Betting News Archives

August 4, 2023

DraftKings further increases full-year guidance after Q2 growth

DraftKings has increased its full-year revenue and earnings guidance after reporting growth during both its second quarter and first half.

The operator put Q2 success down to continued customer retention and engagement, as well as the acquisition of new players. DraftKings also highlighted an expanded parlay offering and improved promotional intensity.

This led to a year-on-year rise in revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). DraftKings was also able to reduce net loss.

Based on these figures, the operator was confident in increasing FY guidance for the third consecutive quarter. DraftKings already raised FY expectations in both the first quarter of 2023 and final quarter of last year.

DraftKings also took into account anticipated launches in new markets when increasing its FY guidance. The operator expects to go live in Kentucky in September and Puerto Rico before the end of the year, with these launches set to further improve f..

August 3, 2023

Arizona sports betting handle down again in May

Player spending on sports betting in Arizona fell again in May, while revenue also declined month-on-month.

Monthly handle in Arizona amounted to $451.7m, down 2.1% from May of 2022 and 17.7% lower than April this year.

Consumers wagered $446.9m online and a further $3.9m at retail sportsbooks in the state.

Player winnings for the month amounted to $398.2m, resulting in $48.6m in adjusted gross event wagering revenue before free bets. This was 12.0% down on last year but marginally higher than April’s total.

Read the full story on iGB North America

August 3, 2023

Rhode Island sports betting handle declines in FY23

Rhode Island’s sports betting handle for the 2023 financial year declined year-on-year despite consumers spending more than $500.0m.

Handle for the 12 months to 30 June hit $509.5m, down 1.5% from $517.2m in the previous year.

Players spent $331.9m betting online, up 14.3% but retail across the Twin River and Tiverton casinos fell 21.7% to $177.6m. Twin River took $115.3m in bets and Tiverton $62.3m.

However, total revenue for the year reached $50.9m, up 28.2% from 2022’s $39.7m. Players won $458.6m from sports betting.

Read the full story on iGB North America

August 3, 2023

FL Entertainment lauds betting and gaming segment in H1

FL Entertainment saw revenue of €489.3m in its online sports betting and gaming segment in H1, up by 23.3% year-on-year.

FL Entertainment’s online sports betting and gaming segment is generated by the Betclic Everest Group, which owns both German-facing Bet-at-home.com and Betclic.

The overall revenue was €1.92bn for the six months, an increase of 6.8% year-on-year. Content production and distribution revenue was €1.43bn.

François Riahi, CEO of FL Entertainment, said the overall revenue was due to increased unique active players in its online sports betting and gaming segment, as well as FL Entertainment’s business model.

“We delivered excellent first half results that demonstrate the strength of our differentiated and complementary business model, as well as the creativity and agility of our teams,” said Riahi.

“Our online sports betting and gaming business maintained its double-digit revenue growth across all activities thanks to an increased number of unique active players and..

August 3, 2023

Pagcor details new regulatory framework for offshore gaming

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has announced details of a new regulatory framework for offshore gaming licensees.

Effective since last month, the new framework is part of inter-agency efforts to tackle illegal offshore activities in the country.

The stand-out measure is that all licensees and service providers are declared probationary. They will need to re-apply for approval from Pagcor before a cut-off date of 17 September this year.

Operators and providers that have been operating illegally will not be considered for a new licence.

“In the present framework, all service providers who are accepting bets are required to apply for a licence,” Pagcor’s assistant vice-president for offshore gaming licensing, Jessa Fernandez, said.

“We will also evaluate the beneficial owners of these companies so that they will be held liable in case they are found to be involved in any illegal activity.

“Entities with findings of activities outside their granted licence..

August 3, 2023

BetMGM close to profitability as MGM hits record revenue in Q2

Land-based and online gaming operator MGM Resorts International reported all-time record revenue in Q2, as the company’s online business BetMGM announced its first EBITDA positive quarter.

MGM recorded $1.95bn in revenue in Q2, up 43.4% from the same quarter the previous year. The operator put the increase down primarily to the removal of Covid-19 related entry restrictions in Macau.

MGM CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle also chose to highlight the progress made by its online joint venture with Entain, BetMGM.

“BetMGM reported that it achieved its first positive EBITDA quarter and remains on track to achieve its next milestone of second half profitability,” he said.

However, despite this, the online gaming platform still recorded a $22.5m loss during the quarter. This represents a 68.4% fall in losses compared to the $71.2m reported in the same quarter the previous year.

MGM reports steady profits in Q2

On this total, the business announced it achieved an operating income of $37..

August 2, 2023

PlayUp accused of falsifying documents as Mintas case expands scope

Former PlayUp US CEO Laila Mintas’ updated suit against the troubled gaming operator and its global CEO Daniel Simic accuses the business of falsifying documents, as the legal action expands in scope to the Australian parent company.

The updated suit, which is seeking approximately $100m in damages, details previously unheard allegations including PlayUp falsifying the dates on Australian government paperwork.

Mintas also alleges PlayUp manufactured and manipulated other documents submitted in response to discovery requests and accuses the operator of improper conduct throughout the legal action. There is also the allegation of PlayUp running a “concerted campaign” to ruin the former executive’s reputation.

Simic accused of falsifying of documents

In the third amended counterclaim – the latest filing from the Mintas camp in the legal fight – PlayUp and Simic are accused of making “egregious discovery abuses such as the falsification of corporate documents”.

the suit alleges play..

August 2, 2023

Caesars Digital becomes EBITDA positive in Q2

Caesars Entertainment has posted the first quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA for its digital business since rebranding to Caesars Sportsbook in the summer of 2021.

The group launched its new-look sportsbook app in August 2021, following its acquisition of William Hill earlier in that year. Caesars acquired William Hill for £2.90bn (€3.37bn/$3.71bn) in April 2021 after a deal was agreed in September 2020.

In the months and years that followed, Caesars Sportsbook was rolled out across a total of 20 of states. However, despite this extended reach, EBITDA did not turn positive until the second quarter of this year.

EBITDA from Caesars Digital in Q2 reached $19.0m. In May this year, Caesars set a digital EBITDA target of $500.0m within the next two years.

Eric Hession, president of Caesars Sports and Online Gaming, welcomed the landmark. He highlighted the growth of both online sports betting and casino.

“Our performance this quarter continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of our ..

August 1, 2023

Bet-at-home H1 cost-cutting pushes earnings despite revenue decline

German-facing sports betting and igaming operator Bet-at-home.com announced the business’ cost-cutting measures has tripled the company’s EBITDA, despite an overall decline in revenue.

Bet-at-home’s gross gambling revenue stood at €24.2m in H1 2023. This was a 9.3% fall from the €26.7m the business achieved in the same period the previous year.

The FL Entertainment-owned company said this resulted from regulatory developments in Germany. It represents the operator’s largest single source of revenue.

In particular, Bet-at-home highlighted the impact of the monthly betting limits Germany implemented from 1 July 2022.

These limits – which were implemented as part of the country’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling – include a €1 per spin stake limit for online slots.

The operator also highlighted a weaker than expected development of the online gaming segment. This is a trend it also blamed on enhanced regulation from the previous year.

Impact of strict cost-cutting

However, during H..