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Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons praises the courage, kindness and vision of YGAM founders on tenth anniversary of tragic loss

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Dame Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, has praised the work of YGAM co-founders Anne and Keith Evans, congratulating them for their unstinting commitment to help improve awareness of gambling and gaming related harms.

After suffering for over two decades with a gambling addiction, Anne Evans’ son Alan tragically committed suicide in 2010 at the age of 40.  Since then, Anne has worked tirelessly to help educate others on the potential consequences that gambling and gaming can have, co-founding the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) a national charity which is now collaboratively delivering a £10 million national education program which aims to reach over 3 million young people.

Speaking on the tenth anniversary of Alan’s death, Rosie Winterton, who served as a Minister in the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “It has been an absolute honour to have worked with Anne and Keith over recent years. I have so much admiration for their bravery in the face of personal tragedy and their commitment to helping others is incredibly inspiring.

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“Anne and Keith are very wonderful people whose kindness and concern for others is a beacon of light.  I strongly believe that their work shaping the magnificent YGAM charity, which safeguards young people from gambling and gaming-related harm, will have saved lives and I am very proud to count them as friends.”

Reflecting on the past decade, 86-year old Anne, who in 2016 was nominated to receive an NHS National Award for Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “I am determined to make sure other mothers and families do not have to experience the hurt that I did.  I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has listened, supported, and hugged me over the past 10 years. You have helped make a mother very proud.”

YGAM’s chief executive, Lee Willows, added: “Anne and Keith Evans have been involved in YGAM from the very start and have seen the charity grow, develop and mature to where it is today. I see the grief Anne, Keith and the family still experience ten years on and take great pride and comfort that we are collectively using our experience in a positive way, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including many from the gaming and gambling industries, to work collaboratively in order to minimise harms.  Anne, Keith, Alan and the wider family are always at the forefront of our minds and are consistently remembered in everything we do.”

 

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Financial reports

ZEAL continues its path of success in the first half of 2025 and records growth in customer base and profitability

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  • Revenue increases by 32 percent to € 101.5 million
  • EBITDA rises by 76 percent to € 35.4 million
  • Number of monthly active customers for lotteries grows by 12 percent to 1.515 thousand
  • Gross margin from lotteries improves to 17.3 percent

ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online provider of lottery products, recorded substantial and sustainable growth in key performance indicators in the first half of 2025. Group revenue increased by 32 percent to € 101.5 million in the first six months of the year (2024: € 76.8 million). EBITDA rose by 76 percent to € 35.4 million (2024: € 20.1 million).

“We once again achieved strong results in the first half of 2025. ZEAL’s continued growth path proves that our business model is highly robust and scalable over the long term,” commented Helmut Becker, CEO of ZEAL. “We are in an excellent position to further expand our market leadership in a growing industry.”

Andrea Behrendt, CFO of ZEAL, added: “Our half-year results are a true team success – especially given that the jackpot situation was rather weak compared to the previous year. Challenging market conditions particularly underscore our operational excellence. The significant increases in revenue and EBITDA were driven by further expansion of our customer base and profitability.”

 

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Lottery Business Revenue Grows by 34 Percent

The strong performance of the lottery business was the key driver of ZEAL’s significant revenue growth in the first half of the year. Despite lower average jackpot levels for LOTTO 6aus49 and Eurojackpot compared to the prior-year period, lottery billings increased by 4 percent to € 527.3 million (2024: € 507.1 million).

Thanks to continued successful marketing initiatives, the average number of active customers per month (MAU) rose by 12 percent to 1,515 thousand (2024: 1,353 thousand).

Additionally, ZEAL was able to improve the gross margin by 3.8 percentage points to 17.3 percent (2024: 13.4 percent), driven by a price increase implemented in the previous year and a changed product mix.

The simultaneous increase in billings and gross margin resulted in a significant 34 percent rise in lottery business revenue to € 91.0 million (2024: € 68.0 million).

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Games Segment Grows by 49 Percent

The Games segment also continued its strong development in the first half of the year. ZEAL expanded its B2C games portfolio to more than 480 titles and increased revenue in the Games segment by 49 percent to € 6.7 million (2024: € 4.5 million).

 

Significant Increases in EBITDA and EBIT

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Challenging jackpot conditions in the first half of 2025 made new customer acquisition more difficult. Nonetheless, ZEAL continued to invest heavily in sustained growth, acquiring 499 thousand new customers (2024: 592 thousand).

Intensive marketing efforts led to an increase in acquisition costs per new customer (Cost per Lead, CPL) by 41 percent to € 46.93 (2024: € 33.20).

Other operating expenses rose by 15 percent to € 49.4 million (2024: € 42.8 million).

In addition to strategic marketing spend—which increased by 14 percent to € 29.1 million (2024: € 25.5 million)—this was primarily due to higher direct and indirect operating costs. The ongoing development of the product mix led to an increase in direct operating costs by 14 percent to € 9.8 million (2024: € 8.6 million). Indirect operating costs increased by 20 percent to € 10.4 million (2024: € 8.7 million), driven in particular by external consulting services, freelance personnel, and software expenses.

Through efficiency gains and the scalability of its business model, ZEAL was able to increase EBITDA disproportionately to revenue—by 76 percent to € 35.4 million (2024: € 20.1 million). EBIT nearly doubled year-on-year, reaching € 31.1 million (2024: € 16.1 million).

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Based on the strong results of the first half of 2025, ZEAL confirms the forecast published on March 26, 2025.

The post ZEAL continues its path of success in the first half of 2025 and records growth in customer base and profitability appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Tony O’Mahony joins Relax Gaming as new Chief Product Officer

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Industry veteran brings extensive experience to key leadership role at Relax Gaming

Relax Gaming, the renowned iGaming aggregator and supplier, has strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Tony O’Mahony as Chief Product Officer (CPO).

O’Mahony brings a wealth of experience to the role, having most recently served as a Product Strategy Consultant within the iGaming space. His career highlights include senior leadership positions, including Chief Product Officer, at Casumo, A5 Labs, and Gaming Innovation Group, as well as Vice President of Product at Lottoland.

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With a proven track record of building and scaling product teams, O’Mahony’s arrival marks a new chapter in Relax Gaming’s product journey, following the departure of former CPO Shelley Hannah.

In his new role, Tony will lead the company’s product division, working cross-functionally with technical, commercial, and operational teams to further elevate Relax’s product strategy and execution.

Commenting on the appointment, Martin Stålros, CEO at Relax Gaming, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tony to Relax Gaming. His deep product knowledge, coupled with extensive industry experience, make him an ideal fit for the next phase of our growth.

“Tony’s collaborative approach and strategic mindset align perfectly with our culture, and I’m confident he’ll have a major impact as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation.”

Tony O’Mahony, Chief Product Officer at Relax Gaming, added: “I’ve long admired Relax Gaming for its product-led ethos, strong values, and standout reputation in the industry. I’m genuinely excited to be joining such a talented and passionate team, and I’m looking forward to helping build on the foundations already in place. Product success is always a team effort, and I can’t wait to get started, meet the wider team, and play my part in what’s next for Relax.”

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The post Tony O’Mahony joins Relax Gaming as new Chief Product Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Caesars Entertainment

NetGaming Goes Live on Caesars Online Casinos Across Key North American Markets

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NetGaming, an emerging force in online casino content development, is proud to announce the official launch of its premium casino titles on Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms across Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario. As part of this launch, NetGaming’s engaging portfolio, including fan-favorite titles Wicked Wins – Fortune Pick, Zeus’s Thunderbolt 5000, and American Wonder Reels are now live with Caesars in Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario, with additional jurisdictions to follow soon.

This partnership brings together NetGaming’s creative game design and Caesars’ expansive online casino presence, giving players across North America access to immersive and high-quality slot experiences. The integration of NetGaming titles into Caesars’ online casino platforms represents a significant milestone for the studio as it accelerates its growth in North America.

Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, said: “We are delighted to see our games live with Caesars, one of the most iconic names in the gaming industry. The launch in three major markets is just the beginning, and we’re excited about expanding further across North America. Our games are designed to entertain, and we’re confident they will resonate well with Caesars’ diverse player base.”

Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital added: “We’re grateful to our partners at NetGaming for supporting our ongoing mission to deliver an enhanced gaming experience on our online casino platforms. We have consistently been impressed by the creativity of their game portfolio and look forward to continuing to offer innovative content that enriches our players’ experience through this partnership.”

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The post NetGaming Goes Live on Caesars Online Casinos Across Key North American Markets appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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