Tabcorp Reports Decline in Earnings Due to COVID-19

The Australian wagering firm, Tabcorp, experienced a 4.8% decline in earnings for the financial period concluding on June 30th. This downturn was attributed to the disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, and a substantial impairment charge resulted in the operator reporting a full-year deficit.

During the preceding twelve months, Tabcorp’s income decreased to AU$5.22 billion (£2.86 billion/€3.18 billion/$3.79 billion). The departing CEO, David Attenborough, characterized the pandemic as “exceptionally difficult” for Tabcorp’s staff, collaborators, and patrons, and acknowledged its substantial influence on the company’s FY2020 performance.

He elaborated that “COVID-19 limitations led to the temporary closure of hotels, clubs, and TAB agencies for a considerable duration during FY2020.” “This had a significant impact on our betting and media, gaming services, and Keno operations.”

Income within the wagering and media division experienced a 10.1% year-over-year reduction to AU$2.08 billion, stemming from mandatory closures and restrictions imposed across all states and territories commencing on March 23rd, as well as the suspension of domestic and international sporting events.

In this timeframe, the division continued to put resources into digital change and largely finished the merging of UBet, obtained through the takeover of Tatts Group.

Digital investments in this financial year led to a 3.8% increase in income for the channel, reaching A$7.1 billion, while physical sales revenue decreased by 27.9% to A$5.4 million in the same period, showing that digital contributions surpassed physical sales for the first time in a full year.

Following the conclusion of the financial year, the transfer of UBet customers to a unified digital platform was finished. Tabcorp stated that this provided players with a more appealing product and service range, including digital in-play wagering, as well as extra lottery and fixed odds choices.

Income for the gaming services division also decreased in the year, dropping 27.3% to A$221 million. Likewise, venue closures starting on March 23rd affected the division, further intensified by social distancing rules put in place after reopening.

The division was also impacted by contract terminations, contract extensions at lower daily rates, reduced project work, and the non-renewal of a service agreement with telecommunications company Telstra in the first half of the year.

Tabcorp suspended all venue charges during the COVID-19 outbreak and implemented a leave program for employees, reducing operational and capital spending.

“We continue to support our venue partners and have waived over A$100 million in fees to date,” Attenborough said.

Our primary objective is to emerge from this post-COVID-19 period stronger than ever before.”

Following a review of the gaming services division’s operations, they implemented changes to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses. They had initially planned to conduct a comprehensive examination of the entire division in February, but they postponed this due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the wagering and media, and gaming services divisions experiencing a challenging year, Tabcorp’s largest division, lottery and Keno, actually witnessed an increase in revenue in 2020, rising by 1.8% to A$21.2 billion.

They attributed this growth to their investments in digital and retail channels, as well as their modifications to gaming offerings to appeal to a broader audience. This resulted in an additional 400,000 Australians registering to participate in their lottery games, bringing the total customer base for this segment to 3.7 million.

Powerball sales surged by 16%, while Set for Life sales climbed by 21%. Although Tabcorp’s lottery retail network, encompassing newsagents and convenience stores, remained operational during the COVID-19 lockdowns, their retail sales experienced a decline of 4%. This was offset by the expansion in digital sales, which now constitute 28% of their total lottery sales, up from 23.5% in the preceding year.

Conversely, Keno revenue decreased by 14.3% due to the closure of clubs and hotels in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria during the second quarter, which concluded on June 30.

The division disbursed A$2…

Over the previous twelve months, Tabcorp remitted a sum of one billion dollars to state and local authorities in the form of taxes and levies.

Following the subtraction of one point four four billion dollars in commissions and expenditures, Tabcorp’s variable contribution (revenue less variable costs) reached one point eight billion dollars, representing a decrease of nine point four percent. The company’s operational expenditures amounted to eight hundred and four million dollars, a reduction of six point seven percent from the preceding year, resulting in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of nine hundred and ninety-five million dollars, a decline of eleven point five percent from the 2019 fiscal year.

Depreciation and amortization expenses experienced an increase of fourteen point seven percent, reaching three hundred and ninety-nine million dollars, leading to a twenty-three point two percent reduction in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to five hundred and ninety-six million dollars. After accounting for one hundred and ninety-three million dollars in interest expense and one hundred and thirty-two million dollars in income tax, Tabcorp’s net profit before tax amounted to two hundred and seventy-one million dollars, aligning with the company’s previously communicated range of two hundred and sixty-seven million to two hundred and seventy-three million dollars.

However, the company subsequently recorded an impairment charge of one point zero nine billion dollars on goodwill. Of this amount, nine hundred and five million dollars originated from the wagering and media division, while one hundred and eighty-five million dollars stemmed from the gaming services division.

Tabcorp also recorded fifty-one million dollars in other non-recurring items, encompassing nineteen million dollars in asset impairments, eighteen million dollars in costs associated with the integration of Tatts, and nineteen million dollars paid to the Queensland Racing Association to resolve a consumption tax dispute. This was partially offset by a five million dollar tax refund.

Consequently, Tabcorp recorded a net loss of eight hundred and seventy million dollars for the twelve months ending on June thirtieth.

In July, one month following the conclusion of the fiscal year, revenue exhibited an increase of two point eight percent, with lottery and Keno contributing a four point seven percent rise and wagering and media registering a six percent growth.

While gambling service income experienced a significant drop of 52.2%, there was still a modest rise of 8%.

Attenborough cautioned that Victoria was facing another lockdown following a spike in infections, attributed to the uncertainty surrounding the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.

“Our aim is to ensure Tabcorp emerges robustly in the post-COVID-19 landscape,” he clarified. “This period remains difficult, particularly for the Victorian population enduring a stringent stage four lockdown. Our primary focus is to navigate the pandemic by implementing strategies that bolster our workforce, collaborators, and patrons, while maximizing returns for our investors.”

This involves a $600 million equity fundraising initiative to settle outstanding debts and enhance financial adaptability.

“With the integration of Tatts essentially finalized, our emphasis in fiscal year 2021 will be on capitalizing on digital prospects in lottery, Keno, and wagering, as well as unlocking the potential of a more competitive TAB.”

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