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Aspire Global: Interim Report Second Quarter 2021
ALL-TIME HIGH REVENUES AND EBITDA IN Q2 2021
SECOND QUARTER
- Revenues increased by 27.7% to €55.8 million (43.7).
- EBITDA increased by 40.1% to €9.9 million (7.1).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 17.7% (16.1%).
- EBIT increased by 37.5% to €7.8 million (5.7).
- Earnings after tax increased 53.7% to €6.9 million (4.5).
- Earnings per share increased 56% to €0.14 (0.09).
SIX MONTHS
- Revenues increased by 34.2% to €103.9 million (77.4).
- EBITDA increased by 50.3% to €18.4 million (12.3).
- The EBITDA margin increased to 17.8% (15.8%).
- EBIT increased by 49.3% to €14.3 million (9.6).
- Earnings after tax increased 84.9% to €13.0 million (7.0).
- Earnings per share increased 93% to €0.27 (0.14).
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER AND AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER
- Revenues increased 27.7% from Q2 2020 driven by strong development in all segments and the acquisition of BtoBet, a leading sportsbook provider, in September 2020.
- Organic growth of 21.6% from Q2 2020.
- B2B revenues grew 24.4% from Q2 2020 with organic growth of 16.2%.
- Significant progress in sub-segments Aggregation and Games – Pariplay and Sports – BtoBet.
- Good progress in the US with deals covering game aggregation and proprietary games.
- Platform and managed services deal with Ireland’s biggest land-based casino group.
- Three deals covering Aspire Global’s complete offering for the launch of new brands in Europe and Latin America.
- First brand live with BtoBet’s sportsbook on Aspire Global’s platform.
- New license for games in Greece. Aspire Global now operates in 30 regulated markets.
- Sports deals signed with, among all, esports operator Luckbox.
- BuyWin, a new innovative tool, which addresses the new German regulation, was launched in July. BuyWin also gives a higher return to player and access to a wider range of content.
CEO COMMENTS
“WE ARE CONFIDENT TO REACH OUR 2021 FINANCIAL TARGETS”
Aspire Global reports its sixth consecutive quarter with solid growth. We made significant progress in the quarter by growing our business with both existing as well as new partners in the US, Europe, Latin America and Africa. Taking into account our strong business momentum and deal flow, we are confident to reach our 2021 financial targets.
Revenues increased by 27.7% from Q2 2020 to an all-time high €55.8 million, with organic growth of 21.6%. Growth was particularly strong in the UK and Ireland as well as in region rest of world which reflects our successful expansion in the Americas as well as the consolidation of BtoBet. It is especially gratifying to note the strong organic growth taking into account that Q2 2020 was positively impacted by the pandemic.
EBITDA increased by 40.1% to record high €9.9 million and the EBITDA margin improved to from 16.1% to 17.7%. The increased profitability is driven by strong topline growth, impressive performance in BtoBet and Pariplay, acquired in 2020 and 2019, respectively, as well as our continuous focus on cost control.
KEY WINS FOR OUR PLATFORM OFFERING
Our recent contract wins with new partners, covering Aspire Global’s complete iGaming offering, show that we are in the forefront of the industry. In June, we signed a deal with Stake.com for its upcoming launch of a new brand in the UK. Stake.com is an international, fast-growing casino and betting site with more than 30 billion bets every year. We are happy to support Stake.com with our complete offering in launching its new casino and betting site stake.co.uk in the large UK market. In April, we signed the deal with Luckster.com, a new multi-vertical brand founded by industry veterans, for its upcoming launch in Europe and Latin America. Two weeks ago, we signed an agreement with JNS Gaming which we will support in building a new, global casino and sports brand.
A key growth segment to us is landbased casinos that want to go online. We are proud to partner with Funfair Casino, Ireland’s biggest land-based casino group, and to support in taking their business online.
SUCCESS FOR BTOBET
Just shortly after our acquisition of BtoBet last fall, BtoBet announced a deal with Betfair in Colombia. Betfair launched its sportsbook in Q1 2021 and we can now see a satisfying development in deposits which demonstrates BtoBet’s capabilities. This mutually rewarding collaboration can open up for other opportunities and is a good case study of how Aspire Global approaches tier 1 operators.
Esports is a quickly growing segment and we are excited to team up with the award-winning esports operator Luckbox. BtoBet will be providing Luckbox with its cutting-edge sportsbook in European and Latin American countries. This will enable Luckbox to build an entirely bespoke player journey, customizing the sportsbook experience to its liking and providing players with a unique customer experience.
BtoBet’s proprietary sportsbook is a key competitive advantage when talking to new as well as existing partners. In the quarter, we initiated the first projects where partner brands will replace their existing sports solution with the BtoBet sportsbook and mid-August the first brand went live with BtoBet’s sportsbook on our platform. We expect the shift of partner brands to the BtoBet proprietary platform to positively impact revenues and margins throughout 2021.
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE US
Our expansion plans for the US market are running according to plan. Since early August, we have Quincy Raven in place as the Managing Director of Aspire Global’s US operations. The US iGaming market is growing at an impressive rate, and we want to be at forefront of the developments. Quincy has vast experience and will focus on accelerating sales and setting up the relevant operations in order to make sure Aspire Global can establish a significant presence in the US.
In May, Pariplay signed a deal with Amelco that will integrate Pariplay’s premium Fusion GROWTH IN NEW MARKETS
Aspire Global today operates in 30 regulated markets spanning Europe, the Americas and Africa. Our objective is to continue our growth in regulated markets, both with existing and new partners. We have a strong focus on gaining more certifications and licenses mainly in Europe and the Americas. In the Americas, we focus especially on the US and Brazil. In Europe we see a huge potential for our sportsbook. The introduction of our sportsbook offering has just started in the UK and we have certification processes ongoing in other key European markets. In June, Pariplay was granted a Greek suitability license and the license allows us to enter the Greek market for the first time. NEW INNOVATIVE FEATURES
To stay at the forefront of the industry development, innovation is important to us. In order to meet the new requirements in the German market, we launched BuyWin in July. BuyWin addresses the new German regulation by a unique bet contribution on transactions, enabling operators to offer all the games German players are used to, at the standard, high RTP of 95-96%. The innovative tool delivers better player acquisition opportunities due to the higher RTP and wider range of gaming content. AspireEngage, our new CRM tool, was launched earlier this year and is a key contributor to the strong growth.
VALUE CREATING ACQUISITIONS
In Q2 2021, Pariplay reported revenue growth of over 72% and BtoBet of more than 105% with good profitability. These two acquisitions have significantly contributed to Aspire Global’s strong performance and have been essential in positioning Aspire Global as the powerhouse for iGaming operators. It is satisfying to see that Aspire Global has so clearly demonstrated its ability to make value creating acquisitions.
STRONG B2C GROWTH Also in this quarter, the B2C segment demonstrated strong revenue growth. In March 2021, we initiated a review of the role of the B2C segment within the Group structure and we expect to finalize the review during the fall. The review will assist us to better assess our options to further accelerate its growth. Such a move could help improve Aspire Global’s overall margins and EBITDA and potentially support us in accelerating new B2B initiatives and enter fresh markets.
OUTLOOK
Aspire Global has consistently demonstrated its ability to execute its growth strategy and create value. We see tremendous growth opportunities by expanding with existing partners, gaining new partners and entering new markets. Aspire Global’s financial targets for 2021 are €200 million in revenue and €32 million in EBITDA which implies an EBITDA margin of 16%. Taking into account our strong business momentum and deal activity, we are confident that Aspire Global will reach its 2021 financial targets.
Tsachi Maimon, CEO
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AGHANIM RESEARCH GAUGES DMA AWARENESS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION
Aghanim, a mobile gaming fintech company founded by the former CEO and CTO of Xsolla, today reveals fascinating new research among mobile game developers relating to the recently launched Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The research is based on interviews with 300 mobile game developers across the US, UK and Germany in the weeks leading up to the introduction of the Act. The new European Union legislation aims to ensure a higher degree of fairness and competition in European digital markets and designates a number of major tech corporations including Apple and Alphabet (Google) as “gatekeepers”.
The key findings of the study shows:
- 62% of mobile game developers are aware of the Digital Markets Act
- 82% have at least some understanding of how it will impact their business. Almost a fifth (19%) feel they have a complete understanding of the DMA’s impact
- 31% of mobile game developers feel they will have more freedom under the DMA, though just 9% are confident they’ll be able to keep more of their revenue
- Only 13% have ruled out making changes to their payment processes. A third (33%) have begun implementing them
- Awareness of the DMA is highest in Germany (70%), followed by the UK (68%). Less than half (47%) of US developers are aware of the legislation. While the DMA is a European framework, it applies to US developers operating in the EU
Constantin Andry, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, commented: “This data shows that there’s an appetite for change among game developers. Yes, the platform holders instigated the $92 billion mobile games industry, but we need to be asking why game developers – the people who make the games – now only see about 10% of this. With direct-to-consumer distribution, there’s an opportunity to ensure a further $18 billion of annualized value remains within the video games industry, with game creators, which will help soften many ongoing issues including layoffs. Otherwise, the business of making mobile games could soon become unviable.”
Konstantin Golubitsky, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, added: “The opportunity for game developers is to create a web-based game hub for their titles which provides added value for their most engaged and valuable users, keeping them coming back regularly. Ultimately, players spend where they see the most value, and our goal is to help developers provide them with the greatest value at the lowest cost.”
A key promise of the Digital Markets Act is to provide fairer competition and greater choice to gamers and game studios. However, Apple’s latest business terms introduced a Core Technology Fee which, for many game developers, cancels out the potential benefits of third-party distribution. Despite the game developers being surveyed before the introduction of the Core Technology fee, just 40% said Apple is a positive force for the games industry. 39% were neutral, while 21% felt Apple was having a negative impact. Since the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in 2021, game developers have increasingly explored direct-to-consumer platforms such as browser stores to supplement on-platform monetization with lower-fee options.
An online survey was conducted on behalf of Aghanim by Atomik Research among 305 mobile game developers in the UK (101), Germany (103), and the USA (101). The research fieldwork took place between 18-22 February 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides by MRS code.
Golden Matrix Group (NASDAQ: GMGI), a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets, today announced its participation in the global coalition initiative for flood relief efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
This partnership aims to provide substantial support to the communities in this Brazilian state that have been most devastated by the recent severe flooding.
This initiative is part of the gaming industry’s larger collaboration with local NGOs and humanitarian organizations, marking a significant expansion of our intensive CSR efforts, which saw over 225 community impact campaigns last year alone, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary Meridianbet.
The past week has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, turning streets into rivers and isolating entire towns. The current situation remains dire, with hundreds of individuals still unaccounted for, while rescue operations have successfully evacuated over 200,000 residents using boats and helicopters.
The floods have wreaked havoc on infrastructure, with numerous bridges destroyed, severely disrupting access to Porto Alegre. The aftermath of the disaster has also led to looting in supermarkets during the night, adding to the urgency of the relief efforts.
Golden Matrix Group invites its stakeholders and the global community to contribute to this cause.
About Golden Matrix Group
Golden Matrix Group, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets. The B2B division of Golden Matrix develops and licenses branded gaming platforms for its extensive list of clients, and RKings, its B2C division, operates a high-volume eCommerce site enabling end users to enter paid-for competitions on its proprietary platform in authorized markets. The Company also owns and operates MEXPLAY, a regulated online casino in Mexico. In 2024, Golden Matrix completed the acquisition of MeridianBet, a well-established and B2B and B2C sports betting and gaming platform operating and regulated in multiple markets in Europe, Africa and LatAm, providing the combined entity with additional international operations.
The post Golden Matrix Group Joins Rio Grande do Sul Flood Relief Program appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Golden Matrix Group (NASDAQ: GMGI), a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets, today announced its participation in the global coalition initiative for flood relief efforts in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
This partnership aims to provide substantial support to the communities in this Brazilian state that have been most devastated by the recent severe flooding.
This initiative is part of the gaming industry’s larger collaboration with local NGOs and humanitarian organizations, marking a significant expansion of our intensive CSR efforts, which saw over 225 community impact campaigns last year alone, primarily through the actions of its subsidiary Meridianbet.
The past week has witnessed unprecedented rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, turning streets into rivers and isolating entire towns. The current situation remains dire, with hundreds of individuals still unaccounted for, while rescue operations have successfully evacuated over 200,000 residents using boats and helicopters.
The floods have wreaked havoc on infrastructure, with numerous bridges destroyed, severely disrupting access to Porto Alegre. The aftermath of the disaster has also led to looting in supermarkets during the night, adding to the urgency of the relief efforts.
Golden Matrix Group invites its stakeholders and the global community to contribute to this cause.
About Golden Matrix Group
Golden Matrix Group, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a leading B2B and B2C gaming technology company utilizing proprietary technology and operating globally across 17 regulated markets. The B2B division of Golden Matrix develops and licenses branded gaming platforms for its extensive list of clients, and RKings, its B2C division, operates a high-volume eCommerce site enabling end users to enter paid-for competitions on its proprietary platform in authorized markets. The Company also owns and operates MEXPLAY, a regulated online casino in Mexico. In 2024, Golden Matrix completed the acquisition of MeridianBet, a well-established and B2B and B2C sports betting and gaming platform operating and regulated in multiple markets in Europe, Africa and LatAm, providing the combined entity with additional international operations.
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