The New Zealand wagering agency reached its financial goal for the initial time in the 2022/23 financial period, driven by robust results in athletic wagering and local horse racing.
The betting firm reported a profit of NZ$14.6 million (US$9.1 million/€8.6 million/£7.6 million) for the time ending January 31, 2023, surpassing the planned amount by NZ$300,000. This marked the first time the operator had achieved an above-budget profit in its sixth monthly trading update for the 2022-23 financial year.
Revenue was NZ$230.1 million, a 0.9% increase over the planned amount, partially attributed to a busy horse racing and sporting events schedule.
Following December, January again witnessed overall field sizes across all three horse racing categories above or in line with the average for the year to date. Peak revenue of NZ$6.6 million was attained on January 21 for the Karaka Million at Pukekohe.
Cricket test matches proved appealing to sports bettors, with the second test between Pakistan and New Zealand and the third test between Australia and South Africa leading the sports revenue charts for January. Basketball was the dominant in-play sports category, accounting for 36% of in-play revenue, and also topped the pre-match singles, accounting for 31% of pre-match revenue.
TAB NZ has witnessed a considerable surge in clientele, reaching an average of 78,000 per week since August, up from 70,000 last year. They have also successfully lured back some substantial spenders from foreign rivals, contributing to an increase in overall earnings.
The company’s total wagering income reached $36.8 million, surpassing their objective by a small margin of 0.9%. Their wagering profit margin also remained on course at 16.0%.
Operating expenditures for the month came in at $11.2 million, slightly exceeding their projected amount due to increased spending on technology, enhanced services for high-value customers, and expenses associated with finding a potential international collaborator. This partnership aims to propel the future of racing and sports and enrich the customer experience.
The company’s earnings reached $14.6 million, with $13.3 million from wagering and $1.3 million from gaming, both slightly exceeding their financial plan. In January, racing code distributed $13.4 million, slightly less than their target of $15.8 million.