William Malcolm

Sazka Group Profits Down 58%

Sazka Group, part of Karel Komárek’s KKCG, saw net profits fall by 58 percent year-on-year to 90.4 million euros in the first three quarters of 2020. At the same time, gross revenues increased by four percent to 1.42 billion euros.

Sazka Group’s revenue was up 66% year-on-year for the third quarter of 2020, to a total of 769 million euros.

Consolidated operating EBITDA also increased by 37%, to a total of 197 million euros, while adjusted EBITDA was up 32% to 207 million euros.

Consolidated profit after tax decreased by 33% year-on-year to 48 million euros.

“All our companies traded well in the third quarter. Measures against the spread of coronavirus were relaxed, and online sales remained high. A rapid return to normal trading indicates a strong base demand for our products,” said Robert Chvatal, CEO.

Sazka Group fully owns the Czech company Sazka and has stakes in other European betting companies. In June, it became the majority owner of the Austrian lottery company Casinos Austria, when it increased its stake in it to 55.48 percent. Sazka Group also owns 40 percent of Greece’s largest betting company OPAP and 32.5 percent of Italy’s LottoItalia.

In the autumn, Sazka Group announced that it was applying for a license to operate the British national lottery. The British businessman Keith Mills became the chairman of the British selection team, who played a key role in the fact that London won the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Last year, the group increased its net profit by 35 percent year-on-year to 311 million euros. Gross revenues from accepted bets increased by six percent to 1.91 billion euros.