Liverpool-headquartered betting operator Stanleybet has returned to profitability after a volatile period impacted by player friendly outcomes in major football markets.
The company reported total stakes of £736m for the year to December 31st, alongside an 8.3% increase in revenue to £75.8m. Pre-tax profit reached £409,000, reversing a loss of £11m in the previous year, which had been driven by a run of unfavourable Premier League results.
The latest performance reflects a return to more typical margin conditions for the operator.
Stanleybet operates more than 2,000 retail betting outlets, with the majority located across European markets including Italy, Romania, Germany, Belgium, Croatia and Poland. The business maintains only a limited presence in the UK.
The group has also streamlined its operations over the past two years, reducing headcount from around 270 to fewer than 200 employees as part of broader cost control measures.
Majority shareholder Giovanni Garrisi has supported the business through a £1.22m loan, reinforcing balance sheet stability during the recovery period.
Stanleybet’s history includes a significantly larger UK footprint, having sold approximately 700 betting shops to William Hill in 2005. The company has since focused on international retail operations, while exiting markets such as Cyprus and Spain.
The latest results underline the ongoing volatility within sportsbook operations, where revenue growth and profitability remain closely tied to sporting outcomes, even as operators continue to pursue geographic diversification and cost discipline.
