Better Collective Annual Report 2025 Shows Record EBITDA Growth

Better Collective has released its Annual Report for 2025, presenting a year marked by record profitability, continued structural adjustments and sustained investment in artificial intelligence driven products. The company described the period as transformational, shaped by external market pressures yet defined by operational discipline and long term strategic positioning.

The group, headquartered in Copenhagen, operates a global portfolio of sports media brands and betting communities. It is publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Copenhagen. Over recent years, it has positioned itself as a leading digital sports media group serving audiences across Europe, North America and South America.

According to the company’s leadership, 2025 tested the resilience of its business model while reinforcing the importance of long term technology investments.

Jesper Søgaard, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Better Collective, stated:

“2025 was a transformational year for Better Collective. Despite some significant external headwinds, we stayed disciplined and structurally strengthened our business while investing in key AI innovations such as Playbook and FanReach that will help drive our future growth.

I am pleased to report that we ended the year with our highest EBITDA ever, a milestone that speaks directly to the hard work of my colleagues across the globe. We have carried that momentum into 2026 with a laser-sharp focus on our top priorities, combined with the upcoming FIFA World Cup in men’s soccer, which stands as a massive opportunity for our business.”

The statement underscores a dual narrative: cautious navigation through market challenges alongside firm commitment to innovation and scale.

Financial performance amid external headwinds

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Better Collective reported revenue of €94 million. This reflected a 2 percent year over year decline. However, when adjusted for constant currencies, revenue increased by 2 percent, indicating that foreign exchange fluctuations played a material role in the headline comparison.

More notably, EBITDA before special items reached €37 million in the fourth quarter. This marked the highest quarterly EBITDA in the company’s history. The result reflects improvements in operational efficiency and cost management, even as revenue growth remained modest.

For the full year, the company confirmed that it achieved its highest annual EBITDA to date. While revenue growth faced pressure from regulatory changes in certain markets and broader macroeconomic uncertainty, the profitability metrics suggest that the group’s margin profile strengthened.

In addition, total value of deposits across its partner platforms reached €820 million, representing an all time high. This metric, often used as an indicator of user activity and engagement, signals continued traction across the company’s sports betting media assets.

It is important to note that deposit figures reflect user activity on partner platforms and do not represent revenue retained by Better Collective itself. The company’s role remains primarily that of an affiliate and digital publisher, monetizing traffic and user referrals through revenue share and performance based agreements.

Strengthening the operational structure

Management emphasized that 2025 was not solely about financial output but also about structural optimization. The company undertook measures aimed at simplifying internal processes, refining its geographic focus and improving cross brand collaboration.

These initiatives were presented as part of a broader strategy to enhance scalability. In an increasingly regulated global betting environment, operational flexibility and compliance readiness have become central to sustainable growth.

Better Collective operates in multiple regulated jurisdictions. The regulatory landscape for online betting and gaming continues to evolve, with authorities across Europe and the Americas implementing stricter advertising standards and licensing frameworks. While such developments may temporarily affect revenue streams, they also contribute to a more stable and transparent market over the long term.

Against this backdrop, the company’s focus on operational discipline appears aligned with industry trends that favor robust compliance structures and diversified revenue channels.

Continued investment in AI driven solutions

A central theme of the 2025 report is the group’s ongoing investment in proprietary artificial intelligence tools. Two flagship initiatives, Playbook and FanReach, were highlighted as cornerstones of its future growth strategy.

Playbook is designed to enhance content personalization and user experience across sports media platforms. By leveraging data analytics and automation, the tool aims to deliver tailored betting insights and sports coverage based on user preferences and behavioral patterns.

FanReach focuses on audience engagement and marketing optimization. Through data driven segmentation and predictive modeling, it seeks to improve conversion rates and lifetime value of referred users.

Management indicated that these AI investments are not short term experiments but integral components of the company’s long term digital ecosystem. The broader objective is to increase efficiency, deepen user engagement and support sustainable revenue expansion.

As digital sports consumption continues to evolve, AI powered personalization is increasingly viewed as a competitive differentiator. Better Collective’s approach reflects an industry wide shift toward data centric decision making.

A diversified global portfolio of sports brands

Better Collective owns and operates a broad range of sports media and community platforms. These include:

• HLTV
• FUTBIN
• AceOdds
• Action Network
• Playmaker HQ
• The Nation Network
• Bolavip

Through these assets, the group delivers sports news, betting insights, statistics tools and esports coverage to millions of monthly users. The portfolio spans traditional sports such as football and basketball as well as esports titles with strong global followings.

The diversification across geographies and sports verticals reduces reliance on any single market. It also positions the company to benefit from major international tournaments and seasonal peaks in sports engagement.

The FIFA World Cup as a growth catalyst

Management identified the upcoming FIFA World Cup as a significant commercial opportunity. Major global tournaments historically generate spikes in sports viewership and betting interest. For affiliate driven businesses, such events often translate into higher traffic volumes and increased new customer acquisition.

The company signaled that it has already aligned its operational focus and marketing efforts to capitalize on this event cycle. While forecasts remain subject to market conditions and regulatory developments, leadership expressed confidence that the World Cup will provide a meaningful boost to performance metrics in 2026.

Financial guidance for 2026 and medium term targets

Looking ahead, Better Collective forecasts organic revenue growth between 7 percent and 12 percent for 2026. EBITDA growth is projected in the range of 8 percent to 18 percent. These projections reflect management’s expectation of both operational leverage and favorable sports calendar dynamics.

In addition, the company plans to continue its capital allocation strategy through annual share buybacks of €40 million. Management reiterated its intention to maintain net debt below three times EBITDA before special items. This indicates a continued emphasis on balance sheet prudence.

For the period between 2027 and 2028, the group targets sustained organic growth and an EBITDA margin between 35 percent and 40 percent. Such margin ambitions suggest confidence in the scalability of its platform model and the incremental contribution of AI driven efficiencies.

While forward looking statements inherently involve uncertainty, the guidance outlines a clear financial framework centered on growth, profitability and disciplined capital management.

Governance, compliance and long term positioning

As a publicly listed entity on two regulated exchanges, Better Collective operates under established corporate governance standards. Transparency in financial reporting and adherence to market disclosure requirements remain core components of its public profile.

The company’s strategy appears oriented toward long term value creation rather than short term expansion at any cost. The emphasis on AI integration, structural refinement and debt discipline suggests a measured approach to growth.

In a sector that has experienced rapid change, including consolidation and regulatory tightening, stability and adaptability are increasingly valued by investors and partners alike.

Conclusion: A foundation for sustainable digital expansion

Better Collective’s 2025 Annual Report presents a company navigating complexity with cautious optimism. Revenue growth faced external pressures, yet profitability reached record levels. Structural enhancements and AI investments signal a forward looking mindset.

The combination of operational discipline, diversified brand assets and upcoming global sporting events creates a platform for renewed expansion in 2026 and beyond. Importantly, the company’s stated commitment to financial prudence and shareholder returns reinforces its positioning as a mature digital media group rather than a speculative growth story.

As the sports media and betting ecosystem continues to evolve, Better Collective’s ability to integrate technology, maintain compliance and engage global audiences will remain central to its trajectory. Based on the reported results and guidance, the company enters 2026 with measurable momentum and a clearly articulated strategic roadmap.

FAQs

What was Better Collective’s EBITDA performance in 2025?
The company reported its highest annual EBITDA to date with fourth quarter EBITDA before special items reaching €37 million which marked a record quarterly result.

How did revenue perform in the fourth quarter of 2025?
Revenue reached €94 million which reflected a 2 percent year over year decline but a 2 percent increase when adjusted for constant currencies.

What are Playbook and FanReach?
Playbook and FanReach are proprietary AI driven tools developed by Better Collective to enhance personalization user engagement and marketing performance across its platforms.

Is Better Collective publicly listed?
Yes the company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Copenhagen.

What is the company’s revenue growth forecast for 2026?
Management expects organic revenue growth between 7 percent and 12 percent in 2026.

What EBITDA growth does the company project for 2026?
EBITDA growth is forecast in the range of 8 percent to 18 percent.

How does Better Collective generate revenue?
The company operates as a digital sports media and affiliate group earning revenue through partnerships and performance based agreements with betting operators.

What role does the FIFA World Cup play in its outlook?
The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to drive increased sports engagement and potentially higher traffic and customer acquisition.

What is the company’s approach to shareholder returns?
Better Collective plans annual share buybacks of €40 million while maintaining prudent debt levels.

What are the medium term margin targets?
The company aims for an EBITDA margin between 35 percent and 40 percent during 2027 and 2028.