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Betsson Group Publishes Interim Report for the Third Quarter of 2021

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The Betsson Group has published its interim report for the third quarter (July – September) of 2021.

Highlights

  • Group revenue was SEK 1,733.3 (1,676.7) million, an increase of 3%. Organic increase of 8%.
  • Casino revenue decreased by 2%. Sportsbook revenue increased by 24% and the sportsbook margin was 7.9% (7.0%).
  • Operating income (EBIT) was SEK 323.6 (329.1) million, a decrease of 1.7%, the EBIT margin was 18.7% (19.6%).
  • Net income was SEK 287.4 (290.6) million, corresponding to SEK 2.22 (2.22) per share.
  • Operating cash flow was SEK 423.5 (494.6) million.
  • Active customers increased by 7% to 986,429 (920,045).
  • Acquisition of Inkabet and investment (28%) in Slapshot Media Inc.

CEO Comment

“Yet another strong quarter driven by the sportsbook.”

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“After several records during the previous quarter, we managed to increase revenue by just over 3 per cent during the third quarter, compared with the corresponding quarter last year, which was a very strong quarter. At that time, the strong increase in revenue was driven by a surge in demand for digital entertainment. The further increase in revenue is explained by the successes with our sportsbook in combination with good results in the ending rounds of the EURO 2020 and CONMEBOL Copa América and the return of the domestic football leagues from mid-August. All in all, this has resulted in sportsbook revenue increasing by approximately 24 per cent year-on-year. The increase in revenue has also benefited from successes in new markets such as LatAm, Croatia and Greece.

Against the background of strong development this year, it was unfortunate that the Dutch Gaming Authority unexpectedly published a new policy at the end of September that entails a deviation from the previously communicated guidelines during the cooling off period. The new policy implies that operators who are waiting out the cooling off period is forced to cease operations completely, pending an obtained license. Based on the new policy, Betsson decided to temporarily stop accepting Dutch customers on international websites in order to create good conditions for the upcoming licensing process. Betsson continues to have strong faith in the Dutch market and an ambition to be able to conduct business in the future in accordance with the new regulations. The efforts to prepare the license applications and preparations for certifying our technical platform in the Dutch market are ongoing. The application is expected to be submitted no later than at the end of the first quarter 2022 in connection with the end of the cooling-off period. The outcome of the application process is expected to be communicated after the summer of 2022 and I then hope our position in the Netherlands gradually can be regained thanks to strong brands and an organization with good local knowledge.

The investments in the US market to be able to launch our B2C offerings in Colorado during the first quarter of 2022 continue according to plan. This quarter has been an intense period to secure everything from meeting the authorities’ reporting requirements to adapting the platform and technology so that the US-adapted sportsbook can enter a testing and certification process. The sportsbook has also been integrated into the Strive platform, which has now been certified in the state of Colorado. The fact that the Strive platform is certified will benefit us during the testing and certification processes that are initiated now.

During the quarter, we acquired Inkabet’s B2C business. Inkabet is a fast-growing sportsbook and casino business aimed at the western region of South America. The acquisition further strengthens and expands our presence and position in the Latin America region and builds on the previous acquisitions of JDP Tech Ltd, Suaposta, and Colbet. We have also invested in the Canadian startup company Slapshot Media Inc by acquiring 28 per cent of the shares. The investment in Slapshot Media Inc means a partnership with local Canadian expertise that enables Betsson to create a strong position in the Canadian market ahead of the upcoming regulation in Ontario. Strengthening our business through acquisitions is an important component of our strategy and it has been a successful way to create growth but also to build competence in the organization. In this way, a dynamic business is created that also positively impacts existing operations.

An important guiding star for my leadership has always been to drive the company towards the goals set for it, regardless of obstacles along the way and I intend to continue according to that. We have built a very strong and competent team at Betsson and I look forward to continuing to build the company even stronger in the future.”

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Blake Sartini

Golden Entertainment Announces Leadership Changes

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Golden Entertainment Inc. announced that effective March 20, 2024, Blake Sartini II, Golden’s Executive Vice President of Operations, became the Company’s Chief Operating Officer.

“Blake has worked in every capacity throughout our organization since he started at Golden almost 17 years ago. His unique knowledge of our Company’s culture, commitment to operational excellence, and strong leadership skills make him the ideal individual to be given responsibility for all our Nevada casino resorts, locals properties, tavern operations and related corporate functions,” Blake Sartini, Chairman and CEO of Golden, said.

Blake Sartini II initially joined Golden in June 2007, working with Golden’s tavern operations and building what is now the largest branded tavern portfolio in Nevada with 69 locations. Currently, as Executive Vice President of Operations, in addition to oversight of Golden’s taverns, he has direct responsibility for the Company’s five local casinos in Las Vegas and Pahrump.

Steve Arcana, Golden’s current Chief Operating Officer, became the Company’s Chief Development Officer also effective March 20, 2024. In this newly created role, Mr. Arcana will be responsible for all new tavern development, finding new third-party food and beverage concepts for the Company’s casino resorts, and exploring opportunities to unlock value in the Company’s excess real estate in Las Vegas, Laughlin and Pahrump. Mr. Arcana initially joined Golden in 2003 and has overseen the Company’s operations as it has grown from a privately held, 900-slot machine route operation to a publicly traded gaming company with casinos in Las Vegas, Laughlin and Pahrump in addition to its significant tavern portfolio.

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“Steve has been with Golden for over 20 years and has been an integral part of growing our business and guiding us through many challenges. Steve has established a strong operating team and has been a consistent leader throughout his decades at Golden. His long history and extensive experience in the industry will continue to benefit the Company in his new role focused on creating value from new tavern development and unused assets in our casino portfolio,” Mr. Sartini said.

“These management changes will allow Golden to focus on maximizing performance in our core operations while exploring opportunities to drive future improvement by bringing potential new concepts to our existing portfolio. I am confident the changes to Blake and Steve’s roles with the Company will position us well to create additional shareholder value,” Mr. Sartini added.

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Barclays Capital Inc

MGM Resorts International Announces Proposed Senior Notes Offering

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MGM Resorts International announced that it proposes to offer $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2032.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repay existing indebtedness, including its outstanding 6.750% senior notes due 2025. Pending such use, the Company may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities, or similar investments.

The notes being offered will be general unsecured senior obligations of the Company, guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s other senior indebtedness, and equal in right of payment with all existing or future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and each guarantor.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., and Truist Securities, Inc. will act as joint book-running managers and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will act as co-managers for the proposed offering.

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The Nomination Committee’s Proposal of Catena Media’s Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2024

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The Nomination Committee of Catena Media proposed re-election of the following members of the Board of Directors:

Øystein Engebretsen

Theodore Bergquist

Adam Krejcik

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Sean Hurley

The Nomination Committee proposed that Erik Flinck and Dan Castillo be elected as new members of the Board of Directors.

Göran Blomberg, Esther Teixeira-Boucher and Austin Malcomb have declined re-election as board members.

The Nomination Committee proposed that there will be six (6) members of the Board of Directors, changed from seven (7).

The Nomination Committee also proposed Erik Flinck to be elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

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Erik Flinck, born in 1980, currently provides high end business consulting combined with serving as Chairman for the digital health startup, dr HUD. Mr Flinck previously served as Head of BCG Sweden and has extensive experience from corporate management, growth and turnarounds from nearly 20 years of Management Consulting and serving as Head of Group Strategy and M&A at Sandvik AB. He has a Masters Degree in Engineering (Software development and Financial Mathematics) from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and a Masters Degree in Business and Administration from Stockholm University and Stockholm School of Business.

Born in 1980, Dan Castillo has accumulated over 20 years of experience across startups, growth companies and turnarounds. Since 2015, Castillo has invested in Catena Media, maintaining a close watch on its progression, especially after its IPO in 2016. He has previous experience of listed board work in Kotipizza which Orkla acquired in 2018. He currently serves on the boards of five companies in different sectors, including Quartr.com in Fintech and Hope Studios in movie production. His academic background includes studies in Finance and Economics at Linköping University.

The Nomination Committee of Catena Media consists of:

Nicklas Paulson, representing Investment AB Öresund (chair of the nomination committee)

Marianne Stenberg, representing Second Swedish National Pension Fund

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Martin Zetterlund, representing Niklas Karlsson

Göran Blomberg, chairman of the board of Catena Media.

The post The Nomination Committee’s Proposal of Catena Media’s Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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