CasinoBeats is breaking down the numbers behind some of the industry’s biggest stories. Our latest headline reflection features developments from 888, Entain and Rank Group, with a damning regulatory update for the Netherlands.
114
In a major setback to operators in the Netherlands, Dutch MPs have received numerous motions to outlaw ‘high risk’ online casino games.
Further intensifying the framework around gambling in the Netherlands, there was also a vote to stop the marketing of online gambling.
The pair of motions were pushed by Socialist Party MP Michiel van Nispen, as part of the Kamer’s ongoing revision of the Remote Gambling Act (KOA Act), the legislative framework adopted in October 2021 to regulate the Netherlands’ online gambling marketplace.
As a result, 114 motions were proposed by MPs to amend KOA market laws, standards and protections of which 14 were voted on this afternoon.
Van Nispen’s first motion to impose a ‘total ban on online gambling advertising’ secured 70 out of 150 MP votes, failing to gain an outright majority but approved due to ministerial absences.
The vote reverses previous stances on the matter having rejected in February a motion by CDA MP Derk Boswijk “to investigate a total ban on gambling advertisements”.
As such, the vote sees the Kamer favour imposing a blanket ban on all gambling advertisements as KOA amendments applied in July 2023 enforced a ban on gambling advertising on the ‘public platforms’ of TV, radio, print and outdoor media.
Addressing MPs, Van Nispen stated: “The KOA market is sick through and through. Every day that these companies continue their bad practices, more people become addicted to gambling.
“As far as we are concerned, it is the end of the story for gambling companies without morals. A ban on online gambling advertisements is another step forward towards a country without bad gambling companies.”
£431.2m
888 declared a group revenue for Q1 of £431.2m in its latest trading update, which is slightly higher than the £420m to £430m guidance range set out in the operator’s FY23 results last month.
However, in comparison to the same period last year, group revenue is down three per cent (Q1 2023: £445.5m).
Revenue was up two per cent in comparison to Q4 2023, but the group expects “revenues to return to year-on-year growth from Q2 2024 onwards”, with FY2024 revenue growth expected to be “consistent with the mid-term target of five to nine per cent annual growth”.
Per vertical, gaming revenue improved slightly by one per cent to £272.2m (2023: £269.8m), while betting revenue dropped by 10 per cent year-over-year to £159m (2023: £175.7m). Average monthly player actives rose by six per cent YoY to 1.8 million (2023: 1.7 million).
Sportsbook stakes fell by five per cent YoY to £1.35bn (2023: £1.43bn) with a net revenue margin of 11.8 per cent (2023: 12.3 per cent).
CEO Per Widerström commented: “I am pleased to report that Q1 2024 revenue was slightly ahead of our guidance, with strong player volumes converting into improved revenue run rates.
“Having lapped various regulatory and compliance changes during the quarter, and with increased marketing investment supported by an exciting product pipeline, we remain confident in a return to growth from Q2 2024.”
70%
iGaming Ontario has stated that FY2023-24 gaming revenue and wagers figures have both improved by over 70 per cent in comparison to the previous year.
Casino operations across the Canadian province have contributed heavily to the improvements, as wagers and revenue in this segment have grown by almost 90 per cent year-over-year.
For the period ending March 31, 2024, iGO declared that 47 operators and 77 websites collected total wagers (excluding promotional) of CAD$17.8bn in Q4, with FY2023-24 wagers at $63bn, a 78 per cent YoY increase over 2022-23 operations.
Q4 total gaming revenue was $690m, ending at $2.4bn for the full fiscal year, a 72 per cent uptick YoY. This figure includes rake fees, tournament fees, and other fees across all operators, minus player winnings derived from cash wagers and does not take into account operating costs or other liabilities.
The quarter’s wagers and revenue figures are also an improvement on the $17.2bn and $658m figures reported earlier this year for Q3.
“With $63bn in wagering and $2.4bn in gaming revenue, the second year of Ontario’s igaming market is more than 70 per cent bigger than the first,” commented Martha Otton, Executive Director of iGaming Ontario.
“As the market matures into its third year, I look forward to building on this foundation of success with operators and other partners as they invest in Ontario so that Ontarians can continue to play with confidence.”
6%
Entain has stated that it is making “good progress” in improving operational performance despite declines in the UK & Ireland.
Within its first quarter trading update, the FTSE 100 company noted that its performance was in line with expectations with “organic revenue growth”.
Total group bet gaming revenue, which includes its 50 per cent share of BetMGM, improved by six per cent year-over-year, but down three per cent on a proforma basis.
Excluding US operations, group NGR rose by four per cent YoY, but declined by three per cent on a proforma basis. Gaming NGR fell by two per cent, sports NGR dropped by five per cent, while sports wagers decreased by five per cent.
Online operations improved by six per cent following an 11 per cent uptick in active customers, but on a proforma basis, these figures dropped by two per cent. Retail operations decreased by one per cent and five per cent on a proforma basis respectively.
“Our Q1 performance was in line with our expectations, with growth reflecting both strong performances in many of our markets as well as known challenges in others,” stated Stella David, Interim CEO of Entain.
“We are particularly encouraged by the level of customer engagement in the US following a successful Super Bowl and March Madness, as well as our return to growth in Brazil following the changes we implemented.”
A$50,000
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission in Australia has issued a A$50,000 fine to BlueBet for gambling advertising breaches.
The VGCCC found BlueBet guilty of 43 charges of displaying gambling advertising on or above a public road, which is an offence under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
The commission conducted an investigation into the operator following a complaint from a member of the public. BlueBet was charged in August 2023.
During a two-week period in August and September 2022, BlueBet’s gambling advertising was present on digital billboards in five different locations.
The VGCCC stated that Magistrate Greg Thomas “found it difficult to accept BlueBet’s defence that they didn’t know they were breaching the law, given the prime position of the billboards to target males aged 15-54 years old”.
The commission also said that Magistrate Thomas did not record a conviction, but claimed that if the breaches were accidental, it showed “a high degree of negligence” by BlueBet.
In addition, Magistrate Thomas noted that he would have fined BlueBet $70,000 and recorded a conviction, but took into account the operator’s guilty plea, cooperation with the VGCCC and the changes implemented to prevent these breaches from being repeated.
Commenting on the verdict, VGCCC CEO, Annette Kimmitt AM, said: “Gambling advertising has no place on public roads where it is readily visible to children and other vulnerable groups. These places are especially difficult to avoid as part of day-to-day activities.
“This decision sends a clear message to wagering providers that flout these protections for our community.”
£182.3
Rank Group has reported an uptick in net gaming revenue for its third quarter, with venues and digital channels improving and trading in line with expectations.
For the period ending March 31, 2024, Rank noted that Q3 NGR rose by six per cent year-over-year to £182.3m. Year to date, NGR has improved by eight per cent YoY to £544.9m.
Mecca venues underwent the biggest NGR increase in Q3, rising by 12 per cent YoY to £37.3m. YTD, NGR for the segment stands at £104.5m, a 10 per cent improvement.
Rank credits the uptick during the quarter to a five per cent growth in customer visits and a seven per cent rise in spend per visit, “particularly benefiting from strong trading over the Mother’s Day and Easter weekends”.
Grosvenor venues generated the most NGR during the measuring period, rising by three per cent YoY to £80m. YTD, NGR has improved by eight per cent to £247.5m.
The operator noted that NGR for Grosvenor venues was driven by a five per cent increase in visitors, but since the quarter is a “seasonally quieter period”, average weekly NGR of £6.2m was up two per cent YoY but down two per cent in comparison to the previous quarter.
Enracha venues NGR improved by six per cent YoY to £10m. YTD, NGR rose by nine per cent to £163.4m.
Digital operations NGR grew by six per cent to £55m. YTD, NGR has increased by eight per cent to £544.9m. Rank noted that digital operations in the UK improved by four per cent, while Spanish operations grew by 20 per cent.
John O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Rank, commented: “We continue to make good progress across both our venues and online businesses, with Q3 trading very much in line with the Board’s expectations.
“Performance continues to improve, and we have the very important land-based reforms from the Government’s White Paper to look forward to, which we hope to start implementing in the coming months.”
