Playtech Share Discussion Threads

[trentendboy] 28/6/2016 15:43

This should be a top defensive stock actually - has so much going for it re: international markets and limited UK exposure

[trentendboy] 28/6/2016 15:43

Indeed - makes no sense to have fallen so far. Volatility good for betting markets sports and financial.

[weemonkey] 28/6/2016 13:49

International. No oil risk. currency risk diversified. And everyone is busy betting what is going to happen next.

[undervaluedassets] 31/5/2016 11:00

Has breadth and depth.

[trentendboy] 25/5/2016 15:47

Thought I would pick up a few more here. Has potential to test highsStill more consolidation life left in this sector

[trentendboy] 24/5/2016 19:19

A nice add on imo. All helps cement the leadership poisition

[libertine] 24/5/2016 10:38

Acquisition of Quickspin AB
RNS Number : 1272Z

Playtech PLC
24 May 2016


Acquisition of Quickspin AB

Playtech (LSE: PTEC) today announces the acquisition of Quickspin AB ("Quickspin"), a fast-growing Swedish games studio that develops and supplies high-quality video slots to operators, both in online real money gambling as well as in the social gaming market.

[trentendboy] 24/5/2016 09:39

I agree - Hills made a major strategic error upsetting PTEC.

I own both but bought more LADS recently (although still underwater).

PTEC are the real winners - PTEC got a good deal with LADS and 10% ownership is a godo incentive to sort out the Coral's issue as well.

The idea Hills could do internally what PTEC did externally is laughable.

What is true is that PTEC need to make a big deal and soon given all the cash they have stashed

[nod] 24/5/2016 03:11

https://www.hl.co.uk/news/articles/william-hill-vs.-ladbrokes-looking-beyond-leicesterAn interesting article by Hargreaves which highlights how the big bookies struggle without PlaytechWilliam Hill vs. Ladbrokes: Looking beyond LeicesterHargreaves LansdownAn early partnership with FTSE 250 gaming technology specialist Playtech gave William Hill a head start online.Extracts ...An early partnership with FTSE 250 gaming technology specialist Playtech gave William Hill a head start online. That partnership drew to a close in 2013, when William Hill bought out Playtech's stake in the William Hill Online joint venture.More recent online ventures have been less successful. In attempting to launch its long-awaited unified mobile and online platform, Project Trafalgar, William Hill seemed to meet its Waterloo. The first few weeks were beset by glitches resulting in the Managing Director of Online leaving the business in January.The online operation contributed to William Hill's profit warning in March, after it saw an increase in self-imposed time-outs – where punters choose to ban themselves from gambling for a set period of time. Regulatory changes now require all companies to make it much easier for customers to self-exclude, but the change seems to have hit William Hill hardest. In its latest trading update, William Hill reported online wagers were actually in decline.By comparison, Ladbrokes was slow off the mark in digital, making several attempts at creating its own online offering with little success. However, a recent partnership with Playtech (yes, them again) seems to be producing results. Group online revenues grew by 12.9% in 2015, and online's share of total revenue increased 2 percentage points to 20% in 2015.SummaryUltimately what sets Ladbrokes and William Hill apart is not their abilities as bookmakers so much as their ability to second guess how technology will change their markets.William Hill took the early lead, by bringing in Playtech to fast-forward its move into the online space, while Ladbrokes foundered as it alternately tried to go it alone, or made on/off attempts to strike a deal with 888.com. But more recently, it appears to be Ladbrokes that is making faster progress online.Now, Ladbrokes has the merger with Coral to drive earnings forward, if it can manage the integration of the two businesses with aplomb. Playtech is backing the deal and has become Ladbrokes' biggest shareholder, taking a 10% stake.Cost savings are all well and good, but in the long run, the gambling industry is moving online. Both these companies need to focus on their digital divisions, whilst managing the inevitable decline in High Street demand. So far, Playtech has not put a foot wrong in the development of the online gambling sector. Perhaps investors should keep a close watch on what it does next, when deciding where to place their bets on UK gaming stocks?

[nod] 19/5/2016 06:16

Article in Daily TelegraphPaddy Power Betfair, Playtech and Foxtons have become the latest companies to be swept up in this year's Shareholder Spring after investors rebelled against pay at the two gambling businesses and the high-profile estate agency.Some 31.8pc of shareholders that voted at Paddy Power Betfair's annual general meeting came out against the freshly-merged company's remuneration report, dealing a bloody nose to the business, which is led by boss Breon Corcoran, just months after it was created in February. Meanwhile, Playtech, the gambling software company, was also hit by a rebellion in which 16.9pc of shareholders rejected last year's remuneration.

[nod] 18/5/2016 13:26

PTEC long ago made clear it was looking for a game changer. After that its investments were in financial betting companies. Some of these acquisitions failed because of protectionism. In the same way that poker ambitions got nowhere because of protection .I think the focus of acquisitions and growth will still be on financials.

[ramridge] 18/5/2016 12:35

Hi Nod. Interesting comment. So if poker is not a good idea, where do you think they should invest, assuming that returning cash to shareholders is the bottom option?

[yesrupnel] 18/5/2016 12:10

Thanks for your thoughts Nod.

[nod] 18/5/2016 10:58

PTEC walked away from poker after the US fiasco and has not indicated that poker is important for them. Poker is still much less than 1% of its revenue globally. Also, if it has any aspirations of getting into the US with online gambling then PTEC is best to leave poker well alone, as the Yanks hold it sacred as theirs only. While poker is tempting for the worlds best like PTEC i think they have been wise to stay well clear of poker even in other countries as the US seems to think it has global control.There may be a hint in the comments that a special Dividend is on the way. Teddy will be happy with this to invest in his own private projects that have greater growth potential. He's a smart one and has a major influence on the dividend payout.

[yesrupnel] 18/5/2016 09:22

Maybe they could buy Pokerstars

[ramridge] 18/5/2016 08:16

I have gone long with this share today. Lots of things attracted me, but in particular, operating margin around 34%, profit margin around 33%, Free Cash Flow Euros 140m, net cash Euros 400m (based on 31/12/15 accounts).
They have the fire power to make a tasty acquisition this year. Upside is IMO very good.

[togglebrush] 18/5/2016 07:07

AGM RNS extract
'
As we stated at the time of our 2015 full year results, should suitable acquisitions not be available, consideration will be given to returning cash to shareholders as we look to maintain an efficient capital structure.
'
We remain confident of continued success and strong growth in 2016 and beyond."

[trentendboy] 17/5/2016 12:36

Should get a trading update to boot.The SPO update today was a good one

[togglebrush] 17/5/2016 09:45

Financial Calendar
'
18 May 2016 Annual General Meeting ... TOMORROW
'
25 Aug 2016 2016 Interim Results

[undervaluedassets] 20/4/2016 11:59

I agree it is a shame that the deal fell through (I think the bid for Plus500 actually saved Plus500 even though it was never completed. It stopped the sentiment tsunami that was sweeping through the Plus500 shareprice at that time )

As for PTEC I think that they should take their time . Nothing wrong with cash. Better to be prudent and do something sensible with it than rush.

Discount the cash from the market cap PTEC and the valuation is really very low for a company with this kind of growth profile.

Meanwhile profits (and yet more cash) continue to roll in from the many deals that PTEC has out there already..

[trentendboy] 19/4/2016 08:34

Tend to agree. Might pick up a few more.I like the positioning of PTEC but it is getting competitive out there.Their relationship with SCH is of interest as is their plans for the large cash pile.They need to do something sooner rather than later.Also the plus500 shares need looking at but seems nicely profitable. Shame the deal fell through

[weemonkey] 18/4/2016 09:55

Share price below that on results day a few weeks back . .

Rare opportunity as results were stella and outlook extremely healthy .

[nod] 16/4/2016 02:30

How many share of Plus500 does PTEC hold?There's a fair bit of share trading going on over there. I think JP Morgan sold around 6% last week