Entain PLC TAM expected to grow 3x and extension into esports (4891I)

TIDMENT

RNS Number : 4891I

Entain PLC

12 August 2021

Entain plc

("Entain" or the "Group")

Total addressable market expected to grow more than three-fold to c.$160bn

Extension into interactive entertainment with move into esports

Entain plc (LSE: ENT), the global sports-betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, is hosting an investor event today to outline the exciting growth opportunities ahead for the business.

Entain's two strategic pillars of growth and sustainability are the core drivers of our success. Sustainability is a strategic imperative and we are making significant progress with our sustainability charter that we will provide an update on in more detail later in the year. Today's event will focus on the four key growth opportunities available to the Group:

   --      Leadership in the US ($32bn market, from $6bn today) 

We are making significant progress in the growing US sports betting and iGaming market. BetMGM is firmly established as the number two operator in the market and is targeting a long-term market share of 20% to 25% of the North American online market, that we expect will grow from around $6bn today to around $32bn over the long term.

   --      Grow our presence in core markets ($70bn market, from $40bn today) 

We are licenced in 27 countries today as well as operating in a number that are in the process of regulating. We have leadership positions in a significant number of these with an average market share currently of around 13% to 15%. We have a strong track record of driving organic growth and our markets have in-built growth as online betting and gaming extends its appeal and scale. We estimate these markets to be worth around $40bn today and expect them to grow to around $70bn over the long term.

   --      Expand into new regulated markets ($40bn market) 

We will only operate in regulated markets by the end of 2023, providing the highest quality of earnings for our stakeholders. We have a strong track record of M&A and our global brands, regulatory expertise and scale also enable us to enter markets organically. Increasing numbers of markets are regulating for betting and gaming; there are over 50 such markets around the world that we do not operate in today that we believe will be worth around $40bn over the long term.

   --      Extend into new interactive entertainment experiences ($20bn+ market) 

The worlds of media, entertainment and gaming are converging. Customers want a richer experience, including more content, interactive experiences, new and free to play games, as well as social content.

Our Entain platform enables us to offer new and existing customers an even more engaging experience with additional content and media, as well as interactive entertainment. This enables us to increase our customer base, scale and reach as well as drive engagement, retention and revenues that in turn drives flywheel effects to our business.

Esports is a rapidly growing market and, with over 450m viewers, it is now established as a mainstream sport, particularly amongst the 18-35 demographic. Skill-based wagering for casual esports gamers is emerging, but existing operators lack scale providing Entain with a clear opportunity in a new area related to our core expertise.

Entain has agreed to acquire the technology platform, products and team of Unikrn, a leading esports betting and entertainment media company. These, combined with our capabilities, analytics, regulatory experience, player protection and scale, provide a unique industry first platform to address this exciting and growing market. The acquisition is subject to completion which is expected to happen later this year.

To lead our efforts in driving this new area of growth, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Justin Dellario as our new Head of esports. Justin joins from Twitch, the world's leading live streaming platform for gamers, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in both esports content and operational delivery. He will report into Sameer Deen who recently joined as our Chief Strategy Officer and President of New Ventures to help drive our growth into interactive entertainment.

There is also a clear opportunity in the casual mobile gaming market which has grown rapidly in recent years. Within this there are many different games categories a number of which, such as Social Casino, align with our own strategy, our core offering and our capabilities. High growth categories that can drive high levels of acquisition and engagement will further increase our flywheel effects enabling us to grow our customer base, increase retention and drive revenues.

We estimate that together the esports wagering and social casino related markets could add an incremental $20bn+ in addressable markets for us by 2025.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain's CEO, commented :

"Entain has built a powerful platform combining our industry leading technology, people and capabilities that is driving significant growth in our existing markets, including the US, but also enables us to grow into new and emerging markets and opportunities related to our core areas of expertise. Our platform enables us to meet the evolving needs of our customers as we capitalise on the convergence of media, entertainment and gaming and extend into interactive entertainment. All together this means the markets we address have the potential to be several times larger than today.

"One exciting opportunity is the growing esports skill-based wagering market. We are building the first scalable platform to address this market and I am delighted that Justin Dellario is joining us to lead our growth in this new area.

"By leveraging the opportunities in front of us, focusing on the customer and expanding our acquisition funnel by creating powerful customer engagement flywheel effects, we have many years of growth ahead that will drive significant incremental value for our stakeholders."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation EU 596/2016

Enquiries:

 
Investor Relations - Entain plc                                              [e-mail] 
 David Lloyd-Seed, Group Director of IR & Corporate Communications    [e-mail] 
 Davina Hobbs, Head of Investor Relations                                 [e-mail] 
 Jennifer Spencer, Senior Investor Relations Manager                 j [e-mail] 
 Callum Sims, Investor Relations Manager                                   [e-mail] 
Media - Entain plc                                                               [e-mail] 
 Tessa Curtis, Head of Group PR and Media Relations                      t [e-mail] 
 Jay Dossetter, Head of ESG and Press Office                            j [e-mail] 
Media - Powerscourt                                                          Tel: [phone] 
 Rob Greening / Elly Williamson / Nick Hayns                              [e-mail] 
 

Investor Event Conference Call & Webcast - Thursday 12 August 2021 at 2:00pm (BST).

Live audio webcast link: https://brrmedia.news/InvEvnt_21

To participate in Q&A, please also connect via the dial in:

   UK                            [phone] 
   US                            [phone] 
   Room Code:           1720890 

Participants should join via webcast or conference call dial in, approximately 15 minutes ahead of the event start.

A replay and call transcript for the Investor Event will be available on our website: https://entaingroup.com/investor-relations/results-centre/

Forward-looking statements

This document contains certain statements that are forward-looking statements. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations and those of our officers, directors and employees concerning, amongst other things, results of our operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the business we operate. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, these statements involve risks and uncertainties since future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. Any such forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this document. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014), the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and the Prospectus Rules), the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast. The Company and its directors accept no liability to third parties in respect of this document save as would arise under English law.

About Entain plc

Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world's largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Bet.pt, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports betting and gaming opportunity in the US, through BetMGM. Entain provides the technology which powers BetMGM and exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house gaming studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in a total of 27 regulated markets. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI, is AA rated by MSCI and is included in Bloomberg's 50 global leaders in sustainability. The Group has set Science Based Targets, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects.

   For more information see the Group's website:   www.entaingroup.com 

About Unikrn

Established in 2014, Unikrn is one of the world's leading esports companies, with a specific focus on wagering and gaming. Unikrn led the way in developing new products and customer experiences and have established themselves as the leading esports wagering operator. Unikrn's exclusive technologies include unrivalled innovations such as virtual esports, streamer betting and bet on yourself products, sitting alongside best-in-class esports focussed traditional betting options such as esportsbook.

They have won widespread industry recognition as Esports operator of the Year 2019 &2020, Wagering innovator of the Year 2020, Esports provider of the year 2021 & Esports innovator of the Year 2021.

Visit Unikrn online at https://unikrn.com

LEI: 213800GNI3K45LQR8L28

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August 12, 2021 08:31 ET (12:31 GMT)