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Sportradar Reports Strong Growth In First Quarter 2022

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Overall revenue increased 31%; U.S. revenue increased 124% year over year
Company reiterated annual outlook for fiscal 2022 projecting strong annual revenue growth of 18% to 25%

Sportradar Group AG, the leading global technology company enabling next generation engagement in sports, and the number one provider of business-to-business solutions to the global sports betting industry, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

First Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • Revenue in the first quarter of 2022 increased 31% to €167.9 million ($186.4 million)1 compared with the first quarter of 2021, driven by strong growth across all business segments. In particular, the U.S. segment revenue grew by 124% to €25.7 million ($28.5 million) compared with the first quarter of 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 in the first quarter of 2022 decreased 5% to €26.7 million ($29.6 million)1 compared with the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher costs associated with being a public company as well as reversal of certain temporary COVID-19 related cost savings versus the first quarter of 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin2 was 16% in the first quarter of 2022, compared with 22% over the prior year period.
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 100% to €12.9 million, compared with the prior year period. The resulting free cash flow conversion2 was 48% in the quarter.
  • Strong Net Retention Rate2, based on the last twelve months, increased to 121% at the end of the first quarter of 2022 compared with 107% the same period in 2021 highlighting the continued success of the Company’s cross-sell and upsell strategy across its global customer base.
  • Cash and cash equivalents totaled €715.5 million as of March 31, 2022. Total liquidity available for use at March 31, 2022, including undrawn credit facilities was €825.5 million.
  • The Company reiterated its previously provided annual outlook for full-year 2022 for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA2. Please see the “Annual Financial Outlook” section of this press release for further details.
Key Financial Measures Q1 Q1 Change
In millions, in Euros 2022 2021 %
Revenue 167.9 128.5 31%
Adjusted EBITDA2 26.7 28.2 (5%)
Adjusted EBITDA margin2 16% 22%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 12.9 6.5 100%
Free Cash Flow Conversion2 48% 23%

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1
For the convenience of the reader, we have translated Euros amounts in the tables below at the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 2022, which was €1.00 to $1.11.
2 Non-IFRS financial measure; see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” and accompanying tables for further explanations and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.

Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar said: “Our fiscal 2022 is off to a fast start, with core, high-margin betting products driving growth around the world. Our U.S. business continues its tremendous growth story as more states legalize and sports betting becomes live, mainstream entertainment. As the market leader, our technology and data-driven insights continue to transform the converging media, entertainment and sports industries and fuel our consistent and long-term profitable growth story.”

Segment Information

RoW Betting

  • Segment revenue in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 25% to €86.7 million compared with the first quarter of 2021. This growth was driven primarily by increased sales of our higher value-add offerings including Managed Betting Services (MBS) which increased 51% to €26.4 million and Live Data/ Odds Services, which increased 16% to €46.8 million. MBS growth is attributable to increased turnover3 and Live Data/ Odds Services grew as a result of upselling content to existing customers. MBS includes Managed Trading Services (MTS) and Managed Platform Services (MPS). Additionally, increased content sales from the Synergy acquisition contributed to the growth.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 13% to €44.6 million compared with the first quarter of 2021. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 decreased to 51% from 57% in the first quarter of 2021 driven by temporary savings in sport rights and scouting costs in the prior year related to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as acquisition of new sport rights.

RoW Audiovisual (AV)

  • Segment revenue increased in the first quarter of 2022 by 17% to €45.9 million compared with the first quarter of 2021.  This growth was primarily a result of increased content from Tennis Australia and the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as upselling content from the Synergy acquisition.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the first quarter of 2022 was flat at €8.9 million compared with the first quarter of 2021. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 decreased to 19% from 23% compared with the first quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher sports rights costs driven by the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic versus prior year, and acquisition of new sports rights.

United States

  • Segment revenue in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 124% to €25.7 million compared with the first quarter of 2021. This growth was driven by increased sales of U.S. Betting services primarily as a result of new states legalizing betting. We also experienced growth from increased sales to media companies and a positive impact from the acquisition of Synergy Sports.
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA2 in the first quarter of 2022 was (€6.4) million compared with the first quarter of 2021 of (€3.6) million, primarily due to increased investment in the Company’s league and team solutions focused business. Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 improved to (25%) from (32%) compared with the first quarter of 2021 reflecting an improvement in the U.S. segment operating leverage.

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2
Non-IFRS financial measure; see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” and accompanying tables for further explanations and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.
3 Turnover is the total amount of stakes placed and accepted in betting.

Costs and Expenses

  • Personnel expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased by €13.7 million to €52.3 million compared with the first quarter of 2021 primarily resulting from additional hires in the Company’s product and technology organizations across high and low-cost locations. Employee headcount increased by 620 to 3,075 full time employees at the end of the first quarter of 2022 compared with the first quarter of 2021.
  • Other Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased by €5.0 million to €19.5 million compared with the first quarter of 2021 mainly driven by higher costs associated with being a public company, and the reversal of temporary COVID-19 related cost savings versus the prior year.
  • Total Sport rights costs in the first quarter of 2022 increased by €13.1 million to €54.0 million compared with the first quarter of 2021, primarily resulting from new rights for 2022 for ICC, UEFA, ATP and a normalized schedule in sports such as NBA, NHL and MLB, as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased.

Recent Business Highlights

  • In April 2022, Sportradar acquired Vaix, a pioneer in developing AI solutions for the iGaming Industry. Vaix’s innovative AI technology allows betting and gaming operators to gain a personalized view of their customers, which provides a more targeted, player-friendly experience. Sportradar has partnered with Vaix previously and incorporated its technology into its Managed Trading Services (MTS) offering. Sportradar’s MTS solution is a sophisticated trading, risk, live odds and liability management offering that helps betting operators boost margins and profits, while increasing efficiency and managing risk.
  • Sportradar was awarded a supplier registration for online/mobile wagering in Ontario. With this registration for online/mobile wagering from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Sportradar now holds over 36 licenses in North America across states, territories, tribes, and Canada. Additionally, Sportradar Integrity Services and the Canadian Hockey League announced a multi-year education and bet monitoring services agreement. This new relationship increases Sportradar Integrity Services’ portfolio of ice hockey partners to nine different leagues and federations around the world and strengthens its leadership position across North American sports leagues.
  • The Company continued to strengthen its U.S. leadership by appointing former Fiserv executive Michael Gandolfo as Group Head, Regional Sales. Gandolfo led Fiserv’s Large Financial Institution Sales and Service Team, responsible for over 300 top financial institutional clients.
  • Norwegian state gaming operator, Norsk Tipping, will deploy Sportradar’s internet-based Self-Service Betting Terminal (iSSBT) into 245 retail outlets across Norway to support the gaming operator’s growth. iSSBT is deployed in over 500 retail outlets, enabling Norsk Tipping to establish a mobile-first and online digital strategy, along with a retail presence.
  • Sportradar continued to advance its mission to detect, investigate and prevent betting-related match-fixing, doping and other threats to the integrity of sport by announcing a multi-year integrity partnership with NASCAR, an expansion of a previous agreement to provide bet monitoring and reporting with its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), launching a Sportradar Integrity Exchange, a network that enables bookmakers to report suspicious betting activity and extended its work with the Austrian Federal Criminal Police on anti-doping.
  • The Company also announced that it will act as an advisor to Bowl Season on the sports betting space in a responsible manner, with a focus on educating the organization’s membership on the rapidly evolving world of sports betting, as well as the opportunity to expand the scope to include Sportradar’s Integrity Services.

Annual Financial Outlook

Sportradar is reiterating its outlook for fiscal 2022 provided on March 30, 2022 as follows:

  • Revenue is expected to be in the range of €665.0 million to €700.0 million ($738.2 million to $777.0 million)1, representing growth of 18% to 25% over fiscal 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 is expected to be in the range of €123.0 million to €133.0 million ($136.5 million to $147.6 million)1, representing growth of 21% to 30% over fiscal 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin2 is expected to be in the range of 18.5% to 19.0%, an improvement over the prior year.4

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For the convenience of the reader, we have translated Euros amounts in the tables below at the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on March 31, 2022, which was €1.00 to $1.11.
2 Non-IFRS financial measure; see “Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Operating Metrics” and accompanying tables for further explanations and reconciliations of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures.

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Paysafe Introduces “Pay with Crypto” to Meet US iGaming Demand

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The new product powered by MoonPay allows players to easily deposit using stablecoins and cryptocurrencies at iGaming and daily fantasy sports companies.

Paysafe, an international payment platform, today revealed the introduction of Pay with Crypto, a novel cryptocurrency payment option for iGaming operators and daily fantasy sports companies in the U.S. market. Enabled by MoonPay, the top provider in worldwide crypto payments and stablecoin systems, Pay with Crypto enables customers of iGaming brands to conveniently use their chosen stablecoin or cryptocurrency to fund their player accounts, where allowed.

Approximately 70.4 million American adults are said to own cryptocurrency, and Paysafe’s research shows that 83% of U.S. players are interested in crypto payments, prompting the company to introduce Pay with Crypto to satisfy this demand. A player wishing to fund their iGaming account with USD Coin (USDC), another stablecoin, or any leading cryptocurrency can now use Paysafe’s new payment option for operators’ cashiers, which allows for quick conversion of their crypto deposit to U.S. dollars for gameplay.

Upon choosing Pay with Crypto and their desired stablecoin or cryptocurrency, players just link their crypto or custodial wallet to complete the deposit, while the MoonPay Commerce Checkouts technology also facilitates transactions through QR code using users’ mobile devices. After verifying the transactions, Pay with Crypto immediately converts crypto deposits into U.S. dollars to credit the player’s account.

The flexibility inherent in the Pay with Crypto solution also applies to operators, who can opt to settle payments nearly instantly in stablecoins within their business crypto wallet, or in U.S. dollars or other major fiat currencies via MoonPay’s Virtual Accounts driven by Iron.

Operators can enhance their cashiers with Pay with Crypto via a single, seamless integration of the Paysafe Gateway, designed specifically for iGaming and utilizing the company’s 30 years of worldwide expertise. The Gateway, which already features seamless card payments, the Skrill digital wallet, the PaysafeCash eCash option, a Pay by Bank service, and over 30 local payment methods, is further diversifying its services by introducing Pay with Crypto to cater to changing transactional preferences.

Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, said: “Galvanized by the growing popularity of stablecoins, cryptocurrency is evolving in the U.S. from an investment asset into a unit of value for payments, and we’re seeing this shift gather pace in the country’s iGaming market. Against this backdrop, we’re delighted to unveil Pay with Crypto, a forward-thinking solution that strongly positions U.S. operators for their customers’ changing transactional preferences – the future of how they pay when they play.”

Ivan Soto-Wright, Founder and CEO of MoonPay, commented: “Crypto rails are making payments faster and more efficient, and our job is to close the gap between this technology and real-world utility. People shouldn’t have to convert their digital assets just to make a purchase – they want to use what they already have. Paysafe brings that experience to more people through trusted, regulated platforms.”

The post Paysafe Introduces “Pay with Crypto” to Meet US iGaming Demand appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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AFLE

AFLE and SCCG Management Announce Strategic Partnership to Build Gaming and Fan Engagement Ecosystem Ahead of Inaugural Season

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The American Football League Europe (AFLE) and SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, have announced a strategic partnership ahead of the league’s inaugural season in May 2026. As part of the agreement, SCCG Management Founder and CEO Stephen Crystal has been appointed Senior Vice President Gaming of the AFLE, where he will lead all gaming-related business development and commercial partnership initiatives.

Building a gaming strategy from the ground up

Together, the AFLE and SCCG Management will develop and execute a comprehensive gaming and sports betting strategy for the league. This includes the establishment of official betting partnerships, affiliate programs, and sponsorship-driven revenue opportunities designed to strengthen fan engagement and support the long-term commercial growth of the league and it‘s eight member clubs.

Leading the way in gaming expertise

SCCG Management brings more than 34 years of experience in the global gaming industry, with offices across North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Brazil. The firm works with over 130 client-partners across diverse iGaming verticals and specializes in strategic growth, sports wagering and technology-driven fan experiences.

In his new role, Stephen Crystal will focus on securing and managing relationships across sportsbooks, gaming operators, affiliate networks and betting media partners, while ensuring full alignment with regulatory frameworks across European markets.

A league built for the modern era

The AFLE is a newly formed professional American football league dedicated to building a sustainable, team-driven competition across Europe. With franchises in Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, the league is designed for scalability, media integration and international fan engagement from day one. Operating under an investor-backed structure with collaborative input from all league stakeholders, the AFLE was founded on principles of transparency, long-term development and professional governance.

That foundation makes gaming integration a natural next step. As global demand for sports betting content continues to grow, the AFLE is positioned to embed gaming partnerships directly into its commercial strategy from inception, creating new revenue streams while expanding it‘s reach to fans across European markets.

What the partnership means to both sides

Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “This is a rare opportunity to help build a professional sports league with gaming and fan engagement fully integrated into its foundation. AFLE has the structure, vision, and market timing to become a major force in international sports. We’re excited to lead the development of its gaming ecosystem and establish partnerships that drive meaningful, long-term value for the league and its stakeholders.”

Moritz Heisler, COO and Managing Director of the AFLE, added: “Partnering with SCCG Management is a significant step in building the commercial infrastructure of the AFLE from day one. Gaming and sports betting are a natural part of modern fan engagement, and having Stephen Crystal lead this space gives us the right expertise and industry network to do it properly. We are building a league for the long term, and these kinds of strategic partnerships are exactly what will make that possible.”

With the inaugural season just weeks away, this partnership marks an important step in the AFLE’s commercial journey. Together, the AFLE and SCCG Management are laying the groundwork for a gaming ecosystem that is built to grow alongside the league and deliver lasting value for fans, clubs and partners across Europe.

The post AFLE and SCCG Management Announce Strategic Partnership to Build Gaming and Fan Engagement Ecosystem Ahead of Inaugural Season appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Diego Van Meerbeke

InsightPlay.ai Strengthens Commercial Leadership with Appointment of Diego Van Meerbeke

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InsightPlay.ai has appointed Diego Van Meerbeke as Commercial Director as the company accelerates its expansion across Latin America and key regulated markets.

InsightPlay.ai is an AI engagement platform helping companies manage real-time customer interaction at scale, with strong traction in iGaming.

Van Meerbeke joins from Better Collective, where he led commercial efforts across Spanish-speaking LATAM, working closely with operators and driving revenue growth in a highly competitive affiliate ecosystem. He previously held roles at The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, building a strong background in media sales and partnerships.

His appointment comes as InsightPlay moves from early traction to commercial scale following its recent seed round and deployment of AI-driven engagement solutions across multiple markets.

“Diego understands how this industry actually works, from both the media and operator side,” said Javier Troncoso, CEO of InsightPlay.ai. “We’re building the layer that manages real-time interaction between brands and their customers.”

InsightPlay’s platform enables operators to engage users across voice, messaging and digital channels, handling thousands of interactions daily and driving measurable impact in reactivation, onboarding and retention .

While the company’s initial growth has been driven by iGaming, the same infrastructure is already being explored across other industries where real-time customer interaction directly impacts revenue.

“Most of the industry is still focused on acquisition,” said Diego Van Meerbeke. “The real opportunity is what happens after that.”

Van Meerbeke will lead commercial strategy, operator partnerships and enterprise deals as the company expands across LATAM, North America, Europe and Asia.

The post InsightPlay.ai Strengthens Commercial Leadership with Appointment of Diego Van Meerbeke appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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