Stella David steers Entain to encouraging H1 2024 results

Lea Hogg August 9, 2024

Despite facing a multitude of challenges, Entain’s H1 results for 2024 have surfaced as a sign of the company’s resilience. Analysts perceive that this promising outcome may overcome the company’s challenges of the past year’s difficulties, suggesting a glimmer of hope at the end of Entain’s seemingly dark tunnel.

Much of Entain’s optimism can be attributed to the work of Stella David. Her contribution to the company’s turnaround story will undoubtedly be remembered in Entain’s history.

Net gaming revenue

In the first half of the year, Entain reported a 6 percent increase in its total net gaming revenue, reaching £2.56 billion by the end of June. This growth represents an 8 percent rise at a constant currency level. The company’s underlying earnings also saw a positive trend, advancing by 5 percent to £523.8 million. Entain also managed to significantly reduce its losses from £502.5 million to a much lower £46.9 million. The performance of net gaming revenues varied across different regions. In the UK and Ireland, there was a decrease of 6 percent, while the international division saw a modest growth of 3 percent.. However, the central and eastern Europe regions outperformed others with a robust 12 percent increase. Following these encouraging results, Entain, a FTSE 100 company, declared an interim dividend of 9.3p, marking a 5 percent increase.

These figures demonstrate Entain’s ability to generate revenue growth in a period when market conditions have been very challenging. The company’s strategic focus on diversifying its revenue sources across different regions has played a key role in this positive outcome. The significant reduction in losses also indicates improved operational efficiency and effective cost management strategies. The decision to increase the interim dividend reflects the company’s confidence in its financial health and future prospects. Overall, the net gaming revenue paints an encouraging picture of Entain’s performance during this period and its potential for sustained growth in the future.

Impact of Euro 2024 football tournament

In the face of heightened competition and tough regulatory shifts in crucial markets, Entain found a silver lining in major football events. The first half of 2024 saw the company buoyed by tournaments such as Euro 2024, the European Champions League, and the English Premier League. These events contributed to a 6 percent increase in Entain’s total net gaming revenue, reaching £2.56 billion by the end of June. The championship’s stronger than anticipated win margins gave a significant boost to Entain. The company reported a 5 percent increase in online net gaming revenues for the half-year, a notable improvement considering revenues were flat prior to the Euros and had even dipped by 2 percent in the first quarter. Rob Wood, Entain’s chief financial officer, highlighted the positive impact of the 19 drawn games, noting that these results were beneficial as customers typically “don’t bet on draws”. In addition, Entain’s operations in Brazil saw a robust growth of 28 percent in the half-year, with Wood commenting that the country was beginning to hit its stride. In response to these positive developments, Entain revised its full-year forecast for online net gaming revenues. Instead of a previously expected low-single-digit decline, the company now anticipates a low-single-digit increase. It also projected underlying earnings to be between £1.04 billion and £1.09 billion, which is 2 percent above the consensus expectations in the City. This surprising return to revenue growth reflects the company’s resilience and adaptability in a dynamic and unpredictable market. However, the landscape was less rosy for BetMGM, Entain’s joint venture with MGM Resorts in the United States. With fierce competition and escalating marketing costs, BetMGM recently issued a warning that its annual losses would exceed previous estimates. Despite this, BetMGM managed to stabilize around a 13 percent market share in the US legal sports betting industry. The first half of 2024 was deemed a “year of investment” for BetMGM, with a focus on improving customer experience and stepping up investment in players. These contrasting scenarios highlight the dynamic and challenging nature of the global gaming industry. Despite the hurdles, Entain’s performance in the first half of 2024 demonstrates its ability to drive growth and deliver value to its stakeholders.

Leadership transition

Jette Nygaard-Andersen’s tenure as CEO of Entain during the COVID-19 pandemic was indeed a period of significant growth for the company, as was the case for many gaming companies. The shift to remote work and the increased free time led to a surge in online betting, contributing to a boom in the industry during the pandemic years.

However, it seems that Nygaard-Andersen’s legacy at Entain will be defined more by her aggressive mergers and acquisitions strategy. Her voracious appetite for M&A led to a series of ‘shopping sprees’, which, while expanding Entain’s portfolio, also raised concerns about over-expenditure. Her inability to curb this spending has been noted as a key aspect of her leadership style.

While this approach may have contributed to short-term growth, questions remain about Entain’s long-term sustainability and the impact on the company’s financial health. As the company moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it approaches the path set by Nygaard.Andersen and how it will manage its growth strategy in the future. Stella David has indeed played an instrumental role in steering Entain back to a successful trajectory. Her leadership has been marked by strategic decisions and effective governance that have revitalized the company. Now, as she prepares to pass the baton of leadership to Gavin Isaacs, it’s clear that her tenure has been transformative for Entain. Under Stella David’s interim stewardship, Entain has rebounded from the challenging period of the Nygaard-Andersen era. David’s sensible and adept management and strategic foresight have not only steadied the ship but also set it sailing back towards sustained growth. The glory once associated with Entain has been restored in H1 2024. As David steps into her new role as Chairperson of Entain with Isaacs at the helm as CEO, the company stands on more solid ground than it did six months ago. The legacy of David’s successful tenure provides a strong foundation for Isaacs to build upon. As we look ahead to the second half of 2024, the key question that emerges is whether Gavin Isaacs will be able to sustain the positive momentum established under Stella David. Will he successfully carry forward this upward trend and continue to steer Entain on a successful course during the second quarter? Only time will tell.

Entain PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ENT, saw its share price increase by 1.44 percent to 557.90 GBX.