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La Française des Jeux : Revenue up 4% in Nine Months: Acquisition of ZEturf Completed at the End of September Acquisition of PLI to Be Completed in Early November

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La Française des Jeux (FDJ), France’s leading gaming operator, announces its revenue for the nine months to end September 2023.

Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of FDJ Group, said: “Our growth remains solid, with strong players’ demand, even though it has been affected by the low number of Euromillions high jackpot draws. At the same time, the completion of the acquisition of ZEturf at the end of September and the forthcoming closing of Premier Lotteries Ireland acquisition in November illustrate our strategy of internationalisation and diversification. We are delighted that the teams of these two operators are joining FDJ and that these operations will contribute to the Group’s sustainable and profitable growth.”

  • Revenue to end September of €1,875 million, up 3.9% and 1.3% on a like-for-like basis

At the end of September, gross gaming revenue (GGR) stood at €4,808 million, stable compared with 2022. After €3,044 million in public levies, net gaming revenue (NGR)3 totalled €1,771 million, up 0.8% based on a 2.0% increase in stakes.

Including income from other activities of €103 million, up more than 10% on a like-for-like basis, Group revenue to end September 2023 came to €1,875 million, up 3.9%.

On a like-for-like basis, sales rose by 1.3%. It rose 4.6%, in line with the first half, excluding Euromillions, which was particularly affected by the low number of high jackpot draws, especially in the 3rd quarter, and excluding Amigo, which was relaunched at the beginning of June with a revised formula in accordance with the regulator’s decision.

In the 3rd quarter, revenue totalled €586 million, down 1% and 3% on a like-for-like basis.

  • By distribution channel and activity
    • By distribution channel

Stakes in points of sale increased 0.8% to €13,278 million, supported by sports betting and instant games, and despite Amigo and Euromillions impact.

Digital stakes are continuing to grow, driven by all businesses. They were up 10.6% to €2,011 million, a performance attributable in large part to the increase in the number of players. Excluding Euromillions, online lottery stakes rose by more than 12%. Online stakes account for more than 13% of total stakes.

  • Lottery

Lottery revenue totalled €1,407 million down 1.2%, based on a slight increase in stakes, but up 3% excluding Amigo and Euromillions.

Driven in particular by the success of launches and relaunches, such as Carré Or in January and Numéro Fétiche in May, instant games stakes rose by more than 4%.

The almost 6% drop in the stakes for draw games is attributable to the lower number of high jackpot Euromillions draws (19 at 2023 September-end compared to 32 at 2022 September-end), particularly noticeable in the third quarter, and the full impact of the new Amigo draw launched at the beginning of June and in line with the decision of the French National Gaming Authority.

Excluding Euromillions and Amigo, draw stakes are up 1% and lottery stakes more than 3% compared with 2022, an “exceptional” year for draw games, especially Euromillions with stakes up by almost +20% to the end of September 2022. Overall, the appeal of this game remains strong, with stakes up by almost +10% compared with 2019, following its relaunch in the first quarter of 2020.

The discrepancy between growth in stakes and growth in revenue is mainly due to Euromillions, which has a high rate of conversion of stakes into revenue.

  • Sports betting and online gaming open to competition

Revenue of sports betting and online gaming open to competition totalled €360 million, an increase of 9.3% in line with growth in stakes. The player payout ratio in the third quarter is very close to that at the end of June and that recorded at the end of September 2022.

Business growth, strong both at the point of sale and online, benefited from the continuing momentum of the FIFA World Cup at the end of 2022, despite a slightly less favourable football calendar in the 3rd quarter of 2023.

The acquisitions of ZEturf and Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) strengthen FDJ’s model

  • ZEturf completes FDJ’s online gaming offering, making it the 4th largest operator in the French sports betting and online gaming open to competition, with a market share of over 10%

ZEturf is the 2nd largest online horse betting operator in France, with a market share of around 20%. This acquisition enables the FDJ Group to become the 4th largest competitive online gaming operator in France (sports betting, horse betting and poker), with a market share of over 10%. Finalised at the end of September, this acquisition has been consolidated in FDJ’s accounts since 1 October.

In order to benefit fully from the potential of the merger with ZEturf and the synergies within its online business open to competition, and in accordance with the commitments made to the French Competition Authority, FDJ will adopt a new organisation for this business.

With 2022 revenue exceeding €50 million, ZEturf:

– Doubles the revenue of FDJ’s online gaming business open to competition;

– And will have an accretive effect on the sports betting and online gaming open to competition BU’s contribution margin from 2025.

  • PLI: First step in the international B2C lottery with strong prospects

The acquisition of Premier Lotteries Ireland, the Irish national lottery operator, is a major step in the deployment of the FDJ Group’s international strategy. On 3 October, the Irish lottery regulator gave the go-ahead for the deal, which is due to be finalised in early November, when PLI will be consolidated by FDJ.

In 2022, Premier Lotteries Ireland recorded gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €399 million and revenue of €140 million, with an EBITDA margin comparable to that of FDJ.

The strategic plan currently being drawn up jointly aims to accelerate PLI’s growth and increase its profitability, based on sharing best practice between the two operators in order to:

– Capitalise on FDJ’s experience to drive PLI’s instant games portfolio;

– Boost the player base for draw games;

– And continue to improve the digital experience for Irish players.

2023 Outlook

In Q4, the Group expects:

– In sports betting and online gaming open to competition, sales virtually unchanged, reflecting the continued momentum since the start of the year, with a high basis for comparison due to the FIFA World Cup at the end of 2022;

– And for the lottery, sales growth driven by non-Amigo draw games, with several events including the launch of the EuroDreams draw game, and by instant games.

For 2023 as a whole, FDJ is targeting revenue growth of around 5%, i.e. between 1.5% and 2% on a like-for-like basis, with a current EBITDA margin rate maintained at around 24% thanks to tight control of costs.

– At the end of July, the Group had announced 2023 revenue growth targets of over 5%, and over 3% on a like-for-like basis, with a current EBITDA margin maintained at around 24%.

The Group will also benefit from a high level of financial income, expected to almost double the figure recorded at the end of June, and reiterates its commitment to distribute between 80% and 90% of its consolidated net income.

The Group’s next financial communication

The Group will report its 2023 results on Thursday, 15 February 2024, before market opening.

Appendix

In millions of euros

Q3 2023

Q3 2022

Var.

Stakes

4,802

4,945

-2,9%

o/w online stakes

679

643

+5,6%

Revenue

586

592

-1,1%*

o/w lottery

449

478

-6,0%

o/w sports betting and online gaming open to competition

103

97

+6,4%

*-3.4% vs. Q3 2022 pro forma, including the acquisitions of Aleda and L’Addtion

40 Lucky Wilds Hot

Amusnet Releases 40 Lucky Wilds Hot

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The post Amusnet Releases 40 Lucky Wilds Hot appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino

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Pamela Klockenbrink has become the new Managing Director of Merkur Casino GmbH. This subsidiary of the Merkur Group operates over 700 gaming venues in Germany and Europe. Pamela Klockenbrink succeeds Meik Sellenriek, who was appointed to the Executive Board of Merkur.com AG on January 1, 2025, and is now handing over his current management responsibilities to new hands. Together with Benjamin Bredenkamp, who will remain part of the management team, the 52-year-old will lead the company’s fortunes in the future.

With Pamela Klockenbrink, Merkur Casino is strengthening its leadership team from within its own ranks. The Bad Oeynhausen native began her career at Merkur in May 2015 as coordinator of national and international controlling at Merkur Casino. Most recently, Klockenbrink served for almost ten years as Head of Controlling at the Merkur subsidiary. Before joining the group, she shaped the finance and accounting departments of international corporations in various management positions, leading projects in the areas of international accounting and international taxation, among others.

Meik Sellenriek, Executive Board Member for Merkur Operations at Merkur.com AG, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Pamela Klockenbrink as our new Managing Director. Thanks to her many years of service with the company, she has a considerable repertoire of in-depth industry knowledge. This diverse experience will form the foundation for successfully developing Merkur Casino and leading it into a promising future.”

Pamela Klockenbrink said: “I greatly appreciate the trust placed in me by being appointed to the management team. My goal is to play a key role in shaping and further driving the successful development of Merkur Casino GmbH together with my colleague Benjamin Bredenkamp and our dedicated team.”

The post Pamela Klockenbrink Becomes the New Managing Director of Merkur Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025

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The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft rules for the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which was introduced back in August.

The draft outlines how online games will be classified and registered, what formats are permitted, and the powers of the proposed Online Gaming Authority of India. It also specifies how registrations can be suspended or cancelled, how grievances will be addressed, and what penalties will apply for violations.

The ministry has invited public feedback on the draft, asking stakeholders to send comments on each rule by October 31.

The Act aims to draw a clear line between gaming and gambling. Passed in August, it bans online money games while supporting esports and “social gaming” (regular video games) as legitimate forms of entertainment.

Introduced by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 20 in the Lok Sabha, the Bill cleared the Rajya Sabha the next day and received presidential assent by August 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “major decision,” saying, “Gaming is not bad, gambling is. They call it gaming, but it becomes gambling.” He added that India should strengthen its global position in gaming and capture a larger share of the market.

The post Indian Government Releases Draft Rules for Online Gaming Act 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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