spins allows players to keep 100% of their winnings immediately. This approach aligns with the broader industry trend toward transparency and player-friendly terms.

The seamless claim process through Live Chat ensures instant reward delivery, eliminating delays commonly associated with promotional offers. Players can simply contact support on Sundays to receive their spins, with no additional verification steps required.

Setting New Standards in Crypto Gaming

USDT Casino’s innovative promotion arrives as the crypto gaming sector continues to evolve, with operators seeking differentiation through unique player offerings. The Sunday Brunch Free Spins program positions USDT Casino as a forward-thinking operator focused on customer satisfaction and retention.

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The promotion’s recurring weekly structure encourages consistent player engagement while rewarding loyalty without complex tier systems or restrictive conditions.

Michael Thompson, Head of Promotions at USDT Casino, stated, “Our Sunday Brunch Free Spins represent our commitment to creating genuine value for our players. By eliminating wagering requirements and win limits, we’re delivering an authentic, player-first experience that sets new standards in the crypto casino space.”

The promotion is now live and available every Sunday, with USDT Casino reserving the right to modify terms as needed. Players must agree to the casino’s fair play policy and promotion terms to participate.

About USDT Casino: USDT Casino is a leading cryptocurrency casino platform specialising in Tether (USDT) gaming solutions. The platform offers seamless crypto transactions, instant withdrawals, and a diverse game portfolio tailored for the modern digital gambler.

The post USDT Casino Launches Industry-First ‘Sunday Brunch Free Spins’ with Zero Wagering Requirements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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UK Gambling Commission Flags Deepfake-Fueled Money Laundering Threats in Online Gambling Sector

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has issued a warning about the growing threat of money laundering facilitated by artificial intelligence technologies, including deepfakes, and the rising use of crash games. As part of its regulatory mandate, the UKGC requires licensed operators to stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity risks or risk incurring fines and even losing their licenses. With AI-powered deception on the rise, the Commission urges tighter security protocols across all operator systems.

The need to tighten security 

Artificial intelligence has become more sophisticated, and some users are taking advantage of this to bypass due diligence checks. Players registering on mobile casino platforms are typically required to provide identity documents as part of KYC procedures under AML regulations. However, deepfake technology is now being used to bypass these verifications.

Criminals now use artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos, false documentation, and face swap images to facilitate money laundering. This is why the UK Gambling Commission has stated that all operators in the UK must work fast to retrain employees in assessing customer documents.

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In addition to AI threats, the UKGC continues to classify cryptocurrency as a high-risk channel for laundering illicit funds. Operators are reminded that all crypto transactions must be treated with enhanced due diligence, given their anonymity and growing association with financial crime.

The Commission also raised concerns over the rising popularity of crash games typically found on both licensed and unlicensed crypto casino platforms. Their short duration and rapid cash-out mechanics make it difficult for platforms to detect suspicious patterns, creating opportunities for high-risk laundering behavior to go unnoticed.

All operators were advised to implement appropriate procedures to identify suspicious patterns during the crash games. The UKGC shared an update that revealed that remote and non-remote casinos were providing unlicensed money service business facilities to third parties. These businesses included foreign currency exchange, with some customers attempting to deposit large denominations, such as 500-pound bills.

The Body considered such transactions a money laundering risk. It also noted that some individuals have been offered money to use their personal details to open multiple gambling accounts for criminals. This has been a source of concern for the commission as these accounts are being paid for without the third parties, knowing that they act as unlicensed betting intermediaries.

So far, two operators have been penalized for anti-money laundering and customer care failures. The erring operators were ordered to pay 375,000 pounds for AML breaches, while the bookmaker was fined 686,070 pounds.

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The UKGC also warns operators to avoid supply partners connected to illegal sites. This came from the observation that games developed by operators with software licenses were ending up on unlicensed websites. The UKGC warns that operators connected to black market supply chains may face direct penalties even if indirectly involved. As such, due diligence on third-party content providers is now not just advisable, but essential. These developments underscore a broader industry challenge: maintaining regulatory compliance amid fast-evolving digital threats.

The post UK Gambling Commission Flags Deepfake-Fueled Money Laundering Threats in Online Gambling Sector appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Regulatory Roadblocks: The Future of Sweepstakes Gaming in the U.S.

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Sweepstakes gaming has become very popular in the United States, as it provides individuals with the opportunity to win prizes without the need for a purchase. As opposed to traditional gambling, which has been highly regulated, sweepstakes gaming operates under the gray area of the law, and as a result, it runs in a varied regulatory environment. As this form of entertainment continues to evolve, it is significant for operators, players, and policymakers to understand the regulatory challenges in order to shape its future.

Understanding Sweepstakes Gaming

Sweepstakes gaming allows users to participate in games and contests in which prizes are won. Sweepstakes are a bit different from traditional gambling. In normal gambling, individuals gamble money in hopes of winning, while in sweepstakes, you do not typically have to purchase anything for entry. The growth of new sweepstakes casinos platforms offering casino-style gameplay through promotional credits and free-entry mechanics has expanded the reach of the sweepstakes model, attracting users seeking low-risk entertainment alternatives.

However, the legitimacy of sweepstakes gambling differs from state to state, and all these various regulations form a set of laws that are confusing to both the operators and the players. New sweepstakes casinos typically have to contend with such convoluted regulation, as there are multiple regulations at the state level to comply with. This inconsistency could be challenging for operators to implement and may limit players from accessing this new and creative gaming experience.

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The Future of Sweepstakes Gaming in the U.S.

In spite of the regulatory hurdles, there are possible avenues that can potentially unlock a brighter future for sweepstakes gaming in the U.S.

  • Standardization of regulations

Nowadays, the legislation is different. Each state has different definitions, rules, and prerequisites for sweepstakes. This lack of uniformity can keep operators from entering the marketplace and confuse players about their rights and responsibilities. By promoting interstate collaboration to develop standardized regulations, the industry would benefit from more transparent compliance channels that make it easier to conduct business for emerging sweepstakes casinos. A standardized regulatory landscape would not only reduce legal uncertainties but also optimize consumer confidence, ensuring an open and fair gaming environment.

  • Innovation in Compliance

Compliance innovation involves using new solutions and technology to make the regulations of sweepstakes gaming simpler or better. As there is evolution in the industry, the traditional methods of performing compliance might no longer apply, hence becoming a hindrance in the manner in which operators comply with diverse state regulations. New solutions like blockchain and artificial intelligence can be explored to enhance transparency and accountability in sweepstakes gaming.

  • Consumer Education

Consumer education involves the offering of understandable, clear information to players about their rights, responsibilities, and types of games played. As the industry expands, it is very crucial to educate consumers so they know how the sweepstakes are conducted, the rules of play, and the possible risks. Educating players so they are well-informed will enable operators to build trust and achieve responsible gaming practices. Effective consumer education can diminish confusion regarding sweepstakes, resulting in a more secure and transparent gaming experience

The post Regulatory Roadblocks: The Future of Sweepstakes Gaming in the U.S. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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