PRAGUE/AMSTERDAM (20 April 2010) – Fortuna Entertainment Group (Fortuna), the leading fixed-odds betting group in terms of turnover operating land network in Central and Eastern Europe, achieved record results in 2009. According to preliminary unaudited figures, the total amounts staked of the group, which operates in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, reached 338 mil. EUR, confirming the group’s leading position in the region. Last year’s results reflect the strong contribution of fast-growing revenues from online betting, introduced by Fortuna for the first time in 2007 in Slovakia and in 2009 in the Czech Republic. The company achieved a leading position in this segment shortly after entering it.

Amounts staked increased in 2009 to EUR 338 million, which represents an increase of 5% compared to EUR 322 mil. in 2008. The recurring EBITDA reached to EUR 24.9 mil., compared to EUR 24.4 mil. in the previous year. The net profit grew by 5.5% to EUR 16.9 mil. The listed results are preliminary and unaudited.

“Our goal is to maintain our position as a pioneer of trends and a setter of standards in fixed-odds betting. That is why Fortuna is planning to roll out several fundamental projects this year. We will introduce new products and services, as well as a strategy for securing further company growth. However, we are operating in a highly competitive market, something which for the moment prevents us from specifying our plans in any more detail”, said Jiří Bunda, CEO of Fortuna Entertainment Group.

Fortuna will continue concentrating its efforts on improving its distribution network in order to provide its customers with the broadest possible range of betting opportunities. One particular task will be the optimisation of the branch office network, so the branches would flexibly adapt to the requirements of the clients and reflect needs of customers in individual areas. The company is also to focus on further developing its online betting services, with particular emphasis to be placed on so-called live betting. Live betting i.e. betting while a match or race is actually taking place, has become one of the fastest-growing fixed-odds betting segments and Fortuna has grown into a real leader in this area.

The Czech Republic

The amounts staked increased in 2009 to CZK 4.4bn, which represents an increase of 15% compared to CZK 3.9bn in 2008. “With the achieved results, FORTUNA ČR has strengthened its position on the Czech fixed-odds betting market and has proved that it is ready to continue increasing its market share,” said Martin Todt, CEO of FORTUNA ČR. Currently, Czech FORTUNA has approximately a one third share on the sports betting market in the Czech Republic, he added.