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Betsson Ab Interim Report April – June 2020
Group revenue was SEK 1,532.8 (1,277.7) million, an increase of 20% with an organic increase of 12%.
Casino revenue increased by 40%. Sportsbook revenue decreased by 34% and the sportsbook margin was 6.9% (7.8%).
Operating income (EBIT) was SEK 217.7 (196.9) million.
The EBIT margin was 14.2% (15.4%).
Operating cash flow was 343.9 (390.6) million.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AND OUTLOOK
Acquisition of GiG’s B2C vertical completed.
New market entries into Colorado (USA) and Kenya.
The AGM in June resolved on dividend paid to shareholders in July of SEK 2.88 per share, corresponding to SEK 393.6 million.
The daily average revenue in the third quarter 2020 until 16 July was 35% (23% organic) higher than the average daily revenue of the full third quarter 2019.
CEO COMMENT
“I am proud that Betsson has delivered all-time high revenues under the most challenging conditions.”
“The second quarter was strong and followed the positive trend from the start of the year despite market challenges during this extraordinary period. The global pandemic had immediate effect on the Company from March onwards. We responded quickly and decisively to make changes in the offer, and I am particularly pleased to see the strong performance in casino. Sports betting revenues continued to be impacted in the second quarter by the pandemic as expected, however benefited from the progressive return of football and other sporting events at the end of the quarter. Our business has remained financially robust and resilient to this impact, being both diversified and flexible.
Our key focus areas remain the health and safety of both our employees and the societies in which we operate. Early on, we proactively took actions to enable both a safe and effective working environment for the whole Group and to ensure delivery of products and services to customers with uninterrupted quality.
From March to date, we have seen many changes in habits of how people work, interact, shop and enjoy entertainment, many enabled by advancements in technology and the use of digital devices. We believe the ongoing transition from offline to online has been further accelerated as a consequence of the global lockdowns. This will benefit the strategic direction of our business both short and long term.
In the quarter, we continued executing our strategic priorities, pushing through projects in accordance with the strategic plan. Betsson successfully completed the acquisition of the B2C operation from GiG and remotely onboarded approximately 60 new colleagues. We signed an agreement with Dostal Alley Casino in Colorado to enter the high-potential US market. Initially, we will start with B2C sports betting in the state of Colorado, with the ambition to sell our proprietary sportsbook to B2B customers in the future. In this quarter, we have also taken the first steps into Kenya by partnering with local partners. After the quarter, we have taken further steps to strengthen our position in South America where Betsson has expanded its presence in the only regulated market by acquiring 70% of the Colombian based operator Colbet. This deal will give us access to the Colombian market for online sport betting and casino.
The majority of our employees have been working from home and in the true `One Betsson’ spirit, we have all continued striving towards creating the best user experiences. This has been delivered through the full dedication of the teams, enabled by the quality of both our technical infrastructure and digital content. I am enormously proud of and thankful to all our people for their continued hard work and commitment to keeping the business momentum.
During this pandemic, governments have been modelling a range of scenarios of potential impact, several governments took immediate temporary actions on our industry such as either suspending gambling both offline and online or implementing restrictions on marketing. In the beginning of the third quarter, when most countries had removed Corona-related restrictions, Sweden sadly enough implemented restrictions on online casino, without empirical evidence. This measure will unfortunately push even more consumers to play outside of the Swedish regulation.
The immediate outlook is naturally uncertain, however Betsson is in good shape and we are in it for the long term. Our proprietary technology is a strategic advantage, our diversification in markets, verticals and brands makes us resilient to market fluctuations and our financials are rock solid. This makes me optimistic about the prospects for Betsson.”
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Gaming Corps games suite to roll out with betPawa, which operates in 12 African countries
Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden – is to bring its premium games suite to more players across Africa after agreeing a partnership with betPawa.
More than 10 million Africans trust and use betPawa as their betting brand of choice, with the operator currently active in 12 countries across the continent. betPawa is on a mission to make betting friendly by providing 24-hour customer support, a user-friendly platform, the lowest minimum stakes and guaranteed and instant payments.
Players at betPawa will be able to enjoy Gaming Corps’ full portfolio of Crash, Mine, Table and Slot titles, as well as a certified Plinko. This will include recent smash hits such as RAMPAGE, Piggy Smash and Raging Zeus Mines, along with Gaming Corps’ renowned games series such as Jet Lucky and Coin Miner.
Gaming Corps is now able to offer more value to players following the launch of its Smash4Cash™ mechanic, which is designed to make the game experience even more unique and bring an even greater chance for players to make the most of bonus rounds.
Mats Lundin, Gaming Corps’ Director of Sales, said: “We are delighted to partner with betPawa; an operator that has established a reputation as a successful and trusted betting brand across Africa.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring our thrilling games to many more players across the continent, and I look forward to offering even more magnificent games to betPawa’s players as we continue to strengthen our portfolio. Our Smash4Cash™ mechanic is already helping us produce games full of even more excitement, and I’m sure that trend will continue.”
Spencer Okach betPawa said: “This partnership with Gaming Corps will allow us to further strengthen our casino offering, and we are very excited to give our players the chance to make the most of Gaming Corps’ first-class games suite.
“We are always looking for ways to make the gaming experience with betPawa even more memorable, and I’m sure Gaming Corps’ ever-expanding list of games will help us do that.”
The post Gaming Corps games suite to roll out with betPawa, which operates in 12 African countries appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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UK risks losing safer gambling leadership position – warns BetBlocker.org chief of partnerships
Pedro Romero, chief of partnerships at safer gambling software provider BetBlocker.org has highlighted the sense of insecurity among Research, Education and Treatment organisations arising from the publication of the UK Government’s White Paper on gambling reform.
Speaking following February’s edition of ICE where BetBlocker and US-based International Centre for Responsible Gambling (ICRG), shared a £41,000 pool which was provided by leading brands Light and Wonder, Flutter, Betsson Group, IGT, Novomatic, Neccton and Playtech Pedro Romero noted: “The main talking points at ICE 2024, particularly in relation to safer gambling, revolved around the publication of the White Paper which has caused so much anxiety.
“It’s concerning that many in the third sector feel alienated from critical conversations about the future of safer gambling and harm minimisation.
“The potential implications of this disconnect are significant, not just for the individuals and communities we serve, but for the UK’s reputation in the field.
“We must find a way to bridge this gap and work together to address the challenges ahead. Otherwise, I fear the UK risks losing its leadership position in advancing safer gambling practices.”
Regarding the £20,500 donation which was presented at ICE he added: “We have earmarked these funds with a dual purpose in mind. Primarily, it will assist with our running costs, which as a small charity is crucial for the sustainability of our operations.
“Additionally, we are excited about a very special project that we’re planning for ICE 2025 in Barcelona. Without giving too much away, it’s a development that aims to pay tribute to both Clarion and the city of Barcelona. We believe it will make a significant impact and we look forward to unveiling it.”
Romero spoke positively about the relocation to Barcelona stating: “ICE 2024 served as a fantastic farewell to London, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Barcelona.
“While there’s a certain sadness in leaving a city that has been such a great host, the move to Barcelona is an exciting development. It represents a fresh opportunity for ICE to be the global gaming hub in a vibrant, dynamic city. We are very much looking forward to what the future holds in this new location.”
The post UK risks losing safer gambling leadership position – warns BetBlocker.org chief of partnerships appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The MeridianBet – Golden Matrix Transaction Secures Approval at GMGI Shareholder Assembly
The MeridianBet Group, Southeast Europe’s leading Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sports betting and gaming group, operating in multiple markets across Europe, Africa and Latin America, announced that the shareholders of Golden Matrix Group (GMG), a developer, licensor and global operator of online gaming and eCommerce platforms, systems and gaming content, have voted to approve the acquisition of MeridianBet.
Commenting on the merger Zoran Milosevic, Chief Executive Officer of MeridianBet Group, said: “Today marks a major milestone for MeridianBet and I am thrilled that the shareholders of Golden Matrix have overwhelmingly voted in favor of the acquisition of MeridianBet. By joining forces, we are not only expanding our reach but enhancing our ability to provide customers with a diverse and comprehensive offering whilst creating a leading global betting group. I look forward to announcing the completion of the deal in due course.”
The post The MeridianBet – Golden Matrix Transaction Secures Approval at GMGI Shareholder Assembly appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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