Press Releases
Playmaker Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results
Playmaker Capital Inc., the Toronto-based digital sports media company, reports its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.
“We are very excited to share our second quarter results. Our teams are hitting on all cylinders. The organic growth of our Futbol Sites business has been exceptional and in July we added Yardbarker, a company that has experienced very strong year-over-year growth to date. Our pipeline remains robust and we have a strong balance sheet with currently over $13.0 million of cash and zero debt. We remain focused on profitable growth, both organic and through acquisition” said Jordan Gnat, Founder and CEO of Playmaker.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Figures in USD)
- Revenue – Revenue was $3.0 million in Q2 2021, compared to $nil in Q2 2020.
- Operating Income – Operating income was $0.4 million in Q2 2021, compared to operating loss of $0.1 million in Q2 2020.
- Pro Forma Revenue – Pro forma revenue was $4.2 million in Q2 2021, an increase of 244% from $1.2 million in Q2 2020. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, pro forma revenue increased by 152% to $7.6 million from $3.0 million in the same period of 2020.
- Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA – Pro forma adjusted EBITDA was $1.6 million in Q2 2021, an increase from $8,410 in Q2 2020. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, pro forma adjusted EBITDA increased to $2.8 million from $0.3 million in the same period of 2020.
- Trailing 12-Month Metrics – For the 12 months ended June 30, 2021, pro forma revenue was $14.4 million and pro forma adjusted EBITDA was $6.0 million.
- Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents of $23.5 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $6.6 million at December 31, 2020.
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- On April 1, 2021, the Company acquired Futbol Sites, a top digital sports media group in the U.S. and Latin America with a portfolio of more than 10 premium sites.
- On July 26, 2021, the Company acquired Yardbarker, a premier U.S. sports and entertainment media company, and the Morning Bark, Yardbarker’s daily email newsletter. As partial consideration in connection with this transaction, the sellers are eligible to receive an aggregate total of $4.0 million, based on Yardbarker’s performance toward an EBITDA target of $2.5 million in each of the two years following closing, as announced in a news release dated July 27, 2021.
- On a pro forma basis, Playmaker achieved record engagement metrics in the quarter across the Futbol Sites and Yardbarker owned and operated properties. Playmaker reaches more than 70 million unique users and in Q2 2021, the user base generated more than 454 million sessions, representing a 65% increase over Q2 2020. Playmaker also reaches more than 360,000 users daily via the Morning Bark.
- During Q2 2021, the Company completed an equity raise for gross proceeds of CAD $24.0 million and completed a reverse takeover of a capital pool company on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s shares began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on June 3, 2021.
- On June 11, 2021, Playmaker acquired Fanáticos Por Futebol, one of Brazil’s leading and most engaging soccer news communities.
Latest News
THE UNIT TO STEP UP EXPANSION PLANS WITH OPENING OF NEW YORK CITY OFFICE
The Unit aims to grow its presence in the Americas with move to new Manhattan location in January 2025 at Bank of Ireland’s NYC Hub
The Unit, a leader in product design and development for sports betting and iGaming, will proudly open its new office in New York City, as part of its long-term global expansion objectives, in January 2025.
The Americas division was established in 2023 with the launch of The Unit’s partnership with online operator PlayStar Casino. The New York City office, located in the heart of Manhattan, will now be the hub for The Unit’s activity in the Americas.
This new base will be located at Bank of Ireland’s NYC Hub, which was launched to help Irish business owners expand their North American operations. The offices at 2 Grand Central Tower are a great asset to Irish companies aiming to expand their operations in the United States and beyond. This is an ideal location for The Unit to grow its footprint in the region.
The project will be put into practice by The Unit’s Head of Business Development & Account Management Mark O’Hare, who has relocated to New York and will be responsible for The Unit’s commercial growth in the region.
With product and development teams in Ireland and Moldova, the addition of an American hub is further proof The Unit holds an unwavering commitment to becoming the partner of choice, on a global scale, throughout the industry.
Paddy Casey, Co-founder at The Unit, said: “These are exciting times for The Unit, and with plans in place to exponentially grow our presence in the Americas across the next few years, the start of 2025 will be the perfect time for us to move into one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
“This will be the ideal addition to our existing bases in Ireland and Moldova. The flexible workspace the hub can provide will be integral to our plans and will give us the opportunity to grow the team.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us to touch base with clients in the Americas and strategise further launches. We’re looking forward to mapping out our future in the region with our team on the ground there.
“I would like to thank Mark O’Hare for making the move to New York, and I’m sure both he and his team will have the skills and experience to execute our vision for the Americas division across the long-term.”
Tania Sheikh, Manager of NYC Hub for Bank of Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to welcome The Unit to the NYC Hub. The facilities we can provide have helped businesses scale up and connect with their partners, and we are proud to offer that opportunity to The Unit.
“We look forward to hosting The Unit and wish them well in their endeavors to grow their business here.”
The Unit has solidified its strong track record of building world-class, scalable and efficient products for the sports betting and iGaming sector in recent years.
As The Unit embarks on this exciting period of growth, the company remains committed to delivering exceptional products and services to its clients. With its experienced team, best-in-class product development capabilities, and focus on innovation, The Unit is poised to shape the future of the sports betting and iGaming industries.
Latest News
Golden Matrix Group to Participate in the 2025 ICR Conference
Golden Matrix Group Inc., a developer and licensor of online gaming platforms, systems, and gaming content, today announced that management will participate in the 2025 ICR Conference on January 13-15, 2025 at the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, FL.
Zoran Milosevic, Chief Executive Officer of Meridianbet, will participate in a fireside chat with an equity research analyst on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 2:30 PM ET and will also be available for meetings during the conference.
Canada
Be #GiftSmart: Scratch the Idea of Gifting Scratch & Win Tickets to Kids
BCLC reminds adults to gift responsibly this holiday season
With the holiday season in full swing, BCLC is reminding British Columbians to gift responsibly and scratch lottery products from their shopping lists for kids.
“Scratch & Win tickets can make great stocking stuffers for the adults in your life, but they’re not for kids,” said Ryan McCarthy, BCLC’s Director of Player Health. “The research shows that children who have early encounters with gambling are four times more likely to develop riskier gambling behaviour as they grow up. While people are out shopping for those last-minute gifts, BCLC wants adults to be aware of the potential risks associated with gifting lottery products to children and to consider safer alternatives.”
While Scratch & Win tickets are among the most common ways kids can be introduced to gambling, children are increasingly exposed to various online forms, such as gambling streams.
“With the convergence of gaming and gambling, youth are becoming more exposed to gambling content in online spaces like streaming sites, where creators are able to live-stream their own gambling, usually while playing online slots and instant games,” said Dr. Luke Clark, Director for Gambling Research at UBC. “Our research at the UBC Centre for Gambling shows that a higher frequency of watching online gambling streams is associated with a more positive attitude towards gambling and a high intention to gamble in the future.”
In B.C., it is illegal to sell lottery products to anyone under the age of 19 and BCLC encourages adults to have conversations with the kids in their lives about the risks associated with gambling.
“Open and honest conversations are crucial when it comes to navigating childhood exposure to gambling,” said McCarthy, who shared the following tips to adults:
- Monitor for gambling-related lifestyle changes. For example, developing a positive attitude towards gambling or a preoccupation with video games or streaming sites.
- Be a positive role model. Exhibit safer gambling behaviour and talk about the risks.
- Limit exposure. Monitor kids’ online activities and discourage engagement with gambling content. Explain how gambling is based on chance.
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