On Wednesday, Playtech's CEO Mor Weizer reported a strong start to 2026, highlighting better-than-expected results in the Americas. This update followed Playtech's annual general meeting, covering the company's performance during the first four months of 2026.
Playtech remains optimistic about its trajectory, having outperformed expectations in the Americas, particularly in the US and Mexico. Certain European markets also contributed to the company’s robust performance, along with a solid showing in its live casino segment.
Weizer expressed confidence in Playtech's ability to sustain its growth. He stated, "Despite the ongoing sector headwinds, the combination of Playtech's strong expansion in regulated markets, diversified footprint, highly scalable technology and deep partner relationships leaves the group well positioned to capture the significant market opportunity ahead."
In September 2024, Playtech entered a new agreement with its Mexican partner Caliente concerning the Caliplay joint venture, which has been a key growth area for the supplier. Weizer noted, "Our partnership with Caliente Interactive in Mexico continues to perform strongly, with the upcoming World Cup representing a significant opportunity to further strengthen Caliente's leadership position in the market."
The performance in the US has been particularly encouraging, as recent investments are yielding significant returns that contribute meaningfully to profitability.
In addition to the positive news, Playtech revealed its group revenue for FY25 fell 10% to €763.6 million, as reported in March. Following this, CFO Chris McGinnis announced an operational review of the Sun Bingo business in the UK. This review responds to the increase in Remote Gaming Duty, which surged from 21% to 40% on April 1, making Sun Bingo unprofitable. McGinnis previously indicated he believes Sun Bingo retains potential within Playtech’s portfolio, despite its customer-facing nature.
Playtech also disclosed that senior independent director Ian Penrose intends to step down from the board. He will remain as a non-executive director, senior independent director, and chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee until after Playtech releases its FY2026 results, ensuring a seamless transition for those taking over his roles. Non-executive chairman John Gleasure acknowledged Penrose’s significant contributions since 2018, saying, "Ian has brought deep global industry experience to Playtech, and has always shown total commitment and dedication during what will have been almost nine years of service to Playtech. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours."
