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Aspire Global: Interim Report Fourth Quarter 2021

Published

3 years ago

February 17, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Record High Revenues of €213 Million in 2021

FOURTH QUARTER*

· Revenues increased by 14.7% to €50.9 million (44.4).

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

· Revenues Pro-Forma basis increased by 24.0% to €42.6 million (34.4).

· EBITDA decreased by 9.1 % to €7.5 million (8.3).

· EBITDA Pro-Forma basis increased by 24.0% to €7.7 million (6.2).

· The EBITDA margin amounted to 14.8% (18.6%).

· EBITDA margin Pro-Forma basis amounted to 18.1% (18.1%)

· EBIT decreased by 18.7% to €5.1 million (6.3).

· EBIT Pro-Forma basis increased by 25.1% to €5.3 million (4.3).

· Earnings after tax (before €59.7 million net capital gain on B2C divestment) increased by 38.9% to €4.2 million (3.1).

· Earnings per share amounted to €0.09 (0.07) and €1.37 incl. capital gain from divestment of the B2C segment.

FULL YEAR*

· Revenues increased by 31.8% to €213.3 million (161.9).

· Revenues Pro-Forma basis increased by 31.9% to €166.5 million (126.2).

· EBITDA increased by 29.2% to €35.0 million (27.1).

· EBITDA Pro-Forma basis increased by 45.2% to €30.4 million (20.9).

· The EBITDA margin amounted to 16.4% (16.7%).

· EBITDA margin Pro-Forma basis amounted to 18.2% (16.6%)

· EBIT increased by 26.2% to €26.3 million (20.8).

· EBIT Pro-Forma basis increased by 47.7% to €21.6 million (14.7).

· Earnings after tax (before €59.7 million net capital gain on B2C divestment) increased 72.0% to €22.6 million (13.1).

· Earnings per share increased 64.3% to €0.49 (0.28) and €1.77 incl. capital gain from divestment of B2C segment.

*B2C as continued operations and based on net royalties in December 2021. Pro-Forma basis of B2C based on net royalties for the presented period and a specification is found on page 8 in the report.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE QUARTER

· Aspire Global divested its B2C segment effective on 1 December, 2021.

· Further expansion in the US by Pariplay’s deal with BetMGM, the leading US online casino operator.

· Strengthened position in Latin America through BtoBet’s deal with FanDuel, part of Flutter Entertainment, to provide its PAM for Daily Fantasy Sports in Brazil. Pariplay signed deal to supply its proprietary games to Holland Casino in the Netherlands. BtoBet signed deal with BestBet24 to provide its sports platform in Poland.

· Agreement to acquire 25% of bingo supplier END 2 END with option to acquire all shares.

· The Board of Directors proposes that no dividend is paid for the financial year 2021.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE QUARTER

· On 17 January 2022, a public tender offer was made by NeoGames to the shareholders of Aspire Global to tender all their shares in the Company to NeoGames for a consideration consisting of a combination of cash and newly issued shares in NeoGames in the form of Swedish depository receipts. The shares in NeoGames are admitted to trading in the US on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, Global Market tier. Aspire Global’s main shareholders, who in aggregate own shares corresponding to 66.96% of all shares and votes in Aspire Global, have entered into irrevocable undertakings that enable the other shareholders in Aspire Global to tender their shares to NeoGames and receive 100% cash consideration corresponding to SEK 111.00 per share tendered in Aspire Global representing a premium of 41.40% compared to the closing price 17 January 2022 of SEK 78.50 for Aspire Global’s share. The Bid Committee of Aspire Global unanimously recommends the shareholders of Aspire Global to accept the full cash consideration alternative of SEK 111.00 per Aspire Global share.

CEO COMMENTS

“WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED ON OUR GROWTH STRATEGY AND EXCEEDED OUR FINANCIAL TARGETS”

Aspire Global has made an amazing journey in recent years with substantial organic growth supplemented by value creating acquisitions. NeoGames’ bid of SEK 111 per share means that our share has increased by 270% since the introduction on Nasdaq First North Growth Market in July 2017. The offer by NeoGames, a technology-driven provider of end-to-end iLottery solutions, is a natural step for Aspire Global and a strategic fit.

Aspire Global’s entire operations will form a new iGaming division within NeoGames. The objective of the combination is to generate significant long-term value for both sets of shareholders, by creating synergies and capitalizing on the key strengths of our two companies and positioning them both for expansion in new and existing markets.

We believe that the irrevocable commitment by a significant portion of our shareholders to elect to receive the entirety of the equity component of the deal, subject to proration, suggests strong conviction in the future of the two companies. Not only is this a strategic fit, it is also a strong cultural fit, as significant parts of both management teams worked together extensively during NeoGames’ inception.

RECORD HIGH B2B PERFORMANCE

By the divestment of our B2C segment 1 December 2021, we made additional significant strategic move to become a clearly focused B2B company. By this streamlining of the business, we not only become stronger but also more profitable. During the year, excluding the B2C segment, revenues increased by 31.5% to €158.3 million and EBITDA increased by 45.2% to €30.4 million in 2021 with an EBITDA margin of 19.2%. B2B organic revenue growth in 2021 amounted to 26.6%. These are record high numbers that we are proud of and they reflect the professionalism, drive and commitment of the Aspire Global team. It is also with satisfaction that I can note that we have well exceeded our financial targets for 2021.

We had a strong development during all quarters in 2021 and revenues, excluding B2C, increased 24.4% in Q4. The numbers in Q4 2021 were impacted negatively by new regulations in certain European countries as well as unusually favourable player results in Sports during October, while the inclusion of the divested B2C brands on a “net royalties” basis in December 2021 had a positive impact.

GERMAN AND DUTCH PLATFORM DEALS

We have recently made significant progress in the execution of our growth strategy by adding new tier 1-operators to our customer base and entering new regulated markets. Our turnkey platform deals with ITPS for Germany and BoyleSports for the Netherlands clearly shows the recognition we have in supplying our platform in regulated markets to tier 1-operators. Both Germany and the Netherlands are expected to become very big iGaming markets with a large growth potential.

At the end of 2021, we completed the migration of all major partner brands to BtoBet’s proprietary sportsbook platform and we could phase out our previous third-party supplier. The rapid execution of the migration is an important proof of Aspire Global’s strong technological, managerial and operational skills.

PARIPLAY – KEY PROGRESS IN NORTH AMERICA

Pariplay, the leading content and aggregator provider, shows over and over again its strengths by delivering successfully on its growth strategy. By striking important deals in North America, we are on our way to establish ourselves as a key iGaming supplier in this fast-growing market. Pariplay is now certified in Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia and has signed deals for all three states with leading US operator Golden Nugget Online Gaming and the top-three US online casino operator BetMGM. Through the collaboration with NeoPollard Interactive, Pariplay will enter the Canadian market after signing a deal to offer its content on Play Alberta, the province’s only regulated online gambling site.

In Q4 2021, Pariplay extended its successful partnership with Rush Street Interactive (RSI) and launched its proprietary games with RSI in Colombia. Pariplay also signed a deal to supply its proprietary games to Holland Casino, the biggest Dutch operator.

BTOBET STRIKES FURTHER DEAL WITH FLUTTER

BtoBet, our proprietary sportsbook, has recently been awarded certification in Denmark and the Netherlands. After having received Dutch certification for not only the sportsbook and games but also the platform, we will now provide our complete offering in the Netherlands. In Denmark, we add sports to our present casino offering.

In Q4 2021, BtoBet entered Poland by a deal with Warsaw-based BestBet24. BtoBet will provide BestBet24 its sportsbook platform for both retail and online channels. BtoBet has also extended its collaboration with Flutter Entertainment by providing FanDuel its cutting-edge PAM platform as the operator enters the Brazilian market with its Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) offering.

ENHANCING OFFERING WITH BINGO

In December 2021, we took an important step in our strategy to control the entire B2B value chain by acquiring a minority share of the bingo supplier END 2 END with an option to acquire all the shares. END 2 END and its certified bingo product provides us with access to a real omni channel technology and a proprietary offering in one of the biggest verticals in the iGaming industry. Bingo is especially important in regulated markets where operators request the opportunity to offer more than one vertical. We are very satisfied with END 2 END’s performance and the opportunities we have identified so far.

THE AMAZING ASPIRE GLOBAL TEAM

During 2021, we increased investments in the further development of our team’s skills by introducing an advanced leadership program. It will be exciting to follow the development of our leaders and how the program can contribute to even higher motivation and creativity.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on the Aspire Global team for their fantastic efforts in 2021. It is also good that we will keep the relationship with our great Karamba team, who constituted the B2C segment, as they continue as one of our major partners.

OUTLOOK

Aspire Global is today a focused B2B company with a leading offering in the iGaming industry. We have over the past years made significant progress in building a strong position and adding tier 1-operators to our partner base, not at least after the value creating acquisitions of BtoBet and Pariplay. We are now looking forward to the next step in our journey and I am very excited by the opportunities the combination of Aspire Global and NeoGames offers.

Tsachi Maimon, CEO

Latest News

XGENIA Reveals Groundbreaking AI Platform for iGaming, Redefines Game and App Creation

Published

8 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

George Miller

xgenia-reveals-groundbreaking-ai-platform-for-igaming,-redefines-game-and-app-creation

Reading Time: 2 minutes

XGENIA, the AI development powerhouse behind a new era of interactive innovation, has officially launched its revolutionary AI-powered platform, built to transform how games, apps, and digital experiences come to life.

Unveiled at an exclusive launch event on Valletta’s historic Old Merchants Street, the elegant evening brought together leaders from the gaming, tech, and investment worlds for a first look at XGENIA — a platform that blends AI, no-code tooling, and creator-first architecture in one seamless, cloud-free environment. Attendees were also shown a teaser video previewing the XGENIA platform’s capabilities, highlighting its speed, flexibility, and creative potential.

Designed for visionaries, creators, and studios of all sizes, XGENIA enables rapid development of slot games, crash games, social betting apps, advanced applications, and more — all without writing a single line of code. The platform fuses drag-and-drop simplicity with powerful backend logic, allowing creators to build in days what once took months.

“We didn’t just build another tool,” said Mark Flores Martin, CEO of XGENIA. “We built a creative partner — one that bridges the gap between vision and execution. With XGENIA, the AI is taken care of — so you can focus on what matters most: building what’s next.”

Built for Speed, Security, and Creative Freedom

XGENIA is a locally run, AI-powered development studio offering:

A no-code PixiJS builder for rapid prototyping
Hundreds of AI and app integrations
Built-in compliance modules (KYC, AML, geo-fencing, and more)
Seamless code export and data shielding
Real-time AI logic visualisation and custom model training

With a tiered pricing model — including a free version — XGENIA provides everyone from solo developers to established studios access to tools traditionally reserved for large-scale tech companies, now supercharged with AI.

Join the Next Generation of iGaming Innovation

As part of its broader mission, XGENIA is also launching XGENIA Labs, a global incubator programme offering:

€100,000 in grants and XGENIA PRO tier credits
Mentorship from award-winning iGaming and AI veterans
Direct access to VCs and global publishers during Demo Day events

Own the Code. Command the Vision. Lead the Future.

XGENIA replaces fragmented workflows and legacy stacks with one unified AI platform — delivering unmatched speed, customisation, and control.

The post XGENIA Reveals Groundbreaking AI Platform for iGaming, Redefines Game and App Creation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION Named “Most Honored Company” in the Gaming Sector in Extel’s “2025 Japan Executive Team” Survey

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2025

George Miller

konami-group-corporation-named-“most-honored-company”-in-the-gaming-sector-in-extel’s-“2025-japan-executive-team”-survey

Reading Time: < 1 minute

KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION has been named “Most Honored Company” in the gaming sector in Extel’s (formerly Institutional Investor) “2025 Japan Executive Team” survey.

This survey is conducted by Extel to select listed Japanese companies with outstanding IR activities based on votes from 541 investors and analysts from 237 firms, nominating a total of 533 companies.
In the gaming sector, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION ranked first in the categories of “Best CEO” (Sell-Side), “Best Investor Relations Professional,” “Best Investor Relations Program,” and “Best Company Board,” and as a result, the company has been named the “Most Honored Company.”

To increase our corporate value, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION places high priority on constructive dialogue with shareholders and investors to deepen mutual understanding. In FY2025, the company held over 400 IR meetings, with our top management actively participating in quarterly financial results briefings and overseas IR roadshows. The “Most Honored Company” designation is in recognition of these efforts.

KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION will continue to work to achieve sustainable growth and enhance our corporate value over the medium-to-long-term through our IR activities.

The post KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION Named “Most Honored Company” in the Gaming Sector in Extel’s “2025 Japan Executive Team” Survey appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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National Gambling Support Network helps over 110,000 people as self-referrals increase by 50% since April 2023

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2025

George Miller

national-gambling-support-network-helps-over-110,000-people-as-self-referrals-increase-by-50%-since-april-2023

Reading Time: 4 minutes

New data released today reveals how many people have been supported by the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) since its launch in 2023, with data also showing an increase in self-referrals by over 50% in year two. Waiting times for a first assessment are also shown to be offered after an average of just two days.

Since April 2023, the NGSN has supported over 110,000 people over the two years since launch. This is based on the number of individuals who accessed services including the National Gambling Helpline, regional providers, primary care and residential services. These fall into three tiers of support (Tiers 2-4) including assessments, brief interventions, extended brief interventions (EBI), treatment sessions, reviews and aftercare.

The impact of a region-first approach, which is designed to deliver local support and services for people, and access to providers with knowledge and understanding of the local community, can be seen through more individuals accessing support directly from their local provider, with self-referrals into the system increasing by over 50% since launch.

Brief Interventions (BI), which involve short-term strategies aimed at addressing gambling harms through time-limited conversations, allow early engagement and support before challenges escalate, and offer advice and signposting to further help if required. Increasing early support has been central to the NGSN and as a result, these have seen a significant rise in the second year of the Network, having nearly doubled with a 93% increase, from 11,000 to over 21,000 people receiving a meaningful intervention.

Person-centered support means that people are also accessing the service that works for them and around their personal lives and circumstances, such as peer support, group work and 1:1 therapy. The average waiting time for a first assessment is now an average of two days across the network.

Through increases in outreach and engagement activity and improvements to tools such as the GambleAware service finder to enhance awareness of support available amongst frontline professionals and the public, individuals are more likely to engage with local support services directly.

Since the launch of the GambleAware service finder website in July 2024, we have seen an estimated 21,000 people directed to NGSN provider referral options, which includes links to email addresses, phone numbers, self-referral forms and websites.

Those with the most severe cases of gambling harm will often require Tier 4 treatment, which is the most specialised and intensive level of care within the NGSN, where a person stays at a residential treatment centre.

Jackie Menzies, from Southport, is one person who has benefited from the support of the NGSN and its tier 4 care. Jackie started gambling when he was 20, and after realising that the effects of gambling harms were having an impact on his mental health and wellbeing, he was directed to support from Cheryl Williams at NGSN provider, Adferiad, with the service he received described as “lifesaving.”

Jackie, now 38, said: “I owe Cheryl and the team at Adferiad my life.

“From the moment I was introduced to them, I was contacted, informed, and treated with respect and understanding for both myself and my addiction. I was guided and informed of what options might be available to me and how I might be able to get help.

“I had treatment at their Parkland Place Centre and from the empowering attitudes of the staff, I have enrolled in a Level 3 counselling course at my local college, and I’m looking to the future to be able to help people who are suffering from addictions like I am to grow and be able to find peace and happiness again.”

Anna Hargrave, Deputy Chief Executive at GambleAware, says: “The second year of the National Gambling Support Network presented an opportunity to take the learnings from year one and focus on how we can best support those affected by gambling harms.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of people being supported and importantly, an increase in brief interventions and self-referrals, which means we can support people earlier and reduce the potential for further harm.

“The expertise within the Network is unrivalled and providers play a key role in helping people across the country, whether that be at the start of their journey, or supporting them at the end. We look forward to working with the future commissioners and the NGSN with the integration of the network into the future system to ensure providers can continue offering their crucial services.”

Significant work has gone into improving the support and care individuals receive, with the NGSN delivering a range of successful interventions, from increased prevention activities and community-based early interventions to continued development on expanding more efficient pathways into structured treatment. In so doing, this has ensured and enabled more people to access support and achieve strong outcomes, through a no wrong door system to reducing the impact of gambling harms.

Joy Allen, Police & Crime Commissioner for Durham and vocal advocate for prevention of gambling harms, said: “Gambling, like any addiction, has the power to completely control the lives of those affected and those closest to them. It can negatively impact individuals financially, emotionally, socially and in terms of their mental wellbeing.

“We need to think of gambling-addiction in the same way in which we think of and support those with Drugs and Alcohol addiction. It is an illness that can lead people to commit crime to feed their addiction and those in its thrall need rehabilitation, not censure. It can certainly lead to abject misery. It is estimated that there are nearly 500 gambling related suicides a year in England highlighting the urgent need to encourage more people to seek help. In 2023 around 5% of the North East population aged over 16 was classified as an ‘at risk’ gambler, often spending more than they afford and chasing losses leading to financial strain, anxiety and stress.

“In response, and in line with the priorities I’ve placed on tackling gambling harm, Durham Constabulary has signed the National Gambling Charter which commits the Constabulary to providing specialist training for its officers so that they can identify those at risk and signpost them towards support. I urge other organisations to do the same. Collectively we can, and will, do more.”

The National Gambling Support Network is available for anyone who is experiencing harm from gambling and wants support for it, including people who are affected by someone else’s gambling. All services are free and confidential.

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