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Entain: Strong 2021 performance demonstrating strength of our diversified growth model and global platform

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Entain plc, the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment Group, is pleased to announce its results for the year ended 31 December 2021. The strong performance reflects the capabilities and diversification provided by the Group’s industry leading platform in driving growth.

Operational Highlights:

  • Strong growth across the Group with NGR up 7% (8%cc) in the year
    • Online NGR up 12% (13%cc) in 2021, the ninth consecutive year of double-digit online growth
    • Growth in actives of 25% in the year as we expand our appeal to a broader audience
    • Good performance in Retail as year end volumes returned to over 90% of pre-Covid levels
  • BetMGM continues to go from strength to strength as a leader in the fast growing US market
    • Established as the number two operator for sports betting and iGaming with a 23% market share in the fourth quarter across the markets in which it operates
    • Market leader in iGaming with 29% market share in Q4 2021 in the markets in which it operates
    • Live in 21 markets, reaching over 37% of the U.S. adult population, with launches in Illinois and Ontario planned for the coming months
    • Upgraded expectations for net revenue from operations of over $1.3bn in 2022 and anticipates reaching positive EBITDA in 2023
  • Continued execution of growth strategy into new markets
    • Completed acquisitions of Bet.pt in Portugal and Enlabs AB in the Baltics as well as UNIKRN to drive access to the esports skill based wagering market
    • Further growth secured since the start of the new financial year with three transactions, including the acquisition of Avid Gaming to drive growth across Canada
    • Launch of the Ennovate hub to explore use of innovative technologies, products and services to further enhance the customer experience
  • Further progress under the Group’s Sustainability Charter delivering industry leading ESG
    • ARCTM (“Advanced Responsibility & Care”) programme continues to progress well, with real-time customer interaction trials underway, along with initial stages of international rollout
    • A number of initiatives launched across the year, including a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2035, and EnTrain to benefit the lives of 1m people through access to technology
    • Named EGR Operator of the Year, as well as Socially Responsible Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards North America
    • Entain continues to be the only online-led gaming company included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, in addition to its continued inclusion in the FTSE4Good index

Financial Highlights:

  • Strong financial performance; Group Underlying EBITDA1,4 up +5% at £881.7m at the upper end of guidance
    • Online Underlying EBITDA1,4 up +12% at £899.0m reflecting the double digit growth in all key markets excluding Germany and the Netherlands (excluding Germany and the Netherlands online NGR was +21cc%)
    • Total Retail NGR -7%cc (-3%cc9) and Underlying EBITDA1,4 of £66.9m was £31.4m behind the prior year
    • Total Group Revenue of £3,830.0m up +8% (+9%cc) in 2021
    • Including 50% share of BetMGM joint venture, Group FY21 NGR was up 14% (15% cc)
  • BetMGM (the Group’s joint venture in the US) continues to perform strongly, with FY21 NGR of approximately $850m7, up nearly 5 times versus the prior year
  • To repay £44m received under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“furlough scheme”) in FY21
  • Group profit after tax1 was £275.6m, up 142% compared to 2020
  • Underlying free cashflow8, before the investment into BetMGM and acquisitions/disposals, of £537.3m
  • Year end net debt of £2,086.4m with leverage at 2.4x ensuring balance sheet flexibility to support our growth strategy

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO of Entain, commented:

“Our Full Year results demonstrate yet again that Entain is a business with growth built into its business model. Our strong performance is underpinned by the Entain platform which encompasses the compelling combination of our proprietary technology, our outstanding people around the world, and our industry-leading operational capabilities.  It is this unique platform that enables us to deliver an ever-improving customer experience, to embrace emerging consumer and technological trends, and to grow into new markets and product areas.

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All of our major markets have performed well.  In particular, BetMGM in the US has delivered a five times increase in net gaming revenue versus the previous year, and is ready to challenge for the number one position across the markets in which it operates.  Elsewhere, our retail business has recovered strongly and volumes have now returned to 90% of pre-Covid levels as restrictions have eased and customers have returned to our shops.

As ever, I would like to thank each and every one of our colleagues for their dedication, hard work and professionalism in helping to achieve these results. Given the quality of our people, the ongoing broad-based growth of the business, its continuing momentum, and the investments that we are making in innovation to support our future expansion, we remain confident in our financial performance for FY22 and beyond.”

Group Reported1,2
Year ended 31 December 2021 2020 Change CC3
£m £m % %
Net gaming revenue (NGR) 3,886.3 3,628.5 7% 8%
Revenue 3,830.0 3,561.6 8% 9%
Gross profit 2,435.8 2,308.6 6%
Underlying EBITDAR4 898.8 862.1 4%
Underlying EBITDA4 881.7 843.1 5%
Underlying operating profit5 484.1 529.5 (9%)
Underlying profit before tax5 527.3 350.6
Profit after tax 275.6 113.8
Diluted EPS (p) 44.7 15.6
Continuing adjusted diluted EPS(p) 53.8 62.8
Continuing adjusted diluted EPS excl US(p) 81.1 73.1
Dividend per share (p)

Dividend
The Board has not proposed a final dividend for FY2021.  Recognising the importance of dividends to shareholders alongside our capital allocation priorities in supporting the Group’s growth strategy, the Board continue to keep the recommencement of the payment of dividends under on-going review.

Outlook
The Group has delivered strong results in FY2021, reflecting both the diversified nature of our business model, the strength of our platform and the quality of our people.  As we start 2022 we see retail heading towards pre-Covid levels and online performing inline with expectations against tough prior year comparables.  As global economies steadily emerge from the impact of the pandemic, we continue to provide our customers with great products and experiences.  As a result, we remain confident in our financial performance for 2022 as well as our long-term prospects.

Notes

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  • 2021 and 2020 reported results are audited and relate to continuing operations
  • Reported results are provided on a post IFRS 16 implementation basis
  • Growth on a constant currency basis is calculated by translating both current and prior year performance at the 2021 exchange rates
  • EBITDAR is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, rent and associated costs, share based payments and share of JV income. EBITDA is defined as EBITDAR after charging rent and associated costs. Both EBITDAR and EBITDA are stated pre separately disclosed items
  • Stated pre separately disclosed items
  • Adjusted for the impact of separately disclosed items, foreign exchange movements on financial indebtedness and losses/gains on derivative financial instruments (see note 10 in the financial statements. EPS is also disclosed excluding BetMGM as this gives a better view of the EPS attributable to the Entain trading businesses)
  • BetMGM revenues comprise of sports (Online and Retail) and iGaming revenues
  • Underlying free cashflow is EBITDA less working capital, capital expenditure, finance lease, corporate taxes and before the investment in BetMGM and acquisitions/disposals
  • Retail numbers are quoted on a LFL basis. During 2021 there was an average of 4,540 shops in the estate, compared to an average of 4,727 in the same period last year

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BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM GAME PORTFOLIO WITH NEW eSOCCER AND eFIGHTING TITLES

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BETBY, the premium sportsbook supplier, has expanded its proprietary esports feed, BETBY Games, with the launch of two new e-sims inspired by some of the most popular titles in global gaming: FIFA’s Penalty Shootout and Mortal Kombat 11. With these additions, the BETBY Games portfolio now includes 16 titles, offering expanded betting opportunities for operators and players.

The latest releases further reinforce BETBY’s two core esports verticals — eSoccer and eFighting — and reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering diverse and engaging betting content. The football-themed title introduces fast-paced gameplay, with each match lasting less than 3 minutes, and includes three leagues based on the World Cup, Spanish La Liga, and Brazilian Série A. Featuring over 15 betting markets in a classic format of 5 shots for each team, this addition brings 30,000 matches per month to the BETBY Games feed, all designed to run with low margins and high engagement.

The second release draws from the iconic world of arcade-style fighting games, offering dynamic player-versus-player action in a Best-of-3 (BO3) format with each match also taking less than 3 minutes. Featuring more than 15 markets and three ongoing tournaments — Elements and Forces, Power and Royalty, and Technology and Chaos — this title equals the football counterpart delivering another 30,000 monthly matches to the platform.

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With these new launches, BETBY Games now boasts 70+ tournaments, 350+ betting markets, and supports over 300,000 live matches every month, cementing its position as one of the most comprehensive and high-frequency esports betting solutions in the industry.

Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “The launch of these new titles showcases our commitment to evolving the BETBY Games offering and delivering esports content that resonates with players worldwide. By drawing inspiration from globally recognized franchises, we create products that are both familiar and optimized for high-frequency betting environments. This approach enables operators to expand their portfolios and gives players even more excitement and engagement.”

This launch follows the recent success of BETBY Games, which was awarded Best Esports Product 2025 at the SiGMA Americas Awards. This achievement underscores BETBY’s strategic focus on redefining the esports betting experience through unmatched flexibility, deep customization, and exceptional engagement for both operators and players.

The post BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM GAME PORTFOLIO WITH NEW eSOCCER AND eFIGHTING TITLES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ICONIC21 launches slot series starting with Stellar Fruits 40

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Provider’s Stellar Fruits series promises classic slots but with modern gameplay, with a unifying theme that combines juicy fruits and cosmic energy

ICONIC21, the in-demand iGaming content provider, has launched the first title in what will be a flagship game series, Stellar Fruits.

The first game in the series is Stellar Fruits 40 and promises classic fruit action combined with cosmic energy for an out-of-this-world player experience.

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Stellar Fruits 40 is all about timeless design colliding with bold and modern gameplay, with the slot set across five reels and four rows with 40 paylines active in the base game.

Players need to strap in and hold tight as the gameplay hits fast with plenty of big win potential on the cards with each spin.

Players watch as juicy symbols (think cherries, grapes, watermelons and more) land on the reels alongside stars and those all-important 7s.

The red hot 7 is Wild and fuels epic win combinations by replacing all other symbols except the golden Star scatter.

The golden Star scatter can land anywhere on the reels, and no matter where it lands, it pays big – the max win potential for Stellar Fruits 40 is 1,000x.

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Stellar Fruits 40 hits the market on 29 April and will be followed by three other titles in the series – Stellar Fruits, Stellar Fruits 20 and Stellar Fruits 100.

The main difference between each game is the number of paylines, which vary from 5 all the way up to 100 and impact the max win hit frequency of each title.

Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “The Stellar Fruits series will deliver four iconic classic slot games to our operator partners and their players, starting with Stellar Fruits 40.

“This is a slot that combines the nostalgia of a traditional fruit machine with bold and striking design and modern gameplay that ramps up the anticipation with every spin.

“By launching a game series, we can offer our partners a unique run of proven content that players will instantly recognise each time a new title lands in their lobby, driving engagement.

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Gaming Corps Unleashes PIGGY SMASH 2 – The Game-Changer You’ve Been Waiting For!

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Smash, Spin, Win: PIGGY SMASH 2 Takes Gaming to the Next Level

Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden – is excited to unveil PIGGY SMASH 2, a revolutionary game that takes the original Smash4Cash™ mechanic to new heights. Get ready to break your path to even greater riches! The vault is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the rewards are more thrilling than ever.

PIGGY SMASH 2 boasts a new-age game structure with one ball at the centre of the game window, and two rows on either side consisting of three balls in each row. Players bet to attempt to smash the current ball and winnings that are derived from smashing balls award giveaways and can lead to exciting features that push the gameplay to unimaginable levels of excitement.

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The game includes a variety of innovations that make it stand out among other casino games. The Multiplier Feature is utilized to trigger a multiplier following a ball break, and then this multiplier is multiplied with the payout of the next ball. This next ball is automatically made active and guaranteed to be smashed, adding an extra layer of anticipation to each spin.

The Rampage Feature takes excitement to another level by entering RAMPAGE MODE after smashing a ball. During this mode, automatic ball-smashing attempts are triggered, guaranteeing the smashing of two or more balls in a single wager. Taking this concept further, the Multiplier Rampage Feature combines the Multiplier and Rampage features, multiplying prizes for all smashed balls by the initially awarded multiplier.

Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of PIGGY SMASH 2 is the Instant-Win Feature, through which players can win up to big. Activated at random after a ball smash, this feature allows for multiple prize levels ranging from 10x to as much as 5000x stake.

Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps said: “PIGGY SMASH 2 is a leap forward in interactive gaming. We’ve adapted our highly acclaimed Smash4Cash™ mechanic and taken it to the next level, providing players with an even more revolutionary experience. This game is more than an evolution, it’s a revolution of what a game can be. Every wager is a new journey, every feature is a revolution. From improved graphics to real-time, interactive touchpoints, everything has been choreographed to make sure players aren’t just playing the experience, they’re living it. Our talented team went all out to take creativity to the next level and we couldn’t be happier with the final product. The future of gaming is here.”

Created with a global audience in mind, PIGGY SMASH 2 supports 28 languages and is licensed in over 14 jurisdictions. This broad support guarantees players across the globe will have an exciting Smash4Cash™ experience!

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