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Aspire Global’s Year-End Report 2019 – Another Year of Strong Growth

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FOURTH QUARTER 2019 (OCT-DEC)
• Revenues decreased by 2.0% to €32.2 million (32.9).
• B2B revenues increased by 10.0% to €21.2 million (19.3), constituting 66.0% of total revenues.
• EBITDA decreased by 33.6% to €4.4 million (6.6).
• EBITDA for B2B decreased by 21.0% to €3.4 million (4.4), constituting 78.8% of total EBITDA.
• The EBITDA margin amounted to 13.5% (20.0%)
• EBIT amounted to €3.1 million (6.0).
• Earnings after tax amounted to €-12.1 million (4.6), impacted by the tax settlement of €13.7 million related to the fiscal years 2008–2018.
• Earnings per share after tax amounted to €-0.26 (0.10) including, and €0.03 (0.10) excluding, a one-off tax item.
• First time depositors in thousands (FTDs) decreased by 14.6% to 105.6 thousand (123.7).

FULL YEAR 2019 (JAN-DEC)
• Revenues increased by 26.0% to €131.4 million (104.6).
• B2B revenues increased by 43.4% to €81.1 million (56.6), constituting 62.0% of total revenues.
• EBITDA increased by 2.4% to €21.7 million (21.2).
• EBITDA for B2B increased by 29.0% to €15.9 million (12.4), constituting 73.4% of total EBITDA.
• The EBITDA margin amounted to 16.5% (20.3%)
• EBIT amounted to €17.7 million (19.3).
• Earnings after tax amounted to €0.4 million (16.2), impacted by the tax settlement of €13.7 million related to the fiscal years 2008–2018.
• Earnings per share after tax amounted to €0.01 (0.36) including, and €0.31 (0.36) excluding, a one-off tax item.
• First time depositors in thousands (FTDs) increased by 20.0% to 444.5 thousand (370.4).
• The Board proposes the AGM that no dividend is paid out for 2019 following the tax settlement and the continued search for M&A opportunities. The long-term dividend target of 50% of net profit remains.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS DURING AND AFTER THE FOURTH QUARTER
• October 7th, Aspire Global finalized the acquisition of the leading game aggregator platform Pariplay for €13.3 million in cash, according to the initial conditions. With the acquisition Aspire Global has gained control of yet another crucial part of the iGaming value chain – creating synergies, broadening the game portfolio and providing a channel to distribute propriety games outside the partner network. The transaction had a positive effect on the company’s EBITDA already in Q4 2019.
• Aspire Global appealed against the lawsuit made by the Swedish Consumer Agency (“KO”) in October claiming that the company violated the marketing provisions of the Gaming- and Marketing acts.
• November 1st 2019, Aspire Global announced the coming entering into the regulated US market as Pariplay signed an agreement for New Jersey with longstanding partner 888casino.
• December 31st 2019, Aspire Global reached an agreement for a settlement with the Israeli Tax Authority in the previously disclosed tax audit.

STATEMENT FROM THE CEO
I am pleased to conclude that we have delivered another year of strong growth, despite changes in the market environment. Revenues increased by 26% to €131.4 million with an EBITDA margin of 16.5%, in line with our financial targets. We have proven that our strategy is efficient, and we have a solid foundation to continue to expand our business through organic growth and M&A.
We had a somewhat disappointing last quarter of the year due to new regulatory requirements in regulated markets, such as the UK, as well as markets to become regulated. Compliance is top on our agenda and we swiftly adapt to new regulatory requirements, knowing that our longer-term benefits are larger than the short-term impact. Our settlement with the Israeli tax authorities had a significant impact on net income and EPS in the quarter. Nonetheless, I am satisfied with the settlement as it provides the market with clarity around the outcome of the audit. The additional tax charge of €13.7 million is reported as a one-off tax item.

Growth for Pariplay in 2020
One of the highlights in the quarter is the successful integration of Pariplay where we already have realized some of the synergies. Pariplay contributed to revenues and EBITDA in the quarter with €3 million and €0.5 million respectively. The acquisition will create further cost synergies, strengthen our market presence in B2B, serve as our first footprint in the US and generate revenue streams outside our existing partners on our platform. The technical integration is completed, and we are happy to have all main third-party suppliers on board from the start. During the fourth quarter, Pariplay signed two new operator deals. We expect Pariplay to generate significant growth in 2020 with a positive effect on the Group’s EBITDA.

Material organic growth in 2019
In 2019 we continued to deliver on our growth strategy and accelerated the number of partners and brands as well as strengthened our offering. In the quarter, three new partnerships were signed, and seven new B2B-brands were launched. By year-end, we had 77 B2B-brands and 44 partners operating on our platform, which is a material increase from 2018. The B2B-segment grew by 43.4% in 2019, constituting 62.0% of Group revenues, while growth for B2C was around 5% following weaker performance due to new regulatory requirements, although partially compensated by other markets.
We see great interest in our recent verticals  sports and bingo  and several partners are looking to broaden their offering. Four B2B-brands are currently offering sportsbook and three launches are soon to come. Bingo is live with one B2B-brand and three launches are near, including Karamba.

Competitive advantages in the regulated landscape
We have given clear proof of our ability to grow with good profitability in regulated markets. In 2019, more than 50% of our revenues came from regulated and taxed markets. We welcome the trend where more markets become regulated. We believe it benefits companies like ours, with a sustainable growth strategy rather than a more opportunistic approach and we consider it to be a business opportunity. We will continue to strengthen our market position in the regulated landscape by expanding in the value chain. It grants us a unique, competitive advantage as current and future partners wish to enhance their potential in any jurisdiction. Thus, we continue the active search for acquisition opportunities and new projects across various parts of the value chain, in Europe as well as other parts of the world. We are confident in our integration skills and we have the financial strength to execute on our M&A-strategy.

Continued sustainable profitable growth
Our broad market presence and product offering give us a solid foundation for sustainable profitable growth. We will continue to enhance our multi-vertical offering while maintaining the search for M&A-opportunities, supported by our strong balance sheet. We are confident in our ability to meet our financial targets for 2021, €200 million in revenues and €32 million in EBITDA.

Tsachi Maimon, CEO Aspire Global

3 Pigs of the Caribbean

Gaming Corps sets sail with 3 Pigs of the Caribbean – a swashbuckling new chapter in its hit Pigs series

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Hams Ahoy! The iconic trio return for a pirate-themed Hold & Win adventure

Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has unveiled 3 Pigs of the Caribbean, the latest and most ambitious instalment in its hit Pigs series. Following the runaway success of 3 Pigs of Olympus, the notorious trio return for a high-seas escapade packed with charm, humour, and treasure-filled potential.

Set against sun-drenched islands and creaking pirate ships, 3 Pigs of the Caribbean invites players to join the three swashbuckling pigs on their hunt for fortune. Every spin feels like a roll of the waves, as the pigs dig, hoard, and plunder their way across the reels in search of glittering rewards. Played across a 5×3 grid with 243 ways to win, this high-volatility Hold & Win slot captures the thrill of adventure with its dynamic mix of prize collection, grid expansion, and feature upgrades.

At the heart of the game is the Bonus Hold & Win Game, triggered by landing six or more Prize Coin symbols or a combination of Prize and Pig Coins. Once activated, players set sail on a bonus round that can expand to a 5×5 grid, where every spin offers new treasures to uncover. Each of the three Pig Coins brings its own brand of mischief and reward: the Red Pig expands the grid and adds new win possibilities, the Yellow Pig boosts prizes with multipliers of up to x10 and can award random values of up to 100x the total bet, while the Blue Pig adds extra respins and can also deliver random values of up to 100x the bet.

Adding to the chaos is the Mystery Pig, which can transform into any of the three Pig Coins to trigger surprise upgrades mid-bonus. Meanwhile, the Collector Chest feature keeps the base game brimming with activity, scooping up the values of Prize Coin symbols as they land. The brand-new Prize Gem system adds long-term treasure hunting to the mix, with four collectible tiers: Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand – each unlocked through colour-coded progress bars. When a bar is filled, a matching Prize Gem drops onto the grid, delivering a haul worthy of the high seas.

With an RTP of up to 95.81% and a rich tapestry of features that blend instant rewards with long-term engagement, 3 Pigs of the Caribbean represents a major evolution in the Pigs franchise, and one of Gaming Corps’ most feature-packed titles to date.

Viacheslav Pechernyi, Product Owner at Gaming Corps, said: “The Pigs have become a cornerstone of our portfolio and a player favourite around the world. With 3 Pigs of the Caribbean, we wanted to take everything that made the series successful – fun characters, smart mechanics, and big win potential, and send them on their most daring voyage yet. We can’t wait to see how it performs.”

The post Gaming Corps sets sail with 3 Pigs of the Caribbean – a swashbuckling new chapter in its hit Pigs series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Aaron Magpayo Chief Product Officer at Playnetic

Elantil adds Playnetic to ever-expanding list of marketplace options

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Pioneering platform solutions provider integrates with innovative B2B content provider to give operators access to even more immersive gaming entertainment

Elantil, the disruptive platform solutions provider that’s rewriting the playbook for operators with its strategic iGaming backbone, has announced that it has further enhanced the range of options available via its online marketplace after partnering with Playnetic.

Having only launched in 2023, Playnetic has rapidly established itself as one of the industry’s go-to B2B content providers due to its unwavering reliability and exceptional customer service. Dedicated to providing immersive entertainment experiences, Playnetic has established three in-house studios that work closely with their commercial team to understand operator and partner requirements.

With all releases being informed by market insights, advances in technology and the latest gameplay trends, Playnetic titles combine high-quality visuals and audio with cutting-edge innovation and are backed by the company’s promise to consistently deliver, on time, every time.

As such a partner-oriented content provider, Playnetic will undoubtedly prove another welcome addition to Elantil’s Marketplace, with all operators now being free to reach out to the game provider directly and form their own simple, flexible agreements without Elantil dictating any of the terms.

By partnering with Elantil, Playnetic gains a platform that puts freedom, agility and control back at the heart of their operations. Elantil’s modular, API-first architecture enables swift market entry and reduces the delays that legacy systems often impose. Operators are able to launch new titles such as Piggy Plunder and Joxer, as well as brands or markets much faster, avoid rigid revenue-share burdens and minimise integration complexity and hidden costs.

Moreover, direct access to Playnetic’s immersive games portfolio means operators can refresh and diversify their lobbies, engage with players and scale into new markets with confidence.

John Debono, Chief Technical Officer at Elantil, said: “With Elantil’s Marketplace redefining the way that operators and suppliers do business, we’re delighted to be adding Playnetic to our growing list of integrations. As one of the most partner-focused B2B content providers around, our operators can now contact them directly to form bespoke deals that truly benefit their business.”

Aaron Magpayo, Chief Product Officer at Playnetic, said: “Our integration with Elantil’s Marketplace allows operators to access Playnetic’s content more seamlessly than ever before. It’s an important step that improves delivery efficiency, accelerates market access, and supports our goal of creating tailored, high-performing gaming experiences for every partner”.

The post Elantil adds Playnetic to ever-expanding list of marketplace options appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Endorphina

SkillOnNet and Endorphina Unite in New Multi-Market Deal

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Partnership Brings Endorphina’s Top Titles to SkillOnNet Brands Worldwide

Players across global entertainment brand SkillOnNet’s leading network of online casino brands can now dive into a fresh lineup of cutting-edge games, thanks to a new strategic partnership with award-winning software provider Endorphina.

Endorphina has been wowing the industry with a steady stream of hit titles like Hit Slot, Crown Coins, Lucky Streak 1000, Chance Machine, Fortune Chests and Thunder Crown. The company was crowned “Provider of the Year” at the AffPapa iGaming Awards 2025. Its games are now live with SkillOnNet across multiple jurisdictions.

SkillOnNet powers a diverse portfolio of iGaming brands, including household names like PlayOJO and Slingo, as well as regional favourites such as PlayUZU (Spain, LATAM), DrückGlück (Germany), and BacanaPlay (Portugal, Brazil).

The deal cements the company’s strategy of building the world’s most comprehensive games library through long-term partnerships with the very best emerging and established developers in the industry.

SkillOnNet operates more than 30 online casinos in numerous regulated jurisdictions across the globe, while providing turnkey solutions to top brands worldwide.

Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “We are delighted to partner with Endorphina and to bring their exceptional titles to our brands. We’re all about finding partners that share our core values around innovation, quality and responsible gaming. Endorphina delivers on that, while pushing the boundaries of game design and technical excellence. They have a deep understanding of what players want.”

Nare Grigoryan, COO-Malta at Endorphina said: “We’re proud to collaborate with SkillOnNet, a company with global reach and expertise. This deal allows us to amplify our presence in many regulated markets while delivering real value to players through a trusted, forward-thinking partner.”

The post SkillOnNet and Endorphina Unite in New Multi-Market Deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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