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Raketech Interim report Q1 2021

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

QUOTE FROM OSKAR MÜHLBACH, CEO

”The first quarter of 2021 was a solid quarter for Raketech. Despite Q1 traditionally being a slower quarter, revenues came in in line with Q4, totaling EUR 8.3m. This equals an annual growth rate of 27% whereof 5% was organic. EBITDA margin reached 39% which, considering continuously significant investments into R&D and geographical expansion, is comforting.

FIRST QUARTER 2021

Revenues totalled EUR 8.3 million (EUR 6.5 million) representing an increase of 26.6%
Organic growth amounted to 5.4% (-10.7%)
NDCs (New Depositing Customers) amounted to 39,874 (32,278), representing an increase of 23.5%
EBITDA amounted to EUR 3.2 million (EUR 2.6 million), corresponding to a margin of 38.7% (40.2%)
Operating profit amounted to EUR 1.6 million (EUR 1.4 million), corresponding to a margin of 18.9% (20.9%)
Profit for the period amounted to EUR 1.1 million (EUR 1.1 million)
Earnings per share amounted to EUR 0.03 (EUR 0.03)

EVENTS DURING FIRST QUARTER 2021

There were no significant events during the quarter

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE PERIOD

Revenues in April, 2021 of EUR 2.8 million (EUR 2.4 million).

CEO OSKAR MÜHLBACH COMMENTS ON THE QUARTER
“With regards to margin it is worth noticing that our lower margin network revenues now represent a fair share of our total revenues and that our Finance vertical, which was on the contrary very strong with regards to margin, no longer are in the numbers. In practice this means that our operational efficiency continues to be high, and that growth from our core operations can be expected to have positive impact on margin over time, alternatively to be used to further accelerate growth by developing new products, offerings, enter into new geographies and more.

Primary growth drivers in the quarter were our Japanese and US efforts, as well as continuously solid performance from our Network sales. Once again Japan stands out positively, delivering record numbers on all KPIs, spanning from traffic/sessions to monetization. And in the US, the Superbowl in combination with our newest licenses in the states of Virginia and Michigan, significantly pushed the needle, mid quarter. However, this needle was to some extent, but as expected, slightly pushed back by low seasonality on other markets, increased gambling tax in Denmark, Casinofeber still being lower than previously and payment blocks in Norway.

Our sports share of total revenues increased to 17%, representing an annual growth of 27%, much thanks to our US assets. And our non-Nordic revenues furthermore increased to 35%, which not only is all time high, but also a major strategic milestone in our quest to lower our dependency on the Nordics by expanding geographically. Sweden, which currently represents 38% of the group’s total revenues, compared to 55% last year same period is however still by far our largest market, even though the dependency has decreased significantly. Primarily, the development is supported by acquired additional revenues on new markets as well as strong performance on other markets – with Japan leading the way. After experiencing an extraordinary growth during 2020, which continued the first quarter 2021, it is satisfying to conclude that Japan now is representing 11% of the group’s total. Additionally, the US is representing 6% of total, which considering the short time frame should be interpreted as a sign of Raketech having high ambitions on the American market.

Outlook
I am pleased to be able to conclude that the positive momentum we showed in Q4 continued into Q1 and resulted in yet another stable quarter. Furthermore, April revenues amounted to EUR 2.8m, despite the US slowing down slightly after the Superbowl peak.

The Raketech team is currently focusing on ensuring we maximize the potential from the European Championships in Football coming up in June in addition to our continuous efforts to ensure we deliver on strategic goals with regards to geographical expansion and commercial diversification, through R&D as well as M&A.

Finally, I want to take the opportunity to thank the Chairman of the Board; Christian Lundberg, who has declined re-election as of this year’s AGM in May. Thank you Christian, for sharing your wisdom and for being such a great support, to me personally and to the whole team at Raketech. And also, a warm welcome to industry veteran Ulrik Bengtsson who is nominated to take on the role after Mr Lundberg. I am very much looking forward to taking Raketech to new levels together!

Belatra Games

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

from-‘mummyverse’-to-crash-games:-belatra-reviews-a-landmark-2025

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

BMM Testlabs

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

‘chaos-and-soul’:-ebaka-games-plots-global-expansion-after-viral-launch

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

ARC

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

racing-meets-nightlife:-sbk-backs-arc’s-new-‘friday-night-live’-series

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: