Betsson vows overhaul to reverse earnings slide

Nordic online gambling operator Betsson AB closed out 2017 with another double-digit earnings decline and warnings that the situation may not improve until the end of 2018.

Figures released Thursday show the Stockholm-based Betsson’s revenue rising 12% to SEK1.25b (US$154.8m) in the three months ending December 31, 2017, but operating income and profit both fell 18% to SEK218.4m and SEK199m, respectively.

Similar patterns dominated the year as a whole, with revenue in positive territory (SEK4.7b, +15%), and operating income (SEK882m, -7%) and profit (SEK786.5m, -10%) broadly negative.

The company blamed the ongoing decline on a now familiar list of factors, including negative currency fluctuations, costs associated with the company’s recent spate of pricey acquisitions, and the failure of some of those acquired companies to live up to their earning potential.