Light & Wonder Q1 2024: A Steady Climb in the Gaming Industry

Lea Hogg May 9, 2024

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Light & Wonder Q1 2024: A Steady Climb in the Gaming Industry

Light & Wonder has reported a strong Q1 2024, marking its 12th consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. The company generated a 13 percent year-on-year revenue increase to $756 million, driven by robust performance across all lines of business. This growth is particularly noteworthy given the company’s stated focus on organic growth over “flashy” M&A deals.

The company’s consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew 13 percent to $281 million compared to the prior year period, resulting in a margin of 37 percent for the quarter. This financial health reflects the company’s strategic focus on sustainable growth and profitability.

???Growth Trajectory: Light & Wonder’s consistent growth strategy is evident.

???Segment Performance: Effective strategies drive gaming and SciPlay revenues.

???Future Outlook: Focus on organic growth and reinvestment for sustained success.

Source: SiGMA Key Takeaways

A significant contributor to this growth was the company’s gaming revenue, which increased to $476 million, up 14 percent compared to the prior year period. This was primarily led by continued growth in gaming machine sales, which grew 30 percent year-on-year.

The firm’s social casino business, SciPlay, also demonstrated strong performance with revenue coming in at $206 million, an 11 percent increase from Q1 2023. Meanwhile, iGaming revenue increased 14 percent year-on-year to $74 million, reflecting continued momentum in the US and international markets.

Light & Wonder CEO comments

Light & Wonder’s president and CEO, Matt Wilson, expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance, particularly highlighting the success of SciPlay and the iGaming division. Both segments achieved record revenue levels with consistent double-digit year-on-year growth.

The company’s prudent and sustainable monetisation strategy has proven effective, with average monthly revenue per paying user and average revenue per daily active user reaching new highs. This success is a testament to the investments made in the SciPlay engine and user acquisition.

Looking ahead, Light & Wonder remains focused on reinvesting in the business to further scale revenue and profitability. The company plans to enhance value through its share repurchase programme, while maintaining the rigour of its strategic capital allocation plan.

Despite queries from analysts regarding Light & Wonder’s M&A strategy, CEO Wilson emphasised that the current management team is “focused and disciplined.” The company is not in a hurry to add complexity to its portfolio through M&A, instead choosing to focus on being the leading cross-platform global games company.

Light & Wonder’s Q1 2024 performance demonstrates the company’s strategic focus on sustainable growth and profitability. With the power of the SciPlay engine and a disciplined approach to business development, Light & Wonder is well-positioned for continued success in the gaming industry.