Canada
Rivalry Reports First Quarter 2024 Results, Expands Into Crypto Segment Through Rivalry Token
Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY) (OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for Gen Z, today announced financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. The Company also announced Rivalry Token, a native cryptocurrency token that will act as a nexus between Rivalry, Web3, and gamblers. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.
“Our first quarter results saw a return to growth with sequential increases in betting handle, gross gaming revenue, and net revenue,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “We are also very encouraged by the improvement to net revenue margin experienced in the quarter, hitting an all-time record, proving our strategy is delivering results, and representing a meaningful improvement as compared to the average levels experienced throughout 2023. Additionally, interest in our original casino content continues to build, unlocking B2B revenue opportunities that we are keen to detail more fully in the near future.”
“Today we also announced a decisive move to more deeply tap into the significant global crypto gambling market through Rivalry Token. This represents a meaningful strategic step for Rivalry, complementing our existing approach which focuses on a generation that grew up immersed in gaming and internet culture, and now extending that reach to the crypto community. The Venn diagram of Gen Z, gamblers, gamers, and crypto enthusiasts or crypto curious has an extremely high degree of overlap that we are uniquely positioned to access.”
“Alongside this announcement, we have also released an overhaul of our homepage, a more fulsome crypto wallet experience, and adjusted the onboarding experience for new users to materially reduce friction while maintaining compliance. Together, this represents a meaningful effort to access a higher value crypto gambling cohort, adding more depth and reach to Rivalry’s global network. This comes at an opportune time, as momentum in crypto gambling has been building amongst our target audience and they’ve been gravitating towards it. By expanding our product offering into this segment, it positions us to compete and win as we innovate product and gain access to this higher value customer cohort.”
First Quarter 2024 Highlights
Betting handle for Q1 2024 was $94.7 million, increasing by $9.6 million, or 11% as compared to Q4 2023.
Gross gaming revenue (“GGR”)2 was $7.7 million in Q1 2024, up $1.3 million, or 20% from $6.4 million in Q4 2023.
Net revenue3 was $4.5 million in Q1 2024, increasing by $1.5 million, or 51% from $3.0 million in Q4 2023. As a percentage of GGR, the Q1 2024 net revenue margin of 58.5% was the highest in Company history, and compares to 45.4% in FY 2023. As a percentage of betting handle, the net revenue margin of 4.7% was the highest of the past five quarters. The improvements reflect ongoing initiatives to increase margins through innovation and adjustments to the product offering.
The Casino segment continues to be a strong contributor, generating 59% of betting handle and 19% of GGR in the quarter. Segment results reflect the ongoing expansion of Rivalry’s casino product line, including the original game Cash & Dash released in the second half of 2023.
Net loss was $5.2 million in Q1 2024, the Company’s narrowest net loss of the last four quarters.
The Company had $9.4 million of cash as at March 31, 2024.4
Rivalry released a basketball same-game-parlay product coinciding with the 2024 NBA playoffs, building on the Company’s growing traditional sports vertical. This has supported both acquisition efforts and net revenue margin enhancement.
The Company also released pre-made-parlays, driving meaningful customer interest and improving sportsbook hold.
Rivalry released shareable bet slips during the quarter, introducing a social feature to increase user acquisition and community engagement.
Rivalry continues to explore interest in licensing its first-party casino games, accelerating the advancement of its B2B vertical.
The Company is updating its profitability guidance from the first half of 2024 to by the end of 2024.
Rivalry Token
Rivalry has today revealed Rivalry Token, a native crypto token on the blockchain to add increased functionality, economics, and user experiences across the Company’s product suite, continuing Rivalry’s track record of innovation in online betting. The launch of Rivalry Token, anticipated to arrive in H2 2024, represents one of several forthcoming initiatives to position Rivalry in the crypto gambling market and better serve its core audience of under-30 bettors.
“Online gambling is the latest web-based consumer category being increasingly disrupted by blockchain technologies with greater speed, access, and functionality than their legacy counterparts,” Salz added. “Tech-savvy bettors are leading a behavioral shift towards more experiential and crypto-enabled gambling experiences that are taking wallet share from incumbents at an accelerated rate.”
“Rivalry is well-positioned to access the growth opportunity in crypto with a proven product set, a brand entrenched in internet culture, and a captive audience of digitally native users that are driving this economic renaissance. The launch of Rivalry Token, alongside a broader expansion into cryptocurrencies, strengthens our product-market fit among an under-30 audience and positions us competitively to capture a meaningful share of this fast-growing and highly valuable segment of the market.”
Rivalry Token will be a utility token integrated within Rivalry’s product suite – from sportsbook to casino and more – with built-in properties to enhance the customer experience from end-to-end. This introduces a dynamic relationship where every sports wager and casino spin, win or lose, is rewarded with a decentralized asset that delivers meaningful real money utility for the player. The Company expects its token will drive an increase in player engagement, loyalty, and advocacy by establishing more positive economic alignment between itself and users.
Rivalry has today launched a pre-farming campaign called PLAY-2-EARN, where users can begin accumulating interim token points through site activity and eventually social media which will be converted into Rivalry Tokens later this year.
Following the official launch, Rivalry Token will be available for players to use on Rivalry in all of the Company’s active markets excluding Ontario and Australia.
The Company will release more information about Rivalry Token throughout the coming months, including commercial partners, token economics, and more.
Investor Conference Call
Management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 30, 2024 to discuss the Company’s first quarter 2024 financial results and its expansion into the cryptocurrency space.
AGCO
Jackpot Digital Receives Approval from AGCO as a Registered Gaming Supplier
Jackpot Digital Inc., a leading provider of innovative dealerless electronic poker gaming solutions, has announced that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has approved the Company to be licensed as a registered Gaming Related-Supplier (the “Supplier License”) under the Gaming Control Act in the Province of Ontario.
This significant achievement allows Jackpot Digital to enter one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regulated gaming markets in North America. The Supplier License authorizes Jackpot Digital to supply its electronic table games to Ontario’s gaming venues, including casinos and other regulated gaming facilities.
Jackpot Digital’s flagship product, the Jackpot Blitz electronic table game system, offers a modern, dealerless, player-friendly solution that integrates traditional multiplayer poker games with cutting-edge digital technology. The Supplier License will enable the Company to offer its innovative gaming solutions to operators throughout Ontario, driving new revenue opportunities and enhancing player experiences.
“Receiving AGCO’s approval is a major milestone. This approval provides us with the opportunity to offer our top-tier electronic gaming systems to operators throughout all of Ontario, positioning us for further growth in one of the world’s most robust gaming markets. We are excited to bring our innovative products to Ontario’s gaming community and continue our commitment to providing exciting, technology-driven entertainment experiences,” said Jake Kalpakian, CEO of Jackpot Digital.
Canada
Play’n GO announces partnership with Canadian operator PointsBet
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has announced further expansion of its Canadian operations via a partnership with leading operator PointsBet in the province of Ontario.
The Swedish-founded gaming giant’s games will now be available to PointsBet players in the Canadian province, meaning classic titles such as Book of Dead, Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness, and Reactoonz will now be available on the PointsBet platform.
The province of Ontario regulated online casino gaming in 2022, which saw Play’n GO enter the Canadian market for the first time. The company expanded into the province of Quebec earlier this year, and, as of June 2024, is also a proud member of the Canadian Gaming Association.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented, “Back in 2022, I said that “North America is right at the top of Play’n GO’s priority list, and Ontario is just the first step we plan to take”. This partnership with PointsBet shows we have yet to take our foot off the gas. We’ve proudly watched our games become instant hits in our two and a half years in the Ontarian region, and we have no plans to slow down any time soon.
“It’s exciting to team up with a fellow Canadian Gaming Association member in PointsBet, and we can confidently say that we are working towards the same goal of a safe, regulated industry that is focused on player entertainment. We’re looking forward to working closely together following this milestone announcement.”
Scott Vanderwel, Chief Executive Officer at PointsBet, shared “Play’n GO has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality game content, and we’re thrilled to bring their titles to our platform. At PointsBet, our focus is on providing a safe and engaging entertainment experience for our players, and it’s clear that Play’n GO aligns with those values. Canadian casino enthusiasts recognize PointsBet as a trusted leader in iGaming, and this collaboration further enhances the exceptional experience we offer.”
Anthony Novac
VICI Properties Inc. Enters into Agreement with Indigenous Gaming Partners Related to PURE Canadian Gaming
VICI Properties Inc. announced that it has entered into an amendment and consented to the assignment of the master lease agreement with PURE Canadian Gaming Corp. (PURE) to an affiliate of Indigenous Gaming Partners Inc. (IGP), in connection with the acquisition of the operating assets of PURE by an affiliate of IGP.
IGP is a partnership of five institutional First Nations established to acquire gaming assets in North America. IGP has partnered with Sonco Gaming, one of Canada’s most experienced casino developers and managers, who will assist in the sourcing and execution of casino gaming investments, as well as management oversight of IGP’s portfolio.
Danny Valoy, Vice President of Business Development and Acquisitions, said: “This transaction demonstrates VICI’s ability to collaboratively work with existing partners while building new relationships with highly experienced operators and First Nations in international jurisdictions. We are pleased to welcome IGP as a new partner, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with IGP and Sonco as they pursue additional growth opportunities in the future.”
Anthony Novac, CEO of Sonco, said: “We are excited to work with VICI, an established partner in providing financial solutions to the gaming industry. We believe having a partner like VICI will give us a competitive advantage as we seek growth opportunities in the Canadian market.”
In connection with entering into the amendment to the PURE Canadian master lease, VICI received a 5-year right of first offer (ROFO) on future sale-leaseback transactions. Any additional properties acquired pursuant to the ROFO will be added to the master lease.
The annual base rent of C$22.0 million (US$15.5 million based on the CAD:USD exchange rate as of December 9, 2024) and other economic terms of the PURE Canadian master lease will remain unchanged, including a base term of 25-years with four 5-year tenant renewal options, escalation of 1.25% per annum in lease year 3, with escalation equal to the greater of 1.5% and Canadian CPI (capped at 2.5%) starting in lease year 4, and a minimum capital expenditure requirement equal to 1.0% of annual net revenue. The lease, currently in lease year 2 and escalating on February 1 of each year, encompasses the following assets in Alberta, Canada: PURE Casino Edmonton, PURE Casino Yellowhead, PURE Casino Calgary and PURE Casino Lethbridge.
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