FL Entertainment is satisfied with the results of its wagering and gaming branch in the first half of the year. Income from the online sports wagering and gaming branch reached €489.3 million, a rise of 23.3% compared to the same period last year.
FL Entertainment’s online sports wagering and gaming branch is managed by Betclic Everest Group, which owns Bet-at-home.com and Betclic, aimed at the German market.
The company’s total income for the six-month period was €1.92 billion, an increase of 6.8% compared to the same period last year. Content production and distribution income was €1.43 billion.
FL Entertainment CEO Francois Riahi stated that the rise in total income was driven by an increase in active users in the online sports wagering and gaming branch, as well as FL Entertainment’s business model.
“We have achieved outstanding half-year results, showcasing the strength of our diverse and complementary business model, as well as the creativity and adaptability of our team,” Riahi stated.
“Our online sports wagering and gaming business has maintained double-digit income growth across all activities, driven by an increase in active users, as well as our geographic and product variety.”
Sports wagering and gaming branch
Sports wagering income accounted for the majority of the sports wagering and gaming branch’s total income, at €389.2 million.
Nevertheless, the gambling division experienced the most notable revenue surge, climbing by 40.5% to €65.4 million.
Poker earnings amounted to €28.6 million, while horse racing wagering revenue reached €6.1 million.
This expansion was attributed to “an expanding player base, product enhancements, and favorable sports betting margins.”
FL Entertainment highlighted that the count of unique active players in the initial six months of the year climbed by 36.0%.
Profit for the First Half
Examining total expenditures for the six-month period, external costs amounted to €993.5 million, up from €861.3 million. FL Entertainment attributed this to increased gaming levies, consistent with the upward trend in sports wagering and online gaming activity.
Personnel costs totaled €679.1 million, while depreciation and amortization expenses reached €60.3 million. Other operational expenses attained €26.7 million. Operating income was €5.7 million.
Considering this, operating profit for the period was €169.4 million, down 0.6%.
Other expenses – encompassing net debt and other costs – totaled €147 million. Following a net profit share in associated companies and joint ventures of €1.3 million, profit before taxation was €21.1 million.
After an income tax expense of €9.5 million, net profit for the six months was €11.6 million, €29.8 million higher than in the initial half of 2022.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached €327.3 million, up 8.8%.
By Geographic Area
By geographic area, FL Entertainment generated the majority of its revenue – €1.47 billion – from Europe. US operations accounted for €251 million.
The European continent produced €201 million in income, while the remainder of the globe contributed €8 million.
Online sports wagering and gaming alone generated €471.1 million in Europe, while the rest of the globe brought in €18.2 million. The United States market did not record any income in this sector.
Earlier this week, FL Entertainment’s Bet-at-home disclosed that its total gaming income for the initial six months of the year decreased by 9.3%.
FL Entertainment highlighted that Bet-at-home’s operations have been halted in specific regions. The decision to withdraw from certain markets has been developing for the past two years, with Bet-at-home announcing its departure from the Austrian market in 2021.
During this period, Bet-at-home also withdrew from the Maltese market and was suspended by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
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