Rank Group sees profits drop to a loss of £109.8m for fiscal year 2023

for bookmaker information, iGaming communities, and betting tips, has recently acquired AceOdds, a prominent UK sports betting media brand. The acquisition, valued at €42 million on a net cash/debt-free basis, is set to enhance Better Collective’s presence in the UK market.

AceOdds, established in 2008, began with a mission to provide UK sports enthusiasts with an easy-to-use betting calculator. Over the years, it has broadened its services to include a variety of betting tools, odds comparison, reviews, and streaming schedules, catering to its users through both web and app platforms.

Despite , this acquisition further solidifies its position in one of the world’s largest markets for sports and sports fans. Ian Bowden, Better Collective’s Senior Director for UK & Ireland, expressed his enthusiasm for the strategic acquisition, stating that it brings a robust owned and operated sports betting media brand to the UK market, poised for global scalability.

The acquisition aligns perfectly with Better Collective’s overarching strategy of acquiring leading sports media brands across various niches. The AceOdds brand fills a crucial gap by offering a vital sports betting affiliation brand in a pivotal growth market for the Better Collective group. The AceOdds app, benefiting from hundreds of thousands of installs, will further increase the reach Better Collective can provide its partners.

Better Collective sees this acquisition as a strategic step to leverage local expertise and scale the AceOdds brand globally. The acquisition will bring significant synergies for Better Collective. AceOdds comes with substantial recurring revenue, and its integration will enable Better Collective to expand its global network of sportsbooks, including those in the US.

The company plans to leverage AceOdds’ SEO capabilities and invest heavily in product enhancements to grow the brand’s audience further. Additionally, the AceOdds app will provide zero and first-party data for market segmentation and targeting through Better Collective’s AdTech platform, AdVantage.

The €42 million purchase price will be financed with €40 million in cash and the remainder in Better Collective shares, based on the firm’s volume-weighted average share price on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Over the past 12 months, AceOdds achieved operational earnings (EBIT) of approximately €10 million, with the purchase price implying a last 12-month EBITDA multiple of 4x.

Better Collective plans to reinvest part of this profitability into enhancing the product and user experience, which may moderately reduce short to mid-term profitability. Earlier this year, Better Collective raised €145 million to prepare for future acquisition opportunities.

Following the acquisition, Better Collective has updated its 2024 financial targets, now projecting revenue in the range of €395 million to €425 million, implying 21 percent to 30 percent year-on-year growth. The affiliate previously expected full-year 2024 revenue to reach between €390 and €420 million.

The company’s EBITDA, excluding special items, is now projected to fall within the range of €130 million to €140 million. This is an upward revision from the previous forecast of €125 million to €135 million, indicating a growth rate of 17 percent to 26 percent.

Better Collective A/S is committed to keeping its net debt to EBITDA ratio below 3x, demonstrating its strong financial management.

Currently, the shares of Better Collective A/S (BETCO-DKK.CO) are being traded at kr192.80, marking a 4.78 percent increase.

CogniPlay has unveiled its new software product, a comprehensive online platform for sweepstakes and social gaming. The platform is designed with a modular approach, enabling clients to customize their brand and offerings for optimal performance.

The sweepstake casino industry in the US is witnessing a rapid growth, attracting many real money gaming companies to explore this lucrative business model. With no leading platform solution currently available, CogniPlay steps in to fill the gap, offering a complete white label solution that takes care of every detail. Brands like Chumba and Pulsz have already reaped tremendous success, and CogniPlay aims to provide an efficient pathway for potential new sweepstake casino owners.

The CogniPlay system boasts several key integrations that help deliver the product. These include game integrations with renowned providers such as Pragmatic Play, BetSoft, Mascot Gaming, and many more, offering hundreds of games for their clients. Clients also have a variety of other integration options to choose from, including affiliate programme software, CRM platforms, KYC, ID verification, Geo-IP systems, Gamification, and customer support.

CogniPlay also has an extensive development pipeline, which will see the product offering evolve rapidly, providing clients with a wide range of options and unique selling points, and ensuring a superior user experience for players.

In addition to the platform, the experienced CogniPlay team offers a range of managed services, essentially providing a menu from which clients can choose to supplement their own skills or experience.

CogniPlay aims to leverage this experience to provide industry-leading client management, building successful relationships and partnerships with their clients.

Allan Turner, CogniPlay’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his pride in bringing the CogniPlay product to market. He emphasized the company’s commitment to providing the most flexible platform in the space, enabling clients to create the product they want, rather than dictating the product to them. He also highlighted the company’s focus on future-proofing the product against any potential regulatory or legal changes, and ensuring the protection of both clients and players through a robust responsible gaming setup.

CogniPlay, owned and operated by CogniPlay UK Ltd, was founded by a group of highly knowledgeable individuals with extensive backgrounds in the iGaming industry, development, technology, and marketing. CogniPlay is a dynamic iGaming business specializing predominantly in the sweepstakes casinos niche in the US and the provision of social casinos globally. They aim to help clients develop their own brands in these sectors and achieve great success by providing a unique and innovative product that leads the industry for years to come.

A recent analysis by CBRE said the integrated resort (IR) is expected to show positive EBITDA results in 2024. This forecast follows Mohegan’s announcement of its highest-ever quarterly net revenue, reaching $461.73 million (€425.5 million) — a 13.8 percent increase year-over-year. 

The South Korean resort, which opened on March 5, has become a significant revenue stream for Mohegan, the US-based operator. Although specific performance metrics were not fully disclosed, CBRE estimates that gaming revenue comprised approximately 40 percent of the total revenue mix during the first two months of the casino's operation. 

CBRE analysts Colin Mansfield and Connor Parks highlighted that INSPIRE is contributing to market growth through increased visitation, gaming drop, and lodging. However, it faces competition from Paradise City. While INSPIRE’s revenue exceeded initial forecasts of $30.1 million (€27.2 million), the property reported a $24.1 million (€22.2 million) EBITDA loss for the quarter, attributed to excess labor and marketing costs typical of a casino opening. 

CBRE pointed to two positive trends for the South Korean gaming market: an increase in inbound visitation to Korea and INSPIRE’s impact on the overall market. February saw a 22 percent month-over-month increase in Chinese visitors to Korea, coinciding with the opening of INSPIRE’s casino. 

Despite initial losses, CBRE is optimistic about 's long-term prospects. They note that there is still significant potential for recovery in visitation from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, which are currently at 70 percent, 87 percent, and 81 percent of 2019 levels, respectively. As travel to Korea improves, INSPIRE is expected to ramp up its operations and enhance its market presence. 

The analysts also observed a 4 percent quarter-over-quarter growth in total gaming drop at Paradise City, INSPIRE’s direct competitor, following the latter’s opening. However, Paradise City experienced a 7 percent decline in mass drop during the same period, suggesting that INSPIRE is successfully attracting mass players from its competitor. 

Recent assessments of INSPIRE’s Forest Tower King room Average Daily Rate (ADR) indicate a rate of approximately $240 (€221.21), aligning with initial forecasts and supporting anticipated growth trajectories. For CBRE, these trends reflect the resilience and promising future of the Korean gaming industry. 

 Following the conclusion of its last race, the 's land has been reclaimed by the Macau government. The Secretary for Transport and Public Works issued an order published in the Government Gazette, nullifying the concession held by Macau Horse Race Co for the 362,000 square-meter plot, with no compensation to the former concessionaire. 

The Macau Jockey Club ceased operations on April 1st, marking the end of over four decades of horse racing. Despite a turnout of approximately 3,000 spectators for its final races, the club's longstanding financial difficulties prompted the government's decision to terminate the concession contract, announced in January. 

The government attributed the closure to a significant decline in attendance and betting revenue. The development signals a major shift in the economic landscape that once supported horse racing in Macau. 

A recent government dispatch declared the immediate reversion of the land plot to Macau's state public domain, with no compensation provided to the former concessionaire due to the concession's expiry. 

Despite financial struggles, the Macau Jockey Club had its concession extended until August 2042, committing to substantial investments in upgrading racetrack facilities amounting to MOP3.4 billion patacas (€389.5 million). 

Initial plans by the Macau Jockey Club included a tourism project slated for 2026, encompassing hotels, leisure areas, sports facilities, dining establishments, retail outlets, a museum, and a riding school. 

However, citing financial difficulties and losses surpassing MOP2.5 billion (€236.4 million), the concessionaire requested termination of the contract, leading to the government's decision earlier this year. 

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng reiterated that the reclaimed land will not be allocated for gaming purposes in the future, signalling a shift in land use and development priorities for Macau.