Svenska Spel has a stable operation with strong brands, the highest image in the gaming industry and high commitment among employees. But also challenges in the outside world such as slowing growth in the gambling market and recession in the Swedish economy. To meet this, the group has been carrying out work since the autumn to future-proof Svenska Spel by reviewing the group’s organization, working methods and costs.
– We have reorganized, reduced the workforce, and from April 1 have a new organization in place. In this way, we have freed up resources that we can invest in transformation, a strengthened gambling responsibility work and growth. These are important investments for long-term sustainable value creation, says Erik Strand, president and CEO of Svenska Spel.
During the quarter, a decision was also made to wind down Casino Cosmopol in Malmö and Gothenburg in order to reduce losses within the business area.
The group’s net gaming revenue for the quarter is SEK 1,956 million (1,976). This is a decrease of 1 percent, which is primarily due to the restructuring within the Casino Cosmopol & Vegas business area. The operating profit of SEK 310 million (612) is a decrease of 49 percent and the operating margin amounts to 16 percent (31). Operating profit and operating margin are negatively affected by non-recurring costs of SEK 375 million during the quarter. These include liquidation of the casinos in Malmö and Gothenburg, restructuring costs linked to the review of the group, as well as provision for the penalty fee that the Gambling Inspectorate announced to Svenska Spel Sport & Casino.
Excluding non-recurring costs, the operating profit is SEK 683 million (612) and the operating margin 35 percent (31).
For the group as a whole, online business increases by 6 percent compared to the same quarter last year, and accounts for 56 percent (52) of the group’s revenue during the quarter.
The net gaming revenue for business area Sport & Casino decreases during the quarter by 3 percent compared to the same quarter last year. This is mainly due to a worse outcome for the pool games.
Business area Tur increases net gaming revenue by 6 percent compared to the corresponding quarter last year. This is the highest quarterly growth for the business area ever. The increase is driven by Eurojackpot and continued growth for Triss. This is due both to efforts to increase sales of Triss, and the effect that Triss is popular as a gift at, for example, Valentine’s Day and Easter.
Revenues and results for the Casino Cosmopol & Vegas business area continue to be negatively affected by the major reorganization of Casino Cosmopol. Net gaming revenue is down by 32 percent compared to the same quarter last year. This is mainly due to the closure of the casinos in Malmö and Gothenburg, but also reduced opening hours at the remaining casino in Stockholm. The group’s operating profit is affected by -238 MSEK from the Casino Cosmopol & Vegas business area, which is a deterioration of the operating profit by 183 MSEK compared to the same quarter last year.
During the quarter, Svenska Spel distributed 71 million winnings in number games and lotteries with a total value of SEK 395 million. The quarter’s highest win was more than SEK 173 million on Eurojackpot, the eighth highest win ever at Svenska Spel and the highest Swedish game win on Eurojackpot since 2019. Sportspelen has delivered 18 million wins during the quarter, of which 15 on Stryktipset.
Stryktipset has completed the 27th edition of the Tips-SM championship with approximately 53,000 people and 3,500 teams registered. The three best punters individually and as a team were given the prize money of a total of half a million kroner to sports associations through the sponsorship initiative Gräsroten.
Svenska Spel has approximately 5,100 agents across the country and continuously invests in increasing the customer experience in the stores and making it easier for the agents. During the quarter, the agents were celebrated at a Winner’s Gala when the year’s best agents in nine categories were named.
In sports sponsorship, Svenska Spel began the year as the main sponsor of the Sports Gala and has subsequently carried out a large number of activations around the Swedish Ski Association and its eleven sports, the SM week in Luleå and Boden, and ice hockey’s top leagues SDHL, SHL and Hockeyallsvenskan.
Summary of the first quarter
- Net gaming revenue for the group amounted to SEK 1,956 million (1,976), a decrease of SEK 19 million or 1% affected by the restructuring of our casinos.
- Business area Tur has had a strong quarter and increases net gaming revenue by 6% driven by Eurojackpot and good sales of Triss.
- Operating profit for the group amounted to SEK 310 million (612), a decrease of SEK 302 million or 49%, where non-recurring costs* accounted for approximately SEK 375 million. The one-off costs are linked to the winding down of two casinos, the provision for penalty fees and the reorganization of Svenska Spel.
- The operating margin amounted to 16% (31).
- Excluding non-recurring costs*, the operating profit amounted to SEK 683 million (612) and the operating margin to 35% (31).
- Svenska Spel has carried out a reorganization and reduced the workforce to make room for future investments. New organization comes into effect from 1 April.
- The casinos in Gothenburg and Malmö have been closed and February 24 was the last night the guests could visit us there.
- Sport & Casino has completed the 27th round of the Stryktipset championship Tips-SM, where the prize money goes to sports associations via our sponsorship initiative Gräsroten.
- We have celebrated our agents at this year’s Vinnargala and awarded prizes to the best agents in nine categories.
- The Swedish Gaming Authority has given Sport & Casino a warning and a penalty fee for deficiencies in the duty of care during 2021.
* For more information, see page 17 of the Interim report January – March 2024.
Here you can read the Interim Report January – March 2024 in its entirety.
SOURCE: Svenska Spel.
