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Aspire Global Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2020 Results

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 6 minutes

RECORD HIGH REVENUES AND EBITDA IN Q4 AND FULL YEAR 2020

FOURTH QUARTER

Revenues increased by 37.6% to €44.4 million (32.2).
EBITDA increased by 89.9% to €8.3 million (4.4).
The EBITDA margin increased to 18.6% (13.5%).
EBIT increased by 100.4% to €6.3 million (3.1).
Earnings after tax increased to €4.2 million (-11.6).
Earnings per share, basic and diluted, amounted to €0.07 (-0.26).
First time depositors (FTDs) increased by 0.3% to 105.9 thousand (105.6).

FULL YEAR

Revenues increased by 23.2% to €161.9 million (131.4).
EBITDA increased by 24.8% to €27.1 million (21.7).
The EBITDA margin increased to 16.7% (16.5%).
EBIT increased by 17.3% to €20.8 million (17.7).
Earnings after tax increased to €15.0 million (1.9).
Earnings per share, basic and diluted, amounted to €0.28 (0.01).
First time depositors (FTDs) increased by 16.9% to 519.9 thousand (444.5).

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER AND AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER

Revenues increased 37.6% from Q4 2019 driven by strong development in the B2B segment and acquisition of leading sportsbook provider BtoBet in September 2020.
Organic growth of 30.8% from Q4 2019.
B2B revenues grew 44.7% from Q4 2019 with an organic growth of 35.1%.
Record high revenues and EBITDA in Q4 and full year 2020 driven by organic growth and acquisitions.
In January total trading volumes increased to approximately €15.0 million, which is about 34% higher than the average monthly trading volume in Q1 2020.
New markets entered – Spain, Russia and West Virginia.
Pariplay’s games launched by Rush Street Interactive (RSI) in New Jersey.
Partnerships in Latin America with William Hill and Betfair.
Pay N Play solution launched and live with five operators.
Repayment of bond due in April 2021 is secured. As a consequence of the repayment, the Board proposes to the AGM that no dividend is paid out for the financial year 2020. The Board is committed to the long-term dividend policy to distribute dividends annually in an amount of at least 50% of the Company’s net profits after taxes and expects to be able to propose a dividend for the financial year 2021.

KEY FIGURES
€ million, unless other stated	FOURTH QUARTER		FULL YEAR
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Revenues	44.4	32.2	161.9	131.4
EBITDA	8.3	4.4	27.1	21.7
EBITDA margin, %	18.6	13.5	16.7	16.5
EBIT	6.3	3.1	20.8	17.7
EBIT margin, %	14.2	9.8	12.9	13.5
EPS, basic and diluted, €	0.07	-0.26	0.28	0.01
Operating cash flow	11.5	-11.5	27.7	2.5
Company hold, %	46.6	49.6	48.1	52.0
FTDs, thousand	105.9	105.6	519.9	444.5

CEO COMMENTS

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“OUR POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER GROWTH IS HUGE”

We have succeeded in establishing Aspire Global as a powerhouse for iGaming operators and see great opportunities for continued profitable growth. Our recent wins with tier 1 operators, our broad geographic footprint in four continents and outstanding offering provide us with a solid base for further expansion. In 2021, our top priorities are to roll out our sports offering in Europe, Africa and Latin America, and to certify the sports platform for future US deals. This will enable us to continue to grow our customer base with tier 1 operators and to build a strong market presence in the US.

Revenues were record high in the fourth quarter and increased by 37.6% to €44.4 million from Q4 2019 with good growth across all segments. The organic growth in the quarter amounted to 30.8% from Q4 2019. It’s promising to see the strong development for our games and sports offerings. Our subsidiaries for games and sports – Pariplay and BtoBet – both reported all time high revenues in the quarter. The B2C segment also reported a strong quarter with record high revenues, up 29.0% from Q4 2019.

IMPROVED PROFITABILITY
Profitability continued to improve steadily which demonstrates our ability to grow in locally regulated markets while maintaining good margins. EBITDA increased by 89.9% to €8.3 million from Q4 2019 and the EBITDA margin raised from 13.5% to 18.6%. This is a solid performance taking into account that the revenue share from taxed and locally regulated markets increased from 66% in Q4 2019 to 70% in Q4 2020.

BIG POTENTIAL IN SPORTS
The acquisition of the leading B2B sportsbook provider BtoBet in September has already turned out to be a strategic strength to us. Prior to the acquisition sports represented a minor part of Aspire Global’s revenues. With our new proprietary sportsbook we see fantastic growth opportunities in European markets such as Germany and the UK along with the US and Latin America. We have license application processes going on and we aim to introduce our proprietary sports offering in time for the European Championship in key markets.

During the quarter BtoBet has shown great success in signing tier 1 operators such as Betfair in Colombia and William Hill, also in Colombia. These partnerships in Latin America significantly strengthen our position in this big continent.

BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE US
The US market represents another important growth potential for Aspire Global. Pariplay – our leading game studio and games aggregator – recently announced its partnership for games with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), a market leader in online casino and sports betting in the US. RSI has already launched a selection of Pariplay’s high-quality online casino games in New Jersey which is a breakthrough for us into the regulated US market. In January, Pariplay received an interim iGaming supplier license for West Virginia, which marks another significant progress in the US.

We have high expectations for the US market and are building an organisation in the US to support Aspire Global’s expansion in this big market. As a first step, we are recruiting a managing director and a sales director for Aspire US. Aspire Global has also filed applications in Pennsylvania and Michigan with the objective to file in all accessible states. It’s an important advantage when we now address US operators that our complete iGaming offering includes the new sports platform.

ENTERING NEW MARKETS
In the quarter, Pariplay also made significant progress in Europe by entering new regulated markets. I’m happy to see Pariplay’s new partnership with 888casino in Portugal and Spain and how Pariplay further cemented its leading position in Switzerland by a deal with the market leader Swiss Casinos.

LEADING TECHNOLOGY
The Aspire Global technology has been developed throughout the years and we have gained deep knowledge of the complexities in the iGaming industry. We are not only technology experts; we are mastering the whole iGaming value chain. At Aspire Global, we combine broad industry experience with leading technology and knowledge in marketing as well as gaming behaviour and player protection.

In the quarter we launched our first Pay N Play operators in Finland which became an immediate success. We are already live with five operators and with the Pay N Play solution they now provide quicker registration, login and instant deposits and withdrawals.

We have also introduced Aspire Engage, the most advanced CRM tool in the market. In addition, our organisation has secured the needed adjustments in Germany, following the new regulations.

TIER 1 OPERATOR WINS
When summarizing the quarter, I would like to single out the tier 1 global operator wins as the most significant from a growth perspective. These deals prove that Aspire Global’s offering is competitive and best-in-class. I’m convinced that the significant partnerships with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), Betfair, William Hill and 888casino among all will open up for new opportunities on many other playing fields.

I’m also happy to see the energy and focus in the management team. In the quarter we have strengthened the team with top talents from the iGaming industry, namely Antoine Bonello from William Hill as COO and Paul Myatt as Chief Business Development Officer. Paul joined us from QuickSpin and has previous experience from among all NetEnt. Aspire Global’s previous COO Dima Reiderman has been appointed COO at BtoBet.

OUTLOOK
Over the past twelve months we have created a new Aspire Global and established the company as a powerhouse for iGaming operators. I dare to be bold and say that Aspire Global has unique assets that give the company a strong position with huge growth potential.

Prior to the acquisitions of BtoBet and Pariplay, Aspire Global was a European focused company with revenues mainly from casino. Today Aspire Global is present in four continents and we provide a complete, leading iGaming offering with proprietary games and games aggregation along with a sportsbook, gaming platform and managed services. This is key to our partners when they develop their expansion plans and provides us with competitive advantages.

The year 2021 has started in a good way and in January total trading volumes increased to approximately €15.0 million, which is about 34% higher than the average monthly trading volume in Q1 2020.

Finally, I would like to thank all my co-workers for the energy, passion and professionalism you have demonstrated during the challenging year with the pandemic. I look forward to continuing our inspiring work in realizing our vision to become the world’s leading iGaming supplier.

Tsachi Maimon
CEO

Conferences in Europe

Global EDM Icon Alok to Lead the INFINITY Lisbon at SBC Summit

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

One of Brazil’s most iconic music exports, Alok, will headline the INFINITY Lisbon at SBC Summit, delivering his signature fusion of Brazilian rhythms and electronic dance music to the global event audience.

Set to raise the roof with an unforgettable fusion of lights and sound, the MEO Arena, home to SBC Summit’s ‘Super Stage’ during the day, will shift into high gear on September 18 as it transforms into the venue for the INFINITY Lisbon. Having hosted global icons like Beyoncé and The Weeknd, the arena promises an electrifying night designed to captivate the global gaming community.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “The INFINITY is about blending high-level business networking with unforgettable experiences, and bringing someone of Alok’s caliber to the stage takes that to a whole new level. I’m proud that we’re able to deliver this kind of energy and entertainment to our attendees.”

Alok rose to global fame with his breakout hit ‘Hear Me Now’—now nearing 850 million streams on Spotify—and has since become a trailblazer in the Brazilian Bass genre. Ranked 4th in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs for three consecutive years (2021–2023), he commands a massive global following with nearly 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 29 million Instagram followers.

In addition to headlining some of the world’s biggest festivals, including Tomorrowland, Ultra Music Festival, and Lollapalooza, Alok has collaborated with international stars such as Dua Lipa, Jason Derulo, and Ed Sheeran. His influence extends into gaming culture as well, with his inclusion as a playable character in the hit game Garena Free Fire.

Beyond the stage, Alok is a passionate philanthropist and the founder of the Alok Institute, which supports educational programs, environmental preservation, and social impact projects across Brazil.

He also champions the next generation of artists through his labels Controversia Records and UP Club Records—platforms dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and promoting emerging talent in the electronic music scene, both in Brazil and internationally.

With accolades such as Forbes Brazil’s 30 Most Influential Brazilians and Spotify’s Top 100 Global, Alok is the ideal artist to headline SBC’s second INFINITY experience, according to Sojmark.

“The INFINITY brand was born in Lisbon. It’s where we dared to try something different, hosting our first-ever EDM-style festival with massive names like Don Diablo, Miss Monique, and Darude. The energy that night was off the charts, and it confirmed what we already felt: we had created something truly special for the industry,” he said.

The INFINITY Lisbon is the grand finale of SBC Summit, the industry’s fastest-growing global event uniting 30,000 professionals across betting, gaming, payments, and affiliation. After making the move from Barcelona, Lisbon’s second edition is gearing up for an even bigger return this September 16-18.

Sojmark added: “Funny enough, Alok was originally set to headline the INFINITY Rio, but plans shifted—and now it feels even more right to have him take the stage in Lisbon, where this whole journey began. It’s going to be one hell of a night.”

Asked about his vision for the INFINITY brand, the SBC CEO said: “I see it as a thank-you to our community—a celebration for those who believe in SBC and the connections built at our events. Experiences like this strengthen those bonds. That’s the power of joy, and that’s the essence of The INFINITY brand.”

The INFINITY Lisbon is an exclusive experience reserved for VIP Event Pass holders. Secure yours now for just €400 and take advantage of a €200 early bird discount.

Operators and affiliates can apply for complimentary VIP Event Passes.

The post Global EDM Icon Alok to Lead the INFINITY Lisbon at SBC Summit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

datagolf.com

Masters Betting: Drive for Show, Putt for Dough

Published

3 hours ago

April 10, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

masters-betting:-drive-for-show,-putt-for-dough

The phrase “drive for show, putt for dough” is a long-standing mantra in golf that emphasises the importance of putting over driving – specifically driving distance – in winning golf tournaments. But is it true?

While the saying has a clear implication, modern data from professional golf paints a more complex picture. Using the Shots Gained (SG) metric we can compare different parts of a player’s game to see if there really is a formula for winning.

Driving test

Using shot data gained from datagolf.com we can compare the top players in the world (according to the Official World Golf Ranking) over the last 12 months.

Comparing “shots gained off the tee” with “shots gained putting” seems to turn the myth on its head – the top players gain a higher proportion of their shots off the tee than from putting. For players ranked in the Top 10, nearly 0.8 shots are gained from driving as opposed to around 0.3 for putting. Whilst the differential narrows as the players’ ranking decreases, for players ranked 90 – 100, driving still gains more than 0.2 shots more putting.

This ability to reliably gain strokes through driving gives top pros an edge, setting them up for better scoring opportunities throughout a tournament. Over a whole season, this advantage compounds and allows them to stay at the top of the leaderboards.

The long and the short

However, since “shots gained off the tee” includes par 4 and 5s, the metric is not necessarily just a measure of the importance of driving distance, but also a measure of accuracy. So, whilst driving matters, is it the distance or the trajectory that is most advantageous for winning tournaments?

Again, using the top ranked players, it appears that distance stands out as a key factor for success, with Top 10 players on average gaining nearly 10 yards per drive compared with those outside the Top 100 throughout the year. This extra yardage translates into shorter approaches and better chances to attack pins throughout the season.

These findings are corroborated by Mark Broadie in his 2014 book Every Shot Counts, where he shows that for professionals, an extra 20 yards of driving distance is worth about three-quarters of a stroke per round. Relatively speaking, for the rest of us amateur golfers, driving distance becomes even more important for scoring than driving accuracy.

Putt to the test

While driving distance provides the groundwork for long term success – and is a characteristic that all the Top 10 players seemingly must possess – it doesn’t necessarily “bust the myth” that putting is more important for winning tournaments. Indeed, looking more deeply into the metrics for the outcome of individual tournaments uncovers the fact that putting becomes more instrumental for who comes out on top.

If we look instead at the finish positions in PGA events over the last 12 months, rather than the World Ranking, putting comes to the fore. For players finishing first, putting gained an average of 1.2 shots versus a gain of 0.7 for driving. Even for players finishing 30^th – 35^th, putting is worth more than 0.4 of a shot on average compared to driving. The fact that top finishers in a given event typically post higher gains from putting rather than from driving underscores the vital role of putting during tournament play where players have to capitalize on scoring opportunities and avoid mistakes on the green to win.

The outcome

Fundamentally the relationship between driving and putting reveals a balanced formula for success. Driving creates opportunities and contributes to consistency while putting often decides who makes the best of those opportunities and ultimately wins on a given weekend. In a game of ever-increasing competition and precision, power and finesse must work together to elevate players to the pinnacle of the sport.

With all the attention on these extremes of golf, other aspects are often overlooked. Completing the same analyses and including shots gained for “approach” and “around the green” makes it clear that there is one area that consistently contributes to wins and ranking, making it arguably the most important aspect of a players golf game.

The post Masters Betting: Drive for Show, Putt for Dough appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Best Interactive Sportsbook Experience 2025

Digitain Wins Sportsbook Excellence Award at SiGMA Americas Awards

Published

3 hours ago

April 10, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

digitain-wins-sportsbook-excellence-award-at-sigma-americas-awards

Digitain has been awarded the “Best Interactive Sportsbook Experience 2025” title at the SiGMA Americas Awards in São Paulo, Brazil, for its outstanding innovation and commitment to delivering advanced sports betting solutions.

Digitain, a leading provider of Sportsbook and iGaming solutions, has won in the “Best Interactive Sportsbook Experience 2025” category at the SiGMA Americas Awards. This prestigious recognition highlights Digitain’s relentless drive for innovation, excellence, and its ability to deliver state-of-the-art Sportsbook solutions to its partners.

The SiGMA Americas Awards took place on April 7 during the BiS SiGMA Americas event in São Paulo, Brazil. The awards celebrate the best and brightest companies, recognizing exceptional achievements, groundbreaking innovations, and significant contributions to the industry.

Iain Hutchison, Digitain’s Chief Revenue Officer, stated: “We are honored to receive this award, which marks our fifth major recognition this year. It’s a powerful validation of our commitment to innovation and the strength of the partnerships we’ve built.

At Digitain, we continuously strive to develop forward-thinking Sportsbook solutions that meet the evolving needs of our partners in a highly competitive global market. We remain focused on continuous improvement, ensuring that our partners have access to the best tools and solutions to drive their business forward.”

As Digitain continues its expansion across regulated markets, this award further strengthens its position as a trusted partner for operators seeking a competitive edge in the dynamic field of sports betting.

The post Digitain Wins Sportsbook Excellence Award at SiGMA Americas Awards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.