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Elys BMG Group, Inc. (ELYS)·Q3 2022 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2022 revenue rose 19.4% year over year to $9.59M (vs. $8.03M) on stronger Italian B2C performance; operating loss was roughly flat at $(3.09)M, and net loss widened modestly to $(3.82)M .
- Mix and execution improved: sportsbook hold increased to 18.8% (from 14.9%), selling expenses fell to 4.1% of turnover (from 3.7%), and European operations reached net profitability for the nine months, but USD strength masked Euro-denominated gains .
- Management announced strategic catalysts for 2023: >100 signed Ohio host locations, U.S. mobile partnership with Lottomatica on pace for Q1 2023, and Virtual Generation (VG) launch targeted for mid-2023 with explicit earnings objectives; no formal revenue/EPS guidance ranges were provided .
- Near-term stock reaction catalysts: confirmation of U.S. mobile launch timing and Ohio retail ramp, VG regulatory certification progress, and evidence of U.S. cost containment at USBookmaking (USB) following management’s restructuring actions .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- European operations returned to profitability; management achieved its profitability goal ahead of schedule in Europe for the nine-month period .
- Italian sportsbook KPIs improved: sportsbook hold rose to 18.8% in Q3 2022 (vs. 14.9% in Q3 2021), contributing to a blended GGR of 7.0% (vs. 6.3%) and supporting higher net gaming revenues .
- Strategic momentum: “The road map we set out in 2016 has come full-circle with European operations streamlined and returned to profitability…Our U.S. strategy has also proven to be a tremendous success” (Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella) .
What Went Wrong
- Consolidated results still loss-making: Q3 2022 net loss of $(3.82)M (vs. $(3.52)M) and nine-month net loss of $(10.19)M, driven by operating losses and non-cash charges (contingent consideration accretion) .
- U.S. USBookmaking underperformed: USB produced a nine-month net loss of ~$1.62M on ~$0.9M revenue, with higher personnel and intangible amortization costs; mediation with USB management is planned .
- FX headwinds: USD strengthened ~11% vs. EUR, masking Euro-denominated growth; gaming tax rate increased due to business mix shift, pressuring margins .
Financial Results
Consolidated Performance vs. Prior Year and Prior Quarter
Notes: Q2 2022 net loss and EPS not disclosed in the Q2 press release; detailed values would typically appear in the Q2 10-Q, which is not included in the available document set.
Margins and Efficiency Metrics
Disaggregated Revenue Drivers (Italy)
Guidance Changes
Note: No formal numeric revenue/EPS guidance ranges were provided; management emphasized operational milestones and qualitative outlook .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Call transcript was not available in the document catalog; themes tracked from 10-Q MD&A and earnings press releases.
Management Commentary
- Executive Chairman Michele Ciavarella: “The road map we set out in 2016 has come full-circle with European operations streamlined and returned to profitability…Our U.S. strategy has also proven to be a tremendous success…These two extremes of the retail distribution channel put Elys in league of its own…” .
- Ciavarella on U.S. mobile: “Elys has also advanced the build-out of its U.S. digital solution to provide sportsbook technology and services for industry giant Lottomatica for a potential launch in Q1-23” .
- Interim CFO Carlo Reali: “Our online betting revenue grew in Q3-2022 by approximately $0.9 million over Q3-2021 and our land based revenue more than doubled to $0.7 million…Commissions paid to agents represented 4.1% of turnover compared to 3.7%” .
- Reali on VG: “Our VG product will add a significant boost to our operating profit…capture 20% of the $3 Billion Italian market…combined earnings of approximately €1.0 million and additional growth in 2024 of up to €5 million” .
Q&A Highlights
- Q3 2022 earnings call transcript was not available in the document catalog; therefore, Q&A themes and any guidance clarifications could not be extracted.
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q3 2022 EPS and revenue was unavailable due to missing CIQ mapping for ELYS; as a result, estimate comparisons could not be provided. If available, results would be benchmarked against S&P Global consensus to determine beats/misses.
- Given stronger revenue growth and improved sportsbook hold, near-term estimate revisions may focus on Italy segment profitability and U.S. cost containment while accounting for FX headwinds and higher gaming tax rates .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Italy-led recovery: Web and re-opening land-based channels drove revenue and KPI improvements, with European operations achieving net profitability for the nine months; watch continued rollout of remaining ADM rights through Q1 2023 .
- FX masking fundamentals: USD strength (~11% vs EUR) suppressed USD-reported growth; underlying Euro performance is stronger than GAAP translation shows .
- U.S. execution pivot: Lottomatica mobile launch targeted for Q1 2023 and Ohio retail with >100 hosts are key catalysts; confirmation of timing and initial ramp should be stock-moving .
- VG as margin accretive: Mid-2023 launch targeted with explicit earnings objectives; successful ADM certification and early adoption could lift consolidated margins .
- Cost discipline and USB remediation: Management is restructuring and evaluating USB; reducing excessive administrative costs and clarifying the path to profitability in U.S. operations is critical .
- Mix and tax headwinds: Higher sportsbook hold offsets a mix shift toward lower-margin casino; gaming tax rate elevated due to business mix and jurisdiction, requiring continued focus on pricing and product mix .
- Funding and liquidity: The company raised equity in June 2022 and used equipment funding for Ohio expansion; monitor cash burn versus ramp milestones and any need for incremental capital .
Citations: All data and statements are sourced from Elys Game Technology’s Q3 2022 8-K and press release , Q3 2022 10-Q –, Q2 2022 8-K and press release –, and Q1 2022 10-Q –. Estimates were unavailable via S&P Global due to missing CIQ mapping (tool error).