11 September 2024

Gaming Realms plc

(the "Company" or the "Group")

Interim Results

Core content licensing revenue growth of 28%

£5.8m Adjusted EBITDA¹ (46% growth excluding brand licensing) and a 51% increase in profit before tax to £3.5m

Gaming Realms plc (AIM: GMR), the developer and licensor of mobile focused gaming content, is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2024 (the "Period" or "H1'24").

Financial highlights:

·      Total revenue grew 18% to £13.6m in H1'24 (H1'23: £11.5m)

·      Group Adjusted EBITDA grew 21% to £5.8m (H1'23: £4.8m), representing a 43% Adjusted EBITDA margin (H1'23: 41%)

·      Excluding brand licensing, the Group delivered adjusted EBITDA growth of 46% as operational leverage comes through

·      Total licensing revenues grew 18% to £11.5m (H1'23: £9.8m):

•   Content licensing revenue increased 28% to £11.2m (H1'23: £8.8m) with an EBITDA margin of 55% (H1'23: 54%)

•   Brand licensing revenue reduced 67% to £0.3m (H1'23: £1.0m) due to two brand deals completed in the same period of the previous year

·      Profit before tax increased 51% to £3.5m (H1'23: £2.4m)

·      Net cash at period end up 28% to £9.6m (Dec'23: £7.5m) with continued strong cash generation

Operational highlights:  

·      Launched with 22 new partners globally:

•   In North America with FanDuel in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, Fanatics in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania and Atlantic Lottery Corporation (Canadian Maritime Provincial Lottery)

•   In Europe with Solverde in Portugal, DAZN in the UK and Livescore in the Netherlands

·      Granted full iGaming Supplier License in West Virginia

·     Signed distribution agreement with Playtech which will lead to opportunities in Switzerland and the U.S. as well as other key partners in regulated markets

·      Released 7 new games into the market, including Slingo Capital Gains and Slingo Gold Cash. The Group now has 82 games in its portfolio (Dec'23: 75 games, Jun'23: 70 games)

·      Increased unique players in the content licensing business by 24% to 3.5m (H1'23: 2.8m)

·      Continued to grow the distribution business and launched content with ReelPlay, a second third-party slot studio

Post period-end:

·      Licensing revenue increased 33% in the two months post period-end compared to the same period in 2023

·      Launched content in West Virginia, the fifth regulated U.S. state to which the Group supplies its content

·      Granted iGaming Supplier License in British Columbia

·      Launched Slingo Originals content with Danske Spil in Denmark, Betclic in Italy, Bet365 in Pennsylvania and Virgin Bet in the U.K.

·      Released Slingo Press Your Luck as well as Slingo Phillies in partnership with BetMGM

¹ EBITDA is profit before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation expenses and is a non-GAAP measure. The Group uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to comment on its financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding share option and related charges.

Summary:

Gaming Realms has continued its growth through the first half of 2024, as the Company continues to execute on its core strategy of developing and licensing games globally to market-leading brands and operators delivering high-margin revenues.

The first half of 2024 has seen the Group deliver another record performance in revenue and EBITDA, with core content licensing business revenues increasing 28% over the previous period, driven by 46% growth in revenues from North America.

In total, we launched with 22 new partners and 7 new games in H1 2024, including premium game titles Slingo Capital Gains and Slingo Gold Cash.  

Excluding brand licensing revenues, where there were two brand deals completed in the prior period, Group Adjusted EBITDA increased 46% to £5.4m (H1'23: £3.7m), demonstrating the growth within our core business.

Outlook for FY24:

Looking ahead, the Group is well placed to capitalise on this momentum and deliver further growth in new and existing markets.

Our focus for the remainder of the year is to further expand our international presence in new markets, while continuing to grow in existing markets with our partners. 

In August we launched our content in West Virginia, the fifth regulated iGaming state the Group's content is distributed in. After the period end, the Group was also granted an iGaming supplier license in British Columbia, where we expect to launch our content shortly.

These market expansions will be supplemented by premium game launches in the second half of 2024 including Slingo Fowl Play and Slingo Press Your Luck.

The Board remains optimistic around FY24 financial performance.

Commenting on the first half performance, Mark Segal, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"We are delighted with our strong performance in the first half of 2024, with total revenue increasing by 18% to £13.6 million. Our focus on expanding our content licensing business has led to a 28% revenue growth and the successful launch of seven new games. These results reflect our commitment to innovation and solidify our position in the gaming industry.

"The achievements of the first half demonstrate the dedication of our team and the appeal of our unique gaming offerings. We are poised for further growth as we continue to expand into new markets, launch with new partners and strengthen our existing partnerships."

An analyst briefing will be held virtually at 10.00am today. To attend, please contact Yellow Jersey at gamingrealms@yellowjerseypr.com.

Enquiries

About Gaming Realms

Gaming Realms creates and licenses innovative games for mobile, with operations in the U.K., U.S., Canada and Malta. Through its unique IP and brands, Gaming Realms is bringing together media, entertainment and gaming assets in new game formats. As the creator of a variety of SlingoTM, bingo, slots and other games, we use our proprietary data platform to build and engage global audiences. The Gaming Realms management team includes accomplished entrepreneurs and experienced executives from a wide range of leading gaming and media companies.

Business review

Gaming Realms had another strong period in the first half of 2024, continuing to deliver on the Group's core strategy of growing its content licensing business. 

The Group delivered another period of record revenue, EBITDA and profit generation.

Total Group revenue grew 18% to £13.6m (H1'23: £11.5m), driven by the Group's core content licensing business and supplemented by strong performance in the social publishing business.

The Group generated EBITDA of £5.5m (H1'23: £4.5m) and £5.8m before share option and related charges (H1'23: £4.8m). The Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 43% (H1'23: 41%), demonstrating the operational leverage the Group can deliver.

The £1.0m increase in EBITDA generated compared with the prior period has seen the Group record a profit before tax of £3.5m (H1'23: £2.4m), an increase of £1.1m on the prior period.

Licensing

Licensing segment revenues increased 18% to £11.5m (H1'23: £9.8m), which is broken down as:

·      Content licensing revenue growth of 28% to £11.2m (H1'23: £8.8m); and

·      Brand licensing revenue reduced 67% to £0.3m (H1'23: £1.0m).

The segment delivered £6.5m Adjusted EBITDA in the period, a 13% overall uplift over the £5.8m in H1'23. Excluding brand licensing revenues, Adjusted EBITDA in the licensing business increased 30% to £6.2m (H1'23: £4.8m).

Content licensing

The core focus of the Group continues to be growing the content licensing business by way of expanding into new regulated territories, growing our unique Slingo games portfolio and developing deep relationships with new and existing partners to maximise value and engagement.

During the period under review, the Group went live with a further 22 partners in existing markets within Europe and North America. After the period end, the Group went live with a further 11 new partners and we continue to have a strong pipeline for the remainder of the year and into 2025.

An additional 7 new Slingo games were released to the market during the period, bringing the Group's games portfolio to 82 games at the period end (H1'23: 70 games).

Slingo is a unique genre of game in the market, which is driving engagement with partners. It continues to prove highly popular with both partners and players.

This resulted in a 28% increase in content licensing revenues to £11.2m (H1'23: £8.8m). Total segmental expenses (excluding share option and related charges) increased 24% to £5.0m (H1'23: £4.0m), continuing to demonstrate the operational leverage of the content licensing business.

After the period end, the Group began distributing its content in West Virginia, which is the fifth regulated U.S. state that the Group distributes its content to.

Brand licensing

Revenues from the Group's brand licensing activities, which are non-core, were £0.3m in the period (H1'23: £1.0m). This reduction is a result of two brand deals completed in the previous period, including a one-off £0.6m that did not repeat in H1'24.

Social

Revenues in the Group's social publishing business increased 17% to £2.1m in the period (H1'23: £1.8m), while the Adjusted EBITDA contribution of the segment increased 106% to £0.5m (H1'23: £0.2m).

Marketing expenses of £0.2m (H1'23: £0.3m) have been invested during the period, aimed at increasing player numbers, activity and revenues over a 12 month period. Management does not expect this level of marketing investment to be repeated in the second half of the year, as we expect revenues to be maintained. Social remains a business where we can further monetise our Slingo portfolio.

Excluding marketing expenses, segmental expenses increased 15% to £1.4m (H1'23: £1.2m), principally due to revenue associated costs. We continue to invest in the development and operational team to support the Group's growth plan.

Cashflow and balance sheet

The Group's cash balance as at 30 June 2024 was £9.6m, an increase of £2.1m from the £7.5m reported at 31 December 2023. This increase represents a conversion of Adjusted EBITDA to cash of 37% (H1'23: 33%), demonstrating the increasing cash generative nature of the business, as well as continued improving operating leverage.

The current period increase in cash was largely driven by the £4.5m cash inflow from operations, offset by £2.4m development costs capitalised during the period and £0.5m of corporation tax payments made during the period.

The Group remains debt free, and the Board continues to review the optimal use of the cash balance.

The Group's net asset position at the period end was £28.1m (31 December 2023: £24.4m).

Dividend

The Board of Directors are not proposing an interim dividend for the Period as it continues to execute on its strategy and invest in the growth of the business.

After the period end, the Company completed a share capital reduction, which included the cancellation of the share premium account, in order to create positive distributable reserves. This enables the Company, as it wishes, to pay shareholders dividends or to be used for other valid corporate purposes, such as the purchase of its own shares.

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024

Consolidated statement of financial position

as at 30 June 2024

Consolidated statement of cash flows

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2024