Press Releases
LeoVegas carries out strategic measures in the UK and related cost initiatives
LeoVegas is carrying out strategic changes coupled to the UK market and the Group’s organisation. During the first quarter the brands Rocket X provide managed services for will be migrated to the Group’s own technical platform, while the Royal Panda brand will leave the UK to instead focus on fast-growing markets in Europe and the Rest of the world. This will result in a more focused and efficient operation that fully uses economies of scale in technology, product and organisation. As a result of the company’s efficiency improvement work, a planned relocation to new offices in Malta is being called off. These various initiatives will lead to annual cost savings of approximately EUR 3.7 m. One-off restructuring costs of EUR 6.1 m will be charged against operating profit for the fourth quarter. LeoVegas is also recognising an impairment loss of approximately EUR 10 m on its investment in Royal Panda.
The UK market for online gaming has changed dramatically in recent years, such as with respect to stricter demands on compliance and higher gambling taxes. At the same time, since the trade and assets of IPS (Rocket X managed brands) and Royal Panda, LeoVegas has conducted its operations in the UK on three separate technical platforms and with three slightly separate organisations, which has resulted in internal complexity. As a result, in 2019 the marketing organisations for LeoVegas UK and Rocket X were integrated into a single unit. The Group is now taking the next step by migrating the Rocket X managed brand portfolio from a third-party solution to the Group’s own multibrand platform Rhino, where all technology is owned and run by LeoVegas. Parallel with this, Royal Panda is leaving the UK market, which entails that all operations coupled to the UK going forward will be driven on the same technical platform and with a joint organisation for technology, products, customer service, marketing and compliance.
The strategic initiatives were begun during the fourth quarter of 2019 and are expected to be largely completed during the first quarter of this year. The measures are expected to generate cost synergies in areas such as marketing, products, payments and customer service, and will result in reduced complexity in compliance. The annual savings relating to the UK are estimated to be approximately EUR 2.0 m after the migration has been completed and consist mainly of lower platform and product costs and a more efficient organisation.
During the fourth quarter Royal Panda had sales of approximately EUR 1.1 m in the UK with negative profitability and is not expected to generate significant revenue during the first quarter of 2020. Revenue for the remaining operations in the UK, consisting of 13 brands including LeoVegas, 21.co.uk and BetUK, grew 15% during the fourth quarter over the third quarter and showed good profitability.
LeoVegas’ focus on efficiency and cost control during the past year, including the now-communicated measures in the UK, have contributed to a much more optimised organisation with improved processes. The number of full-time equivalent employees in the Group has decreased from just under 900 to around 800 during the past year. The Group has therefore decided to cancel its contract for new, larger premises in Malta in 2021 and will instead stay in its existing facilities during the coming five-year period. The annual cost savings compared with the previously planned move will amount to EUR 1.7 m per year.
The initiatives will give rise to total restructuring costs of EUR 6.1 m, which will be charged against operating profit (EBIT) for the fourth quarter. The costs are mainly related to early cancellations of third-party agreements on platforms and products, penalties for cancellation of the new lease in Malta, discontinuation costs for Royal Panda’s operations in the UK, and impairment of LeoVegas Gaming’s intangible assets coupled to Rocket X’s previous technological development. In addition to this, LeoVegas is recognising an impairment loss of approximately EUR 10 m for its investment in Royal Panda. All of the cited costs will be reported as items affecting comparability in the fourth quarter interim report. The operating profit in the fourth quarter will also include a capital gain of EUR 11.4 m from the previously communicated sale of the subsidiary Authentic Gaming, which will also be reported under items affecting comparability.
“The strategic initiatives we are now carrying out will create optimal conditions to be successful in the large, but at the same time complex, UK market,” comments Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO. “The consolidation of brands into one and the same platform will contribute to large economies of scale in the Group – both by allowing us to fully utilise our multibrand technology and through a more efficient organisation. Already during the second half of last year, the LeoVegas and Rocket X managed brands in the UK began to perform favourably, and the new structure gives us a good starting point to increase both growth and profitability in the UK market during 2020. At the same time, Royal Panda – which has struggled with weak performance in the UK but has performed well in other markets – can now focus fully on growth outside of the UK and also launch the brand in a couple of new markets in and outside of Europe.”
LeoVegas will publish its interim report for the fourth quarter of 2019 at 8 a.m. CET on 14 February.
Paysecure has been named Best Online Payment Service 2025 at SiGMA Americas Awards, held during the opening night of the SiGMA Americas event at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.
The awards ceremony, hosted by BetConstruct and held on April 7th, brought together leading names in the iGaming, fintech, and digital payments industries to celebrate excellence and innovation. The Best Online Payment Service award, presented in association with Megaposta, recognized companies offering outstanding online payment infrastructure. Paysecure was selected among strong contenders including Online IPS, Nuvei, Payment.Center, and Payku.
Paysecure’s solutions include its unified payments hub, designed to simplify operations for merchants in various sectors, Host-2-Host integrations, cashier services, and plug-in modules for seamless deployment on external platforms. With PCI DSS certification, a focus on 360-degree user trust, and advanced tech capabilities, Paysecure empowers merchants to optimize their payment operations with full control and transparency.
“This award is a testament to our mission: delivering payment technology that is smart, secure, and scalable”, said Viktoriia Degtiarova, Co-founder and CCO of Paysecure, who attended the ceremony alongside Sridhar Sethuraman, Co-founder and COO.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized at SiGMA Americas, especially amongst such outstanding peers.”
This year, Paysecure exhibited at Booth N115, showcasing its orchestration platform, global PSP coverage, and market-specific solutions tailored for LATAM and beyond. To learn more about Paysecure and its payment orchestration platform, contact the team at: paysecure.net/contact-us/
The post Paysecure wins “Best Online Payment Service 2025” at SiGMA Americas Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
poker
ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
Two $110,000+ Montenegro packages available during ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th
The next chapter of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure is taking shape. Two players are set to win their way to stunning Montenegro in Southeast Europe to compete against top poker pros and high stakes legends for huge prizes during the prestigious Super High Roller Series, scheduled for May 13th to 27th.
Through ACR Poker’s Main Satellite on Sunday, April 27th at 2:05pm ET, the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro is guaranteeing two all-inclusive packages, each covering $110,000 in tournament buy-ins / entry fees, plus added business-class airfare, and a 5-night stay at the luxurious Maestral Resort & Casino.
“The High Stakes Adventure is all about creating opportunities for players to escape the ordinary and play alongside poker’s elite in incredible destinations,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “I can still feel the energy from my deep run in Montenegro last year, and I’ve got a good feeling this event is going to be just as unforgettable. If you missed your chance to win a South Korea package earlier this year, this is your chance to get in the game.”
Moneymaker is no stranger to the high-stakes scene in Montenegro, having won last year’s Triton Poker Super High Roller Series $25,000 buy-in event for $903,000. Meanwhile, fellow ACR Pro Nacho Barbero also made waves this year during the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju, finishing 7th in the $100,000 buy-in Main Event, earning $946,000, plus cashing in four other events.
The High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro package winners will have the flexibility to split their $110,000 buy-in budget across multiple events or go all-in on a single high-stakes tourney. Off the felt, players can look forward to exploring Montenegro’s rich history, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
This latest satellite follows the success of ACR Poker’s High Stakes Adventure: South Korea earlier this year, where two $110,000 packages were awarded to players for the Super High Roller Series Jeju. Players looking to follow in their footsteps and compete for the Montenegro packages can buy into the Main Satellite for $2,650 or qualify for less through satellites running on ACR Poker this month.
For more details on the High Stakes Adventure: Montenegro, visit the promo page at ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BetBrothers announced the launch of its affiliate marketing platform, dedicated to providing detailed information and analysis of regulated sports betting operators. With the core mission of “Connecting Players with Safer Bets,” it will focus on developing and managing affiliate websites within regulated markets, starting with Spain and Greece.
BetBrothers sets itself apart by partnering exclusively with operators who hold valid licenses within these jurisdictions. This strategy ensures full compliance and promotes a safer betting environment for players.
“Licensing isn’t just a checkbox for us. It’s a baseline. By working only with licensed partners in each market, we not only ensure compliance. We’re taking an active role in promoting a safer betting environment and a player-friendly iGaming ecosystem,” said Borja Imbergamo, Head of Growth & Strategy at BetBrothers. “We are confident that this dedicated approach will resonate with both players and operators who value fair play and responsible experience.”
The platform is founded and managed by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in sports betting, affiliate marketing, and product development. The team behind BetBrothers has 25 years of combined experience in the industry.
BetBrothers content strategy is centered around providing players with clear and reliable insights in sports betting operators and their offerings. The team aims to become a compass for players, guiding them towards betting options offered by reputable and licensed brands. This player-first approach prioritizes user safety and promotes sports betting as an enjoyable form of entertainment.
Imbergamo added, “We established BetBrothers with a clear vision. To build a trustworthy bridge between players seeking entertainment and operators committed to the highest standards of user safety and regulation. We believe that the future of affiliate marketing in this industry lies in responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to safer betting experience.”
BetBrothers adopts a strong product-centric approach. The brand’s strategy goes beyond typical formats, building features and content that are engaging and useful for the players. This commitment to product innovation aims to significantly improve the user experience and offer more than just basic operator reviews. In addition to editorials, BetBrothers will also incorporate user-generated content to highlight real player experiences. This blend of expert-driven analysis and player feedback will provide a more well-rounded view of the betting market.
The brand aims to become an authority for responsible affiliate marketing. Offering valuable resources for players to help them make informed choices while delivering high-quality, compliant traffic to its operator partners. BetBrothers team plans a steady expansion into other regulated markets in the near future.
About BetBrothers:
BetBrothers is an affiliate marketing platform operating in the sports betting industry. Founded by seasoned industry professionals, its core mission is “Connecting Players with Safer Bets.” The platform builds and manages affiliate websites that exclusively promote licensed operators within regulated markets. BetBrothers is committed to responsible gambling, transparency, compliance, and creating a safer online betting environment for players.
The post BetBrothers Introduces Platform Dedicated to Safer Betting in Regulated Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Press Releases4 weeks agoGraffiti Rush marks PG Soft’s debut in graffiti-themed slots
-
Latin America3 weeks ago
Paysecure expands reach across LATAM, showcasing solutions at SIGMA Americas
-
Amusnet3 weeks ago
Amusnet to Participate in the Third Edition of SiGMA Americas
-
Africa3 weeks ago
Springbok Casino is Offering 25 Free Spins in Honour of South Africa’s Top 5 Wild Egg Hunters
-
Balkans4 weeks ago
7777 gaming partners with LiveScore to elevate its new operations in Bulgaria
-
Baltics2 weeks ago
Playson powers ahead in Europe with Fenikss partnership
-
Central Europe3 weeks ago
Digitain Partners with Gamingtec to Expand Presence in Europe
-
AGCO3 weeks ago
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
