About this app
How to play Mahjong 88
Playtech CFO and Director Chris McGinnis told analysts on Thursday that the deal could provide an additional boost to the company’s medium-term outlook.
He explained the Brazil opportunity wasn’t explicitly built into Playtech’s medium-term guidance when it was set after its full-year results in March last year.
“At that point, we sort of knew of the opportunity, but it wasn’t specifically factored into the guidance necessarily,” he stated. “But I think when we set the guidance, we saw there are ambitious targets, and there were not necessarily specific contributors in terms of how you’re going to get there other than looking at the overall opportunities across the group.
What is Mahjong 88?
In 2025, Brazil collected almost BRL10 billion ($1.97 billion) in tax revenue from the licensed sector. In the first seven months of this year alone, BRL8.7 billion generated by the activity was delivered to public coffers. The Federal Revenue Service itself estimates that the sector should reach BRL16 billion in revenue during 2026.
Besides revenue collection, another concern is legal and economic. Companies have paid over BRL2.5 billion for licences since the sector’s regulation. Certainly, the end of the activity would lead to litigation to recover the amounts paid and compensation for investments made. Furthermore, the revenue from betting is already included in the Annual Budget Law and the Budget Guidelines Law, which define the priorities for federal government spending.
What worries the sector is not just the threat of drastic measures against legalised betting. So far, the government has consistently fallen short in its attempts to curb the illegal market, which still represents almost half of the segment.
How to play Mahjong 88
Meanwhile, cost-saving efforts have seen retail shops and operational roles cut this year. And the group has chosen to exit its CEE business and sell off a significant share.
In August newly appointed CFO Michael Snape said the move was expected to de-lever, unlock and return capital to shareholders.
Future proceeds from Entain’s full exit of Entain CEE will be used to reduce group reported leverage below 3x, with excess capital returned to shareholders, the company said.
