Allwyn Q1 Revenue Surges Following Strategic Acquisitions
Lottery giant Allwyn has posted strong financial results for the first quarter of 2026, revealing an 8% rise in total revenue to €2.39 billion. The company's net revenue saw a more substantial increase of 21% to €1.2 billion, a figure that underscores the impact of its recent strategic moves. The positive Allwyn Q1 revenue report highlights the successful integration of US daily fantasy sports operator PrizePicks, which Allwyn acquired in the previous year.
Excluding the PrizePicks business, the group's net revenue still grew by a respectable 3.5% compared to the first quarter of 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by strong performance in the digital channel, which Allwyn CEO Robert Chvatal attributed to a focus on innovation and an enhanced player experience. Chvatal also noted that the company navigated headwinds from an increased gaming tax in Austria and comparison to a period with record jackpots in EuroMillions and Greece's Tzoker.
Regional Performance and Betano Contribution
A breakdown of Allwyn's performance shows varied results across its key markets. Continental Europe remains its largest market, while North America is its fastest-growing region, showcasing the immediate impact of the PrizePicks acquisition.
| Region | Q1 2026 Total Revenue | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Continental Europe | €1.2 billion | +7% |
| United Kingdom | €942 million | -7% |
| North America | €305 million | +408% |
The company also highlighted the performance of Betano, the Kaizen Gaming brand in which Allwyn holds a 37% stake through its merger with OPAP. Betano's total revenue grew by 27% year-on-year to €788 million. To steer its expansion in the US and Canada, Allwyn recently appointed former Virginia Lottery chief Khalid Reede Jones as the new CEO of its North America business.
"The progress of our enlarged group this quarter demonstrates the breadth and strength of the Allwyn platform, with strong momentum in profitability and growth in continental Europe, the addition of PrizePicks in North America, the completion of the UK technology transformation, a strong contribution from Betano and continued development of our digital and content capabilities." - Robert Chvatal, Allwyn CEO
France's ANJ Launches World Cup Prevention Campaign
As the FIFA World Cup approaches, French regulator ANJ is launching a public awareness campaign to address the risks of gambling addiction. The move follows a Toluna-Harris Interactive survey that revealed a 41% intention among tournament followers to place real-money bets, with younger adults aged 18-34 showing the highest inclination. The ANJ World Cup campaign aims to make problem gambling signs more visible and relatable.
The innovative campaign, developed with agency LIBRE, transforms the standard legal warning banner into a "risk zone" visual. It features actors in public spaces reenacting stages of gambling addiction. ANJ projects that betting on the 2026 tournament could reach €1.2 billion, a significant increase from the €900 million wagered during the 2022 World Cup.
Australia Boosts GambleAware Funding for Harm Reduction
In Australia, the New South Wales government has increased its commitment to responsible gambling by injecting an additional AU$1.3 million annually into GambleAware. This funding boost aims to expand peer support and front-line assistance services, increasing the number of service locations from 34 to 49 across the state. The initiative will also fund five new peer support workers.
This move is part of the Minns government's broader gambling reform agenda. Other measures include reducing the state cap on gaming machines, lowering cash input limits on new machines to AU$500, and banning external gambling signage. The government's actions are a direct response to an evaluation that identified a need for increased funding in community engagement and peer support.
Nigeria Navigates Complex State-Led Gambling Regulation
The landscape of Nigerian gambling regulation continues to evolve following a landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling that transferred regulatory authority from the federal government to individual states. This has created a patchwork of laws across the nation's 36 states. While some states like Lagos already had frameworks in place, others are still developing their legislation.
To address the complexity for operators, about 22 states have formed the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria (FSGRN). The FSGRN introduced a unified license, the Universal Reciprocity Certificate (URC), to streamline online gaming operations across member states. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the legal status of gambling in northern Muslim-majority states and the unresolved constitutional questions surrounding cross-border online gaming.
Gordon Moody Appoints New Leadership for Statutory Levy Era
In the United Kingdom, specialist gambling harm treatment charity Gordon Moody has appointed a new leadership team as the sector adapts to a new funding model. Claire Arnold has become the new Chair, and Jon Murray has been named Chief Executive Officer. This change comes as the new statutory levy UK system, a key outcome of the Gambling Act review, replaces the previous voluntary funding model managed by GambleAware.
The Gordon Moody CEO appointment signals a new chapter for the organization, which received £4.5 million from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparity (OHID) under the levy. However, the transition has not been seamless. The new system has faced criticism, with a Conservative MS in the Welsh assembly highlighting that a newly funded service was "unable to meet the needs" of all referred clients, pointing to ongoing challenges in the UK's approach to gambling harm treatment.
