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Atlaslive: Riding the Esports Wave — Tapping into a Billion-Dollar Opportunity
Esports is no longer just a trend; it’s a booming phenomenon that’s reshaping the iGaming landscape. As tech continues to weave itself into every part of our lives, the rise of esports has become impossible to ignore. It’s competitive gaming at its finest, with fans cheering for their favorite teams, watching matches with the same passion they have for traditional sports, and, of course, placing bets on the outcomes.
What started as a niche has exploded into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with live broadcasts of esports competitions attracting global audiences. Platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made it simple for anyone with an internet connection to jump in, watch top players and teams go head-to-head, and be part of the action. Like their traditional sports counterparts, successful esports players can pull in impressive earnings, and with major tournaments offering millions in prize money, the stakes are high.
The esports ecosystem is vast, encompassing everything from tournament organization and league development to event broadcasting. As the esports scene expands, so does the betting market, offering fans new ways to engage by placing wagers on their favorite teams, players, or outcomes. This evolution has transformed casual gamers into professional esports athletes, capturing the attention of millions worldwide.
Thanks to platforms like Atlaslive’s Sportsbook, esports betting is gaining serious traction. We understand the importance of offering a comprehensive iGaming platform that meets the needs of both operators and their audiences. The Atlaslive Sportsbook Platform is your all-in-one solution, featuring real-time transactions, customer relationship management, bonus systems, and a wide range of payment options. With Atlaslive, operators have everything they need to run a seamless and successful betting operation, ensuring an enhanced user experience.
Esports Betting Booms Across the Globe
Esports betting is on the rise across different continents, with North and Latin America emerging as key markets in this exciting sector. Just as traditional sports betting has evolved, esports betting is also seeing rapid innovation. At Atlaslive, we’re particularly excited about the opportunities in Latin America—a region with growing economies and a strong passion for both traditional sports and esports. Games like Counter-Strike and League of Legends are massive here, especially in Brazil, where the esports scene is thriving.
Brazil is a standout market, with a population of around 220 million, many of whom are young and passionate about sports. The country’s love for soccer is now spilling over into esports, with soccer stars like Neymar joining the fun, playing Counter-Strike with pros, and streaming to huge audiences. This crossover has fostered a robust fan culture, not just for traditional esports titles but also for games like Rainbow 6 and the rebranded EA Sports FC, formerly FIFA. Once esports betting is fully regulated here, we’re expecting a surge in popularity.
North America is another major player, with the U.S. leading the global market. In 2023 alone, the esports market in the U.S. was valued at nearly $0.93 billion, and we anticipate steady growth to about $1.46 billion by 2027, driven by a consistent annual growth rate of 9.4%.
Europe isn’t far behind, generating $1.1 billion in revenue in 2023. With a growth rate of 9.7%, the European market could see revenues surpass $1.76 billion by 2027. Europe’s cultural diversity and deep-seated esports enthusiasm make it a hotbed for games like Dota 2 and CS, with major tournaments regularly held across the continent.
Asia, the largest market, continues to drive the global esports industry, generating over a billion dollars annually across various segments and showing no signs of slowing down.
The Atlaslive Platform is built to be highly customizable, offering a variety of games to meet the specific needs of any market. Our platform is designed with maximum flexibility in mind, allowing operators to target specific markets effectively. Esports is a priority for our Sportsbook, and we’re actively expanding our offerings globally. In partnership with Oddin, we provide a wide selection of cyber events, including Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Valorant, League of Legends, and more, with a range of markets to suit every preference.
Top Esports Games in 2024: Where the Action Is
As millions of fans tune in and the prize money keeps climbing, knowing which games are leading the charge is key—whether you’re a player, a fan, or looking to place a bet. At Atlaslive, we’ve seen a notable increase in betting on games like DOTA 2, CSGO, FIFA, Overwatch, and other top esports titles.
According to Esports Charts, a unique analytical service, leading games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike dominate the prize pool rankings. League of Legends sits at the top, with over $75 million in prizes, showcasing just how competitive and high-stakes the scene is. Dota 2 also holds strong, with its prize pool hitting the $12 million mark. These significant sums not only highlight the games’ value but also their appeal in the global esports market.
Source: Esports Charts 2024
Looking at peak viewership, it’s clear which games keep fans hooked. League of Legends leads the pack with nearly 3 million peak viewers, proving its massive appeal. Counter-Strike and Valorant also draw big crowds, with millions tuning in to watch the major matchups.
Source: Esports Charts 2024
Picking the Right Esports to Bet On
When it comes to betting on esports, the best advice is to stick with what you know. Having a solid grasp of the game, teams, and players is crucial. Think of it like traditional sports betting: if you’ve never bet on football before, you wouldn’t just randomly choose a league, team, or player without knowing anything about them, right? The same logic applies to esports. Jumping in without any background knowledge is risky.
Just like the countless football leagues around the world, esports features a wide variety of games, each with its own set of teams and skill levels. Betting blindly on any of them can be a gamble in itself.
Esports betting might seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. While placing bets before a match is the norm, live betting has become increasingly popular, letting you make wagers as the action unfolds. This adds an extra layer of excitement, allowing you to react in real time as the game progresses.
From Predicting Outcomes to Betting Skins: The Many Faces of Esports Wagering
Esports offers several ways to bet, catering to different preferences. The most common method is real-money betting with fixed odds through online platforms, where you predict the match outcome based on provided odds. Social betting is another popular option, where friends or acquaintances make informal wagers with each other, offering a more relaxed and flexible betting experience.
Another unique aspect of esports betting involves skins and loot boxes, virtual items that players can earn or purchase within games. These can be used as stakes in bets, and some platforms even allow the exchange of skins for real money, making it somewhat akin to traditional cash betting.
Bets can vary widely, from predicting the winner of a match or tournament to more specific outcomes, like the final score or the results of individual games. Odd/Even bets are particularly interesting—you guess whether something like the number of games won, players killed, or rounds played will end up as an odd or even number. Over/Under bets involve wagering on whether a team will score more or less than a figure set by the betting site.
At Atlaslive, we take the user experience to the next level by offering extensive coverage of popular esports games with competitive odds. Our platform accommodates flexible betting limits suitable for different types of players, along with attractive welcome bonuses that can be tailored through our CRM component.
What sets the Atlaslive Platform apart is our commitment to convenience and seamless operation for our partners. We offer advanced live features, seamless automation, and real-time adjustments to deliver an unmatched betting experience. We prioritize your target market and requirements, ensuring that our team and technology provide perfect customization to meet your needs.
The Power of Gamification in Esports Betting
Esports is a different beast from traditional sports, and it’s essential to develop a strategy that resonates with esports fans. This means understanding their preferences and using the right channels to engage them. At Atlaslive, we focus on creating a betting experience that’s not just engaging but also perfectly aligned with the interests and habits of esports enthusiasts. These fans are typically younger, tech-savvy, and expect a fast, smooth, and thrilling user experience. To stand out in the esports betting market, sportsbooks need to meet these high expectations.
Atlaslive’s advanced CRM system, equipped with personalized marketing and gamification tools, helps keep audiences captivated and loyal. Gamifying esports betting offers numerous advantages for both operators and players. By incorporating rewards, leaderboards, achievements, and points systems, operators can foster a sense of competition that boosts player engagement. This approach not only attracts new customers but also keeps existing ones loyal by offering extra incentives for betting on games or tournaments.
Gamification enhances the betting experience by allowing players to customize their profiles and compete against friends or other players for prizes. Loyalty programs with exclusive rewards and bonuses for long-term players further increase customer retention. Additionally, operators gain valuable insights into customer behavior through analytics tools that track interactions with the Atlaslive Platform. This data helps us continuously refine our services and spot new growth opportunities.
Gamified esports betting platforms also create a strong sense of community among players. Features like leaderboards and chat rooms enable players to compete and share experiences, strengthening the connection between the operator and the audience. All these elements contribute to higher revenue while ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
The post Atlaslive: Riding the Esports Wave — Tapping into a Billion-Dollar Opportunity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Sportradar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results and Announces Agreement to Acquire IMG Arena and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights
Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) (“Sportradar” or the “Company”), a leading global sports technology company focused on creating immersive experiences for sports fans and bettors, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024.
Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar, said: “We are pleased with our strong execution in 2024, achieving record revenue, operating margins and free cash flow generation. Importantly, we continued to build on our key competitive advantages including enhancing the depth and breadth of our content portfolio and further innovating on our product offerings. On the content front, with the extension and expansion of our Major League Baseball partnership, we now have all our existing major rights locked in for an average of six years, providing us with great cost visibility. And with the announced agreement to acquire IMG ARENA’s sports rights portfolio, we will further enhance our sports coverage in some of the most bet on sports globally. This past year we also grew our product offering, launching a number of award-winning products that expand our best-in class product suite and bring fans closer to their favorite sports. Importantly, as we grow our topline, we are at an inflection point for multi-year margin expansion and increasing cash flow, positioning us to deliver meaningful shareholder value for years to come.”
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR REVENUE BY PRODUCT GROUP
Revenue
| Three-Month Period Ended December 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||
| in € thousands (unaudited) | 2024 | 2023 | Change | % | 2024 | 2023 | Change | % | |||||||||||
| Revenue by product | |||||||||||||||||||
| Betting & Gaming Content | 191,783 | 147,747 | 44,036 | 30 | % | 707,119 | 530,099 | 177,020 | 33 | % | |||||||||
| Managed Betting Services | 55,145 | 55,870 | (725 | ) | (1 | )% | 199,871 | 173,391 | 26,480 | 15 | % | ||||||||
| Betting Technology & Solutions | 246,928 | 203,617 | 43,311 | 21 | % | 906,990 | 703,490 | 203,500 | 29 | % | |||||||||
| Marketing & Media Services | 44,282 | 36,445 | 7,837 | 22 | % | 146,919 | 126,629 | 20,290 | 16 | % | |||||||||
| Sports Performance | 11,051 | 10,608 | 443 | 4 | % | 40,366 | 39,758 | 608 | 2 | % | |||||||||
| Integrity Services | 4,809 | 1,916 | 2,893 | 151 | % | 12,281 | 7,744 | 4,537 | 59 | % | |||||||||
| Sports Content, Technology & Services | 60,142 | 48,969 | 11,173 | 23 | % | 199,566 | 174,131 | 25,435 | 15 | % | |||||||||
| Total Revenue | 307,070 | 252,586 | 54,484 | 22 | % | 1,106,556 | 877,621 | 228,935 | 26 | % | |||||||||
| Revenue by geography | |||||||||||||||||||
| Rest of World | 232,298 | 199,738 | 32,560 | 16 | % | 843,791 | 711,613 | 132,178 | 19 | % | |||||||||
| United States | 74,772 | 52,848 | 21,924 | 41 | % | 262,765 | 166,008 | 96,757 | 58 | % | |||||||||
| Total Revenue | 307,070 | 252,586 | 1,106,556 | 877,621 | |||||||||||||||
FULL YEAR FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenue
Total revenue for the full year was €1,107 million, up €229 million, or 26% year-over-year driven by 29% growth in Betting Technology & Solutions and 15% growth in Sports Content, Technology & Services.
Betting Technology & Solutions revenues of €907 million were up 29% year-over-year primarily driven by a 33% increase in Betting & Gaming Content benefiting from existing and new customer uptake of products and premium pricing from NBA and new ATP product offerings, as well as from overall strong U.S. market growth. Managed Betting Services of €200 million were up 15% driven by strong growth in Managed Trading Services from higher trading margins and increased betting activity from existing and new clients.
Sports Content, Technology & Services revenues of €200 million increased 15% year-over-year primarily driven by 16% growth in Marketing & Media Services with strength in both European and North American ad:s revenue, with a variety of sportsbooks investing in marketing campaigns during the year.
The Company generated strong revenue growth globally with Rest of World up 19% and the United States up 58%. As a percentage of total Company revenues, United States revenue represented 24% of total Company revenue for the full year as compared to 19% in the prior year due to continued market growth, additional customer uptake of our products and premium pricing.
Profit for the period
Profit for the full year was €34 million, in line with the prior year. The strong operating results were primarily offset by a foreign currency loss of €38 million for the full year compared to a €23 million gain last year, due to unrealized currency fluctuations associated with the U.S. dollar-denominated sport rights. The current year also included higher financing costs due primarily to our new ATP, NBA and Bundesliga partnership deals, as well as an income tax benefit of €11 million driven primarily by the recognition of deferred tax assets.
Adjusted EBITDA
Full year Adjusted EBITDA was €222 million, up €56 million, or 33% compared to €167 million in the prior year. The increase was largely driven by the 26% revenue growth, partially offset by increased sport rights costs primarily related to the NBA and ATP partnership deals, higher purchased services driven by investments in developing our product portfolio and increased personnel expenses primarily due to headcount growth and a higher bonus accrual in the current year.
FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenue
Total revenue for the fourth quarter was €307 million, up €54 million, or 22% year-over-year driven by 21% growth in Betting Technology & Solutions and 23% growth in Sports Content, Technology & Services.
Betting Technology & Solutions revenues of €247 million were up 21% year-over-year primarily driven by a 30% increase in Betting & Gaming Content benefiting from existing and new customer uptake of our products and premium pricing, led by the addition of new ATP content, as well as from overall strong U.S. market growth. Managed Betting Services revenues of €55 million were down 1% as strong growth in Managed Trading Services from higher trading margins and increased betting activity from existing and new clients was more than offset by the impact a year ago from the one-time initial setup revenues related to hardware deliveries for the new Taiwan Lottery deal.
Sports Content, Technology & Services revenues of €60 million increased 23% year-over-year primarily driven by 22% growth in Marketing & Media Services with strength in both European and North American ad:s revenue as several sportsbooks invested in marketing campaigns during the quarter.
The Company generated strong revenue growth globally with Rest of World up 16% and the United States up 41%. As a percentage of total Company revenues, United States revenue represented 24% of total Company revenue in the fourth quarter as compared to 21% in the prior year quarter due to continued market growth, additional customer uptake of our products and premium pricing.
Customer Net Retention Rate of 127% increased sequentially and from prior year demonstrating our ability to cross sell and up sell to our clients, as well as the market growth in the United States.
Loss for the period
Loss for the period was €1 million, down €24 million, compared to profit of €23 million in the same quarter a year ago, as the strong operating results were more than offset primarily by a foreign currency loss of €38 million in the quarter as compared to a €27 million gain last year, due to unrealized currency fluctuations mainly associated with the U.S. dollar-denominated sport rights. The current quarter also included higher financing costs due primarily to our new ATP and Bundesliga partnership deals, as well as an income tax benefit of €20 million driven primarily by the recognition of deferred tax assets.
Adjusted EBITDA
Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA was €61 million, up €21 million, or 53% compared to €40 million in the same quarter a year ago. The increase was largely driven by the 22% revenue growth, partially offset by increased sport rights costs primarily related to the ATP partnership deal, higher purchased services driven by investments in developing our product portfolio and increased personnel expenses primarily due to headcount growth and a higher bonus accrual in the current year.
Additional Business Highlights
- Announced the extension and expansion of our partnership with Major League Baseball (“MLB”) for 8 years, beginning with the 2025 season. Sportradar will exclusively distribute ultra-low latency official MLB data, media content, including MLB Statcast Data, and audiovisual content across our global client network. Additionally, Sportradar and MLB will collaborate on the creation of AI-driven products powered by player tracking data to create immersive, hyper-personalized fan experiences.
- Announced the extension and expansion of our partnership with UEFA covering all UEFA Club and National team competitions, which includes over 900 high-profile matches, a 33% increase from the previous agreement.
- Announced a new long-term partnership with UTR Sports for the UTR Pro Tennis tour, the top tennis tour for rising professionals. Tennis is the second most bet on sport and UTR provides Sportradar with a consistently high volume of tennis matches throughout the year.
- In partnership with the NBA, launched a suite of next generation products and solutions for the 2024 – 2025 season including 4Sight Streaming, emBET, Live Match Tracker and advanced visualizations.
- Introduced micro markets for ATP tennis and basketball, expanding this cutting-edge product to tennis from other popular sports such as soccer and table tennis.
- Enhanced ad:s marketing services providing the most comprehensive 360 degree solution for customers with the launches of new channels including paid search and audio, and the addition of affiliate marketing capabilities through XLMedia.
- Opened an office in São Paulo, Brazil, marking a major milestone in Sportradar’s strategic expansion into that country and across Latin America.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were €348 million as of December 31, 2024 as compared with €277 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by net cash generated from operating activities of €353 million due to strong operating performance, partially offset by net cash used in investing activities of €255 million, primarily from the acquisition of additional sport rights, most notably its new NBA and ATP deals, and the acquisition of assets of XLMedia, and from net cash used in financing activities of €37 million, due primarily to share repurchases. Free cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2024 was €118 million, an increase of €67 million from €50 million in the same period a year ago.
Including its undrawn credit facility, the Company had total liquidity of €568 million at December 31, 2024 as compared to €497 million as of December 31, 2023, and no debt outstanding.
2025 Annual Financial Outlook
Sportradar is targeting fiscal 2025 outlook as follows:
- Revenue of at least €1,273 million, representing year-on-year growth of at least 15%
- Adjusted EBITDA of at least €281 million, representing year-on-year growth of at least 26%
- Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of at least 200 basis points
- Free cash flow conversion1 rate above the 2024 level of 53%
The 2025 guidance does not include any impact from the pending acquisition of IMG ARENA given the uncertainty around the timing of close. Guidance will be updated to incorporate the uplift resulting from this acquisition upon closing.
Share Repurchase Plan
In March 2024, the Board of Directors approved a $200 million share repurchase plan and commenced purchases during the second quarter. During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 467 thousand shares for a total of $5.7 million. For the full year 2024, the Company repurchased 1.8 million shares under the plan for a total of approximately $20.3 million.
Subsequent Event
This morning, Sportradar announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. to acquire IMG ARENA and its global sports betting rights portfolio. IMG ARENA’s portfolio will enhance Sportradar’s content and product offering and further strengthen its strategic position as a leading content provider in the most bet upon global sports, including tennis, soccer and basketball. Under terms of the agreement, IMG ARENA will provide financial consideration totaling $225 million (subject to customary purchase price adjustments), comprised of $125 million cash paid to Sportradar and up to $100 million cash prepayments made to certain of the sports rightsholders. Sportradar will not be required to pay any financial consideration to the Endeavor Group.
With its highly scalable technology platform and extensive client network, Sportradar will seamlessly integrate and monetize these rights, driving incremental value for clients, partners and shareholders. This addition will further accelerate Sportradar’s robust revenue, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow growth and will be immediately accretive to adjusted EBITDA margins.
IMG’s portfolio of global betting rights comprises strategic relationships with over 70 rightsholders covering approximately 39,000 official data events and 30,000 streaming events across 14 global sports on six continents. Prominent properties include Wimbledon, U.S. Open, Roland-Garros, Major League Soccer, EuroLeague basketball, and PGA Tour, amongst others.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Sportradar will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2024 results today, March 19, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Those wishing to participate via webcast should access the earnings call through Sportradar’s Investor Relations website. An archived webcast with the accompanying slides will be available at the Company’s Investor Relations website for one year after the conclusion of the live event.
The post Sportradar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results and Announces Agreement to Acquire IMG Arena and Its Strategic Portfolio of Global Sports Betting Rights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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