Playtech H1 2026 Trading Update: Excellent Performance in the Americas Drives Adjusted EBITDA to Over €155 Million

Playtech trading update shows a big H1 2026 beat, but investors should not assume every month will look like June

Playtech has delivered a very strong trading update for the first half of 2026, and the headline is hard to miss. The company now expects H1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to be over €155 million, with performance significantly ahead of market expectations.

The main engine was the Americas, especially the US, with Mexico and Colombia also called out for continued strength. Certain European markets also helped, but this update is really a story about Playtech’s investments in regulated gambling markets starting to pay off in a meaningful way.

Playtech H1 2026 key numbers investors need to know

Metric | Figure
H1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA | Over €155 million
FY 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance | At least €270 million
Prior analyst estimate range | €205 million to €225 million
Mean analyst consensus | €219 million
Interim results date | 10 September 2026
Playtech shareholding in Caliente Interactive | 30.8%

That full-year guidance is the other standout point. At at least €270 million, Playtech is guiding comfortably above the €219 million mean consensus that analysts had before this announcement. That is not a small beat. It is a proper reset higher.

Why Playtech’s Americas growth matters so much in 2026

Management says trading strength accelerated through May and June, and the US appears to be the biggest reason. In particular, Playtech highlighted its partnership with Hard Rock Digital, which has become one of its largest customers.

This matters because it shows Playtech is not just talking about long-term potential in the US market. It is now translating into profitability and cash flow. For retail investors, that is usually the point where the market starts paying much closer attention.

There is also a wider message here. Playtech says it continues to build its position in “regulated and regulating markets”, which basically means markets where gambling is already supervised by authorities, or moving in that direction. That tends to be more attractive than loosely regulated markets because it can support more durable revenues over time, even if compliance costs are higher.

Hard Rock Digital and PMR explain why H1 was exceptional

There is a very important nuance in this RNS. Playtech says it benefited materially from being first to market with Hard Rock Digital using a product based on Past Motor Racing, or PMR.

The company is basically telling investors that part of this H1 strength was unusually strong. Hard Rock Digital is expected to remain a major customer, but revenue from that operator is likely to continue at a lower, more sustainable level in H2 2026 and into 2027.

That is a good example of a company managing expectations properly. The H1 number is excellent, but management is not pretending all of that run-rate should be annualised. In plain English, this was a bumper period, and the second half is expected to be more normal.

Why Playtech expects H2 2026 to be lower than H1

Playtech is unusually clear about why the second half should be weaker than the first. There are three main reasons.

Revenue from Hard Rock Digital is expected to be lower than the elevated H1 level, even though the customer remains important.

Playtech is investing in a significant partnership in Brazil before signing and launch, with growth contribution likely to start in 2027.

The company will absorb the full impact of increased Remote Gaming Duty in the UK in H2 2026.

Remote Gaming Duty is a UK tax paid on certain online gambling revenues. The increase became effective in April 2026, so the second half will take the full hit. That is a genuine margin headwind, and it is one of the more important negatives in this statement.

Brazil is more of a strategic cost than a problem. Playtech is spending ahead of expected launch, which depresses near-term profits but could create a new growth leg later. That is the sort of trade-off investors often accept if the market opportunity is big enough.

Adjusted EBITDA explained – and why Playtech’s definition matters

Adjusted EBITDA is a profit measure that strips out some items to give a cleaner view of trading performance. In Playtech’s case, it also includes the operating loss of HAPPYBET, its share of income from associates such as Caliente Interactive, and dividends received from equity investments, primarily from Hard Rock Digital.

That last bit matters. This is not a plain vanilla EBITDA figure. It includes contributions from investments and associates, so investors should be careful when comparing it with simpler profit measures used by other companies.

That said, the market clearly focuses on this metric for Playtech, and on that basis the update is strong. Very strong.

Playtech full-year guidance upgrade is the clearest positive in this RNS

The market normally reacts most to surprises, and Playtech has delivered one. Guidance of at least €270 million for FY 2026 Adjusted EBITDA is well ahead of the previous analyst range of €205 million to €225 million.

In my view, that is the most important takeaway from the announcement. Not just because the number is higher, but because it suggests management is confident enough to upgrade despite already flagging a softer H2.

That confidence tells you H1 was not just a small beat. It was substantial enough to more than offset the known second-half pressures.

What looks positive and what looks negative for Playtech shares

Positives from the Playtech RNS

H1 2026 trading was significantly ahead of market expectations.

The Americas, especially the US, are delivering tangible returns.

Hard Rock Digital has become one of Playtech’s largest customers.

FY 2026 guidance of at least €270 million is far above prior consensus.

Management says progress towards medium-term targets is encouraging.

Negatives and risks from the Playtech RNS

H2 2026 Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be lower than H1.

Some H1 strength appears linked to an early-mover advantage with PMR and may not repeat at the same level.

Increased UK Remote Gaming Duty will weigh on profitability.

Brazil investment is a near-term cost, with benefits not expected until 2027.

What retail investors should watch before Playtech interim results in September

The next key date is 10 September 2026, when Playtech reports its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2026. Investors will want more detail on just how much of the H1 outperformance came from Hard Rock Digital, how sustainable US momentum looks, and what the Brazil opportunity could mean in 2027.

I would also watch for any comment on cash flow, not just EBITDA. The chief executive specifically mentioned that recent investments are now contributing significantly to profitability and cash flow, which is encouraging, but this update does not disclose cash figures.

Another point to watch is whether management gives a more precise H2 outlook. For now, the company has been clear on direction, but not on exact second-half numbers.

My take on Playtech’s H1 2026 trading update

This is a strong update, full stop. Playtech has beaten expectations, upgraded full-year guidance sharply, and shown that its push into the Americas is producing real earnings.

The only reason not to get carried away is that management has also made clear H1 included an unusually strong contribution from one product and one customer relationship. That does not undermine the result, but it does mean investors should avoid treating the first-half pace as a new normal.

Overall, this feels positive for the shares because the guidance upgrade is large and credible, and the company has been fairly open about the second-half drag factors. When a business can raise expectations even while flagging taxes, investment spend and a more normalised customer run-rate, that usually tells you trading is in very good shape.