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Light & Wonder, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2024

Light & Wonder, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Light & Wonder, Inc. reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

We maintained strong momentum in the second quarter, delivering an 8th consecutive quarter of double-digit consolidated revenue growth year-over-year, and continued execution on our diverse content roadmap and cross-platform strategy. Consolidated revenue grew 12%, driven by continued strong performance across all our businesses, resulting in robust earnings growth:

Gaming revenue increased to $539 million, up 14% compared to the prior year period, primarily driven by global Gaming machine sales growth, which increased 32%, coupled with record Gaming operations unit expansion in the North American installed base and growth across Gaming systems, resulting in AEBITDA growth and margin expansion of 17% and 100 basis points, respectively.
SciPlay revenue grew to $205 million, an 8% increase from the prior year period, driven by the social casino business, which continues to outpace the market and gain share on strong payer metrics, while growing our direct-to-consumer platform and expanding AEBITDA margin by 300 basis points.
iGaming revenue grew to $74 million, a 6% increase from the prior year period, primarily reflecting continued momentum in North America, while the prior year benefited from $2 million in license termination fees.

First half 2024 consolidated revenue increased 13% to $1.6 billion as we continued advancement towards our long-term financial targets and returned $175 million to our shareholders through share repurchases.

Matt Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Light & Wonder, said, “Light & Wonder continues to capitalize on opportunities underpinned by our scale and diversified product offerings as demonstrated through the growth momentum across the business. We saw strong progress in the Gaming business as the expansion of units in the North American installed base reached an inflection point. Our global presence enables further product refinement and market penetration with our suite of games and casino solutions. We continue to develop our catalog of proven, evergreen franchises to bring the most engaging experiences to our players, leveraging the power of our portfolio across land-based, social and iGaming platforms. The uplift that we have continued to see across the business is a testament to the quality of the talent and culture in our organization. I am pleased with the continued momentum that we are seeing and know that the best is yet to come.”

Oliver Chow, Chief Financial Officer of Light & Wonder, added, “Our 13th consecutive quarter of consolidated revenue growth once again reflects the strength of our combined business and solid financial profile. We continue to see improved earnings quality with consistent growth and healthy margins, all while investing back into the business to scale for the future. The new $1.0 billion share repurchase program is a testament to the value we see in the business and confidence in our ability to execute to plan over the long-term. We believe we will continue to create significant value for our shareholders through enhanced cash flow generation initiatives while delivering on our financial targets.”

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LEVERAGE AND CAPITAL RETURN UPDATE

Principal face value of debt outstanding⁽¹⁾ was $3.9 billion, translating to a net debt leverage ratio⁽²⁾ of 3.0x as of June 30, 2024. Our net debt leverage ratio(2) decreased by 0.1x from December 31, 2023, and remained within our targeted net debt leverage ratio⁽²⁾ range of 2.5x to 3.5x.
Returned $175 million of capital to shareholders through the repurchase of approximately 1.8 million shares of L&W common stock during the first half of 2024 and completed the full $750 million share repurchase authorization. Under the initial share repurchase program, we purchased 11.2 million common shares, or 11.6% of shares outstanding at the inception of the program on March 1, 2022. The average purchase price of $66.72 per share represents a 34% discount to yesterday’s closing price of $100.71. In June 2024, the Board of Directors approved a new three-year share repurchase program⁽³⁾ of up to $1.0 billion of the Company’s outstanding common stock through June 12, 2027.
Repriced our Term Loan B again in July 2024, reducing our interest rate by 50 basis points resulting in a decrease in annualized interest costs of approximately $11 million, or $19 million in annualized interest costs reduction including our January repricing.

(1) Principal face value of debt outstanding represents outstanding principal value of debt balances that conform to the presentation found in Note 10 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in our March 31, 2024 Form 10-Q.

(2) Additional information on non-GAAP financial measures presented herein is available at the end of this release.

(3) The program may be conducted via open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, including block trades, accelerated share repurchases, issuer tender
offers or other derivative contracts or instruments, “10b5-1” plans, or other financial arrangements, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

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Record Progressive Jackpot at Over $2 Million and Climbing Up for Grabs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Published

13 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Niji Narayan

A record progressive jackpot of more than $2 million continues to climb on a $1 million Dragon Link slot machine by Aristocrat Gaming. The huge jackpot is up for grabs at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The $1 denomination Dragon Link slot is a single-site progressive (SSP) and is located in the high-limit slots area of the Hollywood casino, famous through the world for its iconic Guitar Hotel. The slot machine’s progressive jackpot increases independently from other Dragon Link slots at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and elsewhere.

The jackpot is climbing by an average of $7,000 per day and is on track to become one of the largest slot machine payouts in Seminole Gaming history and the largest Dragon Link jackpot ever awarded. Players at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood have a chance to be a part of jackpot history.

“It’s exciting to witness the Dragon Link jackpot grow to an unprecedented amount. The game has been a favorite since its release, and with this amazing prize now up for grabs, our players have the potential for a huge win,” said David Hoenemeyer, Chief Operating Officer of Seminole Gaming.

“We are incredibly proud of the fanfare Dragon Link has amassed over the years, and this historic milestone reinforces player excitement for the brand. The Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood team have been incredible partners and huge supporters of our $1 million Dragon Link offering. We can’t wait to be a part of the celebration of this record-breaking jackpot,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming.

Since its debut at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood in June 2021, Dragon Link has consistently drawn in players with its exciting high-denomination offering, which includes a $25 minimum bet and a $2,500 max bet. The casino-resort was the first in the world to feature the $1 million Dragon Link progressive, and today, it remains one of the most popular high-limit slot games available.

The impact of Dragon Link on the gaming landscape has been immense, cementing its status as a player favorite. While Aristocrat Gaming continues to push boundaries with innovative offerings, the latest jackpot at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood represents a new milestone in gaming entertainment.

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Xpoint Appoints Chris Chapman as CTO and Rahul Agrawal as VP of Engineering

Published

13 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Niji Narayan

Xpoint has announced two key appointments as it strengthens its leadership team.

Chris Chapman has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer and Rahul Agrawal has joined as VP of Engineering.

Chapman previously served as VP of Engineering at Xpoint and has been pivotal in leading the company’s engineering efforts, advancing its geolocation technology and ensuring the platform’s reliability and scalability. Prior to joining Xpoint, he held senior leadership positions at companies such as Sourcepoint, Integral Ad Science and Amino Payments, which he founded. In his new role, he will focus on driving innovation and ensuring that Xpoint remains at the forefront of geolocation and compliance solutions in the iGaming sector.

Agrawal brings over 25 years of experience in technology leadership, most recently serving as VP of Technology at PointsBet, where he advanced the development of the sportsbook and casino platform, built a global engineering team and integrated multiple technology partners, including geolocation providers.

His extensive background also includes being CTO at FaceOff and senior technology roles at Jump Ramp Games and High 5 Games. He will lead the Xpoint engineering team, focusing on operational excellence and the continued development of the supplier’s geolocation technology.

Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, said: “We are excited to promote Chris to CTO and welcome Rahul as our VP of Engineering.

“Chris has been an integral part of Xpoint’s success and his promotion to CTO is a natural progression as we continue to evolve. Rahul’s extensive experience in building and scaling technology platforms will complement Chris’s leadership and together, their expertise will drive the next phase of innovation for Xpoint as we continue to lead the geolocation and compliance space in the iGaming industry.”

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XSOLLA PARTNERS WITH ABLEGAMERS FOR CHARITY CAMPAIGN AT TWITCHCON 2024

Published

16 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, is excited to announce its collaboration with AbleGamers for an impactful charity campaign at TwitchCon 2024. This partnership aims to further AbleGamers’ mission of improving accessibility in gaming for individuals with disabilities through an interactive and meaningful activation.

Attendees who visit the Xsolla booth (Booth 1515-SW) at TwitchCon will have the exclusive opportunity to claim one of two specially designed charity pins. By sharing a photo of their pin on their social channels on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter using the hashtags #LightstreamAble and #XsollaAble, participants will help raise funds for AbleGamers. For every qualifying social post, Xsolla and its partners will donate $5 to AbleGamers, up to $10,000. To amplify awareness, include hashtags: #TwitchCon #BongoCat #Lightstream #Xsolla #SoEveryoneCanGame.

“We’re thrilled to partner with AbleGamers at TwitchCon 2024 to support their mission of making gaming more accessible for everyone. By engaging with our booth and sharing their experiences online, attendees collect a unique piece of Xsolla and Lightstream memorabilia and contribute directly to the gaming community. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect the gaming community with a cause that promotes inclusivity and empowerment,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla.

2,000 pins will be distributed—1,000 featuring the iconic Xsolla Cat design and 1,000 co-designed with Lightstream. These limited-edition pins will be available only at the Xsolla booth on a first-come, first-served basis.

How Your Participation Makes a Difference:

Peer Counseling: AbleGamers offers personalized guidance to assess player needs and provide optimal solutions for inclusive gaming
Engineering Research: The organization supports the development of assistive technologies that remove barriers for gamers with disabilities
Community & Inclusion: AbleGamers combats social isolation by fostering opportunities for camaraderie and lifelong friendships within the gaming community

By participating in this campaign, you’ll collect a unique pin and help fund critical resources and support for gamers with disabilities.