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LeoVegas AB Q2: Quarterly report 1 April – 30 June 2021

Published

4 years ago

August 12, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“All-time-high in Sweden and a strong start for Expekt” – Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO

SECOND QUARTER 2021: 1 APRIL – 30 JUNE

Revenue decreased by 13% to EUR 96.8 m (110.7).
Excluding Germany, growth was positive 3%.
Adjusted EBITDA was EUR 10.6 m (23.0), corresponding to a margin of 10.9% (20.8%). Reported EBITDA was EUR 9.8 m (23.0).
The number of depositing customers was 460,697 (434,453), an increase of 6%.
Adjusted earnings per share were EUR 0.06 (0.19).

EVENTS DURING THE QUARTER

The acquisition of Expekt was completed and integrated on 19 May 2021. The start has been a success, and Expekt’s revenue and market share have nearly doubled in Sweden since the acquisition was carried out.
LeoVegas’ forthcoming expansion to the USA, starting in the state of New Jersey, is on track.
LeoVegas carried out share repurchases for EUR 4.9 m and paid out of the first out of four quarterly dividends to the Parent Company’s shareholders. The second quarterly dividend payment was made after the end of the period.
LeoVegas’ framework and routines for ensuring responsible gaming have been assessed by the independent agency eCOGRA. The external assessment shows that LeoVegas is in conformity with all relevant recommendations and requirements for responsible gaming published by the European commission.

EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER

Preliminary revenue in July amounted to EUR 32.8 m (30.7), corresponding to growth of 7%. Excluding Germany, revenue grew 23%.

COMMENT FROM GUSTAF HAGMAN – GROUP CEO

SECOND QUARTER
Most of our markets have continued to develop well, with high, double-digit growth in key markets like Italy and Spain. The development in Sweden is encouraging, with record-high revenue during the quarter. We are also growing rapidly in North America, which now accounts for 10% of consolidated revenue. However, re-regulation in Germany continued to negatively impact figures during the period. Excluding Germany, Group revenue increased by 3% to a new record level despite tough comparison figures from the start of the pandemic during the second quarter of 2020 and greater competition from other entertainment activities as societies are now opening up again. We expect to see positive growth for the Group on a yearly basis during the third quarter.

Our operating profit decreased compared with the same period a year ago, while we achieved stable earnings compared with the preceding quarter. This is despite a high level of investments and a number of important, strategic ventures, including our forthcoming launch in the USA, a stronger focus on sports with the acquisition of Expekt, and our new game studio. Marketing costs in relation to revenue were higher than the historic average, coupled among other things to the relaunch of Expekt and investments in a number of key markets in which we see high customer growth. Investments in marketing during the quarter weighed down earnings short-term but are driving value long-term and will also enable us to accelerate out of the revenue drop in Germany. As revenues increase, the share of marketing investment will decrease. At the same time, we have maintained good cost control, and our operating expenses have more or less been unchanged over the last three-year period.

THE NEW EXPEKT
In mid-May we consolidated the acquisition of Expekt, and shortly thereafter “the New Expekt” was launched with a large and attention-grabbing marketing campaign ahead of the Euro 2020 football championship. It was a successful start, and in a short time we nearly doubled Expekt’s revenue and market share in Sweden since completion of the acquisition.

GERMANY
The situation in Germany coupled to re-regulation, with strict product limitations, an extremely high gaming tax and a skewed competitive situation, is having a negative effect on the Group. Revenue in Germany decreased by 81% compared with a year ago and accounted for only 4% of Group revenue during the quarter. We believe it will take time to create a balanced and fair market climate and have therefore chosen to shift our investments to other, more profitable markets. Over the long term we still believe that Germany, with Europe’s largest population, offers great opportunities for the Group.

NORTH AMERICA
Our forthcoming expansion to the USA, starting with the state of New Jersey, is on track. We are currently working on adapting and certifying our technical platform, and during the autumn we will also begin establishing a local organisation. We expect to accept our first American customers during the first half of 2022.

The Canadian province of Ontario, which is home to roughly 40% of Canada’s population, is conducting preparations to introduce a local licence system for online gaming. LeoVegas has built up a strong brand along with a large and loyal customer base in Ontario and the rest of Canada, among other things with help from former hockey legend Mats Sundin. According to our assessment LeoVegas is one of the larger and most well-known casino actors in the Canadian market.

During the second quarter, North America accounted for 10% of the Group’s total revenue and grew 33%. In pace with our continued expansion in Canada and forthcoming launch in the USA, revenue from North America will increase. This is in line with the Group’s strategy to diversify our revenues.

COMMENTS ON THE THIRD QUARTER
Revenue for the month of July amounted to EUR 32.8 m (30.7), corresponding to positive growth of 7%. Adjusted for Germany, the Group’s growth in July was 23%.

777.es

Thunderkick signals Spanish growth ambitions through 777.es deal

Published

2 hours ago

December 10, 2025

George Miller

thunderkick-signals-spanish-growth-ambitions-through-777.es-deal

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has deepened its existing collaboration with prominent European operator 777, extending the agreement into Spain.

The initial partnership in Belgium proved a success, with Casino777.es set to build on that momentum by integrating a range of products from Thunderkick’s diverse portfolio, including the full Midas Golden Touch franchise and its popular Día de Muertos-inspired series, Esqueleto Explosivo.

The expansion of the agreement marks another step in amplifying Thunderkick’s position in a competitive market, with its Spanish commercial network now spanning numerous European heavyweights and rising regional operators.

The 777 brand is well-established across the continent, where it continues to broaden its online reach in addition to consolidating its retail footing through a partnership with Casino de Spa, one of the world’s oldest land-based facilities.

The onboarding of Thunderkick’s content will further elevate 777.es’ online casino offering, giving players access to distinctive, engaging content, while also strengthening the Swedish studio’s visibility in a jurisdiction earmarked as a priority within its wider European growth strategy.

Mariam Dodosh, Key Account Manager at Thunderkick, said: “The ongoing relationship between 777 and Thunderkick in Belgium is a fruitful one, and the expansion into Spain marked the natural next step of this collaboration.

“Our content continues to drive results with operators in the market, and we look forward to seeing our fan-favourite titles resonate with a new audience at 777.es.”

César Paredes, Country Manager at 777.es, added: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Thunderkick, and its commitment to creativity shines through in its games.

“We have no doubt Casino777.es players will enjoy the brand-new additions to our online casino as we continue to deliver fresh, dynamic content to the Spanish market. The integration of Thunderkick into our portfolio is another step in our commitment to providing our players with the best possible gaming experience.”

The post Thunderkick signals Spanish growth ambitions through 777.es deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ClearStake

Paul Myatt joins ClearStake as investor and commercial advisor

Published

2 hours ago

December 10, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

ClearStake, the platform transforming player verification in UK iGaming, has joined forces with Paul Myatt to support their sales and marketing efforts.

Myatt will help drive sales of ClearStake products, including ID by Bank, a new solution that enables operators to verify player identity instantly through banking apps. The product is designed to improve FTD conversion, reduce fraud and cut the volume of manual reviews.

Over a 15-year career in gaming, Myatt has previously held senior commercial and business development roles at NetEnt, QuickSpin and Aspire Global.

ClearStake CEO Martin Burt said: “Paul has a proven track record of helping major iGaming businesses commercially scale. His experience across both supplier and operator landscapes makes him the ideal partner to support sales and help us drive further revenue. This engagement strengthens our ability to scale ClearStake and support more operators with innovative verification solutions.”

ClearStake advisor Paul Myatt added: “I have followed ClearStake’s progress closely and it is clear the company is solving a real problem for operators. ID by Bank is a product with huge potential to improve onboarding and reduce cost, and I am excited to support the team as ClearStake moves into its next phase of growth.”

Last month, ClearStake completed a GBP 1.5 million funding round backed by leading names across the iGaming industry. The investment will accelerate growth and support the rollout of ID by Bank, already being used by several major UK operators including MrQ.

The post Paul Myatt joins ClearStake as investor and commercial advisor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Imagine Live

Vindral and Imagine Live announce strategic partnership to elevate next-generation Live Casino experiences

Published

2 hours ago

December 10, 2025

George Miller

vindral-and-imagine-live-announce-strategic-partnership-to-elevate-next-generation-live-casino-experiences

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Vindral and Imagine Live have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing the quality, performance and innovation of Live Casino content. The partnership combines Imagine Live’s growing portfolio of live dealer games with Vindral’s advanced real-time streaming and green-screen technologies to deliver more immersive and cinematic player experiences.

This collaboration comes at a moment of rapid growth for Imagine Live, whose offering includes classic games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, Baccarat and Dragon Tiger, along with a range of high-quality game shows. The company is also investing in new cinematic tools like its Robot Arm camera, designed to create smooth, dynamic movements that bring players closer to the action and enhance the sense of being at a real table.

Vindral, founded by a team of Swedish technologists with deep expertise in video, audio, real-time streaming, object tracking, computer vision and AI, provides a high-performance live video platform built for modern live game studios. Vindral’s technology stack includes advanced green-screen solutions and features such as V-Track Roulette, V-Track Money Wheel and Crystal Speech. Vindral also offers a world-class CDN solution, Vindral Live, delivering ultra-low latency and consistent streaming quality—powered by MOQ (Media Over QUIC), a next-generation protocol the company has helped develop over the past decade.

By bringing the strengths of both companies together, the partnership delivers a powerful set of capabilities for operators looking to offer richer, faster and more engaging live gaming experiences to players worldwide.

Niclas Åström, CPO & Founder at Vindral, commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to collaborate with Imagine Live. This partnership allows us to bring our most innovative solutions to one of the most dynamic live casino providers in the market. We’re proud to support new innovation in iGaming through our AI-driven technology.”

Mikayel Aznauryan, CPO at Imagine Live, said: “Vindral’s technology perfectly complements Imagine Live’s vision to redefine the live casino experience. We are excited to deliver our next-generation content to partners and players worldwide through this collaboration.”

The post Vindral and Imagine Live announce strategic partnership to elevate next-generation Live Casino experiences appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.