Better Collective maintains its full-year 2026 guidance which is expected to be achieved on the significant turnaround of commercial activities in North American markets.
H1 accounts saw group income stand at €175m (£150m), up 7% on 2025 results of €164m 2025, combined with EBITDA before special items increase 17% to €52.1m (H12025:€44.5m)
North America remains the key growth driver for Better Collective. However, its H1 performance in North America was offset by regulatory headwinds and compounding costs in the UK and Brazil.
The group remains optimistic, however, particularly around a new vertical it has entered.
Prediction markets are “already making a positive contribution” to Better Collective’s financial performance, the digital sports media group/s leadership told analysts today.
Better Collective made the leap into prediction markets in March this year, with the launch of dedicated editorial hubs across key US brands like Action Network and VegasInsider.
Following the publication of its H1 financial report yesterday, Jesper Søgaard, Co-founder & Co-Chief Executive Officer of Better Collective, told investors that momentum is building up on prediction markets.
“We are pleased with how prediction markets are developing in the US,” he said. “We started the year with one player active there, and in the second quarter we got one more into the market.
“We know that for US sports the start of the NFL is a major milestone, we are really excited about the competition the market will have leading up to the start of the NFL.
“The ambitions the prediction market players demonstrate, all in all we have seen good development in the first half with the prediction market players.”
Better Collective steps up Americas pace
Better Collective has made moves to re-bolster its North America commercial activities cited as the key “growth engine” providing an improved income contribution of €24.2m up 35% on 2025 comparatives of €17m.
On a year-to-date basis, North America revenues are ahead of management expectations standing at €50m, and contributing circa 29% of Better Collective’s group YTD income of €175m.
Of significance, North American metrics have vastly improved as operating earnings margin returns to above the 25% mark (formerly 5%) helping Q2 and H1 EBITDA (before special items) of North American stand at €6.3m and €14m.
To secure North American growth and stability, the company has maintained period costs stable at €18m (Q22025:€17m).
Management cited Playmaker HQ as the standout asset, helping sponsorship revenue surge 66% to €8.7m as its talent-led formats delivered stronger audience engagement and commercial returns.
Better Collective is now extending its North American footprint into Alberta, deploying Action Network, The Nation Network and Canada Sports Betting alongside Playbook and Paid Media.
“We are particularly encouraged by the progress in North America, where growth was driven by revenue share income, talent-led media and prediction markets,” Søgaard remarked.
He continued: “The FIFA World Cup provided the expected boost to the quarter. With full-year guidance maintained, we remain focused on profitable growth, continued operating leverage and building an increasingly scalable and efficient Better Collective.”
