Lottomatica strengthens Italian market position with online share gains
Lottomatica has reported a record high in market share of the Italian online sector as group revenue increased to €1.72 billion across the first nine months of 2026.
Lottomatica’s latest results, released on Tuesday, showed the company’s online market share in Italy reached a record high of 32.4% during September.
Across Q3 2026, Lottomatica’s market share averaged out at 31.7%, a 0.9% increase year-on-year, powered by 2.1% growth in its iSports market share. Its iGaming share also rose 0.6%.
The operator recorded €35.2 billion in bets across the first nine months of 2026, an 8% year-on-year rise, leading to group revenue growth of 5%.
GGR was also up to €3.52 billion, a 2% increase, while its adjusted EBITDA soared 8% to €665 million.
Operating cash flow increased to €544.9 million, from €504 million in 9M 2025, while net financial debt stood at €2.16 billion at the end of September.
Lottomatica reiterated its FY2026 guidance, stating it expects adjusted EBITDA to be at the top end of its €940 million to €980 million target.
Commenting on the results, Lottomatica CEO Guglielmo Angelozzi highlighted the group’s strong quarterly performance and continued growth in online and sports betting.
“The third quarter of 2026 marks another strong quarter for Lottomatica, with double-digit growth in Online and Sports volumes, and in Adjusted EBITDA normalised (+17% YoY at normalised payout),” he said.
“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our growth trajectory, supported by favourable market dynamics, continued execution of our strategy and strong cash flow generation.”
Online offsets retail declines
While online revenue rose 13% year-on-year to €780.82 million during Lottomatica’s 9M, its sports and gaming franchise both reported declines.
Revenue from its sports franchise dropped 1% year-on-year to €376.68 million, despite bets growing 11%, as favourable sports payouts for players weighed heavily.
Lottomatica noted that at a normalised sports betting payout of 80.5% for retail, its sports franchise revenue would have increased 13%.
Meanwhile, Lottomatica’s gaming franchise posted revenue of €560.28 million, a 2% fall.
With Lottomatica operating a large retail estate, the company looks likely to be impacted by new proposals raised in Italy’s 2027 budget bill, which was sent to the nation’s parliament earlier this week.
The budget bill proposes to raise the PREU machine levy on slots from 24% to 25% from 1 January next year, as well as hiking the rate on video lottery terminals from 8.6% to 9.6%.
However, slots that pay out at least 70% in prizes would pay a reduced rate of 20%, while the maximum stake per slot game would double to €2. Maximum prizes would also increase from €100 to €200.
Lottomatica-Cirsa merger closing in
In his comments, Angelozzi also noted the “major strategic milestone” that Lottomatica reached in Q3, with its September announcement of a merger with Cirsa.
Expected to close in Q2 next year, the deal is set to create the second-largest listed gaming and sports betting operator in the world.
In its 9M presentation, Lottomatica said that workstreams of integration are “already fully up and running”, with a plan to be “100% ready” to start the execution of the integration plan from the day the deal closes.
Financing has been secured, and the next step will be to gain additional approvals, with Cirsa having called an EGM for 30 November.