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Rivalry Announces Record Revenue of $12 Million in First Quarter 2023, All-Time High Betting Handle, Gross Profit
Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY)(OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, today announced its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, and closing of the second tranche of its previously announced strategic financing. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.
“Our position at the intersection of esports and entertainment continues to create operating leverage in the business and drive organic growth as seen in our most impressive quarterly results to date,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “Rivalry’s content and brand strategy is setting the industry precedent for betting entertainment, allowing us to acquire customers profitably and engage them through authentic touchpoints without having to consistently deploy additional marketing and promotional spend for growth. And it is this approach that is generating breakthrough industry economics, user engagement, and charting a path to profitability for the Company that we are very bullish on.”
First Quarter 2023 Highlights
- Betting handle for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 was $120.2 million, representing an all-time high in any quarter for the Company. Betting handle increased year-over year by $80.0 million or 199% from $40.2 million in Q1 2022, and sequentially by $36.2 million or 43% from the previous quarterly record of $83.9 million in Q4 2022.
- Revenue for Q1 2023 was $12.0 million, the Company’s highest-ever revenue in any quarter. Revenue increased by $7.2 million or 151% from $4.8 million in Q1 2022, and by $2.5 million or 27% over Q4 2022 revenue of $9.4 million.
- Gross profit was $5.4 million in Q1 2023, a record high for the Company representing an increase of $4.8 million from $0.7 million of gross profit in Q1 2022, and up $0.4 million or 9% from Q4 2022 gross profit of $5.0 million.
- Net loss was $3.3 million for Q1 2023, a 50% reduction from the net loss of $6.6 million in Q1 2022, and the fifth consecutive sequential decrease in net loss, highlighting a continued focus on operational efficiency.
- Material Key Performance Indicators growth was achieved despite a 5% year-over-year reduction in marketing expenses, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Company’s brand strategy and its ability to convert users profitably and drive growth independent of marketing spend.
- User registrations reached 1.5 million at the end of Q1, up 114% year-over-year, with Millennial and Gen Z consumers representing 97% of active users.
- Product and tech innovation efforts across casino and sportsbook continue to distinguish Rivalry in competitive market and drive user activity through original, engaging, and interactive online betting experience.
- Rivalry’s creator partners and owned media properties reached a total of 85 million followers, deepening organic acquisition strategy among core target audience and ability to activate customers during tentpole esports events through authentic touchpoints.
- The Company had $13.1 million of cash and no debt as at March 31, 2023.2 Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company raised a total of approximately $7.3 million through a non-brokered private placement announced on April 26, 2023 (the “Private Placement”).
“Building innovative products, which add to an overall unique and interactive betting experience on Rivalry, will remain a strategic focus in 2023,” Salz added. “The competitive advantage of engaging and fun products is increased user activity and satisfaction, and when combined with a profitable acquisition strategy, creates a flywheel effect in the business generating consistent organic momentum and enhancing our operational efficiency.”
Previously Announced Strategic Financing
Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, Rivalry announced a strategic financing that will enable the Company to accelerate its operational objectives and pursue strategic growth opportunities. Led by sports betting, technology, and payments stakeholders, the financing represents a validation of the Company’s unique market strategy and success among the Gen Z and Millennial demographic.
On May 5, 2023, the Company closed a first tranche of the private placement for gross proceeds of $6,916,519.50 through the issuance of 4,611,013 subordinate voting shares in the capital of the Company (“Subordinate Voting Shares”) at a price of $1.50 per Subordinate Voting Share. On May 23, 2023, the Company closed a second tranche of the Private Placement for aggregate gross proceeds of $382,498.50 through the issuance of 254,999 Subordinate Voting Shares. The Company paid finder’s fees in the amount of $19,775 in connection with the closing of the second tranche of the Private Placement. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company has issued an aggregate of 4,866,012 Subordinate Voting Shares for gross proceeds of $7,299,018. The Company expects to close an additional tranche of the Private Placement no later than June 23, 2023. All of the Subordinate Voting Shares issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a four-month and one day statutory hold period from the date of issuance. The Company expects to use the proceeds from the Private Placement to accelerate operational objectives and pursue strategic growth opportunities.
The Subordinate Voting Shares have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act“) or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referenced in this press release, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
A director of the Company subscribed for 33,333 Subordinate Voting Shares in the Private Placement and such subscription constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. This subscription was exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements applicable to related party transactions on the basis that the value of the transaction was less than 25% of the Company’s market capitalization. A material change report in respect of the related party transaction could not be filed earlier than 21 days prior to the closing of the Private Placement due to the limited time between the commitment by the director to purchase the subject Subordinate Voting Shares and the closing of the Private Placement.
Investor Conference Call
Management will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 to discuss the Company’s first quarter 2023 financial results.
| Dial-in: | 888-886-7786 (toll free) or (+1) 416-764-8658 (local or international calls) |
| Webcast: | A live webcast can be accessed from the Events section of the Company’s website at www. rivalrycorp .com. |
A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for one year.
Rivalry’s financial statements and management discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are available on SEDAR at www. sedar. com, and on the Company’s website at www. rivalrycorp .com.
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XSOLLA LAUNCHES THE XSOLLA GOLD GIFT CARD TO ENHANCE GAME BRAND VISIBILITY THROUGH PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL CHANNELS, OFFERING GAMERS A NEW WAY TO PAY
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, announces the launch of the Xsolla Gold Gift Card, a flexible payment solution designed to enhance how gamers purchase, gift, and redeem virtual goods. Available in physical and digital formats, the Xsolla Gold Gift Card provides players with an accessible and convenient way to engage with their favorite games across multiple platforms.
As the global gift card market is projected to reach $5.3 trillion by 2033, developers face increasing opportunities to expand their monetization strategies and engage players more effectively. The Xsolla Gold Gift Card offers a seamless way for players to acquire in-game items, gift content to friends, and redeem rewards, enriching their gaming experience. This solution unlocks new revenue streams for developers, enhances brand visibility, and enables targeted marketing initiatives, including co-branded promotions and customized campaigns.
Discover the standout benefits making this gift card a game-changer for players and developers:
- Flexible Distribution Options: Includes physical and digital cards, ensuring broad accessibility for players worldwide
- Enhanced Community Engagement: Encourages players to share gaming experiences through gifting, fostering deeper connections within gaming communities
- Monetization and Marketing Opportunities: Leverages gift cards for cross-promotions, partnerships with retail brands, and exclusive in-game offers, driving increased engagement and revenue for developers
- Cross-Platform Usability: Fully compatible across multiple platforms and game titles, catering to a diverse player base with various spending preferences
“We’re excited to offer a gift card to help simplify how players purchase and share virtual goods while helping developers increase player retention and engagement through strategic integrations,” said Chris Hewish, Chief Strategy Officer of Xsolla. “The Xsolla Gold Gift Card allows us to continue innovating, enhancing how players interact with their favorite games and how developers can reach a broader audience.”
The Xsolla Gold Gift Card will be available in various denominations, adapting to different player needs. Developers can integrate these cards into their ecosystems to enhance player engagement and drive monetization through tailored campaigns and promotions.
Gambling in the USA
Bitline and Everi Announce Crypto Liquidity for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts in Industry First Development
Bitline, the only provider for casino chip access directly from cryptocurrency, has announced its first major collaboration in the U.S. casino market, teaming up with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts through its collaboration with Everi, a premier provider of financial technology and gaming solutions. This collaboration introduces cryptocurrency and digital assets as a new source of liquidity for casino patrons and marks the first time that such a functionality has been enabled within the American gaming industry.
Leveraging Everi’s CashClub’s comprehensive payment infrastructure, Bitline’s solution is able to efficiently board, screen and verify patrons looking to leverage their digital assets whilst also allowing patrons to move screened assets into custody within minutes. Bitline’s integration with Everi Cash Club, the leading financial access services suite for casino payments, will enable the technology for the benefit of Choctaw Casinos & Resorts, and is the first time that such a functionality has been possible in the U.S. regulated casino market.
Catering to the growing demand for greater cryptocurrency and digital asset integration within the casino industry, the collaboration between Bitline and Everi’s forms a transferable blueprint that offers casino operators and their patrons an alternative way to manage funds, access liquidity, and leverage the benefits of cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
This milestone reflects a strategic shift in how casino operators view and manage financial interactions with their guests. The introduction of cryptocurrency as a liquidity solution provides additional options for guests and lays the foundation for Choctaw Casinos & Resorts as it looks to the future of gaming sector finance, setting a new standard in financial accessibility and convenience.
“Working with Choctaw Casinos & Resorts and Everi to make this a reality is a historical moment for both the casino and blockchain industries. Bitline was conceptualized to advance the gaming sector and offer a wider variety of financial options for the casino industry,” said Richard Jones, CEO at Bitline. “We’re entering an era where digital assets can fundamentally enhance the gaming experience, providing casino operators with a future-ready financial framework that can expand and evolve as the industry does. This collaboration is just the beginning of our vision to modernize casino payment capabilities on a global scale.”
Victor Newsom, SVP Product Management, Payments Solutions at Everi comments “This unique integration combines BitLine’s additional payment accessibility options with Everi’s ability to enable seamless, secure, and regulatory compliant financial transactions for casino patrons. Designed from the ground up to exceed the rigorous compliance demands of the industry as well as the discerning expectations of gaming VIPs around the world, Choctaw’s patrons are now no longer limited to the access, times, amount, and speed constraints of the legacy financial systems. This also significantly reduces risk for our casino customers, such as Choctaw.”
“We are excited to be the first casino in North America to offer our guests another way to play,” said Thomas McDonald, Senior Director of Cage and Credit at Choctaw Casinos & Resorts. “Through our long-term relationship with Everi, a leader in fintech solutions, we will continue to invest in innovative offerings that provide the discerning gaming VIP access to funds in a safe and secure manner.”
The Choctaw Casinos & Resorts integration represents only the first phase of Bitline’s broader mission to bring cryptocurrency solutions to casinos and casino patrons worldwide. As cryptocurrency and digital assets continue to gain traction in the gaming sector, Bitline’s easy to integrate and patented payment model stands poised to become a key player in transforming gaming finance. Future plans include expanding services across other major casinos and gaming markets, both domestically and internationally, establishing cryptocurrency as a new standard feature of the gaming experience.
The solution is to be formally rolled out on March 7, 2025, with the first transaction taking place at Choctaw’s Durant, Oklahoma, location.
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BESTSEAT360 AND 1/ST TRANSFORMED THE HORSE RACING VIEWER EXPERIENCE AT THE 2025 PEGASUS WORLD CUP
Bestseat360 proudly produced an unprecedented multi-view streaming experience for the 2025 Pegasus World Cup, held at Gulfstream Park on January 25, in collaboration with 1/ST CONTENT, a pioneering force in enhancing the visibility and engagement of U.S. horse racing. This year’s event introduced a streaming experience that set a new benchmark for the industry, featuring 13 live races streamed on the Pegasus World Cup website.
In a landmark first for the U.S. racing landscape, the multi-view experience allowed fans to interact with a variety of camera angles, including innovative jockey cams, drones and automated trackside cameras. This collaboration with JockeyCam, renowned for its cutting-edge POV camera technology used in prestigious events like the Royal Ascot, Saudi Cup, Kentucky Derby, Melbourne Cup and Breeders’ Cup, adds a new dimension to race viewing.
“By working with partners like Bestseat360, 1/ST CONTENT continues to innovate and reshape the media landscape of horse racing with a focus on the type of engagement and storytelling that modern audiences are looking for,” said Pete Rotondo, SVP, Racing and Wagering, 1/ST.
“The integration of Bestseat360’s interface offers racing enthusiasts the best seat at the racecourse or from the comfort of their own homes,” said Craig Meek, Founder Director for Bestseat360.
“We are thrilled to be introducing an interactive Multiview video player that will revolutionize sports betting and enhance how punters engage with their bets. Using smart AI algorithms, viewers will be able to easily identify their horses during the race, making their experience more immersive.”
Bestseat360 is set to expand its innovative Multiview platform across various sports in the U.S., UK, Europe, and Australia. Their flexible business model includes sponsorship, advertising, and pay-per-view options, making this revolutionary technology accessible to a broader audience and ensuring the continued growth of engagement in horse racing and other sports.
The successful streaming of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup not only highlights the event’s significance but also sets the stage for future advancements in the viewing experience, ensuring that horse racing continues to captivate and engage fans worldwide.
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