Playtech Kicks Off 2025 with Strong B2B Growth and U.S. Surge
Playtech rolled into 2025 with a bang, reporting a solid trading performance from January 1 to April 30, right on track with expectations.
A Solid Start to the Year
The gaming tech giant is charging toward its goal of becoming a pure-play B2B powerhouse, and the early months show it’s gaining serious traction.
CEO Mor Weizer called it a “busy start to the year,” highlighting standout results in the U.S. and a beefed-up balance sheet after a major deal.
The core B2B business is the juice behind Playtech’s early 2025 wins, delivering robust results across key segments. The Live segment, a major growth engine, posted healthy gains, while the high-margin Software-as-a-Service business sparked very strong revenue growth across multiple operators and regions.
Software fees from Caliplay, a key Mexican partner, kept climbing, though a revised deal effective March 31, 2025, shifts Playtech to dividends as a 30.8% stakeholder instead of extra B2B service fees.
“Our core B2B business has delivered a solid performance in the first four months of the year, with a standout performance in the US,” Weizer said, signaling confidence in the strategy.
U.S. Market Lights Up
The U.S. is where Playtech’s really turning heads, with “very strong” revenue growth in Live, Casino, and Platform segments. Launches with major operators in 2024 are now paying off big, fueling demand across the Americas, especially for Live products.
Playtech’s doubling down, planning more investment to keep the momentum rolling. Weizer’s “standout performance” nod to the U.S. underscores its importance, with 2024’s 126% regional revenue spike, hitting €29.8 million, setting a high bar,
Not everything’s smooth sailing. Brazil’s shift to a regulated market and Colombia’s temporary VAT charge created short-term pressures, with Colombia’s online gaming revenue dropping 30% since February.
Still, Playtech’s staying bullish, eyeing long-term potential in both markets. The Caliplay joint venture remains a bright spot, with strong underlying performance despite the fee structure change
Big Moves Strengthen the Balance Sheet
On the corporate front, Playtech closed a massive $2.3 billion sale of its Italian B2C unit, Snaitech, to Flutter Entertainment on April 30. The deal’s cash, about $1.8 billion, will flow back to shareholders as a special dividend on June 12.
To further shore up its finances, Playtech announced on May 2, it’ll redeem $150 million in senior secured notes on June 2, ahead of their March 2026 maturity.
The company’s also moving forward with selling its loss-making German HappyBet business, with updates pending. “With the sale of Snaitech now completed, we have significantly strengthened our balance sheet,” Weizer said, setting Playtech up for growth.
Leadership Shift and Future Outlook
At its May 21 Annual General Meeting, Playtech saw a changing of the guard, with John Gleasure stepping in as Chairman, replacing Brian Mattingley.
The board’s focused on capitalizing on B2B opportunities, with Weizer upbeat about the medium-term outlook. “Given the strategic and operational progress being made across the business, we remain confident in Playtech’s ability to execute on the exciting growth opportunities over the medium term,” he said.
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