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Svenska Spel Publishes Interim Report for the Second Quarter of 2025
Svenska Spel has published the interim report for the second quarter of 2025.
The second quarter is stable with growth for Eurojackpot and Oddset. The last Casino Cosmopol has been closed after the Riksdag’s decision on a legislative change that means that land-based casinos will no longer be offered in Sweden. The challenges for the Vegas slot machines remain, which negatively affects the group’s revenue.
“We have a clear focus on the group’s strategic goals: to have the gaming market’s most satisfied customers, ensure that our customers play healthily with us and drive long-term sustainable growth. Within the first two target areas, the customer satisfaction index and the share of healthy revenues are at a stable and high level. In terms of sustainable growth, net gaming revenues for both Eurojackpot and Oddset increased during the quarter,” said Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel.
On April 25, Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm was closed due to the legislative change that comes into force at the turn of the year, which means that land-based casinos may no longer be offered. Svenska Spel decided to liquidate after receiving a changed ownership instruction, and the liquidation is now underway in an orderly manner, while the sales process for the unique property on Kungsgatan has been initiated.
The Group’s net gaming revenue for the quarter is SEK 1839 million, an increase of SEK 2 million. The Luck business area has growth, while revenue is negatively impacted by continued challenges for Vending Machines and strengthened responsible gaming measures.
Net gaming revenue for the Luck business area increased by 2% compared to the same quarter last year. Eurojackpot continues to be the growth engine in the lottery portfolio. Large jackpots and high winnings have a positive impact on sales. A clear example is that Eurojackpot broke a sales record during the quarter, not long after last quarter’s big win of SEK 1.25 billion. Triss also has a positive development and sales on Mother’s Day exceeded the previous year.
Net gaming revenue for the Sport & Casino business area decreased by 1% compared to the same quarter last year. This was due to the negative impact of strong comparative figures in the previous year, when the European Football Championship contributed to higher revenue. However, within the business area, sports betting continues to grow under the Oddset brand – a growth that continues this quarter. The positive development for sports betting has been continuous since the launch of the new sports betting platform a year ago. The change was well received by customers, which has resulted in a larger customer base, higher customer satisfaction and increasing revenue. During the quarter, major events such as the Ice Hockey World Championship and the Eurovision final also contributed to increased customer activity, especially a clear influx of new customers.
The Vegas business area’s net gaming revenue decreased by 13% due to the continued negative impact of strengthened responsible gaming measures and the challenging economic situation for business partners.
The Group’s operating profit decreased by SEK 113 million or 17% to SEK 545 million and the operating margin amounted to 30%. This is mainly due to the fact that the gambling tax was increased from 18 to 22% on July 1, 2024, which has a negative impact on operating profit.
The Group’s online business continues to grow, up 5% in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year. Online accounted for 62% of the Group’s revenue during the quarter.
More and more customers are discovering the lottery Lyckoplatsen, which was launched in the previous quarter. When playing on Lyckoplatsen, customers can choose to contribute to a good cause by supporting a non-profit organisation. In this case, 10% of the contribution goes to the organisation of the customer’s choice. Collaboration with non-profit partner organisations has been expanded during the quarter, which means that customers now have more organisations to choose from.
During the quarter, Svenska Spel has awarded 78 million-sek prizes on lotteries with a total value of just over SEK 178 million. The highest prize was just over SEK 15 million on Lotto and the second highest prize was just over SEK 12 million on Eurojackpot. Sports and casino games have delivered 26 million-sek prizes during the quarter. The highest prize was over SEK 11 million on Stryktipset.
The post Svenska Spel Publishes Interim Report for the Second Quarter of 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.
The Full Story
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.
The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.
Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.
Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.
The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.
The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.
Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:
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Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
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Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
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Player’s Pick Award.
Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:
“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”
The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.
The Full Story
Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.
The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”
The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:
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Plinko
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Mines
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Tower
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Limbo
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Crash
Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.
Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.
Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:
“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”
Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.
The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.
The Full Story
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.
Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.
The Commercial Deal
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SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
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The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.
A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.
Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:
“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”
Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:
“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”
The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year:
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9th Jan: Wolverhampton
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6th Feb: Newcastle
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20th Feb: Southwell
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20th March: Wolverhampton
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27th March: Newcastle
The post Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
