Central Europe

SAZKA Group H1 and Q2 2020 Results and Update on Current Trading

Published

5 years ago

September 11, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

SAZKA Group a.s. (“SAZKA Group” or the “Company”, and together with its subsidiaries and associates the “Group”) announces its financial results for the six months to 30 June 2020 and provides an update on current trading.

H1 2020 Financial highlights

Consolidated gross gaming revenues decreased by 28% to €652 million (H1 2019: €909 million), primarily as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on land-based sales.
Consolidated Operating EBITDA[1] decreased by 42% to €167 million (H1 2019: €287 million).
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes certain one-off items, decreased by 41% to €168 million (H1 2019: €286 million).
Consolidated profit after tax from continuing operations decreased by 90% to €42 million (H1 2019: €145 million).

Pro-rata LTM H1 2020 highlights[2]

Pro-rata LTM Adjusted EBITDA was €379 million.
Pro-rata net debt / Adjusted EBITDA was 3.2x and Pro-rata priority net debt / Adjusted EBITDA was 0.5x at 30 June 2020.

Key strategic initiatives

In June, we acquired the 17.19% stake in CASAG previously held by Novomatic. As a result, SAZKA Group’s shareholding is now 55.48% and CASAG has been fully consolidated as a subsidiary from 26 June.
In July, the Supervisory Board of CASAG approved a plan to optimise the cost structure of the casino business in Austria.
In July, OPAP acquired an additional 51% stake in Stoiximan Group’s Greek and Cypriot business, as a result of which it now holds a 69% stake.

Trading update

Most restrictions to which our businesses were subject as a result of COVID-19 were lifted by June and the businesses which were impacted by COVID-19 have recovered well.
Land-based sales of most products in most geographies are approaching, or in some cases exceeding, sales during the same period last year.
Online sales, which increased significantly in the Czech Republic, Austria and Greece during the period most directly impacted by COVID-19, have continued to perform strongly.

[1] Operating EBITDA, together with Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow are non-IFRS performance measures. Please see “Alternative performance measures (“APMs”)” at the end of this document.

[2] Pro-rata LTM data presented excluding impact of IFRS 16.

Central Europe

ScatterKings adds sugar-coated spin to Austria with bespoke win2day partnership

Published

1 week ago

December 17, 2025

Wladimir P.

scatterkings-adds-sugar-coated-spin-to-austria-with-bespoke-win2day-partnership

ScatterKings has made its debut in Austria, partnering with operator win2day to bring its vibrant, hand-crafted portfolio to one of Europe’s most tightly regulated markets.

Headlining the partnership is Sweet win2day, a mouth-watering title designed exclusively for the operator. Other standout ScatterKings games, including Coins of Cleo, Vikings and Hogs Christmas and Big Bob, have also hit the screens of win2day’s customers, with further releases scheduled to follow.

Win2day is operated by Austrian Lotteries, which was founded more than 50 years ago and holds the only licence to offer online casino gaming in the country. The brand has gained a rich heritage as a trusted name in the market, priding itself on being one of the industry’s most responsible operators.

Through this deal, the new and fiercely passionate provider is redefining what modern slot content looks like for local players.

For ScatterKings, every game stands as a testament to its philosophy – proven mechanics fused with genuine artistic vision. A true labour of love from battle-tested developers, the brand-new studio, years in the making, is channelling its expertise into games crafted with soul.

With a leadership team of seasoned industry veterans spanning years of experience, ScatterKings is primed to accelerate its global growth and continue building games that deliver non-stop thrills.

Steven Cross, CCO at ScatterKings, said: “Our launch with win2day is such a proud moment for us and it’s a partnership built on trust in both our vision and craft.

“Entering such an exclusive market is a powerful endorsement of the quality and personality our content brings. We’re here to deliver premium entertainment to players under the most respected regulatory standards.”

Georg Wawer, Managing Director at win2day, said: “As Austria’s only licensed online gambling operator, it is our responsibility to offer players exclusively high-quality, secure and fully compliant gaming content. With ScatterKings, we welcome a highly innovative partner whose technological excellence and creative strength perfectly match our uncompromising standards.

“The studio’s games are optimised to meet the strictest player protection requirements, ensuring that every title on our platform delivers not only great entertainment but also the highest level of safety and responsibility. Their growing portfolio will be a valuable and exciting addition to win2day.”

The post ScatterKings adds sugar-coated spin to Austria with bespoke win2day partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Central Europe

Tom Horn Gaming strengthens its presence in Czech market through partnership with Kingsbet.cz

Published

3 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

George Miller

tom-horn-gaming-strengthens-its-presence-in-czech-market-through-partnership-with-kingsbet.cz

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Leading iGaming software supplier Tom Horn Gaming has announced a new partnership with Kingsbet.cz, marking another significant step in the company’s strategic expansion within the Czech market.

The collaboration sees Tom Horn Gaming’s engaging suite of top-performing games, including player favourites like 81 Frutas Grandes, Book of Aladdin, Flaming Fruit Deluxe, and 243 Crystal Fruits Deluxe, go live with Kingsbet.cz, providing Czech players with access to a rich selection of locally tailored gaming content.

With a portfolio built on distinctive mechanics that combine classic slot features popular among Czech players with innovative twists, the supplier is steadily enhancing its market presence and remains committed to delivering gaming titles tailored to local player tastes.

“The Czech Republic is one of our key regulated markets with strong potential, and the partnership with Kingsbet.cz, a trusted and fast-growing operator in the region, is another step in our expansion plans,” said Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming. “We’re firmly focused on deepening our footprint in the region and delivering premium localised entertainment that Czech players love while supporting our operator partners’ growth in this dynamic market.”

David Vanek, CEO at Kingsbet.cz added: “Partnering with Tom Horn Gaming brings tremendous value to our offering. Their portfolio combines quality, innovation, and an understanding of what Czech players enjoy most. We’re confident this collaboration will help us deliver even more engaging gaming experiences and strengthen our position in the market”.

This latest partnership underlines Tom Horn Gaming’s continued focus on regulated market growth, reinforcing its mission to bring distinctive and entertaining gaming experiences to players worldwide while building strong, mutually beneficial relationships with operators in key regions.

The post Tom Horn Gaming strengthens its presence in Czech market through partnership with Kingsbet.cz appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

game’s 2026 industry barometer – the mood in the German games industry is beginning to brighten

Published

3 weeks ago

December 3, 2025

George Miller

game’s-2026-industry-barometer-–-the-mood-in-the-german-games-industry-is-beginning-to-brighten

Reading Time: 2 minutes

• Nearly one third of games companies in Germany foresee an industry upswing in the coming year

• More than half expect a positive business development for their own company in the next twelve months

• Around one in three games companies anticipate new hires

After three challenging years, games companies in Germany are looking ahead with increased optimism. Nearly one in three companies (29 per cent) anticipate a positive development in the games industry in the coming twelve months, as compared with just 17 per cent one year ago. 31 per cent of games companies expect a negative development in the industry – a considerable drop from last year’s level of 45 per cent. These are the results of game’s annual industry barometer, which was published by game – The German Games Industry Association. Games companies in Germany look towards their own business development in the coming year significantly more positively, with over half (53 per cent) expecting business to be good in 2026, similar to last year’s number of 52 per cent. Only 12 per cent anticipate a downturn in business, compared to 15 per cent last year. In their personnel planning, the companies nonetheless remain initially cautious: around one third of games companies in Germany (32 per cent) anticipate hiring new employees in 2026, the same percentage as last year.

‘Confidence is returning to Germany’s games industry,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Following a difficult phase both here and abroad, positive signals, such as the strong gamescom 2025, and important policy initiatives, like the increased federal games funding and the announced federal tax incentives, are bringing improved prospects and greater optimism compared to a year ago.’

About game’s 2026 industry barometer

The data is based on an online survey conducted by game – The German Games Industry Association between 12 and 21 November 2025, involving a total of 202 German games industry association members, including in particular developers and publishers.

The post game’s 2026 industry barometer – the mood in the German games industry is beginning to brighten appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.