Software
bet365 largely uses Playtech gaming software for its online casino — a renowned name with nearly 20 years’ experience in the industry. Its games are sleek, intuitive, easy to use, and recognisable from many of the other online casinos we’ve reviewed.
bet365 casino games combine slick graphics with cool visuals, which makes playing at bet365 a generally enjoyable experience.
Winner MISSES
- ✘Offers Hold'em and Omaha games only
- ✘The game graphics are not the best out there
Available Games from Playtech
The Playtech list of gambling games for Apple smartphones and tablets is constantly increasing. Some of the best are slots, which make gamblers from all over the world to be especially interested in. However, the developer is notable not only for its pokies, but also for table and card entertainments, video poker, and specialty offers. Play this unique but simple entertainments to enjoy their amazing graphics, realistic sounds, and rewarding promotions.
How to Play Spin Till You Win Roulette™
The game follows a similar format to European roulette, except for a few subtle differences to keep things fresh. To get started, you must first wager any bets on the Roulette grid before the allocated time for placing bets ends. It's worth noting that multipliers will only be credited to Straight Up numbers. Once the betting time runs out, the dealer will then spin the wheel, and pay out winnings to any players who managed to secure a win during the round.
The odds for the game are as follows:
Outside Bets
- Red/Black – 1:1
- Odds/Evens – 1:1
- Highs/Lows – 1:1
- Columns – 2:1
- Dozen – 2:1
Inside Bets
- Straight Up – 17:1 to 99:1
- Split – 17:1
- Street – 11:1
- Corner – 8:1
- Line – 5:1
Come and try your luck and play a different game exclusive to customers on Paddy Power's webpage.
Casino Mobile Playtech Gaming
You can access Playtech mobile casino straight from your smartphone and gamble from any place you like. Some gamblers say that the best playtech casino is its mobile version, so you can play fun slot playtech games from your mobile device and have the advantage of playing from anywhere you like. The best playtech casino UK players know and love can be found on our list, so go check it out.
When you play casino slot playtech games, remember to be brave and take the risk. That is the key to success all the experienced gamblers know. So go ahead and catch your luck.
History of This Provider
A group of entrepreneurs from various industries including multimedia, engineering, software and casino pulled resources together in 1999 and established Playtech in Tartu Estonia. The company issued its first gambling licensee in 2001 after undergoing a thorough market analysis and defining their products.
The firm has continued to make innovations, growing and enlarging its portfolio to include products like a mobile casino, videobet, bricks and mortar casino, iPoker network, Bingo network and Live dealer casino. Playtech was included on the London AIM selling in 2006 to become a public company. The year also marked the expansion of the firm to other areas beginning with branches established in Bulgaria.
In 2007, the company added sport betting to its services and successfully established its presence in various countries’ market including those of Serbia, Italy, Spain and Estonia. Led by Mor Weizer (CEO), on 2 July 2012, Playtech was listed in the London Stock Exchange having £1 billion pounds as its market cap.
Playtech continued expanding with the purchase of other booming firms such as GTS, a key games aggregator; Virtue Fusion, the British largest provider of Bingo; Intelligence Gaming which provided management systems; Mobenga, a force to reckon with in the mobile gaming industry; and Ash Gaming known for the creation of quality casino games.
Thus, casinos licensed by Playtech are now able to offer their services online using Playtech internet resources and technology. Besides being staffed with well-trained personnel, the company is using a well-known firm, namely, Canaccord Genuity as its broker and adviser. BDO LLP provides auditing and accounting reporting services to Playtech while Berwin Leighton Paisner counsels them on legal matters.
Spin Till You Win Roulette™ Stakes and Features
The features for this game include a Spin Till You Win bonus. During this round, players have the chance to win a 500x multiplier, giving them a higher chance of winning. In addition to there being a maximum of 10,000 credits available, other features include a 3D roulette wheel and HD cameras, which help to immerse players in the live casino experience. You simply need to place where you think the ball will land to be in with a chance of winning.
Playtech Gaming - Far-Reaching Online & Mobile Solutions
No doubt, the company holds a leading position and unique recognizable line in providing the most advanced and high-grade amusement gaming software for best Playtech online casinos and sportsbooks. Every year Playtech company releases over fifty brand new games so the players have access to cutting-edge technologies and growing content online or mobile. The corporation brought to the world Playtech’s Mobile Hub which is designed to provide players with continuous experience on high-end mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad and Android.
The series of Marvel comics slots constantly create a big buzz. Among hit games are loud titles of Fantastic 4, The Incredible Hulk, X-men, Blade, Iron Man, Daredevil and more. Also, the world sees free Playtech slots with film heroes as Rocky, King- Kong, and Mummy. The games are usually equipped with five reels, thematic symbols, and heroes that decorate them. Such kind of Playtech slots is always rich for bonus games and a whole class of alternatives, that allow betting more than three thousands of coins.
Playtech software is absolutely safe. The security is proved by the license from Technical Systems Testing and ABB – Association of Britain Bookmakers. The experienced developers uphold the reputation and are not allowed to misfire.
Naturally, one can’t omit such factor as the main cultural value of the world countries, which let to adapt the production for a specific customer and gain the popularity among particular countries. Unfortunately, in the list of restricted to play Playtech casinos countries is the US.
Playtech is a gold vein where can grow and progress not only gaming institutions but also the players, getting for their stakes well- earned prizes and different bonuses. Choosing the Playtech online slots and pressing the button “Play”, the player has an excellent chance to win a Progressive Jackpot! The payouts are surely surprised and you can win real money for a minimal deposit. Playing Playtech slots free gives the opportunity to learn the nature of games and choose what you like best for real play at online casinos. Play now free to know which slots games you bet on playing real money casino!
The current value of gambling games always stays a sufficiently stable indicator. Nowadays the gambling business offers the possibility to reach a totally new and well-advanced level. Exactly gambling market is a market of high competition. And Playtech on a roll.
Other games
Rich Diamonds: Hold and Win
Lines:
10
Reels:
5
FreeSpins:
15
Book of Gold 2: Double Hit
Lines:
10
Reels:
5
FreeSpins:
15
Buffalo Power Megaways
Lines:
46656
Reels:
6
FreeSpins:
20
Hot Burning Wins
Lines:
5
Reels:
3
FreeSpins:
0
9 Happy Pharaohs
Lines:
20
Reels:
5
FreeSpins:
20
5 Fortunator
Lines:
5
Reels:
5
FreeSpins:
0
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Gold Rally Progressive
Whilst a huge jackpot win feels like little more than a dream for many online slot players, the Gold Rally slot returns some massive payouts in its regular game. Modest stake levels are offered, and with plenty of big paying winning combinations in play to complement the jackpot, you never know, Lady Luck may just smile on you today.
Low RTP Slots
Whilst there are many Playtech slot games which offer very high payout percentages, there are some which offer the opposite, and below we have listed for you the slots with the lowest RTP’s.
Ladbrokes Sports overview
Ladbrokes made its name in the UK with the quality of its sports betting offers, and sports bookmaking still remains at the heart of the business. Formerly popular sports pundits like Chris Kamara and Ally McCoist were the faces of the sports business but recently they have been replaced by actor James Buckley (star of The Inbetweeners), former athlete Kriss Akabusi, jockey Frankie Dettori and model/actress Kelly Brook. Behind the marketing end of things, Ladbrokes offers true sports fans a very competitively priced and well-stocked sports betting site. Football has always been at the centre of the sports betting markets at Ladbrokes, backed up by other popular betting sports like tennis, horse racing, golf, cricket and rugby union. However, Ladbrokes is also well able to cater for fans of more niche sports and the site also boasts burgeoning In Play betting, Live Streaming, Virtual Sports and Esports betting for customers.
05. Security: State of the art security protocol
How safe is Ladbrokes?9/10 Punkte
- Owned by Ladbrokes Group
- Reputable company
- Licensed by UKGC and Gibraltar Gambling Commission
- RNG software based games
As we said at the beginning of this Ladbrokes Bingo online review, Ladbrokes Bingo is owned by the Ladbrokes Group, one of the most prominent and most respectable companies in the gambling world. Ladbrokes Bingo is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner. So they hold two independent licenses, and that can mean only one thing, you will be treated fairly, and they will give you a fair game.
All the games on the Ladbrokes Bingo website make use of random number generator (RNG) software. That software is important for all bingo games and players can be sure that they will be treated fairly.
Ladbrokes Bingo uses the latest security and encryption software to ensure that your personal data is safe when you register and deposit your funds at their website. They conduct individual payment reviews on a regular basis. That ensures that their business is transparent and respected.
LesACasino Bonus
New players to LesAcasino.com are awarded a special £1000 Welcome package. The Welcome package is comprised of 3 different bonuses, the first is a 100% up to £500, the second is a reload bonus of 50% up to £300 and the third part is a 50% reload bonus of up to £200. The casino is constantly updating their promotions page with different competitions and events in which players can win everything from cash and prizes, vacations and tickets to special VIP events.
Review of the bet365 online casino experience
The table, card, and slot games on offer from bet365 are truly first-class. Like most online casinos we’ve reviewed, bet365 provides the staples that you need: poker, roulette, baccarat, and video slots are all catered for.
But on top of that, bet365 also gives its players some nice surprises as well. Traditional casino classics, such as pontoon and craps, are ready to play as soon as you log in, mixing up the usual medley of games that the other online casinos we’ve reviewed provide. Add that to a healthy variety of live games, and bet365 is an online casino to be reckoned with.
DEVICE CAPABILITY | LIVE CASINO? | TABLE GAMES? | |
Roulette | App & online | Yes | Yes |
Poker | App & online | Yes | Yes |
Baccarat | App & online | Yes | Yes |
Blackjack | App & online | Yes | Yes |
Slots | App & online | No | Yes |
Pontoon | Online only | No | Yes |
Craps | Online only | No | Yes |
Sic Bo | Online only | Yes | No |
Hi-Lo | Online only | Yes | No |
Dragon Tiger | App & online | Yes | No |
3 Card Brag | Online only | Yes | No |
Spin a Win | Online only | Yes | No |
Tournaments
Different kinds of casino tournaments are made available to gamblers betting on gaming websites powered by Playtech. Such championship may take place every day, once a week or one time in month. The daily contests are more interesting to play, but their prizes are the smallest when compared with others.
The majority of these competitions are the Playtech slot contests. Here, players compete in a few slot games or just one. Tourneys are also available in other Playtech casino games including video poker tournaments, roulette and blackjack. These contests are open to any play to participate in and they appeal to many bettors.
Ladbrokes Casino overview
The Ladbrokes Casino is powered by the mighty Playtech Gaming group, meaning that you will have access to their hugely popular gaming output including the range of progressive jackpots from the Marvel Universe. Recently Playtech have launched a similar range of slot games featuring DC superheroes like Superman and Batman which also appear on the Ladbrokes site, and these have already proved to be a huge hit with fans. Fans of traditional casino table games will be more than satisfied with the selection on offer at the Ladbrokes casino, including a live dealer casino which allows players to sit down for games of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, casino hold ‘em and hi lo. Apart from the high octane superhero slots, there are plenty of other progressive and standard video slots to choose from, as well as a selection of video poker games and scratch cards. Regular ongoing promotions and prize draws mean that existing casino players are well catered for, with the exclusive VIP club offering additional rewards and benefits to members.
The Games
Casino Las Vegas has some of the best online casino games. They have 90 fun casino games and also live dealers
The Company’s Cons
- Regulation at a gaming site is good but too much supervision gets a little annoying. Allow us to explain. Most if not all Playtech Casinos feature predatory terms meaning that there are certain withdrawal limits on wins acquired. Therefore, if you happen to land on a huge jackpot, it can take a very long time to acquire all your wins.
- Their slot gaming category is rather poor compared to their counterparts – most notably BetSoft.
Nonetheless, the company’s pros outweigh its cons by a landslide. It is therefore not a bad idea to try out a Playtech casino – that is if you have not yet actualized this.
Thu, 25th Feb 2016 07:00
RNS Number : 0878Q
Playtech PLC
25 February 2016
Playtech plc
("Playtech," or the "Company" or the "Group")
Results for the year ended 31 December 2015
Another year of double-digit underlying revenue growth
Playtech (LSE: PTEC) today announces its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2015, together with a trading update for the period to 22 February 2016.
Financial highlights
2015 | 2014 | Change | |
Revenues | €630.1m | €457.0m | +38% |
Adjusted EBITDA* | €251.9m | €207.1m | +22% |
Adjusted Net Profit*/** | €205.9 | €190.8m | +8% |
Reported Net Profit** | €135.8m | €140.3m | -3% |
Adjusted diluted EPS* | 67.5 €c | 65.6 €c | +3% |
Total dividend per share | 28.5 €c | 26.4 €c | +8% |
* Adjusted numbers relate to certain non-cash and one-off items including amortisation of intangibles on acquisitions, professional costs on acquisitions and irrecoverable deposit and professional fees on abandoned acquisitions, finance costs on acquisitions, change in fair value of available-for-sale investments in the income statement, non-cash accrued bond interest, provision against irrecoverable cash and additional various non-cash charges. full reconciliation between the actual and adjusted results is provided in Note 5.
** Attributable to the owners
§ Total revenues up 38% vs 2014 on a reported basis:
- revenue growth of 26% (excluding acquisitions / adding back the impact of the UK POC tax)
- 16% growth on a constant currency basis (excluding acquisitions / adding back impact of the UK POC tax)
§ Strong growth in adjusted EBITDA with similar underlying adjusted EBITDA margin
§ Full year dividend per share up 8%, in-line with growth in adjusted net profit
§ Cash balances at year end of €857.9m
- active discussions for a number of potential acquisitions in the Gaming division
- in the absence of suitable acquisitions, consideration will be given to returning cash to shareholders
§ Further strengthening of the Board with appointments of Paul Hewitt and John Jackson
Operational highlights
Gaming division
§ Strong underlying performance with double digit growth excluding acquisitions, impact of POC, white-label and currency effect
§ Regulated revenues growing faster than .com
- 41% of Gaming revenues from regulated markets (2014: 36%)
- strong growth in the UK driven by Sky, GalaCoral, Ladbrokes, Betfair and white-label customers
§ 10 new licensees signed in 2015 including Sun Bingo, Marca, win2day and Mr Green together with further product penetration in customer base
§ Landmark exclusive agreement signed with DC Comics after the year end
§ Strong pipeline with significant wins expected in 2016
Financials division
§ Pro-forma full year revenue of $100.2m with post-acquisition revenue contribution of $66.5m (€60.0m)
§ Total active CFD customers up 30% over 2014, with first time depositors (FTDs) up 25%
§ Adjusted EBITDA since acquisition of $17.8m (€15.9m) with margin of 26% due to lower volatility and improvements to business model to further enhance compliance in a tightening regulatory environment
§ Improvements made to business model to impact 2016 revenue growth and margin
Current trading and outlook
§ Average daily revenue in the Gaming division for the first 53 days of Q1 2016 was up over 12% on Q1 2015 (18% at constant currency) and up over 2% on Q4 2015 (7% at constant currency) mainly due to growth across the business including improved commercial terms and new customers in Asia
§ Markets Limited has seen a strong start to 2016 driven by strong volatility with positive momentum from direct business following improvements to business model
§ Momentum in the business and strength of pipeline provides management with confidence in strong growth in 2016 with stronger growth in the Gaming division offsetting lower growth in the Financials division
Alan Jackson, Chairman of Playtech, commented:
"Whilst 2015 was an incredibly busy year for Playtech, our operational performance was stronger than ever, delivering reported revenues up 38% and up 26% on an underlying basis.
"The Gaming division continues to lead the industry and drive our growth. Our pipeline of opportunities continues to be very strong and we expect significant wins in 2016, led by our pioneering omni-channel offering and driven by existing and newly regulated markets. Our newly created Financials division is developing well and we have further improved its business model.
"We have many opportunities for further growth, both organically and through M&A, with active discussions on a number of potential acquisitions in the Gaming division. Should suitable acquisitions not be available, consideration will be given to returning cash to shareholders as we look to maintain an efficient capital structure.
"Taken together, we are confident in strong growth in 2016 and beyond."
- Ends -
Presentation and live webcast
A presentation for analysts and investors will be held today at 9.00am in the offices of Nomura International, 1 Angel Lane, London, EC4R 3AB. The presentation will be webcast live and on-demand at:
http://www.investis-live.com/playtech/56a74b40d147af0a0030e384/fy15
The presentation will also be accessible via a live conference call:
Dial-in numbers:
United Kingdom 0800 368 0649
All other locations +44 20 3059 8125
Conference password: Playtech
There will also be a replay available for one week
United Kingdom 0121 260 4861
United States +1 844 2308 058
All other locations +44 121 260 4861
Conference reference number: 2345244#
An on demand replay will also be available on the Playtech website following the presentation.
For further information contact:
Playtech plc Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer Ron Hoffman, Chief Financial Officer c/o Bell Pottinger Andrew Smith, Head of Investor Relations | +44 (0)20 3772 2500 +44 (0)1624 645954 |
Bell Pottinger David Rydell / Olly Scott / James Newman | +44 (0)20 3772 2500 |
Forward looking statements
This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty since they relate to future events and circumstances. Actual results may, and often do, differ materially from any forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect Playtech's view with respect to future events as at the date of this announcement. Save as required by law or by the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority, Playtech undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements in this announcement following any change in its expectations or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement.
About Playtech
Playtech is a market leader in the gambling and financial trading industries. Founded in 1999 and listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, Playtech has more than 5,000 employees in 13 countries.
Playtech is the gambling industry's leading software and services supplier with more than 120 licensees globally, including many of the world's leading regulated online, retail and mobile operators, land-based casino groups, government sponsored entities such as lotteries, and new entrants opening operations in newly-regulated markets. Its business intelligence-driven gambling software offering includes casino, live casino, bingo, poker and sports betting.
It is the pioneer of omni-channel gambling which, through Playtech ONE, offers operators and their customers, a seamless, anytime, anywhere experience across any product, any channel (online, mobile, retail) and any device using a single account and single wallet. It provides marketing expertise, sophisticated CRM solutions and other services for operators seeking a full turnkey solution.
Playtech's Financials division, run through subsidiary Markets Limited (formerly called TradeFX), is an established and growing online CFDs broker and trading platform provider, operating a number of brands including markets.com. Its B2C focused offering is available in more than 100 countries and in more than 25 languages and is licensed and regulated in the EU and South Africa.
www.playtech.com
Chairman's statement
In 2015 Playtech once again achieved an outstanding operational and financial performance, with reported revenues up 38% and 26% on an underlying basis.
Our Gaming division continues go from strength-to-strength, founded on our pioneering omni-channel offering, our market leading content and the investment we make every year into R&D to ensure that we not only maintain but extend our lead against the competition. The second half of 2015 saw several new licensee wins, including for Sun Bingo, as well as product launches, including the iconic Top Gun slot and Live Prestige. Our pipeline of new licensees, driven by regulated and soon-to-be-regulated markets, is strong and we expect significant wins in 2016.
During the year we created our Financials division with the acquisition of TradeFX which was announced in April, and has now been renamed Markets Limited. Although it was disappointing not to be able to complete the subsequently announced acquisitions of Plus500 and Ava Trade, Markets Limited remains an important acquisition for Playtech, taking us into a high-growth industry with regulated revenues, leveraging our technology infrastructure and existing expertise in CRM and marketing.
We have a very strong balance sheet with significant cash balances. Playtech has always been highly disciplined when acquiring businesses and capabilities to ensure that they meet stringent criteria. We are currently in live discussions on a number of potential acquisitions in the Gaming division.
We also remain committed to returning capital to shareholders, as evidenced by the strong compound growth in our regular dividends and the special dividend paid following the receipt of proceeds from the sale of Playtech's stake in William Hill Online. Should suitable acquisition opportunities not be available, consideration will be given to returning cash to shareholders as we look to maintain an efficient capital structure.
I was particularly pleased to be able to strengthen the Board during the year with the appointments of Paul Hewitt and John Jackson. Their wealth of experience across many complementary industries will prove invaluable to Playtech's growth over the coming years.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of our 5,000 employees who make Playtech the great success story that it continues to be. I would also like to thank our shareholders for their continued support, particularly in supporting our equity fundraising in June. Playtech is focussed on creating value for shareholders and I am delighted to be able to announce an increase of 8% for this year's total dividend.
Playtech is proud of its track record of exceptional growth. Looking forward we see many opportunities to extend this record, both organically and through M&A, and have great confidence of continued success in 2016 and beyond.
Chief Executive's review
Overview: another record year of growth
2015 was an extremely busy year for Playtech, both operationally and strategically. I am delighted to say that we once again delivered a record financial performance with reported revenues up 38% and up 26% on an underlying basis.
Our Gaming division continues to lead the industry and drive growth, driven by Playtech's enhanced IMS forming the infrastructure underpinning our pioneering omni-channel offering, which is gradually becoming the standard for the retail and online gaming industry, with our Financials division taking Playtech into a new, high-growth vertical.
There are significant opportunities for further growth, both organically and through M&A, with a strong pipeline for 2016 and significant new wins expected, providing confidence in strong growth in 2016 and beyond.
Performance of the Gaming division
Overview
Our Gaming division has seen strong growth across regions and product verticals, driven by our strategy of focusing on regulated markets.
Licensees
During the year we achieved many new customer wins, evidencing the strength of our offering. We signed a total of 10 new customers, including Sun Bingo, Marca, win2day, Mr Green and LeoVegas. In addition to new customer wins, we have seen existing customers expanding into new territories, expanding portfolios with us such as portal and mini-games, and strengthening relationships, such as with a single Playtech wallet. With such a strong performance in 2015, our pipeline remains strong and we expect more significant wins in 2016.
We not only secured additional customers that signed up to our best-of-breed software but also made great progress securing additional structured agreements and white-label arrangements, such as the Sun and Marca. Together with other licensees that signed structured agreements in previous years, such as Caliente, where momentum is building every quarter, we are seeing strong positive momentum with such agreements.
The ability to provide the combination of software and services is becoming a recurring theme we experience in regulated and soon-to-be-regulated markets and remains a key element of our future success. Not only are such contracts broad and potentially significant in size, they also cement the relationship with Playtech, its licensees and partners for many years.
Regulated markets
Playtech continues to focus on regulated markets which now account for 41% of gaming revenues (2014: 36%) and approaching 50% when including revenues from Markets Limited. Whilst some unregulated markets still continue to grow significantly, the underlying expansion into regulated markets is expected to continue and support a positive trend in the coming years given Playtech's focus and investments made in different regulated and soon-to-be-regulated markets.
The growth from regulated markets is a combination of new licensees, organic growth of existing licensees that are already established in different regulated markets, the introduction of new regulated gambling formats and marketing investments diverted to regulated markets by various operators that traditionally operated in unregulated markets and are still in the transition process - a trend we expect to continue.
On the official date set by Spanish regulator La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) for the allowance of casino slot games in June, Playtech announced that it would supply all existing local licensees with access to its extensive, industry-leading slots portfolio. The Spanish gaming regulator approved slot games in July last year and re-opened its licensing window in November, the first time this has taken place since the market regulated in June 2012. Given the popularity of retail casino formats in Spain the inclusion of online casino games and slots in Spain is seen as an important milestone and will serve to increase Playtech's market share as licensees enjoy the ability to cross sell between different products in a similar fashion to the example set in the UK and Italian markets, with sports being the main gateway to casino and the popularity of slot games.
Other markets across Europe, Latin America and elsewhere are in the process of considering regulations. This trend is inevitable and we expected this to continue in the coming quarters. Many markets across Europe, including Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic are in the process of regulating, as well as various markets in Latin America, such as Brazil, which has indicated that it is in the process of regulating online sports betting. We see significant opportunities to establish ourselves in these markets as Playtech is a natural choice given its ability to provide a combination of best-of-breed technology and services across all channels, its market leading position and proven track record.
Playtech ONE: omni-channel offering
Playtech's pioneering Playtech ONE offering allows players a seamless, anywhere-anytime gaming experience across any product, channel and device, all using a single account and single wallet and is critical to allowing our licensees to outperform. The Playtech ONE approach and offering not only makes the customer journey seamless across different channels, it also provides more visibility across the different channels and therefore makes it easier to identify, track and, most importantly, better communicate and better serve their customers.
Our proven track record of working with various operators in regulated markets clearly shows that there is an overlap in demographics of retail and online, that traditional retail customers playing online are more valuable, and that the acquisition costs associated with such players are far lower when compared to direct acquisition channels and therefore extremely beneficial to the operators.
In April 2015, Playtech announced that it would increase the workforce developing the omni-channel solution as it prepares to undertake several large-scale omni-channel projects in the UK and emerging markets. Sports betting has seen the largest investment as part of the Playtech ONE strategic. Sports betting is a key element of Playtech ONE as online sports betting is one of the first formats to be regulated in newly regulated markets and acts as the gateway to other gaming products. It is also one of the first to be adopted by retail betting operators since sports represents their core business and an extension to online sports betting is a natural choice for them.
In 2015, Playtech announced the launch of its first omni-channel HTML5 front-end solution with Ladbrokes, enabling a seamless, fully responsive and fully adaptive desktop and mobile user experience and a host of unique, new sportsbook features. In a market-first, Ladbrokes's new Playtech Sports HTML5 solution significantly boosted its sportsbook performance and optimisation capabilities ahead of the English Premier League season.
In November 2015, Playtech launched omni-channel content across Mecca Bingo's entire product range including its new Mecca Max handheld devices enabling the leading brand to offer players the ultimate gaming experience. The ground-breaking, 'anywhere-anytime', seamless connection of Playtech ONE omni-channel games and systems across every channel and device - including Mecca's retail, online, mobile and 12,000 in-hall bingo handheld terminals - is the first time a supplier has successfully launched a combined bingo software and content strategy. The move followed the launch earlier in the year of Playtech's industry-leading retail server-based software across Mecca Bingo's entire suite of 2,300 UK terminals and a number of other successful omni-channel system integrations including the pioneering Coral Connect. The nationwide retail deal, signed in the summer in partnership with SG Gaming, boosted Playtech's already important role in the UK LBO market and is its largest ever within the UK retail bingo sector. It also complements the existing long-term online bingo partnership with Mecca, a key, tier-one Playtech licensee.
Finally, at ICE 2016 held earlier this month, Playtech showcased many new omni-channel innovations, including the ability to cash-out retail sport-bets on online devices and true omni-channel slot games designed so that additional features are unlocked as the players move between the different channels to play the same game.
Mobile
Mobile continues to be a core part of our growth strategy with Playtech taking an omni-channel approach to the way it develops new products that includes a mobile capability of each version of its software and games. The importance of mobile is supported by its growing share of revenues, representing 21% of 2015 software revenues compared to 16% in 2014, with a significant majority of Sports revenues coming through this channel. Whilst Mobile has existed for some time it is only partially adopted by various operators and we expect that mobile gaming will increase over time to become a very significant channel for gaming.
Product
Playtech continues to lead innovation and can deploy unmatched research and development resources, all of which is available to our licensees.
At the start of 2015, Playtech unveiled a series of never-before-seen features within an expanded Virtual Sports portfolio, including a fully simulated football game, allowing for realistic betting and gameplay. Each game employs leading-edge graphics based on feature film motion capture technology, shot on location and using professional sportsmen and women. Realistic odds and an increase in betting options, multiple languages with local language commentaries and in-game branding provide both operators and their players with the ultimate virtual sports experience.
The power of the Company's development capability was demonstrated in April when, coinciding with the launch of Apple Watch, Playtech launched its first sports betting App for wearable devices - including Apple Watch. A team of Playtech's most experienced developers worked intensively to deliver the Apple Watch betting App, presenting it for approval by Apple as soon its submission window opened at the beginning of April. Playtech's Apple Watch App was made available to all licensees at launch with Gala Coral being the first to roll-out the App to its extensive UK and European player base in an extension to its multi-year 'Coral Connect' omni-channel contract. The App enables users to initiate bets, browse live and forthcoming sporting events, monitor promotions, receive alerts via technology linked to a user's iOS mobile application and features full cash out functionality.
In November, Playtech launched live Prestige Roulette, a modern-day variant of the classic casino table game. Set in an intimate, neon-lit environment Prestige Roulette enables players to get closer to the action and the dealer with the game replicating a real-life, one-on-one VIP casino experience. While the ball spins in expectation of a big win, the tension is heightened with multiple in-game camera angles, revenue-enhancing quick-fire betting rounds, and an instant replay of the previous game win. Players are further empowered and engaged with the ability to display or hide the bet table on any channel or device by clicking or touching the middle of the screen. Once the bet table is minimised players gain access to a full-screen view of the action, further intensifying the personal look and feel of playing one-on-one with the dealer. Prestige Roulette is available across all channels and platforms, Flash, HTML5 and native and features enhanced video quality and high resolution.
Gaming division performance by vertical
Casino
Playtech's flagship Casino product was once again the largest contributor to Playtech's growth, with revenues increasing 26% in the year.
Playtech continued to further extend its content library, strengthening what is already the largest content portfolio in the online gaming industry, including launching a "supersonic", premium branded, and officially licensed slot game themed on the iconic action classic Top Gun which coincided with the classic film's 30th anniversary in 2016 and Tom Cruise saying earlier in 2015 that he "would like to fly those jets again" in a sequel currently being written.
After the year end, Playtech signed a multi-year landmark licensing deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, to develop four iconic DC Comics branded film and television properties into leading omni-channel casino games. These action-packed real-money casino games are set to begin rolling out this year. The four titles include the DC Comics 1960's Batman Classic TV Series, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures' feature films, Man of Steel (2013), Green Lantern (2011), and Superman I (1978) and Superman II (1980). All of Playtech's global content studios have been engaged to work on, design, develop and deploy games based on these coveted properties from DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
Services
Services revenues increased 17%, benefitting from recently signed structured agreements, enjoying greater penetration of its customer base and positively impacted by the addition of the newly established white-label offering. Playtech saw particularly strong momentum in with existing structured agreements such as Caliente, which is building to become one of the leading online operators in Mexico, and other new licensees signed such as Marca and Sun Bingo which will be launched later in 2016. Founded on the strength of Playtech's track record and strength of offering, we expect the continued growth of existing licensees and additional new licensees in existing and soon to be regulated jurisdictions.
Services offers a unique set of operational capabilities and expertise that are unparalleled in an industry divided between software providers, that lack such services capabilities, and operators that are not inclined to share their know-how with other operators that could potentially become a competitor. Accordingly, Playtech is the natural choice for gaming customers in different regulated markets that understand that the winning combination is a well recognised brand, online marketing and CRM skills all driven by best of breed technology. They also understand that time to market is extremely important. Playtech is best positioned in such markets as it can not only provide them with a best-of-breed technology but can also complement it with online expertise and capabilities, which are very different than those which exist in their retail operations and provide it ahead or as soon as regulations are being introduced.
Our modular offering is proven to be highly successful as services is not a "one size fits all" but rather a fully customised solution in accordance with the specific requirements of each company. It also allows Playtech to position itself in different regulated markets with not only well established retail gaming operators but other types of organisations, such as existing online operators and media companies.
Bingo
Bingo revenues increased by 17% with significantly increased mobile and tablet penetration. A major promotion in December was a significant contributor to it being it being biggest month of the year for Bingo.
Bingo side games, which are recorded under the Casino line item, increased in line with the growth in core Bingo activity, also driven by the mobile offering, including 'mobile first' features and functionality such as lottery style interactive scratchcards.
The year saw further strengthening of relationships with existing Bingo customers as well as a new five-year deal with News UK to operate its Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo websites and mobile variants. The sites will launch at the end of the third quarter following the migration of existing players to Virtue Fusion's leading UK bingo network.
The Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo are amongst the largest and most successful bingo offerings that exist in the UK. Playtech's bingo liquidity pool combined with its operational expertise and capabilities enabled the company to secure this highly lucrative agreement.
Earlier in the year, work was completed on an HTML5 only platform, allowing Playtech to operate from one code base thereby increasing productivity as well as having the additional benefit of being a true multi-channel single look and feel offering across desktop, mobile and tablet.
In February 2015, Playtech announced the launch of Rainbow Riches Bingo - the first ever bingo variant of the iconic cross-channel brand, licensed and developed in partnership with Scientific Games. The UK's most popular retail slot game, which enjoys huge success in the land-based bingo market, it was launched as a mobile and online bingo variant with a £100,000 promotion in the run up to St Patrick's Day on 17 March 2015.
Sport
Revenues from Sports grew 22% in the year with a significant increase from mobile.
Sports remains largely an untapped market for Playtech and we expect it to continue growing rapidly in this developing and growing market. We identified a very significant opportunity in developing certain initiatives with some of our existing large licensees as well as new potential bookmakers as regulations develop. Playtech's Sports offering represents a significant potential growth opportunity for the Group as further business wins are achieved in line with the Group's strategy and continued focus.
In recent years, new digital formats of sports betting, such as tablets and SSBTs (Self Service Betting Terminals), have been introduced in retail sports betting outlets and even over the counter activities are being digitised, introducing new ways for customers to transact in retail environments. In addition, sports betting has been regulated in over 20 markets with a further 15 markets in the process of regulating sports and gaming currently. Such a combination of retail operations transforming into the digital age, together with markets allowing online sports betting, creates a very significant opportunity for operators and Playtech alike.
Sports remains one of the critical components of our Playtech ONE offering. It acts as the gateway into gaming across both retail and online and is traditionally one of the first, if not the first, product to be regulated. The ability to provide an integrated retail and online sports system, offered through web and mobile, complemented by best-of-breed gaming products is unique and highly attractive to many operators across Europe and elsewhere, as most operators use old proprietary legacy retail systems that are not scalable and do not fit the digital age.
As markets become more competitive, operators and bookmakers in particular search for different ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors and some bookmakers decided to develop the mobile front end of their offering internally. While the mobile front end is the simplest and the least sophisticated part of a true omnibus channel sports offering, Playtech continues to invest into a very flexible mobile front end framework and capabilities that will allow operators to distinguish themselves from their competition.
2016 is expected to see revenues from Sports decline due to the loss of three Mobenga contracts with UK licencees who are replacing with their own user experience platform.
Land-based
Land-based revenues jumped by 79% boosted by the first full year inclusion of Videobet Interactive (formerly Aristocrat Lotteries) and supplemented by strong growth from Videobet and IGS.
Following the acquisition of Aristocrat Lotteries, Playtech's leading land-based operation further extended its reach and diversification across key regulated markets. The acquisition also created cross-selling opportunities in existing and new jurisdictions with the benefit of this cross-selling contributing to growth in the year.
Videobet performed strongly during the year with several thousand terminals rolled-out across multiple licences. Mecca Bingo ordered 2,300 cabinets which were delivered in H1 2015 and which are generating revenue, with 500 supplied to Ray and 370 to QuickSilver Talarius. Also, in highly competitive public procurement bid Videobet won a game supply contract with Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian state owned gaming monopoly, to supply games for the Multix (kiosks) and Belago (bingo halls).
Our presence in land based environments is still very limited and we believe that our omni-channel offering combined with our machine technologies and content, will become increasingly appealing to different operators, not only driving momentum in the coming years but also supporting our efforts to provide online products creating a significant cross selling opportunities driven by the inevitable convergence between the land based or retail and online activities.
Poker
Poker remains a challenging vertical due to unfavourable wider market trends, with revenues down 19% in the half compared to the same period last year, although already from a very low base.
During 2015 we made significant investment in iPoker technical infrastructure as well as in our New Player Valuation. This investment stabilised our poker ecosystem and was the first step in our recreational player strategy that allowed us to merge our two-tier liquidity pools into a single tier and prepared the ground for further investment in our poker product offering.
During the second half of 2015, Playtech's focus shifted from the network infrastructure to our product offering to cater for our recreational player strategy. During this period, we successfully started to rollout our new mobile product with mobile poker increasingly important as an acquisition channel since players via this channel are typically more recreational.
We continuously work together with our licensees on improving our product offering, stabilising our ecosystem and network against the downward trend in poker over many years. During the first half of 2016 we plan to continue improving our product offering with the introduction of a new client, new game types and new CRM tools to cater for our recreational strategy.
Creation of the Financials division
Overview
Playtech has a stated strategy to acquire profitable, regulated, highly cash generative businesses with market-leading positions. The first half of 2015 saw the creation of Playtech's Financials division through the completed acquisition of TradeFX Limited, which has subsequently been renamed Markets Limited, an online CFDs broker and trading platform and services provider, operating in more than 100 countries and in over 25 languages, with both B2C and B2B offerings. The initial consideration for the acquisition was €208m with additional cash consideration of up to €250m payable based on Markets Limited's financial performance for the financial year ending 31 December 2017.
Founded in 2009, Markets Limited employs approximately 500 staff globally, with offices in five countries around the world. Markets Limited operates its B2C brand, markets.com, utilising proprietary technology and CRM capabilities focused on increasing customer conversion rates and maximising customer lifetime value.
The acquisition represented a compelling opportunity to enter a growing and complementary vertical driven by similar core competencies to Playtech's Gaming division and was directly in line with Playtech's M&A strategy. Markets Limited also came with an experienced management team, with a proven track record, who will remain with the business.
Changes to the business model of Markets Limited
The regulatory backdrop under which Markets Limited operates has become increasingly developed, with tighter restrictions and controls imposed on brokers. Examples of this can be found both across Europe and in certain specific jurisdictions, such as changes to when "trading incentives" can be granted, limiting leverage, enhancing onboarding requirements, stricter interpretation of procedures and greater regulatory scrutiny in general.
Against this backdrop, Playtech is taking a risk-averse approach and has taken the decision to improve its business model to further enhance compliance, control and oversight, setting industry-leading standards in these areas:
§ introducing stricter on-boarding procedures, controls and processes, going beyond industry standards;
§ further developing our media buying technology, with strong focus on marketing our own trading platform as the main channel for growth;
§ focusing on the core brand of markets.com;
§ the cessation of trading relationships with large business introducers in respect of the core brand; and
§ establishment of B2B relationships leveraging on servicing our technology and CRM capabilities, with a strong pipeline for 2016.
In certain jurisdictions, where practicable, Markets introduced its previously contracted business introducers to other regulated businesses where it provides a range of different turnkey B2B services.
These quality improvements to the business will lay the foundations for future growth through:
§ customer acquisition through automated funnels;
§ better technology, with a wider offering of instruments;
§ enhanced automation of on-boarding processes;
§ focus on CRM activities;
§ control over brand; and
§ strong B2B pipeline extending our reach to new geographies with local regulations.
These improvements will ensure that Markets Limited is better placed to capture new profitable business whilst at the same time ensuring that the very highest standards of compliance are at the forefront of its strategy.
However, as a result, whilst the business is expected to see strong growth in KPIs, positioning the business for sustained growth, total revenue growth in 2016 will be impacted due to the transition away from indirect revenues from business introducers to focusing on direct activity and further expanding B2B relationships. Adjusted EBITDA margin in 2016 will also be impacted due to the strong focus on investing for future growth in KPIs through increased direct marketing initiatives alongside further investment in media buying technology, compliance systems and marketing.
Other M&A and investments
Ladbrokes and Gala Coral
Both Ladbrokes and Gala Coral are key licensees of Playtech.
As part of the recommended merger between Ladbrokes and certain businesses of Gala Coral announced in July 2015, to assist in providing flexibility for the combined entity to achieve integration and realise synergies, Playtech agreed, conditional upon completion of the merger, to accelerate the determination of amounts due to it under its marketing services agreement with Ladbrokes. The sum agreed was £75m, of which £40m will be satisfied by way of the issue of shares in the combined entity on completion with a further guaranteed £35m in cash paid upon delivery by Playtech of key operational milestones but, in any event, within 42 months following completion.
In addition, demonstrating its support for the proposed merger, Playtech acted as a cornerstone investor, taking 22.9% of the c.9.99% equity placing announced by Ladbrokes at the time of the announcement of the merger. Subsequent to this, Playtech purchased further shares in Ladbrokes to take its total holding to 9.7%.
Yoyo Games
In February 2015, Playtech announced the acquisition of UK-based Yoyo Games Limited for $16.4m (€14.4m). Yoyo is the home of Game Maker: Studio, a mobile driven cross-platform casual game development technology that enables developers to create games using a single programming code and then publish them to run natively across most common platforms, including iOS, Android, OS X, HTML5, PlayStation, Xbox, Ubuntu, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT.
Plus500
Following the acquisition of Markets Limited, Playtech announced a £460m recommended cash offer for Plus500, a developer and operator of online trading platforms for retail customers, on 1 June 2015. Having secured the support of both shareholders of Playtech and Plus500, the acquisition was initially expected to complete in September, subject to regulatory approvals.
Regulatory approval was received from the Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission and Playtech was in active dialogue with the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") in relation to its proposed acquisition of Plus500, including in relation to certain concerns raised by the FCA which the Company considered could be resolved to the satisfaction of the FCA prior to 31 December 2015, being the effective long-stop date for the transaction to complete.
However, following an update from the FCA late in the afternoon of Friday 20 November 2015, the Board of Playtech took the view that the steps being proposed to address these concerns would not sufficiently satisfy the FCA to enable Playtech to obtain the FCA's approval by 31 December 2015, and therefore withdrew its change of control application to the FCA. Playtech discussed with Plus500 the consequences of the developments with the FCA and agreed to the termination of the merger agreement. Accordingly, the acquisition of Plus500 did not proceed.
Playtech did not incur any financial penalties with respect to the termination of the acquisition of Plus500. Playtech still holds 9.9% of Plus500 which was acquired during the offer process and has no immediate plans with respect to this holding.
Ava Trade
Prior to the acquisition by Playtech, Markets Limited had secured an option to acquire Ava Trade, an online B2C CFD broker. In July, Playtech announced that it had acquired Ava Trade for $105m, subject to regulatory approvals.
Having already received approval from the Financial Services Commission in the British Virgin Islands, the Central Bank of Ireland ("CBI") opposed Playtech's acquisition of Ava Trade, a decision which Playtech formally challenged.
The appeal was allowed by the Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal, with the consent of the CBI, on the grounds of error in the CBI's decision-making process. The appeal therefore succeeded. In these circumstances, the matter was remitted to the CBI for reconsideration and a new decision.
However, although the application was referred back to the CBI for further consideration, the proposed acquisition of Ava Trade had already been terminated by the sellers and so Playtech withdrew its application, bringing the process to a conclusion.
Playtech did not incur any financial penalties other than forfeiting the $5m non-refundable deposit already paid by Playtech on the signing of the acquisition.
Current trading and outlook
Average daily revenue in the Gaming division for the first 53 days of Q1 2016 was up over 12% on Q1 2015 (18% at constant currency) and up over 2% on Q4 2015 (7% at constant currency) mainly due to growth across the business including improved commercial terms and new customers in Asia.
Markets Limited has seen a strong start to 2016 driven by strong volatility with positive momentum from direct business following improvements to business model.
The momentum in the business and the strength of our pipeline gives me confidence in strong growth in 2016 with stronger growth in the Gaming division offsetting lower growth in the Financials division.
Chief Financial Officer's review
Presentation of results
The directors believe that in order to best represent the trading performance and results of the Group, the reported numbers should exclude certain non-cash and one-off items including amortisation of intangibles on acquisitions, professional costs on acquisitions, finance costs on acquisitions, one-off provision against irrecoverable cash, and additional various non-cash charges.
Underlying results are presented in respect of the above measures in order to best represent the trading performance and results of the Group. Underlying results exclude acquisitions, associate investment and structured agreements, and the impact of the UK POC tax (which is a one-off adjustment for the 2015 financial year) being the increased costs in the white-label operations and reduced earnings in our B2B revenues.
The directors believe therefore that Adjusted Profit represents more accurately the trading performance of the business and is the key performance metric used by the Board when assessing the Group's financial performance. A full reconciliation between the actual and adjusted results is provided in Note 4 of the financial statements below.
Overview
Playtech delivered a strong financial performance in 2015 with total reported revenues up 38% vs 2014. Excluding acquisitions and after adding back the effect of the UK POC tax, the underlying revenue growth was 26%.
Total regulated revenues increased to represent 46% of total revenues, which were positively impacted by the regulated revenues from Markets Limited. For the Gaming division on a standalone basis, regulated revenues increased to 41% from 36%. In light of the industry transition to regulated formats, regulated revenues in the Gaming division grew faster than .com with reported growth of 36% compared to 16% for .com (excluding acquisitions).
Adjusted EBITDA was up 22% in the year, despite a lower adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.0% (2014: 45.3%), due to the impact of acquisitions, the effect of UK POC tax introduced in December 2014 and lower margin of the recently established white-label activity. Excluding acquisitions and when adding back the effect of the UK POC tax, the underlying adjusted EBITDA growth was 44.9%.
Playtech remains highly cash generative and once again delivered strong operating cashflows of €202m, representing again, high conversion from adjusted EBITDA. In addition to these operating cash inflows, Playtech raised €313m through an equity placing to fund future acquisitions and drew down €240m of revolving credit facilities, of which €40m was repaid in Q4 2015.
Playtech has a very strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of €858m at the year end. In addition to total cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale investments were €237m, an increase of €213m in the year, mostly comprising investments in Plus500 and Ladbrokes
Revenue
Total revenue increased by 38% to €630.1m (2014: €457.0m) with underlying growth of 26% (excluding acquisitions, after adding back the effect of the UK POC tax) and 16% at constant currency.
Split of Gaming revenues by vertical
2015 €m | 2014 €m | Change | |
Casino | 308.7 | 244.2 | 26% |
Services | 155.6 | 132.8 | 17% |
Sport | 32.2 | 26.3 | 22% |
Land-based | 29.8 | 16.6 | 79% |
Bingo | 20.5 | 17.5 | 17% |
Poker | 11.2 | 13.8 | -19% |
Other | 12.1 | 5.8 | 110% |
Gaming division | 570.1 | 457.0 | 25% |
Financials division | 60.0 | - | - |
Total revenue | 630.1 | 457.0 | 38% |
Casino, our biggest product vertical, continued to be the strongest contributor to growth, adding €64.5m of additional revenues in the year to take Casino revenues to €308.7m. Casino growth was 14% excluding acquisitions at constant currency, or 16% when adding back the effect of the UK POC tax, driven by growth from top UK operators (including Sky, GalaCoral and Ladbrokes) and significant growth in Asia. The majority of the growth in Casino came from core web casino, being mainly slots and roulette, with Bingo side games and Playtech Open Platform also seeing good growth. Mobile casino revenues more than doubled in the year with mobile penetration increasing to 16% from 10% in 2014.
Services revenues increased by 17% in the year, with growth derived from operational services and supporting Playtech's white-label operations. Excluding acquisitions and after adding back the effect of POC on a constant currency basis, services revenues increased 14%.
Sport enjoyed strong growth with revenues increasing 22% to €32.2m with the majority of this growth coming from the Mobenga platform provided to top tier UK licensees. 2016 is expected to see revenues from Sports decline due to the loss of three Mobenga contracts with UK licensees who are replacing with their own user experience platform later in the year.
Land-based revenues jumped by 79% on a reported basis and 40% when excluding acquisitions on constant currency basis, driven by strong growth from Videobet and IGS and the first full year inclusion of Aristocrat Lotteries.
Bingo revenues increased 17% in the year on a reported basis and 11% on an underlying constant currency basis and after adding back the effect of POC, with growth from all major licensees and with a significant increase in the mobile channel, accounting for 20% of revenues, up from 14% in 2014.
The online Poker market continues to be challenging with revenues down 19% in 2015.
Revenues in Financials division
Playtech completed the acquisition of Markets Limited on 7 May 2015 and accordingly has consolidated the financial performance from this date into Group results.
Markets Limited generated pro-forma full year revenue of $100.2m with a post-acquisition contribution to Playtech of $66.5m (€60.0m). Active CFD customers of 62.1k in 2015 were up 25% over 2014, with first time depositors (FTDs) for CFDs of 48.9k, also up 25%.
Adjusted EBITDA & Adjusted EBITDA margin
2015 €'000 | 2014 €'000 | ||
EBITDA | 234,011 | 197,903 | |
Irrecoverable deposits and professional fees on abandoned acquisitions | 6,792 | - | |
Professional expenses on acquisitions | 6,181 | 212 | |
Employee stock option expenses | 4,904 | 364 | |
Decline in fair value of available for sale investments | - | 8,668 | |
Adjusted EBITDA | 251,888 | 207,147 | |
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 40.0% | 45.3% | |
EBITDA related to acquisitions | (13,374) | (766) | |
Effect of UK POC tax | 17,056 | 1,068 | |
Underlying adjusted EBITDA | 255,570 | 207,449 | |
Underlying adjusted EBITDA margin | 44.9% | 45.9% |
The adjusted EBITDA margin of 40.0% was impacted by acquisitions and the white-label activity together with the impact of the UK POC tax. The underlying adjusted EBITDA margin (after excluding acquisitions and the impact of the UK POC tax) was 44.9% or 47.8% when further stripping out the effect of lower margin white-label activity. After making these adjustments, and on a constant currency basis, the margin was 46.3%, broadly in-line with the margin in 2014.
Post-acquisition, Markets Limited contributed adjusted EBITDA of $17.8m (€15.9) with margin of 26% due to lower volatility and the changes made to improve the business model.
Cost of operations
2015 €'000 | 2014 €'000 | |||
Adjusted operating expenses | 378,198 | 249,833 | ||
Less revenue-driven costs | 65,670 | 37,495 | ||
Adjusted operating expenses excluding revenue-driven costs | 312,528 | 212,337 | ||
Employee-related costs | 183,573 | 59% | 133,034 | 63% |
Cost of service | 43,245 | 14% | 32,233 | 15% |
Admin and office costs | 28,702 | 9% | 22,753 | 11% |
Other costs | 26,129 | 8% | 15,247 | 7% |
Marketing White-label/Financial B2C | 19,264 | 6% | 572 | - |
Travel, exhibition and marketing costs | 11,615 | 4% | 8,498 | 4% |
Adjusted operating expenses excluding revenue-driven costs | 312,528 | 212,337 |
Adjusted operating expenses increased €128.4m, an increase of 51%, from €249.8m to €378.2m in 2015. €56.0 of the €128.3m increase came from acquisitions. The underlying operating expenses (excluding acquisitions and the effect of the UK POC tax), increased by 28%, in line with the 26% growth in underlying revenues. Excluding acquisitions, the effect of the UK POC tax and on a constant currency basis, adjusted operating expenses increased by 21% to €295.9.
Revenue-driven costs comprise mainly direct marketing costs related both to the Gaming Services division and the Financials division, fees paid to sales agents and license fees paid to third parties, including games developers, IP owners and branded content, which are typically calculated as a share of the licensee revenues generated. Revenue-driven costs as a proportion of total revenue increased from 8% to 10%, mostly as a result of additional cost related to the white-label operations and the entrance into the B2C Financials division.
Employee-related costs, as a proportion of adjusted non-revenue-related costs of operations decreased to 59% even when excluding acquisitions. Capitalisation of development cost, remained at the same 14% level from total employee related costs as seen in 2014 and total capitalised development cost was €29.7m (2014: €20.1m). Total employee-related costs excluding acquisitions, were €151.5m (2014: €124.7m).
Cost of service comprises of dedicated development teams cost, charged back to licensees, hosting and software license cost. The increase is mostly as a result of increase in the dedicated teams' headcount and new licensed technologies supporting continued investment into the IMS backend capabilities and the BIT offering.
Admin and office costs when excluding acquisitions were slightly lower as a proportion of adjusted non-revenue-related costs of operation at 10%, with an increase of 12% to €24.3m.
Finance income, financial cost and tax
Finance income decreased from €19.2m in 2014 to €14.6m in 2015 primarily as a result of foreign exchange movements on sterling cash balances with the Euro strengthening.
Adjusted financing costs increased from €0.7m in 2014 to €5.9m in 2015, due to interest on the new credit facilities and a one off facility establishment cost.
The Company is tax registered, managed and controlled from the Isle of Man, where the corporate tax rate is set at zero. The Group's trading subsidiaries are registered either in the Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands, Alderney, Gibraltar or Cyprus, where effective tax rates are low or set at zero. Other subsidiaries (normally related to the Group's development centres) are located in other jurisdictions and operate on a cost plus basis, and are taxed on their residual profits. The tax charge in 2015 was €5.4m (H1 2014: €2.9m).
Adjusted profit and adjusted EPS
2015 €'000 | 2014 €'000 | |
Profit attributable to owners of the parent | 135,810 | 140,327 |
Amortisation on acquisitions | 41,751 | 39,057 |
Non-cash accrued bond interest | 9,388 | 1,113 |
Professional expenses on potential acquisitions | 6,792 | - |
Professional costs on acquisitions | 6,181 | 212 |
Employee stock option expenses | 4,904 | 364 |
Movement in deferred and contingent consideration | 1,088 | 439 |
Decline in fair value of available for sale investments | - | 8,668 |
Provision against irrecoverable cash | - | 593 |
Adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent | 205,914 | 190,773 |
Adjusted basic EPS (in Euro cents) | 67.5 | 65.9 |
Adjusted diluted EPS (in Euro cents) | 67.4 | 65.6 |
Adjusted net profit related to acquisitions | (8,720) | 413 |
Intangible asset write off | 1,210 | - |
One-off facility costs | 1,550 | - |
Share of associate investments acquired | 5,856 | 695 |
Effect of UK POC tax | 17,056 | 1,068 |
Underlying adjusted profit for the year - attributable to owners of the parent | 222,866 | 192,949 |
Adjusted profit increased by 8%, impacted by mainly lower finance income and higher finance cost, as detailed above, together with a higher share of loss from associates. Adjusted diluted EPS was up 3% despite of an increase in shares from the placing in June 2015. Adjusted diluted EPS is calculated on the basis of a weighted average number of shares in issue 2015 of 305.5m which does not include the shares underlying the convertible bond issued in November 2014.
Total amortisation in the period was €69.6m (2014: €60.1m). The increase is mainly due to increase in amortisation on acquisitions together with the amortisation generated by new acquisitions, intangible write off and natural growth.
Cashflow
Playtech continues to be highly cash generative and once again delivered strong operating cashflows of €201.9m. In addition to these operating cash inflows, Playtech raised €313.0m through an equity placing to fund future acquisitions and drew down €200m of revolving credit facilities.
Net cash outflows from investing activities totalled €481.5 in the year. €178.9m of this related to acquisitions made in the year including Markets Limited and YoYo Games and €209.8m related to the investment in the shares of Ladbrokes and Plus500. Cash outflows from financing activities included €81.8m of dividend payments.
Balance sheet and financing
As at 31 December 2015, cash and cash equivalents amounted to €857.9m, an increase of €165.6m in the year. Material movements in cash resulted from cash inflows from operating activities and the equity placing, with cash outflows as a result of the acquisition of Markets Limited, the purchase of shares in Plus500 and Ladbrokes and the full drawdown of €200m of the revolving credit facility arranged by Barclays and RBS. During H2 2015, Playtech drew down on a further €40m unsecured revolving credit facility which was the fully repaid before the year end.
Progressive, operators' jackpots and security deposits was €63.3m, an increase of €5.9m. And client funds increase by €40.5m to €43.8m, mainly due to Markets client funds. Cash and cash equivalents net of cash held on behalf of client funds, progressive jackpot and security deposit is €750.8m
In addition to total cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale investments were €237.1m, an increase of €212.9m in the year, mostly comprising holdings in Plus500 and in Ladbrokes.
Contingent and deferred consideration liability was €145.8m, primarily relating to the earn-out on the Markets Limited acquisition.
Following the acquisition of Markets Limited (formerly TradeFX Limited) on 7 May 2015, the Group recognised the provisional fair value of certain intangible assets (including goodwill) in the interim accounts at 30 June 2015. Subsequently, additional information became available which impacted the provisional fair values recognised and, in accordance with IFRS3, the Group has taken the additional information into account in computing the final fair value of the related assets recognised in these financial statements.
The effect of amending the provisional fair values as described above was to: (i) decrease intangible assets (including goodwill) by €95m; and (ii) decrease contingent consideration by €95m. Accordingly, there was no impact on net assets.
Dividend
The Board has a stated policy of paying 40% of adjusted net profit by way of dividend with approximately one-third paid as an interim dividend and two-thirds as a final dividend.
In October 2015 the Company paid an interim dividend of 9.6 €cents per share (2014: 8.9 €cents per share).
The Board has recommended a final dividend of 18.9 €cents per share (2014: 17.5), an increase of 8% over 2014, taking the total dividend for 2015 to 28.5 €cents per share being a total payout of €91.0m. The final dividend is subject to shareholder approval at the AGM in May 2016. Given the equity placing in Q2 2015, the board has recommended that the final dividend for 2015 will exceed the 40% payout policy, aligning the growth in dividend to that of adjusted net profit.
For those shareholders wishing to receive their dividends in Sterling the last date for currency elections is 13 May 2016.
Timetable:
Ex-dividend date: | 5 May 2016 |
Record date for dividend: | 6 May 2016 |
Currency election date: | 13 May 2016 |
Payment date: | 3 June 2016 |
Principal risks and uncertainties
The key risks, which will be discussed further including how they are being addressed in Playtech's 2015 Annual Report (which will be available in the investor relations section of the corporate website), are:
Risks relating to both the Gaming division and Financials division
§ Regulation - licensing requirements
The Group holds a number of licences for its activities from regulators. Loss of all or any of these licences may adversely impact on the revenues and/or reputation of the Group.
§ Regulation - changing landscape
Group revenues could be impacted by changes in regulations, or failure to obtain any necessary licences.
§ Regulation - local requirements
New licensing regimes may impose conditions, such as the requirement to locate significant technical infrastructure within the relevant territory or establish and maintain real-time data interfaces with the regulator that present operational challenges, or may prohibit the ability of licensees to offer the full range of the Group's products.
§ Taxation
Given the environment in which the Group operates, the business is exposed to continuously evolving rules and practices governing the taxation of e-commerce activity in various jurisdictions. Adverse changes to tax rules may increase the Group's underlying effective tax rate and reduce profits available for distribution
§ Economic Environment
Any downturn in consumer discretionary and macroeconomic factors outside of Playtech's control could result in reduced spend by consumers on gambling and financial trading and the Group's revenues would fall.
§ Cash Management - Use of Cash
Playtech has significant cash balances, which may be used to acquire other businesses. Such acquisitions may not deliver the expected synergies and/or benefits and may destroy shareholder value. In addition, foreign exchange exposures could impact on the Group's financial position.
§ Key Employees
The Group's future success depends in large part on the continued service of a broad leadership team including Executive Directors, senior managers and key personnel. The development and retention of these employees along with the attraction and integration of new talent cannot be guaranteed.
§ Business Continuity & IT Security
The risk of impairment to our operations for example through Cyber and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, technology failure or terrorist attack continues to be one that the Group considers to be significant. Failure in our systems could significantly affect the services offered to our licensees.
Additional risks relating to the Gaming division
§ Competitive landscape
The gambling industry is extremely competitive and so is the related software and services industry that supports it. Failure to compete effectively may result in the loss of licensees and also the inability to attract new licensees.
Additional risks relating to the Financials division
§ Market exposure
The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities could adversely fluctuate due to movements in market prices of foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, equity and index prices
§ Regulatory - capital adequacy
The requirement to maintain adequate regulatory capital may affect the Group's ability to conduct its business and may reduce profitability
§ Trading volume
Low volatility within foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, equity and index prices may reduce profitability
Directors' responsibility statement
We confirm to the best of our knowledge;
§ The Group and Company financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group and Company; and
§ The Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the financial position of the Group and Company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.
The directors of Playtech plc are listed in the Group's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015. A list of current directors is maintained on Playtech's website, www.playtech.com
By order of the Board,
Mor Weizer Chief Executive Officer 25 February 2015 | Ron Hoffman Chief Financial Officer 25 February 2015 |
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