Betsson CEO Pontus Lindwall has called the UK and Germany “uninvestable”, blaming regulation that he says limits sustainable, taxable growth.
Speaking on iGaming Daily, Lindwall reviewed Q1 results with host Charlie Horner and SBC Media’s Ted Menmuir. Betsson reported €285.3m in revenue and €50m EBITDA, with margins pressured by higher gaming taxes and marketing spend.
Despite this, Lindwall said core performance remains strong. Customer KPIs are stable, indicating operational growth rather than decline.
“Western Europe is a sad story,” he said. “Regulation is working against its own aims. We are largely outside markets like the UK and Germany… we don’t see them as investable.”
Betsson is instead focusing on growth regions. Latin America now contributes around one-third of revenue after 25% growth, driven by rising online penetration and clearer regulatory direction.
Central and Eastern Europe also delivered, with Greece highlighted as a strong market despite issues with a B2B partner. In North America, Betsson is expanding via its €65m acquisition of Rhino Entertainment to strengthen its position in Canada.
The company is also preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including a sportsbook development freeze to reduce operational risk during the tournament.
After the interview, Horner and Menmuir noted wider pressures across the sector. Rising taxes and regulation are compressing margins, forcing operators to prioritise profitability over rapid expansion.
