Press Releases
LeoVegas carries out strategic measures in the UK and related cost initiatives
LeoVegas is carrying out strategic changes coupled to the UK market and the Group’s organisation. During the first quarter the brands Rocket X provide managed services for will be migrated to the Group’s own technical platform, while the Royal Panda brand will leave the UK to instead focus on fast-growing markets in Europe and the Rest of the world. This will result in a more focused and efficient operation that fully uses economies of scale in technology, product and organisation. As a result of the company’s efficiency improvement work, a planned relocation to new offices in Malta is being called off. These various initiatives will lead to annual cost savings of approximately EUR 3.7 m. One-off restructuring costs of EUR 6.1 m will be charged against operating profit for the fourth quarter. LeoVegas is also recognising an impairment loss of approximately EUR 10 m on its investment in Royal Panda.
The UK market for online gaming has changed dramatically in recent years, such as with respect to stricter demands on compliance and higher gambling taxes. At the same time, since the trade and assets of IPS (Rocket X managed brands) and Royal Panda, LeoVegas has conducted its operations in the UK on three separate technical platforms and with three slightly separate organisations, which has resulted in internal complexity. As a result, in 2019 the marketing organisations for LeoVegas UK and Rocket X were integrated into a single unit. The Group is now taking the next step by migrating the Rocket X managed brand portfolio from a third-party solution to the Group’s own multibrand platform Rhino, where all technology is owned and run by LeoVegas. Parallel with this, Royal Panda is leaving the UK market, which entails that all operations coupled to the UK going forward will be driven on the same technical platform and with a joint organisation for technology, products, customer service, marketing and compliance.
The strategic initiatives were begun during the fourth quarter of 2019 and are expected to be largely completed during the first quarter of this year. The measures are expected to generate cost synergies in areas such as marketing, products, payments and customer service, and will result in reduced complexity in compliance. The annual savings relating to the UK are estimated to be approximately EUR 2.0 m after the migration has been completed and consist mainly of lower platform and product costs and a more efficient organisation.
During the fourth quarter Royal Panda had sales of approximately EUR 1.1 m in the UK with negative profitability and is not expected to generate significant revenue during the first quarter of 2020. Revenue for the remaining operations in the UK, consisting of 13 brands including LeoVegas, 21.co.uk and BetUK, grew 15% during the fourth quarter over the third quarter and showed good profitability.
LeoVegas’ focus on efficiency and cost control during the past year, including the now-communicated measures in the UK, have contributed to a much more optimised organisation with improved processes. The number of full-time equivalent employees in the Group has decreased from just under 900 to around 800 during the past year. The Group has therefore decided to cancel its contract for new, larger premises in Malta in 2021 and will instead stay in its existing facilities during the coming five-year period. The annual cost savings compared with the previously planned move will amount to EUR 1.7 m per year.
The initiatives will give rise to total restructuring costs of EUR 6.1 m, which will be charged against operating profit (EBIT) for the fourth quarter. The costs are mainly related to early cancellations of third-party agreements on platforms and products, penalties for cancellation of the new lease in Malta, discontinuation costs for Royal Panda’s operations in the UK, and impairment of LeoVegas Gaming’s intangible assets coupled to Rocket X’s previous technological development. In addition to this, LeoVegas is recognising an impairment loss of approximately EUR 10 m for its investment in Royal Panda. All of the cited costs will be reported as items affecting comparability in the fourth quarter interim report. The operating profit in the fourth quarter will also include a capital gain of EUR 11.4 m from the previously communicated sale of the subsidiary Authentic Gaming, which will also be reported under items affecting comparability.
“The strategic initiatives we are now carrying out will create optimal conditions to be successful in the large, but at the same time complex, UK market,” comments Gustaf Hagman, Group CEO. “The consolidation of brands into one and the same platform will contribute to large economies of scale in the Group – both by allowing us to fully utilise our multibrand technology and through a more efficient organisation. Already during the second half of last year, the LeoVegas and Rocket X managed brands in the UK began to perform favourably, and the new structure gives us a good starting point to increase both growth and profitability in the UK market during 2020. At the same time, Royal Panda – which has struggled with weak performance in the UK but has performed well in other markets – can now focus fully on growth outside of the UK and also launch the brand in a couple of new markets in and outside of Europe.”
LeoVegas will publish its interim report for the fourth quarter of 2019 at 8 a.m. CET on 14 February.
Balkans
EGT’s Supreme Green Selection made its successful debut in Bulgaria
Supreme Green Selection, the latest multigame in EGT’s portfolio, had its debut installation in Bulgaria. The gaming establishments of the leading operator Inbet throughout the country now offer the mix which is available in General Series’ slot cabinets.
Supreme Green Selection is a part of EGT’s latest multigame series Supreme Selection. This mix features 50 exciting titles, including popular games like Rise of Ra, Amazons’ Battle, and Burning Hot, along with new additions such as Rainbow Hot, Mighty Heracle, and Book of Artifacts. They all present players with various themes, eye-catching designs, and many attractive bonuses.
Biserka Draganova, Sales Manager for The Balkans and Egypt at EGT, commented: “I am very happy that we accomplished the first installation of Supreme Green Selection in the gaming halls of the local leader Inbet. The mix has a new interface, different from the other multigames in our portfolio, and allows players to select game according to the category they prefer. It also includes user-friendly updates, making it easier to scroll through and select your preferred games. When presented at this year’s ICE London, Supreme Green Selection immediately caught the attention of operators, players, and industry experts, and its first good results are already a fact. I am confident that the mix will become one of the favorite products of Inbet’s customers.”
Mihail Hadzhiev, Casino Manager at Inbet, also gave positive feedback on the performance of Supreme Green Selection. He stated: “The selection of titles in the multigame is excellent as they keep players engaged for a long time, and during their next visit, our clients are looking for these slots again.” Mr. Hadzhiev added: “We can’t wait to try the other multigame from the series Mega Supreme Fruits Selection, as well as the new Bell Link Boost jackpot.”
Latest News
Relax Gaming brings Christmas cheer with the release of feature-packed Money Sleigh
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and provider of unique content, is getting players into the festive spirit with its latest release, Money Sleigh, a Christmas-themed slot guaranteed to deliver stocking-filled fun and the chance to unwrap big wins.
Santa and his team of loyal helpers are ready to guide players through this exciting holiday adventure, with the potential to win up to 10,000x their stake.
Set against a 5×4 grid, Money Sleigh combines high volatility with a series of thrilling features, including re-spins, coin collections, and symbol enhancements that keep the action jingling towards snowy rewards.
The real excitement kicks off when three or more special symbols trigger the re-spin feature, where additional reels unlock as players gather more symbols, multiplying their chances of hitting it big.
Among the slot standout features is the Helper, which doubles the value of up to 8 other symbols, and Santa, who revives previously used symbols to further enhance the chance for big payouts. The dynamic Eternal Mystery symbol ensures that no two spins are alike, transforming into different special symbols with every spin to create a varied and unpredictable gaming experience.
Landing bonus symbols unlocks the lucrative bonus round, where players can collect up to 100,000 coins. Once the combined total of all values on the reels reaches this magic number, the round concludes with a massive payout, offering players a thrilling and satisfying reward to wrap up their festive gameplay.
Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, said: “We’re delighted to bring Money Sleigh to the market as part of our ever-growing portfolio of feature-packed games. The creative symbol mechanics offer the potential for truly festive wins, makes this game a perfect addition for the holiday season. We are confident that operators and players alike will enjoy the magic that it brings.”
Established as one of the industry’s leading B2B suppliers, Relax Gaming was awarded GGA’s Product Launch of the Year in February 2023 for Dream Drop Jackpots. Money Train 3 was named the 2023 CasinoBeats Game Developer Awards amongst its 6 Slot of the Year titles, while the brand also won the award for Skill Games Supplier at the 2023 EGR B2B Awards along with the Innovation in Mobile award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Relax Gaming provides more than 4,000 online casino games, from its high-performing proprietary slots to a significant, varied library of content from hand-picked third-party studios via its partnership programmes.
Industry Awards
Galaxsys Wins SiGMA Europe Award for ‘New Casino Game of 2024’ with Tower Rush
Galaxsys is proud to announce that its latest game release, Tower Rush, has been named “New Casino Game of 2024” at the SiGMA Europe Awards.
The SiGMA Europe Awards celebrate the best in innovation and excellence across the iGaming industry, bringing together industry leaders to recognise the year’s top performers. Galaxsys is proud to be among this year’s winners, with its new turbo game, Tower Rush, receiving its first award as “New Casino Game of 2024”.
Tower Rush, a unique blend of strategy and thrill, has quickly gained popularity across multiple regions. The game’s unique mechanics challenge players to think strategically while keeping the gameplay fun and intuitive.
By making quick decisions and balancing risk and reward, players build an endless chain of floors, stacking them to achieve the highest possible odds. This combination of intuition and strategy has made Tower Rush a standout addition to Galaxsys’ portfolio.
Hayk Sargsyan, CEO of Galaxsys, expressed his excitement about the award: “Tower Rush is one of those games that we knew would be a hit from the start, but it has far exceeded our expectations by winning the SiGMA Europe Award less than six months after its launch. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the hard work and dedication our team put into this game recognized on such a prestigious stage. This award further strengthens our commitment to creating fun, innovative games that players truly enjoy.”
Galaxsys is passionate about developing innovative, engaging, and visually attractive games. Tower Rush exemplifies this dedication, combining exciting gameplay with interactive design to offer players a thrilling and rewarding experience.
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