Canada

Rivalry Announces Record Fourth Quarter, Year-End 2022, and All-Time High Quarterly Revenue In Preliminary Q1 2023 Results

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2023

Rivalry Corp., an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, today announced its financial results for the three and 12-month periods ended December 31, 2022. The Company also announced preliminary results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.

“Our market strategy and operational excellence continues to build upon consecutive record-setting quarters, driving a strong finish to the year and a robust Q1, while simultaneously demonstrating sequential narrowing losses on our path to profitability,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “Underpinning our growth is significant brand loyalty among the Millennial and Gen Z audience and true product innovation in online betting, enabling every marketing dollar to go further, enhancing retention, and creating a distinctly unique platform. Rivalry continues to be economically rewarded for taking an inventive approach to the betting experience and tailoring it for a demographic with unique consumption habits.”

Full-Year 2022 Financial Highlights

Betting handle was $232.8 million in 2022, an increase of 198% compared to $78.2 million in 2021.
Revenue was a record $26.6 million in 2022, an increase of 140% from $11.0 million in 2021.
Gross profit was $9.8 million in 2022, an increase of $7.6 million or 349% from $2.2 million in 2021.
Net loss for the year was $31.1 million, compared to a net loss of $24.3 million in 2021. The 2022 net loss includes $8.2 million of share-based compensation expense, a non-cash item, compared to $10.5 million of share-based compensation expense in 2021.
The Company had $16.4 million of cash and no debt as at December 31, 2022.²

Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

Betting handle was $83.9 million in Q4 2022, a year-over-year increase of 237% compared to $24.9 million in Q4 2021, and up 19% sequentially from the previous record quarterly handle of $70.3 million in Q3 2022.
Revenue was $9.4 million in Q4 2022, a year-over-year increase of 338% from $2.2 million in Q4 2021, and represented the Company’s highest-ever revenue up to that point. Revenue was up 32% sequentially from $7.1 million in Q3 2022.
Sportsbook revenue of $7.1 million in Q4 2022 was $1.0 million higher than in Q3 2022, driven by a very strong month in October. Gaming revenue of $2.3 million was up by $1.2 million or 119% over Q3 2022, as the Company began offering a wider set of casino games on its Casino.exe platform.
Gross profit was $5.0 million in Q4 2022, a year-over-year increase of $4.6 million from $0.4 million in Q4 2021, and up 139% sequentially from $2.1 million in Q3 2022.
Net loss for Q4 2022 was $12.3 million. The net loss included $6.4 million of share-based compensation, a non-cash expense that is not expected to recur in future periods, as well as non-recurring spending of $1.1 million. Absent those non-recurring items, the Q4 2022 adjusted net loss was $4.9 million³, in line with a trend of narrowing losses over the past four quarters.

First Quarter 2023 Preliminary Results⁴

Betting handle for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 was $120.2 million, an increase of $80.0 million or 199% from $40.2 million in Q1 2022. Betting handle increased by $36.2 million or 43% from the previous quarterly record of $83.9 million in Q4 2022.
Revenue for Q1 2023 was $12.0 million, an increase of $7.2 million or 151% from $4.8 million in Q1 2022, and up $2.5 million or 27% over Q4 2022 revenue of $9.4 million.
Gross profit was $5.4 million in Q1 2023, an increase of $4.8 million from $0.7 million of gross profit in Q1 2022, and up $0.4 million or 9% from Q4 2022 gross profit of $5.0 million.
These results were achieved with a 10% reduction in marketing spend YoY.
Net loss was $3.5 million for Q1 2023, compared to a net loss of $6.6 million in Q1 2022.

Operational Highlights

Rivalry obtained licences in its first two fully regulated markets, commencing gaming operations in Ontario on April 4, 2022 and in Australia on May 9, 2022.
The Company added mobile esports to its sportsbook in March 2022, enabling customers to wager on a variety of competitive esports played on mobile devices.
The Company entered the casino segment with its first third-party game in Q3 2022 and launched its proprietary platform Casino.exe in the fourth quarter with several additional games.
Customer registrations increased to approximately 1.5 million by the end of Q1 2023.
Rivalry’s creator partner network and owned media properties reached a total of 85 million followers, deepening reach, acquisition, and engagement among core target audience.
Company brand strategy helped maintain market-leading position among next generation of bettors, with Millennial and Gen Z consumers accounting for 97% of active users in 2022.
Esports betting continues to drive significant growth, representing nearly 90% of sportsbook handle in 2022.
The Company expanded its casino offering in January 2023 with eight new titles including live dealer and table games, and debuted Casino.exe in its home market of Ontario in March 2023.
On April 26, 2023, Rivalry announced a private placement for gross proceeds of up to $10 million (the “Private Placement”) with participation from key sports betting, technology, and payments stakeholders, signaling a vote of confidence in the Company’s user economics and ability to execute within this emerging vertical. The Private Placement is expected to close in one or more tranches commencing on or about May 5, 2023.

Outlook

“We have reached an inflection point in the business where the economic return of our strategy and unique position at the intersection of esports and betting has outlined a clear path to profitability,” Salz added. “We are well-positioned to scale efficiently throughout the year, with a collection of near and long-term initiatives that will contribute to our disruptive product and brand.”

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Initiatives the Company expects to drive continued growth in 2023 include:

Expanding our esports offering to deepen our core product, attract new customers, and establish the most comprehensive product globally.
Continued evolution of our interactive Casino.exe platform and release of additional proprietary and third-party games that cater to our core demographic and further establish a betting experience unique to Rivalry.
Continued product development, including new betting markets and proprietary platform features, to meet shifting consumption habits of Millennial and Gen Z consumers.
Launch of a mobile app in our regulated markets to increase accessibility of our product and player acquisition.
Geographic expansion to increase our addressable market and customer base.
Expanded brand execution through premium content, creator partner programming, and community activations to enhance customer engagement and retention, solidifying Rivalry’s leadership position among next generation consumers.
Continuing to grow our investor base through proactive capital markets outreach.

Canada

IAGR announces Toronto as host city for 2025 conference

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

iagr-announces-toronto-as-host-city-for-2025-conference

Hot on the heels of its most attended conference in history, the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) is excited to announce that its 2025 conference will take place in Toronto, Canada, from October 20 to 23, 2025.

The event will be held in partnership with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) at the Westin Harbour Castle, offering stunning waterfront views and a premier, downtown Toronto location.

‘Fresh off the success of our Rome conference, we’re thrilled to continue the momentum with next year’s event in Toronto,’ said Ben Haden, IAGR President.

‘The IAGR 2025 conference promises to be another unparalleled opportunity for our global community to come together, collaborate and shape the future of gaming regulation. We’re looking forward to working with AGCO to bring it all together.’

AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr, added, ‘We’re excited to welcome IAGR and its members to Toronto. This partnership provides a great opportunity to share Ontario’s innovative regulatory practices and foster meaningful discussions that drive positive change in the industry.’

Stay tuned for registration details early next year.

Bombee Global Entertainment Ltd

ESE Entertainment Completes Acquisition of Gaming Production Company, Bombee Americas

Published

1 week ago

October 24, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

ese-entertainment-completes-acquisition-of-gaming-production-company,-bombee-americas

ESE Entertainment Inc., a gaming company that provides a range of services to leading video game developers and publishers, has announced that it has acquired Bombee Global Entertainment Ltd. (Bombee Americas), the North American arm of Bombee Event Production AB, (Bombee), a global production company specialized in live production, special effects, broadcast, and event management for the gaming sector.

Bombee has successfully collaborated with ESE to bring its premier event production services and world class customer service to North America and beyond. The North American arm of Bombee, Bombee Americas, will continue to grow and scale in this new organizational structure under ESE, while maintaining its entire team and global support.

Konrad Wasiela, CEO of ESE, said: “Today marks the next stage of ESE—a 2.0 version of our company. With the acquisition of Bombee Americas, we are not only solidifying our presence in North America but also paving the way for growth and innovation in the gaming industry. This is a major step, positioning us to deliver even greater value to our partners and elevate the gaming experience for our clients globally. We’re thrilled about the opportunities ahead and the exceptional talent joining our team.”

Transaction Terms

The Acquisition was completed by way of a share purchase agreement (the SPA) among the Company, Bombee Americas, and the shareholders of Bombee Americas (the Vendors). Pursuant to the SPA, ESE acquired all of the outstanding shares of Bombee Americas in exchange for: (i) $750,000 in cash paid on closing, (ii) $375,000 in cash to be paid six (6) months following closing, subject to customary adjustments based on the working capital of Bombee Americas on closing, (iii) $375,000 in cash to be paid twelve (12) months following closing, and (iv) 30,000,000 common shares of ESE (the Consideration Shares), issued at a deemed issue price of $0.10 per share.

In connection with the Acquisition, the founders of Bombee Americas have signed three-year service agreements and will continue to run the business following the closing, along with the rest of the personnel of Bombee Americas who will remain in place, ensuring a smooth transition of operations. As part of the Acquisition, the Company has acquired the liabilities of Bombee Americas, mainly consisting of customary current obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business for Bombee Americas, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s operations or financial position.

No finder’s fees were paid or payable in conjunction with the Acquisition.

The Acquisition was an arm’s length transaction within the meaning of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the Exchange) and constituted an “Expedited Acquisition” in accordance with Exchange Policy 5.3 – Acquisitions and Dispositions of Non-Cash Assets. The Acquisition remains subject to the final approval of the Exchange.

Canada

Suspected Digital Fraud Coming from Canada Up Nearly 11% Since H1 2023, Reveals New TransUnion Analysis

Published

2 weeks ago

October 16, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

suspected-digital-fraud-coming-from-canada-up-nearly-11%-since-h1-2023,-reveals-new-transunion-analysis

In the first half (H1) of 2024, Canada saw a significant increase in suspected Digital Fraud attempts, with nearly 5.74% of all attempted digital transactions where the consumer was located in Canada involving suspected Digital Fraud, revealed a new TransUnion^® (NYSE: TRU) analysis. This is nearly an 11% year-over-year (YoY) rate increase from H1 2023, and TransUnion also documented an 11% increase in the volume of suspected Digital Fraud from Canada during this period, despite a less than a one percent (0.7%) YoY increase in the volume of transactions.

According to a recent TransUnion survey,¹ more than half (54%) of Canadians said they were recently targeted by email, phone call or text message fraud attempts. Phishing was the most common scheme type (45%), followed by smishing (42%) and vishing (39%).

The increasing use of digital transactions, combined with rising suspected Digital Fraud attempts are also impacting businesses as they potentially face revenue losses and increased operational costs due to fraud. According to a TransUnion business survey for the H2 2024 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud report, 200 Canadian business leaders said their companies lost approximately 6% of equivalent revenue – representing $78 billion – over the past year due to fraud. The most prominent causes of fraud loss cited by them were:

Scam/Authorized fraud (31%): Dishonest scheme intended to trick a person into giving up something of value (e.g., account access, money, information)
Account takeover (19%): Unauthorized individuals taking over someone’s online account (e.g., bank, social media, email) without their permission
Synthetic identity fraud (18%): Use of a combination of personal information to fabricate a person or entity to commit a dishonest act for financial or personal gain

TransUnion also found that suspected Digital Fraud attempts – where the consumer was transacting in Canada and targeted businesses globally – increased on average by 10.5% YoY in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023 and impacted all industries.

Top Three Industries Globally with Highest Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada in H1 2024

Gambling (online sports betting, poker, etc.) – 9.6%
Retail – 9.2%
Government – 7.7%

Top Three Industries Globally with Highest YoY Increase (H1 2024 vs H1 2023) in the Rate of Suspected Digital Fraud Attempts Coming from Canada

Logistics – 172.9%
Gambling – 79.3%
Video gaming – 67.8%

“Protecting customers and their businesses from fraud is essential to enabling safe and tailored consumer experiences. These findings reveal that despite the good-faith efforts that are being undertaken by companies to identify and prevent fraud to date, fraudsters continue to evolve and it’s vital that fraud prevention methods keep up with the changing times,” said Patrick Boudreau, head of identity management and fraud solutions at TransUnion Canada.

“Businesses that aren’t already doing so should ensure that they are taking advantage of fraud prevention technologies such as identity verification, IP intelligence, device reputation and synthetic identity detection as critical components of their fraud prevention programs,” he added.