Entain half-year revenue beats forecast despite Brazilian struggles
(Alliance News) - Entain PLC on Thursday backed full-year guidance, and raised its interim dividend, after net gaming revenue growth accelerated in the second quarter of 2026.
The betting operator which owns Ladbrokes and Coral said pretax profit amounted to GBP46.4 million in the six months to June 30, swung from a loss of GBP66.3 million the year prior.
Revenue increased 7.4% to GBP2.51 billion from GBP2.34 billion, or by 5% at constant currency.
Net gaming revenue increased 7.2% to GBP2.54 billion from GBP2.37 billion, or by 5% at constant currency, beating GBP2.51 billion company compiled consensus.
Online net gaming revenue growth accelerated to 8% at constant currency in the second quarter after 6% growth in the first three months of 2026. Retail net gaming revenue grew 3% at constant currency in the second quarter, improving from a 1% decline in the first.
In the first half of 2026, UK & Ireland net gaming revenue grew 8% at constant currency, with online up 13% and retail up 2%.
International net gaming revenue increased 3% at constant currency in the first half, with online up 4% and retail down 2%.
Australia continued to perform ahead of expectations with online net gaming revenue up 13% at constant currency, but Brazil saw a 25% drop in an "intensely competitive market".
Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, excluding BetMGM parent fee revenue, fell to GBP472.6 million in the half-year from GBP488.7 million, but beat GBP454 million consensus.
Looking ahead, Entain said it remains "comfortable with market expectations" for group underlying Ebitda, excluding parent fees, which sit at the midpoint of its GBP910 million to GBP960 million guidance range for the whole of 2026.
This would be down from GBP1.16 billion in 2025.
It still expects full year online net gaming revenue growth between 5% and 7% for the full year.
Entain lifted its interim dividend by 5.1% to 10.3p per share from 9.8p.
Shares in Entain were up 0.6% at 563.20 pence each in London on Thursday morning.
By Jeremy Cutler, Alliance News reporter
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