Industry News
Newgioco Completes Acquisition of Virtual Generation Limited
Accretive Acquisition Accelerates Global Expansion and Reinforces Portfolio of Market-Leading Gaming Technology Platforms
Newgioco Group, Inc., today announced that the Company has completed the acquisition of Virtual Generation Limited (“VG”), a leading developer of virtual gaming software, together with Naos Holding Limited, a private holding company (”Naos”), effective January 30, 2019 for approximately $4.5 million in a combination of cash and stock.
“Adding VG’s virtual gaming technology to our portfolio of innovative gaming technology platforms reinforces our industry-leading position in the leisure gaming market and instantaneously expands our global footprint from where Newgioco currently operates to include 12 new countries in South America, Central Asia and Africa where VG currently operates,” stated Michele (Mike) Ciavarella, Chief Executive Officer of Newgioco. “With virtually no overlap between the markets we each currently serve, we are creating additional revenue opportunities to cross-sell VG’s software and our own ELYS platform, diversify our revenues and strengthen our gaming platforms as we pursue the newly emerging U.S. sports betting market.”
Newgioco plans to utilize the VG platform for racing, keno, American Roulette and other casino games, within its ELYS platform. Simultaneously, Newgioco plans to introduce the VG product line into the regulated Italian market, utilizing Newgioco’s existing Italian ADM platform certification.
“We are intimately knowledgeable about the power of the assets we have purchased as VG’s platform has been operating on our ELYS platform for some time,” added Mr. Ciavarella. “We are eager to pursue and engage with customers on a number of near-term opportunities, including the tribal gaming market in the U.S. We expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive to our first quarter 2019 financial results.”
VG’s software is a random number generator (RNG) certified by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and includes a growing portfolio of products including horse racing and greyhound racing, league play football (soccer), keno and American roulette. VG currently operates in Italy, Albania, Turkey, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Nigeria and Uganda.
Financial Details of the Transaction
The Company paid the sellers €4 million in consideration for all the ordinary shares of VG and Naos comprised of a cash payment of €108,000, the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock valued at €89,000, a promissory note providing for the payment of (a) €2,392,000 in cash in 23 equal and consecutive monthly installments of €104,000 with the first payment due and payable one month after the Closing Date and €1,411,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock in 17 equal and consecutive monthly installments of €83,000 as determined by the average of the closing prices of such shares on the last 10 trading days immediately preceding the determination date of each monthly issuance, commencing on March 1, 2019.
In addition, the Company agreed to pay the Sellers as an earn-out payment in shares of the Company’s common stock within one month from the end of the business year 2019 equal to an aggregate amount of €500,000, if the amounts of bets made by the users through the VGS platform related to the 2019 fiscal year of the Company is at least 5% higher than the amounts of bets made by the users through the VGS platform related to the 2018 fiscal year of the Company.
About Virtual Generation Limited
Virtual Generation Ltd. is a software development company specializing in the production and distribution of highly advanced platforms for virtual betting. Virtual Generation uses advanced and complete betting management software, unsurpassed, flexible and customizable, adaptable to different types of companies and markets. VG was founded in 2014 and has grown from processing 67,000 bet tickets in its first year to over 20 million bet tickets in 2018 for its online and land-based B2B customers in 12 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
About Newgioco Group, Inc.
Newgioco Group, Inc., headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a vertically-integrated leisure gaming technology company, with fully licensed online and land-based gaming operations and innovative betting technology platforms that provide bet processing for casinos and other gaming operators. The Company conducts its business under the registered brand Newgioco primarily through its internet-based betting distribution network on its website, www.newgioco.it as well as retail neighborhood betting shops situated throughout Italy.
The Company offers its clients a full suite of leisure gaming products and services, such as sports betting, virtual sports, online casino, poker, bingo, interactive games and slots. Newgioco also owns and operates innovative betting platform software providing both B2B and B2C bet processing for casinos, sports betting and other online and land-based gaming operators.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements and includes statements such as plans to utilize the proven VG platform for racing, keno, American Roulette and other casino games, within its ELYS platform, plans to introduce the VG product line into the regulated Italian market and the acquisition of VG being immediately accretive to Newgioco in 2019. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include our ability to use the VG platform for racing, keno, American Roulette and other casino games, within its ELYS platform, our ability to introduce the VG product line into the regulated Italian market and our ability to implement the VG acquisition so that it is immediately accretive to Newgioco in 2019, and the risk factors described in Newgioco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law
SOURCE Newgioco Group, Inc.
Industry News
SKS365 keeps investing in people: GROW People Management Program took the next level
11 experienced people managers from the SKS365 group’s 4 locations gathered last week in Belgrade for the new GROW People Management Program. From 15 th to 19 th of April, through trainings, discussions, and social connections, people had the opportunity to further grow individually and as a team, while enjoying Belgrade’s city center and rivers.
Created in 2023 with the purpose of building foundation people management skills across the organization, GROW initiative evolved this year by including a new, advanced program for experienced people managers to further consolidate their skills and prepare for future opportunities.
Building and fostering connections, sharing experiences, and enjoying team building experiences – all these activities have been part of the GROWpmp agenda for the 11 people managers coming from Commercial, Product and Development, Finance, and Sportsbook departments of the group’s 4 locations – Malta, Italy, Austria, Serbia.
GROWpmp included a variety of topics that people managers in SKS365 recognized as the key areas for management development. Topics such as influence through communication, team effectiveness, DEI, through to presentation skills and business topics like understanding finance and management reporting, were delivered with the support of external professionals and internal experts, while designed and organized by the SKS365 People & Culture team.
Industry News
Kindred’s Share of Revenue from High-risk Players Shows Slight Increase
Kindred Group plc’s (Kindred) share of revenue from high-risk players showed a slight increase to 3.2% (Q4 2023 3.1%) in the first quarter of 2024. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the high-risk revenue share decreased marginally. The percentage of detected customers who exhibited improved behaviour after interventions came in at 87.1% (compared to 87.4% in Q4 2023 and 83.0% in Q1 2023). This sustained trajectory in the improvement effect after interventions, observed over an extended period, serves as a testament to the strong dedication and collective efforts throughout the company. It reflects Kindred’s ongoing commitment to fostering positive change within the industry.
“We continue to see our share of revenue from high-risk players fluctuate quarter to quarter, and we are working closely with all teams across the company to support customers towards a more sustainable gambling experience. However, it is encouraging to see that our Journey towards Zero data has steadily decreased since 2020. A similar trend can be seen across the healthier gambling behaviour effect after interventions. This tells us two things: our work is paying off, but we need to continue to push ourselves to propel a sustainable progression,” Alexander Westrell, Director of Communications at Kindred Group, said.
“It was very encouraging to witness the open and transparent discussions at the Sustainable Gambling Conference in London on 20 March, where those with lived experience shared their important stories. Also, it is evident that technology is moving forward, and will provide greater opportunities to detect and intervene in the future. We hope to see more regulators engage with the industry and with experts to secure a more sustainable industry for everyone,” Alexander Westrell added.
Industry News
PENN Entertainment Names Aaron LaBerge as Chief Technology Officer
PENN Entertainment announced that Aaron LaBerge has been named Chief Technology Officer (CTO) effective July 1, 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Mr. LaBerge will report directly to PENN CEO & President Jay Snowden.
In his new role, Mr. LaBerge will be responsible for driving the technology strategy and execution for PENN, while leading the multinational team of technologists and serving as the key business leader for the company’s Interactive division.
Mr. LaBerge spent more than 20 years at The Walt Disney Company, in two stints separated by five and a half years as a technology entrepreneur. He was most recently President & Chief Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN where he was responsible for driving all technology and product development in support of The Walt Disney Company’s two media divisions. In that role, he helped set the vision and strategic leadership for how Disney uses technology to enable storytelling and innovation, drive its business, and create unparalleled consumer experiences with entertainment and sports content.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Aaron’s caliber join our PENN executive team. Having overseen a global organization of thousands of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, and data scientists that created some of the largest scale and most successful media properties in the world, there is no better candidate to lead our Technology and Interactive division into its future. I know Aaron is looking forward to working with Todd George, our head of operations, and our entire Executive Team to continue growing our position as a leader in online gaming, sports betting, and digital sports media,” Mr. Snowden said.
“I’m excited to join another talented team at PENN Interactive and lead our technology strategy. PENN Entertainment is at the forefront of the fast-changing gaming and sports media industry. I plan to use my experience from Disney and ESPN to help make ESPN BET an essential piece of the sports fan experience. Together, we’ll push the limits and redefine how fans interact with sports and gaming,” Mr. LaBerge said.
Prior to his most recent role at the Walt Disney Company, Mr. LaBerge was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ESPN from 2015 to 2018. At ESPN he played an instrumental role in the growth of ESPN’s consumer-facing digital media products and services – leading many of ESPN’s most ambitious and challenging projects and helping establish ESPN’s position as the leader in digital sports and innovative sports technology development. He was a key architect in the design, development, and engineering of ESPN’s state-of-the-art facilities in Bristol, CT; Los Angeles, CA; Charlotte, NC; and Austin, TX, as well as data centers and infrastructure that connect those facilities around the world, as well as the technology design and development to support the launch of the multi-platform SEC Network.
Between 2007 and 2012, LaBerge was co-founder and CEO of Fanzter, Inc. – a venture-funded consumer software and digital product development company. At Fanzter, he directed all day-to-day operations and led the development and launch of a variety of consumer-focused internet and mobile products, ground-breaking social and commerce technologies and more.
-
Latest News7 days ago
Evoplay strikes distribution agreement with Light & Wonder
-
eSports7 days ago
Everything you need to know ahead of ESL Pro League Season 19
-
Latest News7 days ago
Week 16/2024 slot games releases
-
Latest News7 days ago
Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center Leads Industry in 2023
-
Latest News7 days ago
New Market Alert! Hacksaw Gaming Touch Down in Portugal with Solverde.pt
-
Latest News7 days ago
What Types of Resources Help You Find New Online Casinos?
-
Latest News4 days ago
THE UNIT APPOINTS ADAM NOBLE AS CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
-
Gaming4 days ago
The German Games Industry Association congratulates all winners of the German Computer Game Awards 2024