Every week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most fascinating stories. Third quarter financial results have begun to hit the CB news desk, with the past week also featuring headlines concerning the Finnish monopoly, GambleAware, GAMSTOP and Light and Wonder’s latest M&A completion.
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The political process to overhaul Finland’s licensing system and end the current monopoly held by Veikkaus is underway, according to the country’s Ministry of the Interior.
To prepare for this transition, the Ministry has initiated a project to draw up “necessary legislative proposals” for reform, particularly concerning the allocation of licences and the framework behind this.
This will include games covered by the licence system, fees and taxation rates, use of gambling management tools and harm prevention measures and the control and marketing of betting activity.
Reforms to the Finnish gambling system have been on the government’s agenda for much of this year, with policymakers – as well as Veikkaus itself – concerned about channelisation rates and the subsequent impact on player protection.
With Veikkaus holding the monopoly over Finnish betting, gaming and lottery operations, many locals are wagering with overseas operators, with the amount of money going to such firms estimated to be between €500m and €550m.
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The Netherlands is to launch a multi-year campaign that will be tasked with increasing the digital resilience of its citizens through the reduction of cybercrime and online fraud.
This was confirmed by Franc Weerwind, Minister for Legal Protection for the Dutch Government, in response to questions submitted by the trio of Mirjam Bikker of the Christian Union, Michel van Nispen of the Socialist Party and the Christian Democratic Appeal’s Anne Kuik.
As the issue of combating social engineering became central to the discussion, Weerwind was also tasked with addressing reports that influencers defraud victims of thousands of euros via Telegram by helping to promote fake sports results.
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Evolution highlighted the fact that “we are underserving the market at the moment” as evidence of the increasing demand that the group is witnessing for its services on a global basis.
This was highlighted in detail by CEO Martin Carlesund, who suggested that continued investment and optimised recruitment, as well as a focus on product innovation and financial strength, stand the company is good stead to achieve its ambitions through 2023 and beyond.
Speaking in a third quarter earnings breakdown, he also stressed that the gambling group is “focused on factors that are within our control”, despite external factors said to be playing a more significant role than ever before.
These comments came as the company reported third quarter revenue of €452.64m, up 19.6 per cent year-on-year from €378.53m, with the live casino taking the lion’s share of €385.8m (2022: €310.4m).
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Light & Wonder finalised the purchase of the remaining 17 per cent interest in SciPlay that it did not previously own in an approximately $500m definitive agreement that was initially detailed in August.
The purchase price of $22.95 per share in an all-cash transaction represents an increase from May’s $20 offer, which accounted for an enterprise value of $2.1bn.
SciPlay will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Light & Wonder, with the company’s common stock to no longer be publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Among the numerous plus points previously stressed by L&W as a result of the transaction are maintaining momentum of the company’s cross-platform strategy, flexibility for use of SciPlay cash flows for investments, and the facilitation of long-term margin enhancement opportunities via synergies.
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Kindred Group witnessed a slight increase on both yearly and quarterly terms regarding the share of company revenue that is derived from harmful gambling.
Through the third quarter, this percentage stood at 3.3 per cent, which is in contrast to the 3.8 per cent reported one year earlier and the 3.1 percentage points during the second quarter of 2022.
In addition, this latest result also comes in contrast to the 3.3 per cent and 3.1 per cent, which were highlighted during the current year’s first and second quarter, respectively.
Despite reaffirming a commitment to “work actively to achieve a safer gambling experience for all customers”, the online gambling group has again recognised that “further steps need to be taken” in order to establish a long-term sustainable industry across all markets.
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Betsson declared record numbers in the third quarter of 2023, as well as sequential growth in revenue and earnings attributing to key gains in several markets.
Commenting on the results, CEO Pontus Lindwall highlighted that “continued high customer activity, strong financial development and further investments in product and new markets” supported its high revenue growth in all major regions except for the Nordics.
Publishing its Q3 financials, Betsson declared group revenue of €237.6m, a 19 per cent increase year-over-year (2022: €200.3m) and an organic increase of 39 per cent, largely driven by casino games.
Per segment, casino revenue improved by 27 per cent YoY to €172.1m (2022: €135.4m) to occupy 72 per cent of the group’s revenue (2022: 68 per cent).
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GAMSTOP completed its second annual tour of UK universities freshers’ week as part of its awareness campaign on gambling self-exclusion.
Visiting several campuses across the North of England supporting Ygam and GamCare in Yorkshire and Humber, the GAMSTOP team met with over 600 students and conducted 140 in-depth conversations about gambling habits, how to find support and how to spot and talk about problem gambling with friends and family.
The self-exclusion scheme has previously noted that there has been a 30 per cent uptick in sign-ups amongst 16-24-year-olds in the first half of 2023, showing the value of university roadshows as they introduce students to self-exclusion and provide education on available support channels.
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The GambleAware commissioned English Gambling Education Hub marked its debut last week, targeting early intervention and prevention regarding gambling harms.
This represents a collaboration of seven organisations across England, with national partners GamCare and Ygam joined by local group’s Aquarius, ARA, Beacon Counselling Trust, NECA and Breakeven. In addition, the programme also works alongside the Scottish and Welsh Gambling Education Hubs.
The portal, which is aiming to enhance the capabilities of youth, family services and formal education services, will supply evidence-based information, support, and education to those working with children and young people.
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GambleAware research highlighted Scotland as having fewer people accessing support or treatment for gambling harms in comparison to averages across Great Britain.
The data came from recently published maps by the gambling charity, detailing the level of gambling harm at a local authority and parliamentary constituency level across Britain.
Using the Problem Gambling Severity Index and produced by PoliMapper, the maps also cite the demand and usage of support and treatment services, showing which regions have higher levels of people experiencing gambling harm.
GambleAware’s evidence noted that Scotland has lower levels of people accessing treatment, support or advice for gambling harms at 16.7 per cent of those who gamble with any level of problems (PGSI 1+ on the Problem Gambling Severity Index scale).
