In H1, Gauselmann revenue bounces back to surpass pre-Covid levels.

In H1, Gauselmann revenue bounces back to surpass pre-Covid levels.

 For the first time since the start of the epidemic, the Gauselmann Group has reported revenues for the first half of 2022 that are higher than pre-Covid levels.

 In the six months ending June 30, the company reported €1.75 billion (£1.48 billion/$1.75 billion) in sales, a modest increase over the €1.74 billion reported in the same period in 2019.

 It follows years of pandemic-related challenges for the land-based slots operator, which said that its fleet of about 1,000 locations was shuttered for a significant portion of 2020 and 2021, resulting in a combined €2 billion drop in revenue.  It further stated that, in spite of the closures, operating costs remained "largely unchanged."

 Chairman Paul Gauselmann (left) declared, "It is wonderful news that the pandemic has bottomed out and we are at last back in charted territory again."  "This success is largely the result of our excellent ideas and the commitment of each and every one of our employees, and it once again demonstrates what can be accomplished with perseverance and teamwork."

 In addition, the Gauselmann Group attributed their recovery to "increasing diversification" and the overall recovery from the pandemic.

 "The Gauselmann Group is lowering its reliance on specific markets and business models by positioning itself on an ever-widening base," the company stated.

 One of the main drivers of the recovery, according to the group, was development in the UK and Spain, which helped "compensate for the increasingly difficult situation in the German home market."

 Consequently, almost 60% of Gauselmann's revenue currently comes from non-German operations.

 Paul Gauselmann stated, "It was very important to advance our international business activities from an entrepreneurial point of view."

 The company now employs around 15,000 individuals after increasing its workforce by 10.7% in 2021.

 The company also talked about the opening of an online casino in Germany, where Mernov, a subsidiary, was granted the nation's first slots licence.  However, Paul Gauselmann stated that in order for operators to thrive in the market, conditions might need to be more "reasonable," beginning with more efforts to combat the black market.

 He declared, "We will undoubtedly be actively contributing with excellent ideas in the online segment."  "Success will follow if we perform and can rely on more reasonable framework conditions moving forward."