Playtech has set its sights on maintaining the momentum built during the first few months of the year, eyeing up new areas for growth throughout the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The slot developer described the tournament – to be held across the US, Canada and Mexico – as a ‘significant opportunity’, especially for the Mexican operator Caliente Interactive, a company that Playtech holds a 30.8% stake in.
Approximately $35bn was wagered during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and this figure is likely to be surpassed in the next two months, given that this year’s tournament is the first to feature 48 nations, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104.
Mor Weizer, Playtech’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our partnership with Caliente Interactive in Mexico continues to perform strongly, with the upcoming World Cup representing a significant opportunity to further strengthen Caliente’s leadership position in the market.”
Americas stays strong
Playtech was particularly buoyant on the ongoing strength of its wider Americas division in a trading update released today (20 May).
Building on a ‘stronger-than-expected’ performance in 2025, which saw growth across the US and Latin America despite an overall decline in revenue, Playtech said that this momentum has continued in the first quarter of 2026.
Weizer added: “We have made an excellent start to 2026, with strong trading in the first four months of the year reflecting continued momentum in regulated markets, notably the Americas and certain European markets.
“Performance in the US, in particular, has been encouraging, as returns on our investments over recent years continue to accelerate and contribute meaningfully to profitability.”
Playtech also noted strong performances across ‘certain European markets’. However, Weizer cautioned about the impact of ‘ongoing sector headwinds’, alluding to the idea that this may have dampened overall performance.
Although no specific concerns were listed, at the forefront of the gambling industry’s minds has been tax rises in countries across Europe, including the UK, where remote gaming duty has almost doubled to 40%.
Despite this, Weizer reassured investors that Playtech remains ‘well-positioned to capture the significant market opportunity ahead’.
Changes to the Board
Playtech also confirmed that long-time board member Ian Penrose will step down from his role as a Senior Independent Director following the publication of the company’s financial results at the end of the year.
Penrose has sat on the Board since 2018. Playtech’s Non-Executive Chair, John Gleasure, hailed his ‘invaluable contribution’ during a period of significant transition for Playtech.
Gleasure said: “Ian has brought deep global industry experience to Playtech, and has always shown total commitment and dedication during what will have been almost nine years of service to Playtech. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
“We are grateful that he has agreed to remain with us until Spring 2027 to ensure a smooth transition of his roles.”
