Industry News
Kambi Group plc Q4 Report 2019
Financial summary
- Revenue amounted to €26.7 (21.7) million for the fourth quarter of 2019, and €92.3 (76.2) million for the period January to December 2019
- Operating profit (EBIT) for the fourth quarter of 2019 was €6.2 (4.2) million, with a margin of 23.1% (19.2%), and €14.7 (12.7) million for the period January to December 2019, with a margin of 16.0% (16.7%)
- Profit after Tax, including €0.5 million of impairment charges, amounted to €4.6 (3.3) million for the fourth quarter of 2019, and €10.4 (9.8) million for the period January to December 2019
- Earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2019 were €0.152 (0.110), and €0.345 (0.326) for the period January to December 2019
- Cash flow from operating and investing activities (excluding working capital) amounted to €4.4 (2.8) million for the fourth quarter of 2019, and €8.6 (8.6) million for the period January to December 2019
- The AGM will be held on 13 May 2020 at Kambi’s Stockholm office. The board has decided to propose that no dividend is paid out (2018: no dividend)
Key highlights
- Strong financial performance with 23% year-on-year rise in Q4 revenue and 52% year-on-year increase in Q4 operator turnover, driven by further expansion into new US states and new customer launches
- The quarterly performance contributed to full year 2019 revenue growth of 21% and an operator turnover increase of 37% compared to 2018
- Signed Seneca Gaming Corporation in November and launched in all three of Seneca’s New York casinos in December
- Launched with DraftKings and New Hampshire Lottery when going live online in New Hampshire in late December
- A record 11 Kambi partners named in the prestigious EGR Power 50 ranking, which lists the industry’s most powerful operators
Kristian Nylén, Chief Executive Officer:
“I’m delighted to report another strong quarter for Kambi, which rounds off a year in which annual revenues grew by more than 20% and operator turnover by more than a third. Looking back on 2019, it was another great year for Kambi, as we continued to build out a fantastic sports betting product, expanded into multiple new markets, and signed six new partners, all of which leaves us in a great place for 2020.
In the previous report, I highlighted the momentum we could see building in operator turnover, and this trend continued in Q4 with each month delivering a greater number than the last. In total, Q4 operator turnover increased by 52% year-on-year and 36% sequentially – considerably higher volumes than Kambi has ever seen. While much of this growth was derived from our US partners, we also saw double-digit turnover growth in markets outside of the US, all of which contributed to strong revenue growth of 23%.
While the year was pleasing for many reasons, 2019 ended with news our partner DraftKings had entered into an agreement to acquire its own sports betting technology and therefore will no longer be dependent on Kambi. Our revenues from DraftKings are likely to be unaffected throughout 2020. I remain of the view that DraftKings’ long-term prospects would be better served with Kambi but also that this will increase the appeal of Kambi to an even greater level. We remain firmly committed to the US, where we have a diverse network of partners which have fantastic potential for growth, particularly as more states regulate.
We continue to prove that we are the sports betting partner operators can trust to deliver. In Q4, we launched in seven casinos and a variety of online sportsbooks across multiple jurisdictions. I’m particularly proud we were able to launch with our first US lottery, when going live in New Hampshire with DraftKings in December. I was also pleased to make our retail debut in South Africa when we launched the Kambi Sportsbook inside the Sun International-owned Grand West Casino in Cape Town.
I’ve spoken previously about the strengths of Kambi’s retail product and our ability to roll out at speed. These assets were both on display during Q4 when we successfully signed a new customer in Seneca Gaming Corporation and subsequently launched in its three New York casino properties within a matter of weeks. Seneca is a great customer signing for us. Not only is it an organisation which shares our values of trust and collaboration, but the fact it is owned by one of the most respected US Native American tribes ensures it is a partnership that will resonate within the tribal community nationwide.
The evolving nature of the sports betting industry means there will always be challenges to overcome but I know we have built a robust business with the capability and strength to withstand these pressures. We operate in a fast-growing market, one which continues to embrace regulation and will therefore present Kambi and our partners with exciting opportunities for many years to come. Be in no doubt Kambi is well positioned both in the US and globally and I look forward to a prosperous 2020.”
You are invited to participate in a report presentation at 10.45 (CET) with Kambi Group plc’s CEO Kristian Nylén and CFO David Kenyon. The presentation will be held in English via a telephone conference and can also be accessed via an audiocast using the link below.
Questions can be asked on the telephone conference or sent via the audiocast link. Please see details in the link below:
https://financialhearings.com/event/12006
Numbers for participation in the telephone conference:
Dial-in number SE: +46850558368 UK: +443333009031 US: +18335268398
Link to the audiocast: https://tv.streamfabriken.com/kambi-group-q4-2019
Link to report page: https://www.kambi.com/investors/financial-reports-and-presentations/quarterly-reports
Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
Industry News
ICE Barcelona to deliver razor-sharp focus on LatAm and evolving Brazilian Market
January’s first edition of ICE Barcelona will feature a programme of content, discussions and C-suite networking curated specifically to meet the needs of the new regulated market in Brazil and the broader opportunities which exist in Latin America.
Living up to its reputation for being the business-to-business event which is at the forefront of industry developments across both regulation and emerging technologies ICE 2025 will feature a three day program which is dedicated to all aspects of the market in Brazil including regulation, compliance and the adoption of new technologies including the use of biometric recognition in relation to age verification and consumer protection.
Announcing the program and confirming ICE Barcelona’s role as the meeting place for international decision-makers and stakeholders, Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “ICE was recently described in trade media as being the most important gaming event on the ‘planet’ and I believe that the show will live-up to that accolade when we welcome the world industry to our new Barcelona home in January.
“Some industry events place a strong emphasis on the past but for ICE our focus is unashamedly on the future. To this end we have been working closely with colleagues and stakeholders in Latin America to ensure that ICE is on the front foot bringing together the lawmakers, regulatory bodies, thought leaders, operators, innovators and technology providers all of whom have an important role to play in developing the market infrastructure.”
He added: “The importance of LatAm will be evident from the very start of ICE Barcelona when Vicente Fox, the former President of Mexicoheadlines the World Regulatory Briefing taking place Monday 20 January when he will address the topic of ‘Regulation and Revitalisation’ and the requirements needed to balance economic growth with community protection.
“A critic of the populist movements sweeping the region, he will outline his business-centric approach to the development of Mexico, and why he favours casinos as a tax benefit to reduce Mexico’s dependence on unpredictable oil income, and for heling to grow the local tourism industry. The keynote reflects the importance of Latin America as a leading voice in the global gambling industry and represents a major coup for ICE Barcelona.”
“The following day we will be staging a seminar which will cover the very latest business-critical information on the market in Brazil which will be supplemented by sessions focussed on Latin America. On the closing day the LatAm sessions will address the key issue of responsible gambling including the ground-breaking use of biometrics which will be of huge interest to regulators and operators from throughout the world.”
He concluded: “In all of the extensive research that we undertake in order to identify the most important issues impacting the business Brazil and Latin America consistently top the list. By attending ICE Barcelona gaming industry professionals will be able to connect with the main players, learn everything they need to know about doing business in Latin America and find the right organisations to collaborate with. For anyone with an interest in Latin America and in particular the Brazilian iGaming market ICE Barcelona is undoubtedly the place to be.”
For more information on the world’s greatest gathering of gaming professionals and to register: icegaming.com
Industry News
FDJ Announces its First Bond Issue
La Française des Jeux (FDJ), one of Europe’s leading betting and gaming operators, will meet investors over the next days with a view to launching its first bond issue, subject to market conditions.
FDJ recall that, on 7 November, Moody’s assigned the Group a long-term credit rating of Baa1 – stable outlook.
With a total value of €1.5 billion, in 3 tranches with maturity of 6, 9 and 12 years, the bond issue would be used to refinance most of the €2 billion bridging loan, drawn on 7 October to finance the acquisition of Kindred shares for nearly €2.5 billion. The bonds will be listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris.
Furthermore, FDJ is finalising a €400 million syndicated loan with top-tier French and international banks, which will be repaid over 5 years. This financing is also intended to repay the bridging loan which will be settled with Group’s cash.
-
Asia6 days ago
Hong Kong Construction Titan Turned Macau Casino Boss Lui Che-Woo Dies Aged 95
-
Asia6 days ago
Making Indian Presence Felt: Natural8 India gears up to take a contingent of nine winners of its latest India Exclusive to Asian Poker Tour (APT) Phu Quoc!
-
Conferences in Europe6 days ago
The iGaming Conference Boom: A Catalyst for Industry Growth or Event Overload?
-
Asia6 days ago
Nazara integrates with ONDC Network to Launch “gCommerce” in India, Unlocking a new era of In-Game Monetization
-
Latest News7 days ago
TOGETHER ON THE ROAD TO GLORY: TotoGaming x CFR Cluj
-
Latest News6 days ago
UK Gambling Commission Launches Gambling Harms Action Lab
-
Latest News6 days ago
bwin Becomes “Official Betting Partner of the NFL” in Germany and Austria
-
Sports Betting6 days ago
Swifty Global Announces Launch of Swifty Sports IE, Expanding Sports Betting and Casino Services in the Irish Market