61 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MARCH/APRIL 2022 - Reduced net debt by $1.4 billion; leverage improves to 3.5x, the lowest level in Company history, achieving the 2022 leverage target a year early - Reinstated shareholder returns in the fourth quarter with payment of $0.20 quarterly cash dividend and over $40 million in share repurchases - Reaffirming full-year 2022 guidance provided at recent Investor Day "Our 2021 financial results reflect the best revenue, profit, and cash flow performance in the last four years, meeting or exceeding target levels on strong performance across the portfolio," said Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT. "We made important progress on several strategic objectives, and I am excited to be leading IGT in the next chapter of its evolution. We have set aggressive but achievable multi-year goals and we have a focused strategy to maximize value for all stakeholders." IGT Fortifies Lottery Leadership in Mexico with Expanded Agreement Company to provide Mexican national lottery innovative end-to-end services including instant tickets and sports betting until Sept. 30, 2024. IGT Expands Instant Ticket Business in Germany via Contract with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH BadenWürttemberg IGT selected as Malta National Lottery technology provider Colin Cole-Johnson appointed CEO of Bede Gaming Cole-Johnson joins Bede from Entain plc, where he was Gaming Product Director. Bringing with him over 20 years of experience, Cole-Johnson has been a major figure in the online gaming industry with director-level roles at some of the sector’s biggest operators including, Ladbrokes, William Hill and The Rank Group. His appointment to the leadership role at Bede Gaming is the latest in a series of notable announcements from the software supplier, which became part of the Gauselmann Group in March 2020. Since 2011, Bede has proven its strength in the provision of digital technology for the online gaming industry. In the past five years, as well as becoming part of the German international conglomerate, Bede has grown to over 250 staff, established offices in multiple locations and has customers across three continents. As well as counting one of the world’s largest lottery and gaming organisations amongst its customers, Bede now boasts the handling of over £50bn in annual stakes through its platform, highlighting the company’s impressive growth in recent years. Coupling this solid technical foundation with Cole-Johnson’s commercial & customer expertise will build upon Bede’s recent global expansion and enable the software supplier to evolve its premium platform offering into the ultimate operator-focussed product. Jumbo Interactive delivers strong growth in 1H22 with positive momentum across all business segments NeoGames Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Results The total of Revenues and the Company’s share in NPI revenues was $84.5 million during 2021 compared to $58.7 million during the prior year, representing an increase of 43.9% year-overyear. Revenues were $50.5 million for 2021, compared to $49.2 million for the prior year. The Company’s share in NPI revenues was $34.1 million for 2021, compared to $9.5 million during the prior year. Australia Illegal Gambling Sites Crackdown Sees 12 More Websites Blocked The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) continues its efforts to remove unlicensed online betting operators from the country. It has sent a request to ISPs to block 12 sites, which will add to the 14 that were already blocked in December. ACMA has accused the dozen sites blocked of breaching the country’s Interactive Gambling Act of 2001. The list includes 7 Reels, 21 Dukes, Arlekin Casino, Horus Casino, Johnnie Kash Kings, Lucky Star, Slot Vibe, Tangiers Casino, Thebes Casino, Winward Casino, Zebet, and Zeturf. When the ACMA received permission to go after unlicensed operators in 2017, 160 sites subsequently decided to voluntarily exit. A recent study by the ACMA showed that online gaming and betting continue to find greater popularity in the country. The agency still has a difficult time enforcing the regulations it has to uphold. It can make requests and seek support from ISPs and others. But it doesn’t have the authority to demand intervention or action. Online Casinos Coming to North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in Legislation The North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament passed a law to allow the issuance of gambling concessions to online casino operators. The bill outlines a number of features. One of the main themes is the desire to reduce black-market activity in the region. The new laws will reduce the risk of fraud, manipulation, and illicit advertising behavior, according to policymakers. The bill endorses the claim that gaming designs and formats can to lower the addictiveness of content offered by outside providers. Tabcorp Awarded Victoria 20 Year Digital Keno Licence The current exclusive 10-year retail-only licence held by Tabcorp, which was awarded in 2012 for a price of $60 million, will expire on April 15, 2022, and will be replaced by the new licence. Sue van der Merwe, Managing Director of Lotteries & Keno, stated: “Tabcorp is pleased to continue its partnership with the Victorian Government with the longer term and expanded channel flexibility offered under this licence. The new structure will allow us to continue offering Victorian players a world class Keno product and responsibly grow the game further, backed by our extensive retail and brand presence and the expertise gained from our existing Keno online business.” Online gambling operator 888 to pay a £9.4m fine after a Gambling Commission investigation revealed social responsibility and money laundering failings. Rank Digital Gaming (Alderney) – trading as bellacasino.com, grosvenorcasino.com, meccabingo.com and meccagames.com – will pay a £700,557 regulatory settlement for social responsibility failures. Annexio (Jersey) – trading as lottogo. com – will pay £612,000 regulatory settlement for both social responsibility and money laundering failures. Trinidad and Tobago now has its own gambling regulator. After the Caribbean territory approved updated gambling laws last year, lawmakers have now successfully introduced its new Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Commission. Veikkaus’ financial profit remained on previous year’s level – Sustainability actions and the coronavirus epidemic had a negative effect on the gross gaming revenue. Gaming revenue in the Philippines grows by double digits in 2021 Is Gambling in the Cards for the UAE? "The metaverse will change gambling from highly transactional and solitary to more entertainmentbased and social"
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