Entain, a sports wagering operator, reported earnings of £3.83 billion ($5.12 billion/€4.63 billion) in 2021, an increase of 7.6% from 2020.
Digital earnings were £3.01 billion, the primary contributor to overall earnings, up 12.3% from 2020. The firm stated it benefited from enthusiasts returning to live sporting arenas following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the UK, where online net gaming revenue (NGR) expanded by 12.0%.
Targeted promotional campaigns, such as advertising and sponsoring the television program “First Dates” for soccer enthusiasts, and product investments, such as the Ladbrokes 5-a-side soccer platform, aided in driving growth in the UK online sector.
In Italy, NGR for the Eurobet, Bwin and Gioco Digitale brands expanded by 31.0%. This was fueled by new offerings, such as new NBA highlights, pre-match soccer player markets and 300 new casino games on Eurobet.
Overall earnings from the retail sector were £791.1 million, a decrease of 8.0% from 2020. COVID-19 restrictions were a significant factor, as nationwide lockdowns and venue closures meant Entain’s entire estate was closed for the initial quarter of the year.
Retail outlets in Italy, Belgium and Ireland were also closed for much of the first half of the year.
While operating under stringent limitations, they gradually resumed operations from May to June.
Entain’s other business divisions, such as its B2B operations, yielded £32.8 million in revenue for the fiscal year.
Geographically, Entain’s largest revenue source was the United Kingdom, at £1.75 billion, followed by Italy, which contributed £392.4 million. Revenue from the remainder of Europe was £966.2 million, slightly exceeding the £962.9 million recorded in 2020.
Revenue from Australia was £458.1 million, an increase from £383.3 million in the preceding year. Revenue from the rest of the globe was £258.8 million.
In terms of expenditures, Entain’s cost of goods sold rose from £1.25 billion in 2020 to £1.39 billion. Administrative expenses totaled £1.92 billion, while administrative expenses excluding marketing were £1.33 billion.
Operating profit for the fiscal year was £355.8 million. After accounting for £82.9 million in finance charges, £118.2 million in financial and debt instrument gains, £2.1 million in financial income, £117.6 million in income tax, and £14.9 million in discontinued operations losses, Entain’s net profit for 2021 was £260.7 million, a 228.3% increase from the preceding year.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was £881.7 million, a 4.6% increase.
The expansion of the joint venture BetMGM drove revenue growth in North America. The brand launched in nine states, including New York, Arizona, and Ohio. As of the fourth quarter of 2021, BetMGM maintained a market share of 29% in iGaming and 18% in sports betting.
Entains chief executive, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, stated: “Our yearly performance once again shows that Entain is a firm that has growth built into its business plan. Our strong outcomes are driven by the Entain platform, which combines our exclusive technology, top-tier talent across the world, and industry-leading operational abilities.
“Considering the quality of our workforce, the ongoing broad expansion of the business, the sustained momentum, and our innovative investments to support future growth, we are confident in our financial performance for the 2022 fiscal year and beyond.”
In 2021, Entain finished the purchase of Avid Gaming for $300 million and bought the esports assets of Unikrn.
Meanwhile, a possible takeover of Entain by DraftKings ultimately failed in October 2021 as the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement.
Sign up for the iGaming newsletter.
