Zeal Group has announced positive results for the first six months of this year, following on from its launch of the world's first experience lottery.
The Group delivered billings growth of four per cent to €141.9m (€136.4m). This was driven by strong demand across its product portfolio, in spite of a 38 per cent fall in average jackpot size between the first two quarters (Q1 2018: €111m; Q2: €69m).
EBIT rose to €16.4m for the period (€7.9m), in line with guidance, while total operating performance increased 15 per cent to €74.9m, also in line with guidance and driven by a combination of billings growth and reduction in exceptional prize payouts during the period.
Jonas Mattsson, CFO at Zeal Group, said: “Zeal has performed well in the first six months of the year. Increasingly efficient marketing coupled with strong demand for our products, in particular for Instant Win Games, fuelled higher billings and a significant increase in new customers. These results demonstrate the importance of having a diverse product portfolio.”
Following the recent decision by the Australian Parliament to ban lottery betting, the group also announced that it has withdrawn from the Australian market.
Helmut Becker said: “The Australian government's decision to protect the existing lottery monopoly ahead of customers and newsagents is, of course, disappointing. In spite of this, I am excited by the overall potential of our portfolio and the opportunities I see for Zeal across the global lottery industry.”
