Flutter Entertainment has significantly raised its full-year earnings forecast following a surprisingly strong second quarter, choosing not to impose a surcharge on customers in high-tax U.S. states. This strategic decision came just as its competitor, DraftKings, reversed a similar plan.
Shares of Flutter, which recently transitioned its primary listing to the U.S., soared 11% in extended trading. The global leader in online betting now anticipates a 30% increase in its full-year core profit, far exceeding previous estimates.
Flutter’s strategic decisions amid market dynamics:
The Dublin-headquartered company, which operates popular brands like Paddy Power, Betfair, and Sportsbet, reported a 17% rise in adjusted core profit for the quarter. This financial health is a part of why Flutter’s U.S. brand, FanDuel, and DraftKings command approximately 70% of the U.S. market share.
Investors and market analysts had been keenly awaiting Flutter’s response to a newly announced surcharge by DraftKings on August 2. DraftKings CEO had likened the surcharge to practices in the hotel or taxi industries, intended to mitigate the effects of hefty state taxes like those in New York, which stands at 51%.
However, following Flutter’s announcement and subsequent market reaction, DraftKings issued a statement retracting their surcharge plan, citing customer feedback. Analysts had speculated that while DraftKings’ strategy might improve cash flow, it also posed a risk of losing market share if competitors, such as Flutter, did not implement similar charges.
Flutter’s approach to raising taxes:
Peter Jackson, CEO of Flutter, expressed that their preferred strategy in handling higher tax burdens—drawn from experiences in the European markets—was not to add surcharges but rather to adjust local marketing strategies and moderate promotional offers. This approach will be particularly applied in states like Illinois, where recent tax increases have taken effect.
On Tuesday, August 13, Flutter updated its profit expectations for the year. For its leading U.S. brand, FanDuel, the company now projects a core profit ranging from $680 million to $800 million, a notable increase from its earlier forecast of $635 million to $785 million. This update followed a year where FanDuel achieved its first full-year profitability, marking $167 million.
As Reuters reports via Yahoo Finance, Flutter anticipates a core profit between $1.69 billion and $1.85 billion across its other global markets, including Britain and Australia, adjusting its prior estimate up from $1.63 billion to $1.83 billion.
The betting industry was on edge during Flutter’s Q2 earnings call, eager to discover whether FanDuel would align with DraftKings in implementing a surcharge on winnings in high-tax states. The confirmation that FanDuel would not proceed with such a charge marked a significant divergence from its major rival.
“We have no plans to introduce a surcharge on winners,” stated Rob Coldrake, CFO of Flutter, alongside CEO Peter Jackson, during the earnings call, as USA Today Sports reports. This decision aligns with the earlier sentiment from gamblers who felt that DraftKings’ proposed surcharge was exploitative.
As DraftKings contemplates its next moves, possibly introducing the surcharge in January 2025, Flutter plans to mitigate the impending tax increases by reducing promotional expenditures, continuing to adapt strategically to the evolving market dynamics.
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