Entain’s recent acquisition spree has come with a cost – mounting regulatory pressure. In 2022, the company faced a hefty £17m settlement from the Gambling Commission for failing to uphold proper anti-money laundering and safer gambling measures.
The combination of ongoing regulatory challenges and unfavorable sporting results has caused the decline in Entain’s share price. These obstacles have created headwinds for the company’s growth and impacted its financial performance.
Nevertheless, Entain maintains a positive outlook for the future. The CEO, Jette Nygaard-Andersen, is focused on attracting more customers and improving their products. The company’s acquisitions, such as SuperSport, Retail, and BetMGM, have been performing well, with BetMGM expected to achieve positive EBITDA by the latter half of 2023.
Entain anticipates a low double-digit percentage growth in its online net gaming revenue (NGR) for the full year of 2023, despite a slight decline in proforma NGR. The company is determined to meet its FY2023 EBITDA guidance, which ranges from £1bn to £1.05bn, with the help of operational controls.