Lucky Scratchers

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Revenue from land-based casinos edged up 1.5% to R3.42 billion, with Sun International’s share of the market rising 2.3% to 49%.

Sun International attributed the land-based growth to investments in product and marketing, with land-based casino GGR growing 4.4%. The company launched 876 new slot machines and stadium games during the period.

Bengtsson said the land-based growth reflected Sun International’s “strong execution and sound investment decisions”.

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The operator declined to comment on losing its spot in the FTSE 100, but recent sentiment from the senior management team has been positive in recent quarters as its turnaround efforts have shown green shoots amid growth returning to its core markets. This is despite various regulatory and tax headwinds across Europe.

In Q1 2025, the group reported double-digit digital growth, thanks to strong UK, Brazil and US online performances. The period marked Stella David’s first quarter in the full-time group CEO role.

David, at the time, said she was “optimistic but prudent” about Entain’s Q1 performance.  

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Entain said the higher RGD had a £56 million negative impact on first-half EBITDA. In Britain, operators are dealing with government policy and higher taxes. In America, the main threat is competition. The problems are different, but they hit the same group of stocks.

Entain is trying to respond by simplifying itself. It has agreed to sell an initial 20% stake in Entain CEE for €425 million, implying an enterprise value of about €2.1 billion. The company says proceeds from the transaction and any future exit will be used to reduce debt and, subject to leverage objectives, return excess capital to shareholders.

The strategy is less about rapid growth and more about showing that a cash-generating business with falling debt and improving operations is undervalued.