Industry News
Gaming Innovation Group reports Q1 2020
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) reports Q1 2020 revenues of €31.1 million and an EBITDA of €2.5 million.
“GiG returns to topline growth as a group for the first time in five quarters, and many of the actions we have taken in Q4 & Q1 will enable further cost savings, optimization of the organisation and performance that will be a leaver to improved earnings in the second part of the year”, says Richard Brown, CEO of GiG.
Financial Highlights
- Return to quarterly growth after four consecutive quarters with decline
- Revenues in Q1 2020 of €31.1m (32.4)
- EBITDA in Q1 2020 was €2.5m (4.1) with an EBITDA margin of 8.1% (12.7%)
- Revenues for the B2B segment in Q1 2020 were €12.7m (14.2), EBITDA was €1.3m (3.0)
- Revenues in Media Services were €8.2m (9.1) in Q1 2020, EBITDA was €4.5m (5.2)
- Other operating expenses were €12.9m (13.3), the number of employees decreased from 695 to 594 year-on-year
- Cash flow from operations in Q1 2020 was €8.1m (4.4) and cash used in investing activities was €3.0m (4.2)
- Revenues for the B2C segment in Q1 2020 were €20.0m (20.2), EBITDA was €1.2m (1.1) with an EBITDA margin of 6% (5%)
Operational Highlights
- Media Services return to quarterly growth in both revenue and FTDs after three quarters of decline
- Strategic review initiated in November 2019, leading to an evolved strategic direction to reduce complexity and improve efficiency in the Company – resulted in agreement in February to divest B2C to Betsson
- Launched MegaLotto onto the platform expanding GiG footprint across iGaming product verticals to include lottery – one of the largest markets in the industry
- Extended the contract with a current platform customer with the addition of two new brands on the new fixed fee model.
- The sales pipeline is developing positively, however has slowed some of the final contract negotiations as land based operators come to terms with actions around COVID-19
- Other cost savings initiatives are progressing according to plan, which is expected to reduce operating expenses and the headcount to approximately 430 by year end 2020
Events after Q1
- The B2C vertical was divested to Betsson effective on 16 April 2020, and the SEK300 million bond was repaid on 22 April 2020
- Revenues from Platform Services in April were 35% higher than Q1-20 average and 40% higher than April 2019
- Sportsbook restructuring initiated, which will lead to around €400k in monthly savings in Sports Betting Services when completed, and place it in a sustainable position for growth and strategic partnerships
Outlook and guidance
- GiG will become one of few fully independent B2B providers after the divestment of the B2C segment – will give the Company dedicated focus on building the B2B business
- Platform Services revenues and profitability will benefit from the increased traction several brands on the platform are experiencing from Q2 and onwards
- GiG will continue its focus on cost control, execution and global expansion and multitude of actions taken in Q4 and Q1 will positively impact bottom line in the latter part of 2020, especially for Sports Betting Services
- Guiding for full year 2020 remains, revenues are expected in the range of €70 – 75 million, with an EBITDA expected in the range of €14 – 17 million (including, for comparison, B2C as continued operations until completion of the transaction)
Investor presentation and webcast
CEO Richard Brown will present the Q1 2020 results via livestream at 11:00 CET. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A-session, and investors, analysts and journalists are welcome to participate. The presentation will be given in English.
Link to the livestream: https://www.redeye.se/live/gig-live-q-5-maj
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.
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