Industry News
Evolution Gaming’s Year-end Report 2019
Fourth quarter of 2019 (Q4 2018)
Operating revenues increased by 51% to EUR 106.0 million (70.2)
EBITDA increased by 77% to EUR 55.8 million (31.6), corresponding to a margin of 52.7% (45.0)
Profit for the period amounted to EUR 46.8 million (25.5)
Earnings per share before dilution amounted to EUR 0.26 (0.14)
Full-year 2019 (2018)
Operating revenues increased by 49% to EUR 365.8 million (245.4)
EBITDA increased by 70% to EUR 182.9 million (107.7), corresponding to a margin of 50.0% (43.9)
Profit for the period amounted to EUR 149.7 million (83.5)
Earnings per share before dilution amounted to EUR 0.83 (0.46)
The Board proposes a dividend of EUR 0.42 per share (0.24)
Events during the fourth quarter of 2019
Good leverage from investments made in 2019 has contributed to a continued high growth
Several new customers signed – Flutter Entertainment with brands Paddy Power and Betfair, Parx Casino and Penn National Gaming
Continued expansion in North America
Comments from CEO Martin Carlesund: “I am very satisfied to be able to present yet another strong quarter which summarises a successful 2019 for Evolution. The products we launched during the year – including new titles in the Game Show category – in combination with a continued strong market development and global demand, have contributed to a very high growth rate. Furthermore, we also experienced strong results from the investments in increased studio capacity we have made in recent years. Those factors, in combination with a constant pursuit of cost efficiency, has had a positive effect on our margin.
This year’s result trend has continued in the fourth quarter. Revenue in the fourth quarter amounted to EUR 106.0 million, an increase of 51 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. EBITDA amounted to EUR 55.8 million corresponding to a margin of 52.7 percent. The EBITDA margin for the full year reached 50 percent, the highest full-year margin in the company’s history and slightly surpassed our expectations from this summer which was 47–49 percent. For 2020, we expect to be able to maintain or slightly improve the margin level compared to 2019.
At the end of the fourth quarter, Evolution had more than 700 tables serving over 200 customers. During the quarter, we further strengthened our customer portfolio, including an agreement with Flutter Entertainment and its brands Paddy Power and Betfair. Our presence in the United States was also strengthened in the quarter through agreements with new operators in Pennsylvania and the process to build a studio in Pennsylvania is ongoing.
We see good opportunities for continued positive development in the US. In the quarter we have made additional investments in the studio in New Jersey to expand its capacity, our game portfolio and to meet the demand. It is also positive to note that during the quarter Michigan has taken important steps toward becoming a regulated casino market.
When you are reading this, we have recently finished this year’s edition of ICE London Gaming Fair – where we showcased 12 fantastic new titles. With ground-breaking games like ‘Crazy Time’ and ‘Mega Ball’, we will continue to expand the Game Show category and aim to attract new player groups to Live. Examples of innovations on show in table games are Instant Roulette, Power Blackjack and Speed Blackjack. The dice game Craps, an important strategic release primarily for the US market, will also be interesting to follow. These are some examples of how we through innovative product launches continue to drive the entire industry forward and confirms our position as the leading innovator in the gaming industry. I am convinced that the new game titles will be received well by both players and operators and contribute to further growth in 2020.
To summarise, I am proud of what we have achieved in 2019, which has been an outstanding year from both a financial and operational perspective. I am very impressed with what our employees achieve every day – we are now approximately 8,000 employees working together with our eternal mission; to increase the gap to the competitors by offering the market’s best solutions. 2020 has started well and I look forward to another exciting year!”
Industry News
Dutch Mental Health Care Calls for Total Ban on Online Gambling Advertising
The Dutch mental health service is calling for a total ban on online gambling advertisements in the Netherlands.
Although a ban on untargeted gambling advertisements and a ban on the use of role models has been in effect since 2023, a recent research by KRO-NCRV’s Pointer shows that (illegal) gambling companies and sports tipster platforms are still enticing young people via social media such as TikTok and Snapchat.
By using influencers and terms like “free money”, they try to attract a young audience and thus lower the threshold to start gambling. This concerns both legal online casinos and online casinos that do not have a license in the Netherlands. The Gaming Authority has started an investigation based on Pointer’s findings.
Pointer’s research shows that part of the gambling industry deliberately targets young people who are often susceptible to promises such as “fast money” and the influence of role models. Ruth Peetoom, chair of the Dutch mental health service, compares this approach to that of the tobacco industry, where similar marketing strategies were used to get young people to smoke.
Despite the existing advertising ban, gambling companies continue to explore the boundaries of the law, according to Peetoom. The Dutch mental health and addiction care associations in the Netherlands therefore push for a total ban on online gambling advertising and stricter rules for the duty of care of gambling providers.
With the call for a total ban, the Dutch mental health care sector hopes to prevent further normalisation of gambling behaviour among young people and to protect them from the temptation and consequences of online gambling.
Compliance Updates
UKGC: Market impact data on gambling behaviour – operator data to Oct 2024
The Gambling Commission has published further data on the gambling industry in Great Britain.
This data, sourced from operators, reflects the period between March 2020 and September 2024, inclusive, and covers online and in-person gambling covering Licensed Betting Operators (LBOs) found on Britain’s high streets.
Comparison should not be made with the industry statistics dataset, as this dataset may include free bets and bonuses and does not include data from all operators.
This release compares Quarter 2 (Q2) of financial year 2024 to 2025, with Q2 of 2023 to 2024, looking at how the market has changed in comparative periods over a year.
The latest operator data shows:
- online total Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) in Q2 (July to September) was £1.32 billion, an increase of 11 percent from Q2 the previous year. The overall number of total bets and/or spins increased 12 percent Year-on-Year (YoY), reaching a new peak for the third consecutive quarter of 25.2 billion, whilst the average monthly active accounts2 in the quarter increased 8 percent
- real event betting GGY increased by 6 percent YoY to £453 million. The number of bets decreased 10 percent, while the average monthly active accounts in Q2 increased 9 percent
- slots GGY increased 16 percent to £680 million YoY. The number of spins increased 13 percent to 23.3 billion while the average monthly active accounts in Q2 increased 16 percent to 4.4 million per month. Although this is a new peak for GGY in this dataset for the slots vertical, it should be noted that one operator has re-classified some of its products into the slot vertical this quarter, which has had an impact on the vertical data
- the number of online slots sessions lasting longer than an hour increased by 9 percent YoY to 10 million. The average session length remained at 17 minutes. Approximately 6.1 percent of all sessions lasted more than one hour compared to 6.6 percent in Q2 the previous year. The number of spins per session has fallen from 147 to 142 YOY, whilst the GGY per session has fallen from £4.20 to £4.13 in the equivalent timeframe
- LBO GGY decreased by 1 percent to £533 million in Q2 2024 to 2025, compared to the same quarter last year, while the number of total bets and spins decreased by 0.1 percent to 3.1 billion.
Industry News
Petra Maria Poola Joins Xace as Group Commercial Director
Xace has announced that Petra Maria Poola has joined the company as Group Commercial Director.
Petra brings a wealth of experience from the iGaming industry having formerly held roles at several iGaming companies such as Yolo, Relax Gaming and SiGMA. She will lead the commercial growth of Xace and its group companies, including crypto and iGaming focused xda.io, helping to drive strategic initiatives across banking, fintech and iGaming solutions.
In her new role, she will mainly oversee the growth of the group’s sales, marketing and account management functions, ensuring a cohesive strategy that supports Xace’s ambitious expansion plans.
“I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter with Xace, and work alongside such a talented team and management. Transitioning into the fintech space, while still connected to iGaming, presents an exciting opportunity for growth and learning. I’m looking forward to applying my expertise to help Xace and its group companies achieve new heights commercially, while gaining deeper insights into the fast-evolving world of fintech,” said Petra Maria Poola.
Reuben Abel, CEO of Xace, said: “Petra’s extensive background in the iGaming sector, combined with her commercial acumen, makes her a valuable addition to the Xace team. She will play a crucial role in expanding Xace’s market presence and enhancing its suite of services tailored to the specific needs of the iGaming and fintech industries.”
-
Asia6 days ago
NODWIN Gaming partners with Japanese gaming company KONAMI for ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown’
-
Asia7 days ago
Red Bull M.E.O. returns in 2024 to India: BGMI qualifiers lead to thrilling LAN National Finals in Chennai
-
Asia7 days ago
GG.BET is inviting BLAST Premier: World Final attendees to the GG.BOOTH to take part in some fun activities
-
Australia7 days ago
ALLIANCE PARTNERS TABCORP AND 1/ST CONTENT COMPLETE DEAL WITH THE JOCKEY CLUB OF TURKIYE TO DELIVER TURKISH RACING TO AUSTRALIA VIA SKY RACING
-
Africa7 days ago
Tekkorp Launches Strategic Initiative To Capitalize On African Market
-
Baltics7 days ago
Genome launches SEPA instant payments, adding another valuable feature for iGaming companies
-
Eastern Europe7 days ago
ICONIC21 makes Romania debut with Princess Casino
-
Industry News7 days ago
Swedish Gaming Group Cherry Weighs Sale of ComeOn