NorthStar Gaming Reports Year-End 2023 Results

NorthStar Gaming Reports Year-End 2023 Results

Company reports revenue growth of 103% in fourth quarter and 240% for full year

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today released its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2023. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.

"We delivered very strong growth in our first full year of operations, with revenue and customers increasing sequentially in every quarter," said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar. "Key accomplishments during the year included the public listing of our shares, numerous product innovations to enhance our online betting platform, a strengthening of strategic partnerships, implementation of a marketing plan that has yielded an excellent return on investment, and the Slapshot Media acquisition which has enabled us to expand our addressable market through a First-Nations managed services arrangement."

"Our financial results and KPIs are beginning to demonstrate the strength of our business model," Mr. Moskowitz added. "We have the people and systems in place to support considerable expansion. As we scale the business, we expect to realize operating leverage as revenue continues to grow faster than expenses."

Mr. Moskowitz has published an inaugural Letter to Shareholders from the Chair and CEO, summarizing the Company's recent progress and strategic priorities for 2024. The Letter is available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

Financial Highlights for Fourth Quarter 2023:

  • Revenue, including managed services fees, net of bonuses, promotional costs and free bets, was $6.5 million in the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 103% over $3.2 million in the same period of 2022.
  • Total Wagers1 at Northstarbets.ca were $213.3 million in Q4 2023, an increase of 90% compared to $112.3 million in Q4 2022.
  • Gross Gaming Revenue1 at NorthStarbets.ca was $7.6 million in Q4 2023, an increase of 85% over $4.1 million in Q4 2022.
  • Gross margin was $2.5 million in Q4 2023, an increase of 127% over $1.1 million in Q4 2022, and represented approximately 39% of revenue compared to 35% of revenue in Q4 2022.

Financial Highlights for Full Year 2023:2

  • Revenue, including managed services fees, net of bonuses, promotional costs and free bets, was $19.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 240% over $5.7 million in 2022.
  • Total Wagers1 at Northstarbets.ca were $648.8 million in 2023, an increase of 251% compared to $184.7 million in 2022.
  • Gross Gaming Revenue1 at NorthStarbets.ca was $22.5 million in 2023, an increase of 208% over $7.3 million in 2022.
  • Gross margin was $7.1 million in 2023, an increase of 492% over $1.2 million in 2022, and represented approximately 36% of revenue compared to 21% of revenue in 2022.

Recent Operating Highlights:

  • Delivered significant year-over-year improvement in key performance indicators (KPIs) in FY 2023, including a 31% decline in cost per acquisition of a customer (CPA) and an 18% increase in estimated 12-month player values.
  • Exceeded $1 billion of total wagers since the launch of NorthStar Bets in May 2022.
  • Introduced branded studios for select live dealer games, prominently showcasing the NorthStar Bets brand and reinforcing the Company's positioning as a premium offering.
  • Continued to strengthen the Casino vertical, which earlier this year surpassed 600 games covering all major categories and curated from leading vendors worldwide.
  • Announced "Sports Insights 2.0," with enhancements to the Company's fully integrated content vertical to include a redesigned home page, smoother user experience, more dynamic "always on" content, and additional statistics.
  • Launched a VIP Rewards strategy to help secure the loyalty and satisfaction of our most active players.
  • NorthStar was the focus of an Emerging Ideas report from Cormark Securities in March 2024.
  • The Company's common shares commenced trading on the U.S.-based OTCQB Venture Market in March 2024 under the symbol NSBBF.

Outlook

"NorthStar is very well positioned to build on our momentum in 2024," said Mr. Moskowitz. "We expect to grow the managed services business we acquired with the Slapshot Media transaction. Ongoing innovation in both our casino and sportsbook offerings, as well as enhancements to our unique content vertical, will help continue to deliver a compelling player experience. We will maintain our focus on operational excellence, prioritizing customer service and retention as a core aspect of our premium positioning.

"NorthStar is a rapidly growing company in a relatively new sector with a lot of runway ahead. We have a differentiated offering and, as a locally-based company, a distinct familiarity with the Canadian market. We are small and nimble enough to introduce innovation to our platform, while at the same time having access to world-leading technology and services through our committed partners. Our business model is gaining traction and has the potential to deliver strong returns."

Issuance of Shares

The Company issued the following shares to Blue Sky Trading & Consulting Ltd. pursuant to a shares for services arrangement announced on April 21, 2023: 166,000 common shares at a price of $0.31 in respect of the June 2023 invoice, 166,000 common shares at a price of $0.16 in respect of the July 2023 invoice, 166,000 common shares at a price of $0.12 in respect of the August 2023 invoice, and 2,000 common shares at a price of $0.11 in respect of September 2023 invoice. All shares issued were legended and restricted from trading for a period of four (4) months and one (1) day from January 20, 2024.

Additional Information

For additional information, please refer to Company's condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the corresponding management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"). These documents are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com, and on the Company's corporate website at www.northstargaming.ca.

About NorthStar

NorthStar proudly owns and operates NorthStar Bets, a made-in-Ontario casino and sportsbook gaming platform that provides players with a uniquely local, premier user experience. The NorthStar Bets sportsbook provides real-time news, stats, analysis and scores directly in the betting environment along with the most popular online casino games. NorthStar's subsidiary, Slapshot Media Inc., provides managed services to Northstarbets.com, an iGaming site owned and operated by the Abenaki Council of Wolinak.

A Canadian company, NorthStar is uniquely positioned to become a convergence leader in the intersection of sports media and sports wagering thanks to its partnerships and agreements with leading media companies. NorthStar is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible gaming standards.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Throughout this document, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures and supplementary financial measures to evaluate the performance of the Company. The term "Gross Gaming Revenue" is a non-IFRS financial measure and the term "Total Wagers" is a non-IFRS supplementary financial measure. These measures are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are, therefore, not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective and to discuss NorthStar's financial outlook. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures, including industry metrics, in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management also uses non-IFRS measures and industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, the preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of executive compensation.

Total Wagers
Total Wagers is calculated as the total amount of money bet by customers in respect of bets that have settled in the applicable period. Total Wagers does not include free bets or other promotional incentives, nor money bet by customers in respect of bets that are open at period end. Total Wagers is used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures.

Gross Gaming Revenue
Gross Gaming Revenue is calculated as dollar amounts bet by customers less the dollar amounts paid out to the customers in respect of such bets which have settled in the applicable period.

Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures to IFRS Measures
In Q4 2023, the Company reported $7.6 million of Gross Gaming Revenue and has provided a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS financial measure (Revenue) as follows:


Three
months ended
Three
months ended
Dec 31,
2023
Dec 31,
2022

$ million $ million
Gross gaming revenue from wagered games (sports- betting and casino transactions) $7.6 $4.1
Bonuses, promotional costs and free bets -$1.3 -$0.9
Gaming revenue from wagered games (sports- betting and casino transactions) $6.3 $3.2
Sub-total Gaming revenue $6.3 $3.2
Other revenue from managed services $0.2
Revenue $6.5 $3.2

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada ("forward-looking statements"), including without limitation, statements with respect to the following: expected performance of the Company's business, expansion into new markets and future growth opportunities and expected benefits of transactions. The foregoing are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's anticipated financial position, results of operations, and operating environment. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. This forward-looking information is based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered by NorthStar to be appropriate and reasonable as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the following: risks related to the Company's business and financial position; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry risks; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; and those factors discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual information form, which is available under NorthStar's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. Many of these risks are beyond the Company's control.

If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents NorthStar's expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

For further information:

Company Contact:
Corey Goodman
Chief Development Officer
647-530-2387
investorrelations@northstargaming.ca

Investor Relations:
RB Milestone Group LLC (RBMG)
Northstar@rbmilestone.com


1 Represents a Non-IFRS financial measure. See "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" below for more information.
2 The Company notes that full-year 2022 results include approximately 8 months of operation of the NorthStar Bets online betting platform, which launched in Ontario in May 2022.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/207352

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Spearheading the Intersection of iGaming and Media

NorthStar Gaming Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

NorthStar Gaming Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

Double-digit revenue growth and record gross margin underscore NorthStar's scalable growth model

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET,OTC:NSBBF) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.

"Our team maintained our pattern of solid year-over-year growth, led by managed services revenue more than doubling over the second quarter of last year," said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar. "Operating leverage driven by continued growth of the business has led to gross margin continuing to outpace revenue growth, with Q2 2025 gross margin percentage reaching an all-time high of 40.8%, advancing our path to profitability. Ongoing innovation and efficiency in our marketing program is enabling us to drive growth while at the same time reducing operating expenses as a percentage of revenue."

Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2025 ("Q2 2025"):

  • Revenue1 was $8.5 million in Q2 2025, a 15% increase from $7.4 million in Q2 2024. Revenue in Q2 2025 includes $0.9 million of managed services revenue, an increase of 125% from $0.4 million in Q2 2024.
  • Gross Margin was $3.5 million, a 25% increase from $2.8 million in Q2 2024, while the Gross Margin percentage increased to 40.8% of revenue, up from 37.6% in Q2 2024.
  • Profit before marketing and other expenses2 was $0.7 million in Q2 2025, an increase of 87% compared to $0.4 million in Q2 2024.
  • General and administrative expense was $2.7 million in Q2 2025, an increase of 14% from $2.4 million in Q2 2024. The increase is primarily due to $0.3 million of one-time expenses incurred in Q2 2025 associated with the restatement of prior financial results and disclosure review. G&A expense excluding one-time expenses represented 28.4% of revenue compared to 32.3% a year earlier.
  • Marketing expense was $3.1 million in Q2 2025, a decrease of 16% from $3.6 million in Q2 2024, and represented 35.8% of revenue compared to 48.8% in Q2 2024. The Company continues to realize efficiencies in its marketing program.

Financial Highlights for the Six-Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 ("YTD 2025"):

  • Revenue1 was $16.4 million in YTD 2025, a 23% increase from $13.4 million in YTD 2024. Revenue in YTD 2025 includes $1.1 million of managed services revenue, an increase of 120% from $0.5 million in YTD 2024.
  • Gross Margin was $6.5 million, a 39% increase from $4.7 million in YTD 2024, while the Gross Margin percentage increased to 39.7% of revenue, up from 34.9% in YTD 2024.
  • Profit before marketing and other expenses2 was $1.3 million in YTD 2025 compared to a loss of $(0.1) million in YTD 2024.
  • General and administrative expense was $5.2 million in YTD 2025, an increase of 8% from $4.8 million in YTD 2024. The increase is primarily due to $0.3 million of one-time expenses incurred in Q2 2025 associated with the restatement of prior financial results and disclosure review. As a percentage of revenue, G&A excluding one-time expenses decreased to 29.7% in YTD 2025 compared to 35.9% a year earlier.
  • Marketing expense of $7.2 million decreased 3% from $7.4 million in YTD 2024, and represented 43.7% of revenue compared to 55.1% in YTD 2024.

Recent Operating Highlights:

  • Launched "Summer of Spoils" marketing campaign highlighted by "Exceptionally Canadian" branding targeted at strengthening brand loyalty and player engagement through the busy summer months and reinforcing NorthStar's Canadian roots.
  • The Company sustained record-level customer retention, driven by repeat engagement from recent first-time depositors.
  • Realized continued improvement in cost per acquisition of a customer ("CPA"), down 10% from Q2 2024 due to the increasing efficiency of marketing programs.
  • Completed the Spring Tournament Series in April 2025, with both new and existing players showing higher-than-average engagement levels in subsequent months.
  • Initiated a comprehensive upgrade of our Casino UI/UX to enhance speed, flexibility and overall customer experience.
  • Established a new partnership with Snappy Inc. to deliver personalized, scalable gifting for our rapidly growing base of NorthStar ELITE members.
  • Celebrated our third birthday by hosting exclusive in-person experiences for select NorthStar ELITE members.

Outlook

"We expect to continue to deliver solid year-over-year growth in the coming quarters, driven by steady improvement in our business fundamentals and KPIs," said Mr. Moskowitz. "We have continued with our focus on financial discipline and prudent cost management to maintain our progress towards profitability. As the Ontario market matures, we are excited by growth opportunities in other regions of Canada through our managed services business and the anticipated introduction of regulatory frameworks in provinces such as Alberta."

Q2 2025 Corporate Update Webinar

On August 14, 2025, Michael Moskowitz will present an in-depth Corporate Update, including a discussion of the Company's Q2 2025 Earnings, current operations and strategic priorities. All investors and other interested parties are invited to register for the webinar at the link below.

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time: 11:00 am EDT
Register: Webinar Registration

Management will be available to answer your questions following the presentation on the webinar platform. You may also submit your question(s) beforehand in the registration form linked above.

Stock Option Cancellations

The Company also announces that it and certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company have, effective today's date, mutually agreed to cancel stock options (the "Cancelled Options") exercisable to acquire an aggregate of 6,026,779 common shares of the Company. These Cancelled Options were granted on March 3, 2023, with an expiry date of March 3, 2028, and were each exercisable at a price of $0.50 per common share. No consideration was paid for the surrender of the Cancelled Options.

Restatement of Results

The comparative results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2024 have been restated in the Company's financial statements and the corresponding management's discussion & analysis ("Q2 2025 MD&A") to include additional merchant fees and player bonus expenses which were not captured in the previously published financial statements. Please see note 2 of the Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025 ("Q2 2025 Financial Statements").

Additional Information

For additional information, please refer to the Q2 2025 Financial Statements and the corresponding Q2 2025 MD&A. These documents are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on the Company's corporate website at www.northstargaming.ca.

About NorthStar

NorthStar proudly owns and operates NorthStar Bets, a Canadian-born casino and sportsbook platform that delivers a premium, distinctly local gaming experience. Designed with high-stakes players in mind, NorthStar Bets Casino offers a curated selection of the most popular games, ensuring an elevated user experience. Our sportsbook stands out with its exclusive Sports Insights feature, seamlessly integrating betting guidance, stats, and scores, all tailored to meet the expectations of a premium audience.

As a Canadian company, NorthStar is uniquely positioned to cater to customers who seek a high-quality product and an exceptional level of personalized service, setting a new standard in the industry. NorthStar is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible gaming standards.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Throughout this document, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures and supplementary financial measures to evaluate the performance of the Company. The term "Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses" is a non-IFRS financial measure. This measure is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is, therefore, not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, this measure is provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective and to discuss NorthStar's financial outlook. Accordingly, this measure should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures, including industry metrics, in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management also uses non-IFRS measures and industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, the preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of executive compensation.

Operating Results

Marketing expenses are a key driver of the business but are completely discretionary. Management considers "Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses" to be a good indication of the extent to which the business' Gross Margin is in excess of its overhead costs, and therefore offsetting some portion of marketing expenses, reflecting improving economies of scale.

$ Millions (unaudited)
Three months ended

Six months ended

June 30,
2025


June 30,
2024


June 30,
2025


June 30,
2024

Revenue $ 8,540
$ 7,431
$ 16,389
$ 13,361
Cost of Revenues
5,056

4,635

9,886

8,694
Gross Margin
3,484

2,796

6,503

4,667
General and administrative expenses
2,742

2,400

5,176

4,803
Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses (1)
742

396

1,327

(136 )
Marketing
3,058

3,624

7,155

7,357
Loss before other expenses (1)
(2,316 )
(3,228 )
(5,828 )
(7,493 )
Other expenses
1,527

1,777

3,815

4,417
Net loss $ (3,843 ) $ (5,005 ) $ (9,643 ) $ (11,910 )

 

(1) These measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have standard meanings and may not be comparable with other industries or companies.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada ("forward-looking statements"), including without limitation, statements with respect to the following: expected performance of the Company's business, the Company's growth plans being fully funded, expansion into new markets and future growth opportunities, and expected benefits of transactions. The foregoing are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's anticipated financial position, results of operations, and operating environment. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. This forward-looking information is based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered by NorthStar to be appropriate and reasonable as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking information. Such factors include, among others, the following: risks related to the Company's business and financial position; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry risks; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; and those factors discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual information form, which is available under NorthStar's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Many of these risks are beyond the Company's control.

If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents NorthStar's expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

For further information: Company Contact:

Corey Goodman
Chief Development Officer 647-530-2387
investorrelations@northstargaming.ca

Investor Relations:
RB Milestone Group LLC (RBMG)
Northstar@rbmilestone.com

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NorthStar Gaming to Host Q2 2025 Earnings Webinar on August 14th

NorthStar Gaming to Host Q2 2025 Earnings Webinar on August 14th

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET,OTC:NSBBF) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") announces that it will hold an investor webinar on August 14th at 11:00 am EDT following the release of its results for the second quarter of 2025. The Company expects to announce its financial results and file its condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025 and associated management's discussion and analysis on August 13, 2025.

NorthStar invites all investors and other interested parties to register for the webinar at the link below. Michael Moskowitz, Chairman and CEO, will be presenting the Company's financial results and an update on current operations and strategic priorities.

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NorthStar Gaming Announces Grant of Equity Incentive Awards to Non-Executive Directors in Lieu of Cash Compensation

NorthStar Gaming Announces Grant of Equity Incentive Awards to Non-Executive Directors in Lieu of Cash Compensation

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET,OTC:NSBBF) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors approved the grant of equity incentive awards pursuant to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

The Company has granted an aggregate of 5,078,913 deferred share units ("DSUs") pursuant to the Plan to non-executive directors of the Company in lieu of cash compensation for their services rendered in 2024. Satisfying the compensation in share-based compensation is part of the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce costs. The DSUs vest immediately and may only be redeemed upon a holder ceasing to be a director of the Company.

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NorthStar Gaming Announces Results of Annual Meeting and Grant of Equity Incentive Awards

NorthStar Gaming Announces Results of Annual Meeting and Grant of Equity Incentive Awards

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today announced the results of voting at its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on May 26, 2025 (the "Meeting"). The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has approved the grant of equity incentive awards in the form of stock options, restricted share units ("RSUs") and deferred share units ("DSUs") pursuant to the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.

Each of the director nominees listed in the Company's management information circular dated April 23, 2025 (the "Circular") were re-elected as directors of the Company, including Vic Bertrand, Brian Cooper, Alex Latner, Dean Macdonald, Chris McGinnis, Michael Moskowitz, Sylvia Prentice, and Barry Shafran.

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NorthStar Gaming Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

NorthStar Gaming Reports First Quarter 2025 Results

Company Continues Its Record of Solid Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion

NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars.

"We are pleased to begin 2025 with another quarter of strong year-over-year growth, with revenue increasing by 32% and gross margin up 58% over Q1 2024," said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar. "At the same time, we continue to effectively manage our major operating expense items which are decreasing as a percentage of revenue. Our results are being driven in part by ongoing product and promotional innovations that reinforce our premium positioning."

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 ("Q1 2025"):

  • Revenue1 was $7.8 million in Q1 2025, a 32% increase from $5.9 million in Q1 2024. Revenue in Q1 2025 includes $0.2 million of managed services revenue, which compares to $0.1 million in Q1 2024.
  • Gross Margin was $3.0 million, a 58% increase from $1.9 million in Q1 2024, while the Gross Margin percentage increased to 38.5%, up from 31.5% in Q1 2024.
  • Profit before marketing and other expenses1 was $0.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to a loss of $0.6 million in Q1 2024.
  • General and administrative expense was $2.4 million in Q1 2025, a decrease of 1% from Q1 2024, and represented 31% of revenue compared to 41% a year earlier.
  • Marketing expense of $4.1 million increased 11% over Q1 2024, and represented 52% of revenue compared to 62% in Q1 2024.

Recent Operating Highlights:

  • NorthStar recorded the highest customer retention rate in its history in Q1 2025, driven by its delivery of a superior customer experience, innovative promotions and a focus on high-value players through the NorthStar Elite program.
  • NorthStar increased the number of games offered on its Casino platform by 15% to more than 1,800 games during the first quarter.
  • NorthStar Bets Blackjack VZN went live on March 19, 2025. This innovative multiplayer Blackjack game has the feel of live Blackjack, and reinforces the Company's premium positioning through NorthStar Bets branding.
  • Integrated new product analytical tools to help us measure and track the player journey and accelerate product enhancements and development.
  • On March 20, 2025, NorthStar unveiled the new Spring Tournament Series with premium online tournaments spanning Live Blackjack, Slots and Sports betting. The series builds on innovations developed for last fall's NorthStar Blackjack Championship event.
  • On January 27, 2025, the Company announced that it entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") in respect of a senior secured first lien term loan facility providing for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $43.4 million CAD (being the approximate equivalent of $30 million USD). The Company expects that the Credit Agreement will strengthen its balance sheet and enable it to accelerate its growth initiatives.

Outlook

"We anticipate another year of solid top line growth and margin expansion in 2025, supported by our recently strengthened balance sheet. Major expense items should continue to decline as a percentage of revenue as we realize further operating leverage through the scaling of the business," said Mr. Moskowitz. "We expect the managed services business to help drive revenue growth this year. Looking ahead, the Alberta government recently took another step forward in establishing a regulatory regime to become the second Canadian province to license online gaming as early as the end of this year, and we eagerly await further details."

Restatement of Results

The comparative results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 have been restated in the financial statements and management's discussion & analysis ("Q1 2025 MD&A") for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 to include additional merchant fees and player bonus expenses which were not captured in the previously published financial statements (please see note 2 of the Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025).

Additional Information

For additional information, please refer to the Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, and the corresponding management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"). These documents are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on the Company's corporate website at www.northstargaming.ca.

About NorthStar

NorthStar proudly owns and operates NorthStar Bets, a Canadian-born casino and sportsbook platform that delivers a premium, distinctly local gaming experience. Designed with high-stakes players in mind, NorthStar Bets Casino offers a curated selection of the most popular games, ensuring an elevated user experience. Our sportsbook stands out with its exclusive Sports Insights feature, seamlessly integrating betting guidance, stats, and scores, all tailored to meet the expectations of a premium audience.

As a Canadian company, NorthStar is uniquely positioned to cater to customers who seek a high-quality product and an exceptional level of personalized service, setting a new standard in the industry. NorthStar is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible gaming standards.

No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Throughout this document, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures and supplementary financial measures to evaluate the performance of the Company. The term "Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses" is a non-IFRS financial measure. This measure is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is, therefore, not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, this measure is provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective and to discuss NorthStar's financial outlook. Accordingly, this measure should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures, including industry metrics, in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management also uses non-IFRS measures and industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, the preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of executive compensation.

Operating Results

Marketing expenses are a key driver of the business but are completely discretionary. Management considers "Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses" to be a good indication of the extent to which the business' Gross Margin is in excess of its overhead costs, and therefore offsetting some portion of marketing expenses, reflecting improving economies of scale.

$ Millions
(unaudited)
Three months ended
March 31,
2025
March 31,
2024
Revenue $ 7,849 $ 5,930
Cost of Revenues 4,830 4,060
Gross Margin 3,019 1,870
General and administrative expenses 2,434 2,449
Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses (1) 585 (579)
Marketing 4,097 3,688
Loss before other expenses (1) (3,512) (4,267)
Other expenses 2,288 2,554
Net loss $ (5,800) $ (6,821)

 

(1) These measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have standard meanings and may not be comparable with other industries or companies.

Beginning in Q1 2025, the Company is no longer disclosing the two non-IFRS measures Total Wagers and Gross Gaming Revenue. These measures no longer reflect the full scope of the Company's business, as both are recorded only in Ontario where the Company owns and operates the licensed iGaming platform Northstarbets.ca. Managed services revenues are generated outside of Ontario through services the Company provides to the Abenaki Council of Wolinak, which owns and operates the iGaming platform Northstarbets.com. As a result of the ongoing growth in the Company's managed services revenue, management believes revenue, gross margin and profit (/loss) before marketing and other expenses are more relevant measures of the Company's progress.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada ("forward-looking statements"), including without limitation, statements with respect to the following: expected performance of the Company's business, the Company's growth plans being fully funded, expansion into new markets and future growth opportunities, and expected benefits of transactions. The foregoing are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's anticipated financial position, results of operations, and operating environment. Often, but not always, forward- looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. This forward-looking information is based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered by NorthStar to be appropriate and reasonable as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking information. Such factors include, among others, the following: risks related to the Company's business and financial position; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry risks; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; and those factors discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual information form, which is available under NorthStar's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Many of these risks are beyond the Company's control.

If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents NorthStar's expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.

All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

For further information: Company Contact:

Corey Goodman
Chief Development Officer
647-530-2387
investorrelations@northstargaming.ca

Investor Relations:

RB Milestone Group LLC (RBMG)
Northstar@rbmilestone.com

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