Latest News

Boyd Gaming Reports Third-Quarter 2018 Results

Published

7 years ago

October 26, 2018

Boyd Gaming Reports Third-Quarter 2018 Results Reading Time: 10 minutes

— Las Vegas Locals Delivers Adjusted EBITDA, Margin Growth for 14th Straight Quarter
— Midwest & South Continues Same-Store Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA Growth
— Company Acquires Five New Properties; Enters Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania
— Company Expands Sports Betting Operations, Strikes Partnership with FanDuel Group

Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “Over the last several months we significantly bolstered our Company’s long-term growth prospects with the acquisition of five new properties in four states, further expanding our geographic reach and significantly strengthening our robust free cash flow. In addition, our recent strategic partnership with FanDuel Group puts us in strong position to take full advantage of emerging sports-betting and interactive gaming opportunities that will expand our appeal to new groups of customers nationwide.”

Commenting on the Company’s operating performance, Smith added: “Positive operating trends remained firmly in place throughout our business in the third quarter. As a result of our ongoing efforts to drive marketing and operational efficiencies throughout the business, we continued to deliver same-store Adjusted EBITDA growth in both the Las Vegas Locals and Midwest and South segments. In addition, Companywide operating margins reached their highest third-quarter levels since 2005. This was yet another great quarter for our Company, and I remain confident in our future prospects as we successfully execute a well-balanced strategic plan to create long-term value for our shareholders.”

Boyd Gaming reported third-quarter revenues of $612.2 million, up 3.5% from $591.5 million in the third quarter of 2017. The Company reported net income of $11.8 million, or $0.10 per share, for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $23.2 million, or $0.20 per share, for the year-ago period. Project development, preopening and writedown expenses increased $15.6 million over the prior-year period due to acquisition and development-related activities and the launch of the Company’s redesigned player loyalty program. Interest expense increased $11.4 million, largely due to debt incurred to fund the Company’s recent acquisitions.

Total Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾was $148.8 million, up 5.8% from $140.5 million in the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted Earnings⁽¹⁾ for the third quarter 2018 were $26.7 million, or $0.23 per share, compared to Adjusted Earnings of $25.7 million, or $0.22 per share, for the same period in 2017.

(1)

See footnotes at the end of the release for additional information relative to non-GAAP financial measures.

Operations Review

Las Vegas Locals
In the Las Vegas Locals segment, third-quarter 2018 revenues were $208.8 million versus $209.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Third-quarter 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was $60.0 million, up 6.6% from $56.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, as operating margins improved nearly 200 basis points year-over-year.

The segment delivered its 14^th consecutive quarter of Adjusted EBITDA growth and margin improvement, driven by ongoing marketing and operational refinements, as well as continued strength in the regional economy. Strong operating trends continued throughout the segment, with revenues reflecting continued initiatives to drive increased profitability through refined marketing programs.

Downtown Las Vegas
In the Downtown Las Vegas segment, revenues were $59.2 million in the third quarter of 2018, up from $58.8 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA was $11.4 million in the third quarter of 2018, compared to $11.6 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting an increased loss of approximately $900,000 at the Company’s Hawaiian charter service due largely to higher fuel costs.

The Company’s three downtown properties performed at record levels during the third quarter, due to continued strength in visitation throughout the downtown area and strong business volumes from the Company’s Hawaiian customer base. These strong operating trends were offset by the increased charter-service loss, as well as continued disruption from nearby project development and freeway construction.

Midwest and South
In the Midwest and South segment, revenues were $344.3 million, increasing from $323.1 million in the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA was $97.8 million, up 8.5% from $90.1 million in the year-ago period. Results for the segment include $3.5 million in combined Adjusted EBITDA contributions from Valley Forge Casino Resort, acquired on September 17, 2018, and Lattner Entertainment, acquired on June 1, 2018.

On a same-store basis, results reflect broad-based growth in revenues and Adjusted EBITDA, as segment operating margins improved nearly 90 basis points. Segment results benefited from ongoing efficiencies in marketing and operations, as well as healthy economic conditions across the Company’s regional markets.

Balance Sheet Statistics
As of September 30, 2018, Boyd Gaming had cash on hand of $441.0 million, and total debt of $3.60 billion. Cash and debt balances reflect the Company’s issuance of $700 million in 6.000% Senior Notes due 2026, completed in June 2018.

Full-Year 2018 Guidance
For the full year 2018, Boyd Gaming projects total Adjusted EBITDAR⁽¹⁾ of $660 million to $675 million. This projection confirms the Company’s previously provided guidance, and includes the impacts of the recent acquisitions.

Conference Call Information
Boyd Gaming will host a conference call to discuss third-quarter 2018 results today, October 25, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The conference call number is (888) 317-6003, passcode 2917968. Please call up to 15 minutes in advance to ensure you are connected prior to the start of the call.

The conference call will also be available live on the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/964/27969

Following the call’s completion, a replay will be available by dialing (877) 344-7529 today, October 25, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern and continuing through Thursday, November 1, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The conference number for the replay will be 10125633.

BOYD GAMING CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
*(In thousands, except per share data)*	2018		2017 (a)		2018		2017 (a)
Revenues
Gaming	$	446,760	$	428,852	$	1,335,011	$	1,309,922
Food and beverage	86,006		84,996		259,006		259,245
Room	47,984		47,600		145,330		142,284
Other	31,446		30,094		95,760		94,280
Total revenues	612,196		591,542		1,835,107		1,805,731
Operating costs and expenses
Gaming	197,435		188,044		580,461		569,597
Food and beverage	82,179		82,942		246,488		251,717
Room	22,288		21,845		64,875		64,594
Other	21,149		19,966		63,599		62,500
Selling, general and administrative	88,054		91,288		263,678		275,938
Maintenance and utilities	32,927		30,244		89,526		82,507
Depreciation and amortization	54,688		55,201		159,887		161,728
Corporate expense	25,055		19,339		74,975		63,388
Project development, preopening and writedowns	18,588		2,975		27,829		8,731
Impairments of assets	—		—		993		—
Other operating items, net	265		758		2,196		1,707
Total operating costs and expenses	542,628		512,602		1,574,507		1,542,407
Operating income	69,568		78,940		260,600		263,324
Other expense (income)
Interest income	(2,189)		(452)		(3,168)		(1,367)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	54,670		43,309		143,888		129,711
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt	—		319		61		853
Other, net	16		(139)		(388)		531
Total other expense, net	52,497		43,037		140,393		129,728
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	17,071		35,903		120,207		133,596
Income tax provision	(5,234)		(12,746)		(28,373)		(47,671)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	11,837		23,157		91,834		85,925
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—		347		21,392
Net income	$	11,837	$	23,157	$	92,181	$	107,317

Basic net income per common share
Continuing operations	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.81	$	0.74
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		0.19
Basic net income per common share	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.81	$	0.93
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	114,410		114,836		114,443		115,108

Diluted net income per common share
Continuing operations	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.80	$	0.75
Discontinued operations	—		—		—		0.18
Diluted net income per common share	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.80	$	0.93
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	115,070		115,501		115,147		115,768


__________________________________________
(a)	Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018, utilizing the full retrospective transition method.

BOYD GAMING CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
*(In thousands)*	2018		2017 (a)		2018		2017 (a)
Total Revenues by Reportable Segment
Las Vegas Locals	$	208,781	$	209,666	$	650,930	$	648,580
Downtown Las Vegas	59,163		58,781		180,833		179,360
Midwest and South	344,252		323,095		1,003,344		977,791
Total revenues	$	612,196	$	591,542	$	1,835,107	$	1,805,731

Adjusted EBITDA by Reportable Segment
Las Vegas Locals	$	60,021	$	56,296	$	201,299	$	185,510
Downtown Las Vegas	11,368		11,595		38,129		37,841
Midwest and South	97,837		90,135		290,593		278,178
Property Adjusted EBITDA	169,226		158,026		530,021		501,529
Corporate expense (b)	(20,475)		(17,480)		(57,375)		(53,850)
Adjusted EBITDA	148,751		140,546		472,646		447,679

Other operating costs and expenses
Deferred rent	275		290		825		977
Depreciation and amortization	54,688		55,201		159,887		161,728
Share-based compensation expense	5,367		2,382		20,316		11,212
Project development, preopening and writedowns	18,588		2,975		27,829		8,731
Impairments of assets	—		—		993		—
Other operating items, net	265		758		2,196		1,707
Total other operating costs and expenses	79,183		61,606		212,046		184,355
Operating income	69,568		78,940		260,600		263,324
Other expense (income)
Interest income	(2,189)		(452)		(3,168)		(1,367)
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized	54,670		43,309		143,888		129,711
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt	—		319		61		853
Other, net	16		(139)		(388)		531
Total other expense, net	52,497		43,037		140,393		129,728
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	17,071		35,903		120,207		133,596
Income tax provision	(5,234)		(12,746)		(28,373)		(47,671)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	11,837		23,157		91,834		85,925
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—		347		21,392
Net income	$	11,837	$	23,157	$	92,181	$	107,317


__________________________________________
(a)	Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018, utilizing the full retrospective transition method.
(b)	Reconciliation of corporate expense:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
*(In thousands)*	2018		2017		2018		2017
Corporate expense as reported on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations	$	25,055	$	19,339	$	74,975	$	63,388
Corporate share-based compensation expense	(4,580)		(1,859)		(17,600)		(9,538)
Corporate expense as reported on the above table	$	20,475	$	17,480	$	57,375	$	53,850

BOYD GAMING CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Reconciliations of Net Income to Adjusted Earnings
and Net Income Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
*(In thousands, except per share data)*	2018		2017 (a)		2018		2017 (a)
Net income	$	11,837	$	23,157	$	92,181	$	107,317
Less: income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—		—		(347)		(21,392)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	11,837		23,157		91,834		85,925
*Pretax adjustments:*
Project development, preopening and writedowns	18,588		2,975		27,829		8,731
Impairments of assets	—		—		993		—
Other operating items, net	265		758		2,196		1,707
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt	—		319		61		853
Other, net	16		(139)		(388)		531
Total adjustments	18,869		3,913		30,691		11,822

*Income tax effect for above adjustments*	(4,038)		(1,387)		(6,612)		(4,267)
Adjusted earnings	$	26,668	$	25,683	$	115,913	$	93,480

Net income per share, diluted	$	0.10	$	0.20	$	0.80	$	0.93
Less: income from discontinued operations per share	—		—		—		(0.18)
Income from continuing operations per share	0.10		0.20		0.80		0.75
*Pretax adjustments:*
Project development, preopening and writedowns	0.16		0.02		0.24		0.08
Impairments of assets	—		—		0.01		—
Other operating items, net	—		0.01		0.02		0.01
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt	—		—		—		0.01
Other, net	—		—		—		—
Total adjustments	0.16		0.03		0.27		0.10

*Income tax effect for above adjustments*	(0.03)		(0.01)		(0.06)		(0.04)
Adjusted earnings per share, diluted	$	0.23	$	0.22	$	1.01	$	0.81

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	115,070		115,501		115,147		115,768


__________________________________________
(a)	Prior-period information has been restated for the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018, utilizing the full retrospective transition method.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Regulation G, “Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” prescribes the conditions for use of non-GAAP financial information in public disclosures. We believe that our presentations of the following non-GAAP financial measures are important supplemental measures of operating performance to investors: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Adjusted EPS). The following discussion defines these terms and why we believe they are useful measures of our performance. We do not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding forward-looking GAAP measure due to our inability to project special charges and certain expenses.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR
EBITDA is a commonly used measure of performance in our industry that we believe, when considered with measures calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), provides our investors a more complete understanding of our operating results before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes and facilitates comparisons between us and our competitors. Management has historically adjusted EBITDA when evaluating operating performance because we believe that the inclusion or exclusion of certain recurring and non-recurring items is necessary to provide a full understanding of our core operating results and as a means to evaluate period-to-period results. We refer to this measure as Adjusted EBITDA. We have chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform comparisons of past, present and future operating results and as a means to evaluate the results of core on-going operations. We have historically reported this measure to our investors and believe that the continued inclusion of Adjusted EBITDA provides consistency in our financial reporting. We use Adjusted EBITDA in this press release because we believe it is useful to investors in allowing greater transparency related to a significant measure used by our management in their financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted EBITDA is among the more significant factors in management’s internal evaluation of total company and individual property performance and in the evaluation of incentive compensation related to property management. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure in the evaluation of potential acquisitions and dispositions. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by management in the annual budget process. Externally, we believe these measures continue to be used by investors in their assessment of our operating performance and the valuation of our company. Adjusted EBITDA reflects EBITDA adjusted for deferred rent, share-based compensation expense, project development, preopening and writedown expenses, impairments of assets, loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt and other operating items, net. Following the Company’s acquisition during the fourth quarter of 2018 of properties subject to a master lease with a real estate investment trust, the Company will begin presenting Adjusted EBITDAR, which will reflect Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted for rent expense associated with the master lease.

Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS
Adjusted Earnings is net income before project development, preopening and writedown expenses, impairments of assets, other items, net, gain or loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt, other non-recurring adjustments, net, and income from discontinued operations, net of tax. Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS are presented solely as supplemental disclosures because management believes that they are widely used measures of performance in the gaming industry.

Limitations on the Use of Non-GAAP Measures
The use of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations. Our presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS or certain other non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the presentation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, income taxes and other items have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. Additionally, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR do not consider capital expenditures and other investing activities and should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of our depreciation and amortization, interest and income taxes, capital expenditures and other items both in our reconciliations to the historical GAAP financial measures and in our consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance.

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, or any other operating performance measure prescribed by GAAP, nor should these measures be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures reflect additional ways of viewing our operations that we believe, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to the corresponding historical GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. Management strongly encourages investors to review our financial information in its entirety and not to rely on a single financial measure.

Forward-looking Statements and Company Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue,” “pursue,” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and may include (without limitation) information regarding the Company’s expectations, goals or intentions regarding future performance. In addition, forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: the benefits from the Company’s recently completed acquisitions of five new properties and the strategic partnership with FanDuel Group, progress in positioning the Company to keep creating long-term shareholder value, progress towards executing on its strategic plan, and the overall direction of the Company and all of the statements under the heading “Full-Year 2018 Guidance.” Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; recovery of its properties in various markets; the political climate and its effects on consumer spending and its impact on the travel industry; the state of the economy and its effect on consumer spending and the Company’s results of operations; the timing for economic recovery, its effect on the Company’s business and the local economies where the Company’s properties are located; the receipt of legislative, and other state, federal and local approvals for the Company’s development projects; whether online gaming will become legalized in various states, the Company’s ability to operate online gaming profitably, or otherwise; consumer reaction to fluctuations in the stock market and economic factors; the fact that the Company’s expansion, development and renovation projects (including enhancements to improve property performance) are subject to many risks inherent in expansion, development or construction of a new or existing project; the effects of events adversely impacting the economy or the regions from which the Company draws a significant percentage of its customers; competition; litigation; financial community and rating agency perceptions of the Company and its subsidiaries; changes in laws and regulations, including increased taxes; the availability and price of energy, weather, regulation, economic, credit and capital market conditions; and the effects of war, terrorist or similar activity. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in the Company’s other current and periodic reports filed from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Boyd Gaming
Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) is a leading geographically diversified operator of 29 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states. The Company currently operates 1.76 million square feet of casino space, approximately 38,000 gaming machines, 900 table games, more than 11,000 hotel rooms, and 320 food and beverage outlets. With one of the most experienced leadership teams in the casino industry, Boyd Gaming prides itself on offering its guests an outstanding entertainment experience, delivered with unwavering attention to customer service.

Source: Boyd Gaming Corporation

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

Related Topics:gambling industry in Europe

George Miller

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Latest News

Heavyweight Club by GR8 Tech Signals New Era of Operator Ambition at iGB L!VE

Published

25 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The iGaming industry got a taste of heavyweight ambition at iGB L!VE London 2025, where GR8 Tech unveiled its Heavyweight Club—an exclusive community that takes domination in iGaming markets as seriously as world champion Oleksandr Usyk takes defending his undisputed heavyweight title.

“iGB L!VE London was the ignition point for the Heavyweight Club. We showcased top-tier tech and connected with operators ready to lead, scale, and dominate. The energy, the conversations, the demand for real performance confirmed what we’ve always believed: the iGaming industry is hungry for heavyweight solutions and GR8 Tech is here to deliver,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, GR8 Tech’s CRO.

Industry Response Points to Market Appetite

With increased competition making differentiation more challenging, speed-to-market pressure intensifying as new markets emerge, and technology debt from legacy systems hindering operators’ growth, the industry is at a critical juncture. In 110 meetings with the sales team and over 65 conducted demos, operator feedback consistently centered on these exact challenges.

This shift is evident across the ecosystem. Mariia Shmelova, CEO of Aff.Tech—GR8 Tech’s proprietary affiliate management platform—observed similar patterns: “One major trend is the demand for greater transparency and performance accountability. Operators want to see exactly what’s driving traffic, conversions, and ROI. That’s why we’ve been doubling down on data—not just analytics, but actionable insights that affiliates and operators can use in real time. We’re also seeing growing interest in multi-geo, multi-brand campaigns, and our platform is built to support those kinds of complex setups with ease. Flexibility, automation, and smart integrations are the future.”

The conversations revealed a clear understanding: champion ambitions require champion tools. Operators emphasized the need for high-performance solutions that deliver geo-specificity for local market domination and margin mastery that turns competitive pressure into profit advantage. The response highlighted how operators are seeking partners who understand that every champion needs exactly the right tools for their specific fight.

GR8 Tech’s approach resonated because it addresses this reality with three key solutions designed for different use scenarios:

Hyper Turnkey, which delivers fully managed casino and sportsbook operations that scale with ambition;
ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame with its lightning-fast integration and market-specific customization capabilities;
Infinite Casino Aggregation, offering premium gaming experiences with an operator-first flexibility.

This comprehensive approach ensures every operator gets precisely what they need to overcome their unique market challenges and achieve championship-level performance.

Heavyweight Club Momentum Builds Toward Next Championship Round

The “Fight for Greatness” collection drew significant attention on the show floor. Attendees’ enthusiasm for the showcased apparel and accessories, paired with strong performance of the online store, confirmed that the Heavyweight Club resonates far beyond technology—it’s a mindset people want to embody and a philosophy they want to wear.

GR8 Tech’s AR experience featuring Oleksandr Usyk became a magnet for attendees, with over 80 participants stepping into the champion’s world in one of the most memorable activations on the show floor. Winners of the AR experience didn’t just walk away with impressive pictures—they earned tickets to witness Usyk defend his undisputed heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois this July.

Just as Usyk will defend his title at Wembley, the Heavyweight Club will continue its championship journey beyond iGB L!VE. The next epic edition awaits at SBC Summit in September, where the movement will expand with new challenges and opportunities for operators ready to dominate their markets.

Ready to fight for greatness? Connect with GR8 Tech and step into the ring.

GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions

GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and Platform Acceler8 suite, featuring its proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.

With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of the Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE by GamingTECH Awards 2025.

The post Heavyweight Club by GR8 Tech Signals New Era of Operator Ambition at iGB L!VE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

FBMDS introduces Piñata Rush – A Thrilling Twist on Crash Gaming Innovation

Published

25 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

FBMDS proudly announces the upcoming launch of Piñata Rush, the newest entry in the Momentum Series of crash games. Built with multiplayer engagement in mind and backed by seamless cross-platform performance, Piñata Rush is set to become a standout experience in the evolving crash category. Designed for operators seeking flexible, feature-rich crash content, Piñata Rush combines classic single-multiplier crash mechanics with innovative social elements and refined gameplay systems.

Unlike traditional crash games, Piñata Rush introduces Bet Rankings, a real-time leaderboard mechanic that highlights player bets and cashouts during each round. This dynamic layer fosters social competitiveness and increases player visibility — two key factors in improving session depth and repeat play.

With the ability to place up to two simultaneous bets per round, configurable Auto Cashout, and both manual and automatic betting options, Piñata Rush offers players tactical freedom and operators a new way to appeal to diverse user profiles.

Key Product Highlights:

Multiplayer crash format with shared rounds and real-time Bet Rankings
Configurable maximum multiplier from 100x to 1000x
Manual and Auto-Bet functionality
Auto Cashout starting from 1.01x for strategic control
Support for dual betting in every round
Optimized for Desktop, Tablet & Mobile
RTP: 97.06%

Operators also benefit from a built-in Tournament Tool, allowing regionally tailored competitions with multilingual support, flexible prize types, and custom campaign configuration. Combined with in-game history tracking, streamlined settings, and full visual customization options, Piñata Rush is engineered to drive engagement while offering operational versatility. As part of FBMDS’ growing Momentum Series, which also includes Magical Garden and Arctic Jumper, Piñata Rush continues the brand’s commitment to delivering high-performing, modular crash content designed for today’s dynamic player profiles in emerging markets.

The post FBMDS introduces Piñata Rush – A Thrilling Twist on Crash Gaming Innovation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Successful Premiere of Portside Game Assembly: the Indie Conference on the Water Returns in June 2026

Published

25 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

On June 26 and 27, Gamecity Hamburg, as part of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, celebrated the successful premiere of Portside Game Assembly. A B2B conference for indie studios with 100 selected studio directors from 15 countries on a ship cruising through the port of Hamburg. The event provided a confidential setting for studio executives to exchange ideas and gain new perspectives. The list of attendees is carefully curated, allowing only management-level representatives from indie studios that have successfully published at least one game on board. In addition to the conference, three other Portside Game Assembly events facilitated interaction between industry members of the Hamburg games industry and international guests, as well as additional networking with conference participants, publishers, and game studios. 200 additional games industry peers met with the conference attendees in three other extraordinary Hamburg locations for networking and exchange. Following a successful premiere and receiving very positive feedback from attendees, the second Portside Game Assembly in Hamburg is scheduled for June 25 and 26, 2026!

“We saw a gap within the calendar of international games industry B2B events and decided to go for it. With the Portside Game Assembly, we are creating a space in which leaders of indie studios can exchange ideas confidentially and on an eye level. By curating the list of participants, we guarantee that participants get new impulses for their business and make relevant new contacts without distraction. We develop the content of the program in close exchange with the participating studios and always for the perspective of studio directors and founders. We are overjoyed with the feedback from the attendees on the premiere and are starting to plan the second Portside in June 2026”, explains Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg.

“With companies that have been successful for decades and a diverse and growing indie game scene, the games industry is an important part of Hamburg’s creative industry. With Portside Game Assembly, we have developed another key element that strengthens the importance of Hamburg as a games location by bringing important studio heads and industry contacts to Hamburg and thus promoting international exchange”, comments Egbert Rühl, Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft.

Quotes from Participating Studios

“There was a great atmosphere, and the curation was a good mix of profiles and range of companies. It was easy to get in touch with people at the different locations. I’d recommend Portside Game Assembly to network, meet other indies to connect, ask questions, and share knowledge”, Thomas Pfeiffer, CEO & Co-Founder Evil Empire.

„Portside is not your typical conference, It’s something special. No business cards, no distractions, just studio heads having real, honest conversations. Everyone in the room has been through the same challenges, and that shared experience creates a rare level of openness. Ideas, insights, and best practices were shared freely, and I left with a notebook full of actionable takeaways. Absolutely worth it”, Jeroen Janssen, Studio Head & Founder Happy Volcano.

„Portside Game Assembly provided a wonderful ‘Free Port’ for me as an Indie Dev Executive to meet with likeminded leaders from the industry.
Good, deep, conversations about what works – and what doesn’t”, Christian Nyhus Andreasen, Partner & COO Fair Games.

The program of Portside Game Assembly included a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative, short impulse talks and roundtables focusing on thought provoking and subsequent discussions. All of this on a conference ship cruising through the port of Hamburg and along the river Elbe.

After a keynote speech by Benjamin Laulan (COO & Co-Founder Evil Empire), the two conference tracks (impulse talks & roundtables) provided numerous opportunities for input, exchange and insights from speakers like Philomena Schwab (Co-Founder Stray Fawn Studio), Søren Lundgaard (CEO Ghost Ship Games), Mauricio García (Studio Director The Game Kitchen), Kevin Zuhn (Creative Director & Co-Founder Young Horses), René Habermann (Director Bippinbits) and many more.

Participating studios at the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly included Bippinbits, Bolt Blaster Games, Byterockers’ Games, Chasing Carrots, Cipsoft, Color Gray, Cybernetic Walrus, Digital Cybercherries, Digital Sun, Evil Empire, Fair Games, Foulball Hangover, Gamious, Ghost Ship Games, Grizzly Games, Happy Volcano, Hutlihut, Indoor Astronaut, Kafi, kaleidoscube, Keen, Maschinen-Mensch, Megagon Industries, Mooneye, Osmotic Studios, Overhype Studios, Paint Bucket Games, Rockfish Games, Spellgarden Games, Stray Fawn Studio, Studio Seufz, Styrax Studios, The Game Kitchen, The Good Evil, Tiny Roar, Torpor Games, Toukana Interactive and Young Horses.

All speakers of Portside Game Assembly 2025: https://portsideassembly.com/program/

At the three accompanying events of Portside Game Assembly, the 100 conference attendees exchanged ideas with 200 people from the local and international games industry. The Opening Mixer the evening before kicked off the series of events with a relaxed networking session, followed by a morning networking brunch in the Hamburg HafenCity. The closing Games Industry Party after the conference brought all participants together on the culture ship MS Stubnitz for an atmospheric final.

Sponsors and partners photon and Twin Harbour Interactive were on board to support the premiere of the Portside Game Assembly.

The post Successful Premiere of Portside Game Assembly: the Indie Conference on the Water Returns in June 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.