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TIDMENT

RNS Number : 5537H

Entain PLC

07 April 2022

7 April 2022

Entain plc

("Entain" or the "Group")

A strong start to the year, in line with expectations

Entain plc (LSE: ENT), the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, today reports trading for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2022 ("Q1").

Q1 Highlights

-- Strong start to the year with Group NGR up 31% (+34% cc(1) ) supported by the return of Retail

-- Online net gaming revenue ("NGR") down 8% (-6%cc(1) ) in line with expectations versus strong 2021 comparators

   o   Continued momentum in all major markets(2) 
   o   Online NGR 3yr CAGR up 14% cc(1) 
   o   Further broadening of the customer base with actives up 34% over two years 

-- Retail up strongly year on year due to closures in the prior year, with volumes settling within 5%-10% of pre-Covid levels

-- Avid Gaming, Klondaika and Totolotek transactions deliver strategic growth expansion into new markets

   --      BetMGM continues to go from strength to strength 
   o   Established number two operator with 24%(3,4) market share where BetMGM operates 
   o   Consistently leading iGaming operator with 29%(4) market share 
   o   BetMGM now live in 23 markets; four new markets in Q1 and Ontario on 4 April 
   o   On track to reach positive EBITDA in 2023(5) 
   o   Further details will be provided at the BetMGM Business Update on 12 May 2022 
   --      Continued focus and progress under our Sustainability Charter 
   o   Expansion of ARC(TM) player protection trials into international markets 

o Founding partner of Global Gaming Alliance ("GGA") to promote higher standards and safeguards in the global gaming industry

   o   S&P award recognising ESG leadership and inclusion in the Global Sustainability Yearbook 2022 

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain's CEO, commented :

"We have started the year with a good performance across all areas of our business, driven as ever by the strength of our industry-leading platform. We have delivered strong performances in all of our major markets, and I am pleased to report that Retail is performing well with customers returning for our instore experience.

In the US, BetMGM is firmly established as the number two operator, and our market launches during Q1 mean that we now have access to over 41% of the US adult population. Elsewhere, our strategy of expanding into new markets is continuing at pace, having acquired businesses in Canada, Latvia and Poland during Q1.

As a growing business we continue to invest in and build our business around our customers to provide them with the best experiences whilst also capturing the many opportunities ahead. Given the strength and continuing momentum of our underlying business, coupled with our proven ability to grow both organically and through M&A, we remain confident in our financial performance for FY22 and beyond."

 
                                      Q1: Period 1 January to 31 March 2022 
--------------  ----------------  --------------------------------------------  -------- 
                 Total    Total     2yr CAGR     3yr CAGR     Sport     Sport    Sports 
                   NGR      NGR       Total        Total      Wagers    Wagers   Margin 
                           cc(1)       NGR          NGR                 cc(1) 
                                      cc(1)        cc(1) 
--------------  -------  -------  -----------  -----------  --------  --------  -------- 
 
 Online 
   Sports          (7%)     (3%)          18%          19%      (7%)      (4%)    +0.2pp 
   Gaming         (10%)     (9%)           6%          10% 
 Total Online      (8%)     (6%)          12%          14% 
 
 Retail 
  (6)            >1000%   >1000%           4%         (2%)    >1000%    >1000%       n/m 
 
 
 Total Group        31%      34%           8%           6% 
--------------  -------  -------  -----------  -----------  --------  --------  -------- 
 
 

Notes

(1) Growth on a constant currency basis calculated by translating 2022 and 2021 performances at 2022 exchange rates

   (2)   Excluding Germany and Netherlands where the markets are undergoing regulatory change 
   (3)   BetMGM revenues comprise of sports (Online and Retail) and iGaming revenues 

(4) BetMGM market shares for the three month period to February 2022 (excluding Arizona in February, as data yet to be reported)

   (5)   Based on current assumption of future live markets 

(6) Retail operates in UK, Italy, Belgium and Republic of Ireland. Retail numbers are quoted on a LFL basis. During Q1 2022, there were an average of 4,333 shops/outlets in the estate, compared to an average of 4,662 during Q1 2021

Enquiries:

 
Investor Relations - Entain plc                                investors@entaingroup.com 
 David Lloyd-Seed, Chief IR & Communications Officer    david.lloyd-seed@entaingroup.com 
 Davina Hobbs, Head of Investor Relations                   davina.hobbs@entaingroup.com 
 Callum Sims, IR Manager                                     callum.sims@entaingroup.com 
Media - Entain plc                                                 media@entaingroup.com 
 Lisa Attenborough, Head of Corporate Communications   lisa.attenborough@entaingroup.com 
 Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office               jay.dossetter@entaingroup.com 
 Jodie Hitch, PR Manager                                     Jodie.hitch@entaingroup.com 
Powerscourt                                                    Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 1446 
 Rob Greening/Nick Hayns/Sam Austrums                      entain@powersco urt-group.com 
 

Q1 Conference Call & Webcast

An analyst call will be held today, Thursday 7 April 2022 at 9:00am (BST). Participants may join via webcast or by conference call dial in, approximately 10 minutes before the start of the call.

Live audio webcast link: https://brrmedia.news/ENTQ1

To participate in the Q&A, please also connect via the conference call dial in details.

   UK                           +44 (0) 33 0165 4012 
   US                            +1 646 828 8073 
   Access Code:           1149989 

A replay of the presentation and transcript will be available on our website :

https://entaingroup.com/investor-relations/results-centre/

Upcoming dates:

   BetMGM Business Update:             12 May 2022 
   Q2 Trading Update:                          7 July 2022 
   Interim Results:                                11 August 2022 
   Q3 Trading Update:                          13 October 2022 

Forward-looking statements

This document contains certain statements that are forward-looking statements. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations and those of our officers, directors and employees concerning, amongst other things, results of our operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the business we operate. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, these statements involve risks and uncertainties since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. Any such forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this document . Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014), the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Prospectus Rules), the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast. The Company and its directors accept no liability to third parties in respect of this document save as would arise under English law.

About Entain plc

Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Bet.pt, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds, Sportingbet and Sports Interaction; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, GiocoDigitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, Partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis.

The Group has a 50/50 joint venture, BetMGM, a leader in sports betting and iGaming in the US. Entain provides the technology and capabilities which power BetMGM as well as exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house gaming studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK with operations in a total of 31 regulated or regulating territories. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI and is AA rated by MSCI. The Group has set a science-based target, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects. For more information see the Group's website : www.entaingroup.com

LEI: 213800GNI3K45LQR8L28

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 07, 2022 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)