Playtech expects to report first-half earnings well above market forecasts after strong trading in the Americas helped drive performance during the opening six months of 2026.
The gambling technology supplier said trading between 1 January and 30 June exceeded expectations, supported by strong momentum in the United States alongside continued growth in Mexico, Colombia and selected European markets. The company said trading in the Americas gathered further pace during May and June, leading it to expect adjusted EBITDA of more than €155 million for the first half.
The update prompted a strong market reaction, with Playtech shares climbing almost 20% in London trading following the announcement.
“We achieved an excellent performance in the first half of 2026, reflecting continued momentum in regulated markets, notably the Americas and certain European markets,” Playtech CEO Mor Weizer said. “Performance in the US, driven by our partnership with Hard Rock Digital, has been exceptionally strong, and we are delighted to see returns on our investments over recent years accelerate and contribute significantly to profitability and cash flow.
“Playtech continues to further establish itself in regulated and regulating markets going into the second half of the year, and we are pleased with the progress towards our medium-term targets. We look forward to publishing our interim results in a few weeks.”
Americas Lead Growth
Playtech attributed much of its first-half performance to the United States, where its partnership with Hard Rock Digital continued to expand. The company said it benefited from being the first supplier to launch a product based on Past Motor Racing (PMR) results with the operator after investing in its development.
Hard Rock Digital has become one of Playtech’s largest customers. Even so, the company expects revenue from the partnership to moderate during the second half of 2026 and into 2027, settling at what it described as a more sustainable level.
The business also highlighted continued progress in Mexico and Colombia, with selected European markets adding to overall growth.
Higher Full-Year Guidance
Although Playtech expects second-half adjusted EBITDA to come in below the first-half result, it raised its full-year outlook.
Alongside expectations for lower revenue from Hard Rock Digital, the company said the second half will reflect ongoing investment in a major partnership in Brazil that is expected to be signed and launched before contributing to growth in 2027. Playtech will also absorb the full effect of the UK’s higher Remote Gaming Duty, which took effect in April 2026.
Despite those factors, Playtech now expects adjusted EBITDA for the year ending 31 December 2026 to reach at least €270 million. That exceeds the current analyst consensus, which ranged between €205 million and €225 million, with an average estimate of €219 million.
Adjusted EBITDA includes the operating loss of HAPPYBET, Playtech’s share of income from associates including its 30.8% stake in Caliente Interactive, and dividends received from equity investments, primarily Hard Rock Digital.
The company will publish its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June on 10 September.
Source:
“Trading Update and Notice of H1 2026 Interim Results”, otp.tools.investis.com. Jul 9, 2026
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