Gambling operator Unibet Group plc released information about its financial performance during the second quarter of the year as well as for the six-month period ended June 30. Gross winning revenue for the three months ended June 30 amounted to £80.5 million. In addition, gross winning revenue for the first half of 2015 totaled £156.6 million.
The company said that gross winning revenue marked a 21% organic growth during the year’s second quarter due to marketing investments made in previous quarters. The growth was in constant currency and was achieved despite the fact that last year, Unibet had quite a successful first half due to favorable results during the FIFA World Cup.
Revenue from mobile operations rose 48% in GBP and 69% in constant currency. Revenue from sporstbook offering increased 12% in GBP and more than 27% in constant currency. Furthermore, Unibet’s Casino & Games operations posted an all-time high. The strong organic growths in the operator’s segments resulted in an all-time high in overall gross winnings revenue.
EBITDA amounted to £19 million for the three months ended June 30 and £33.4 million for the first half of the calendar year. The company’s EBITDA posted a 13% organic growth in GBP and a 39% one in constant currency, although Unibet did not hold a major tournament over the past three months.
The gambling operator reported that it had a total of 603,528 active customers by the end of the second quarter.
Henrik Tjärnström, Chief Executive Officer of Unibet, commented on the major investments the company has made over the past several years in order to expand its presence in the UK. The executive said that those investments together with the recent acquisition of Stan James Online will considerably accelerate Unibet’s “development and profitability” in a market that is traditionally known to be the largest locally regulated one in the world.
The gambling operator announced back in July that it was to purchase Stan James’ online business for the total amount of £19 million. The group said that its latest acquisition was completely payable in cash. By purchasing Stan James Online, Unibet fully took charge of the brand and the gambling options it offers. The transaction is to be completed in the third quarter of 2015.
