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Read Full BioUK sports betting data specialist Genius Sports Limited posted its Q1 earnings on Tuesday, May 6. Revenues hit $144 million, a 20% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
The London—and New York-based firm also nearly tripled its adjusted EBITDA to $19.8 million, representing a 188% uptick from the same quarter in 2024.
The company credited the significant revenue growth to its betting technology division, which rose by 44% to just over $106.5 million. Genius stated that this was partly due to the firm renewing contracts and negotiating price hikes with its existing clients, underlining the revenue dominance the department brings in.
Meanwhile, Genius Sports also calculated that its adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 13.7%, representing an 800-basis-point improvement over Q1 2024. This reflected a 53% incremental EBITDA margin.
Technology Flourishes, but Q1 Media Sales Take a Hit
The company acknowledged that its media segment was its Achilles heel, reporting that revenues declined by 27%, falling to $25.9 million. Executives stated that the revenue loss resulted from lower programmatic and social ad spending; however, they relayed that they remained optimistic about their future engagement in Q2 onwards.
Nevertheless, its sports technology and services sector delivered promising gains, up 12% YoY to $11.6 million. Amplified sales of its GeniusIQ-powered tools were recognized as the reasoning for the division’s increased earnings, signaling greater traction within the industry for its analytics-driven sports solutions.
CEO Mark Locke called the quarter a “strong execution” of the company’s strategy, attributing its progress to its fixed cost base and diversified growth drivers. “We’re well-positioned for sustainable growth, profitability, and cash flow through 2025 and beyond,” he said.
NCAA Exclusivity Factors and Genius Sports Post Q1 Tech Announcements
Locke highlighted new business developments as another primary driver of Q1’s revenue figures. These included Genius’s exclusive NCAA data rights through 2032 and the launch of its interactive in-play sports betting platform, BetVision, for soccer.
In addition, Genius expanded its use of data in live broadcasts and immersive 3D player analytics, which was incorporated as part of a broader innovation push.
After the Q1 reporting period, Genius also announced that it had been commissioned to introduce the technology into the Premier League following its successful FA Cup trials. It also revealed it had renewed its partnerships with EchoPoint Media to promote the 2025 Indianapolis 500 through its FANHub platform.
As a result – and reflecting confidence in the company’s strong cash flow and long-term profitability – the board of directors also authorized a share repurchasing program to secure up to $100 million in ordinary shares. Funding for these share buybacks will be raised either through existing cash reserves or via its operating income.
Genius confirmed it remains on track to meet its 2025 financial goals. It projects $620 million in revenue and $125 million in adjusted EBITDA, implying 21% and 46% growth, respectively. Furthermore, the firm expects to increase its positive annual cash flow.
Investors responded favorably to Genius’ upbeat forecast and earnings profile, and its stock price rose by over 10% after the announcement.
In late April, Genius Sports’ competitor Sportradar also posted strong unaudited first-quarter results. The firm amassed a profit of between €20 million and €24 million for Q125, with substantial revenue growth of between €307 million and €311 million in the same period.
