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Brightstar Lottery Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

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Brightstar Lottery PLC has reported the financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025.

“We achieved several important milestones over the last few months. We secured the Italy Lotto license through November 2034, closed the sale of our Gaming & Digital business for $4 billion in cash, and announced plans to return significant capital to shareholders. With a singular focus on lottery and unmatched industry expertise, we are well positioned to create value for all stakeholders with our mission to elevate lotteries and inspire players around the world,” said Vince Sadusky, CEO of Brightstar.

“Our second quarter results reflect sustained global demand for instant ticket and draw games. We are investing in key initiatives to drive sustainable, long-term growth, while also delivering structural cost reductions to right-size the business. The Company’s attractive profit profile and strong, predictable cash flows support our balanced approach to capital allocation,” said Max Chiara, CFO of Brightstar.

Key Highlights

• Successful completion of Gaming & Digital sale for approximately $4.0 billion of net cash proceeds on July 1, 2025.

• Secured several meaningful contract wins and extensions including a nine-year Lotto operator license in Italy, an eight-year contract in Missouri which includes a fully-integrated OMNIA retail and digital solution, and several multi-year instant ticket printing contract extensions.

• Expanding OPtiMa 3.0 cost reduction programme to $50 million to right-size the business following the Gaming & Digital sale.

Second Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights

Second quarter revenue was $631 million, up 3% or stable at constant currency.

• Instant ticket & draw same-store sales increased across geographies with Italy increasing 3.7%, U.S. higher by 0.6%, and Rest of World climbing 8.4%.

• Product sales rose 59% on higher instant ticket printing and terminal sales.

• Foreign currency translation had a positive impact on growth.

• Growth from the drivers above was partially offset by elevated U.S. multi-state jackpot activity and associated LMA incentives in the prior year.

Loss from continuing operations was $60 million compared to income from continuing operations of $84 million in the prior year period.

• Incurred a foreign exchange loss versus a foreign exchange gain in the prior year, primarily reflecting the non-cash impact of fluctuations in the EUR/USD exchange rate on debt.

• Operating income was lower, driven by the high profit flow-through from elevated U.S. multi-state jackpot sales and associated LMA incentives in the prior year and restructuring charges related to the expanded OPtiMa 3.0 cost reduction programme in the current year.

• Increased provision for income taxes.

• Dynamics noted above were partially offset by reduced interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA was $274 million compared to $290 million in the prior-year period, demonstrating resiliency despite incremental investments in the business and multi-state jackpot and LMA dynamics.

• Prior year results include the high profit flow-through from elevated U.S. multi-state jackpot sales and associated LMA incentives.

• Selling, general, and administrative costs were modestly higher as ongoing investments in the business were partially offset by OPtiMa cost savings.

• The Q2’25 period benefited from positive foreign currency translation.

Diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.47 compared to diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.21 in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.12 compared to $0.20 in the prior year, primarily driven by lower operating income.

YTD 2025 Financial Highlights

Year-to-date revenue of $1.2 billion compares to $1.3 billion in the prior-year period.

• The decline was due to higher U.S. multi-state jackpot activity and associated LMA incentives in the prior year.

• Global instant ticket & draw same-store sales rose 1.2%.

Loss from continuing operations was $52 million compared to income from continuing operations of $200 million in the prior year period.

• Lower operating income, primarily due to the items affecting Adjusted EBITDA as noted below.

• Foreign exchange loss versus foreign exchange gain in the prior year, primarily reflecting the non-cash impact of fluctuations in the EUR/USD exchange rate on debt.

Adjusted EBITDA of $524 million compares to $617 million in the prior-year, primarily driven by high profit flow-through from elevated U.S. multi-state jackpot sales and associated LMA incentives in the prior year, partially offset by positive foreign currency translation.

Diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.59 compared to diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.56 in the prior year. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $0.20 compares to $0.47 in the prior year primarily driven by lower operating income, partially offset by reductions in net interest and income tax expense.

Net debt was $5.2 billion compared to $4.8 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily driven by an approximate $340 million impact from fluctuations in the EUR/USD exchange rate. Net debt leverage was 3.0x pro forma for $2 billion debt reduction completed in July.

Cash and Liquidity Update

Total liquidity was $2.9 billion as of June 30, 2025 with $1.3 billion in unrestricted cash and $1.6 billion in additional borrowing capacity from undrawn credit facilities.

Other Developments

The Company plans to launch a $250 million accelerated share repurchase programme (ASR) by entering into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with a counterparty bank. The Company plans to execute the ASR as part of its $500 million share repurchase authorization outlined below and in accordance with the share repurchase authorisation provided by the Company’s shareholders at the Company’s 2025 Annual General Meeting. The Company has been informed by De Agostini S.p.A., that it does not intend to participate in the ASR.

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share with a record date of August 12, 2025 and a payment date of August 26, 2025.

Completed the sale of the Gaming & Digital business on July 1, 2025. The Company received approximately $4.0 billion of net cash proceeds that are expected to be allocated in the following manner:

$2.0 billion used to reduce debt (completed in July 2025).

• Redeemed in whole the 4.125% Senior Secured U.S. Dollar Notes due April 2026 and the 3.500% Senior Secured Euro Notes due June 2026.

• Prepaid €300 million of the Term Loan Facilities due January 2027.

• The remaining amount was allocated to prepay the Revolving Credit Facilities due July 2027.

$1.1 billion to be returned to shareholders.

• The Company’s Board of Directors declared a special cash dividend to common shareholders in the amount of $3.00 per share. The record date of the distribution was July 14, 2025, and it is payable July 29, 2025.

• In addition, the Board authorized a $500 million, two-year share repurchase programme. The new authorisation replaces the Company’s existing share repurchase programme.

$500 million to partially fund upcoming Italy Lotto license payments.

$400 million to be used for general corporate purposes.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of distributions by the Company will depend, in part, on whether the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits (“E&P”), as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Based on preliminary estimates, the Company does not expect to have current E&P for fiscal year 2025 or accumulated E&P from prior fiscal years that would offset the current year expected E&P deficit. Accordingly, the Company anticipates that the special dividend, the Q1 dividend paid on June 12, and any future dividends paid in the current fiscal year will be treated for U.S. income tax purposes as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain, although no assurances can be provided because the determination of E&P is a full-year calculation which depends upon facts that are not known as of the date hereof.

FY’25 Outlook: Adjusted EBITDA Reaffirmed, Cash Flow Improved

• Revenue of approximately $2.50 billion; adjusting revenue down $50 million compared to the previous outlook to reflect a timing shift in product sales and increased amortization related to Italy Lotto upfront license fee (which is treated as contra-revenue).

• Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.10 billion, in line with the previous outlook as incremental benefit from foreign currency translation is offset by higher-than-expected U.S. multi-state jackpot and LMA impacts.

• Net cash used in operating activities of approximately $275 million reflects a $75 million improvement versus the previous outlook driven by interest, income taxes, and other working capital items.

• Capital expenditures of approximately $375 million, a $75 million improvement from the previous outlook to reflect timing shifts related to recent contract extensions.

• Increasing FY’25 EUR/USD assumption to 1.12.

The post Brightstar Lottery Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ELYSIUM Studios

Swintt adds High Noon Duel slot to Elysium Studios line-up

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Swintt has released High Noon Duel, a new slot from its Elysium Studios label, themed around a Wild West duel between two characters, Pistol Belle and the Iron Cowboy.

The game uses a 6×4 tumbling reels format. Wins pay for matching symbols landing on adjacent reels from left to right, in any position. Swintt says the title has a maximum win of up to 27,000x the bet.

A health bar mechanic sits above the reels in the base game. When one of the two shooters’ scatter symbols lands, it reduces the opponent’s health. When one side’s health is fully depleted, a free spins feature triggers and the winning character adds a signature wild mechanic.

In the Pistol Belle free spins mode, wilds are fired onto the reels at the start of each spin. In the Iron Cowboy mode, a 2×2 wild appears in a random position each spin. Swintt also describes a third free spins feature triggered by two golden scatter symbols, where either character’s wild feature can activate at the start of each spin. The release adds that “Lady in Black” symbols convert icons between them vertically or horizontally into additional wilds.

Anthony Dalla-Giacoma, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “Enjoy a winner-takes-all shootout on every spin in High Noon Duel, the latest gunslinging title in Swintt’s Elysium Studios line-up. Filled with explosive features where the bullets really start to fly, the game features a top prize of 27,000x the bet and more wilds than you can shake a pistol at, making it an action-packed tribute to classic Westerns that’s sure to fire its way right to top of operators’ ‘Most Wanted’ lists”

The post Swintt adds High Noon Duel slot to Elysium Studios line-up appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetGames launches Chili Cash slot with Hold & Win Plus feature

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BetGames has launched Chili Cash, a new high-volatility slot that debuts the supplier’s Hold & Win Plus feature. The game includes 243 ways to win, four jackpots and a stated maximum payout of 10,000x.

Chili Cash is built on a 5×3 reel layout. BetGames said Hold & Win Plus allows players to lock in cash and jackpot prizes when Money symbols land, with a Cash Collector mechanic that can be boosted by random multipliers. The respin counter resets when new symbols appear.

The game also includes a Mini-draw triggered by three or more Scatter symbols, which awards either Free Spins with Stacked Wilds or “immediate bonus action,” according to the company. Chili Cash also features Buy Bonus and Gamble options.

Ian Catchick, Chief Product and Business Development Officer at BetGames, said: “Chili Cash is a game that leads with its theme. We wanted players to be transported the moment the reels come to life, to get a sense of the warmth, colour and energy of the celebration before they even think about the features.

“Of course, the mechanics deliver too, and with new Hold and Win Plus, four jackpots and 10,000x on the table, we believe Chili Cash does exactly that. It is a release we are genuinely proud of.”

The post BetGames launches Chili Cash slot with Hold & Win Plus feature appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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The “Un-Boring” Update How Mancala Gaming Makes Sure You Click and Stick

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Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: “We are thrilled to announce a series of innovative updates…”

Actually, we do have a lot to share, starting with a gorgeous, brand-new website that’s finally as vibrant as our games. But let’s tell the story the right way so it’s worth your time. 

It’s not just that we’ve updated our look or tweaked a few tools; it’s about how to be “un-boring” for both our players and our partners. For Mancala Gaming, the rule is simple. Working together should never feel like a routine. From day one, the core of Mancala Gaming, and the big idea behind everything we do, has been: You click. You stick.

Take our new release pace, for example. We used to launch two games a month, and while that was great, we knew both our players and our partners wanted more. So did we. It was never our goal to become a company known for ‘that one cool game from last year.’ So, we expanded our team and dusted off our book of great ideas for the future to move to four releases a month.

This constant movement keeps engagement high and monetization steady, giving players a reason to come back every single week.

One might say that quantity is not the same as quality, and they would be right. The games have to feel right on the inside, too. That’s why we upgraded the Mancala Gaming bonus tool with a progress bar. It’s a tiny mechanic that does a lot of heavy lifting for player attention. We polish every detail like this because perfection has no limit, and as you can see, we are being very modest about it.

As we keep growing, we want Mancala Gaming to stay bright, interesting, and full of life. But there was always one piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit, and that was our old website. It served us well, but it didn’t quite capture the energy we have. So, we’ve decided to change it.

What began as a simple refresh turned, in the blink of an eye, into what became a year-and-a-half saga with hundreds of discussions, dozens of ideas, two major design rounds, and one black-or-white debate that came this close to becoming a fight. In the end, we kept both themes to preserve peace in the design department. Pretty diplomatic, wouldn’t you say?

Beyond the visuals, we added a comprehensive FAQ, expanded our partner resources, and introduced intuitive search filters so you can find any game in seconds. So yes, the new site looks very good, but more importantly –– it makes us easier to work with. When partners can quickly find what they need, it’s easier to launch, promote, and use our content in their day-to-day work. And that is exactly what we were aiming for.

Ultimately, all of this is about being a provider that feels truly alive. We want working with us to feel like a breath of fresh air that leads to a win, rather than a chore. Our job is to keep things interesting, engaging, and of course, profitable.

Looking at the results, we’re pretty sure we nailed it. We know you’re going to love it, so go ahead and see it for yourself.

That’s it from us for today. See you later!

Best,

The Mancala Gaming Team

The post The “Un-Boring” Update How Mancala Gaming Makes Sure You Click and Stick appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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