Brightstar Lottery has reported a “solid” opening to the fiscal year, with Q1 revenue reaching $587 million. While top-line growth was marginal compared to the $583 million reported in the previous year, the company achieved a significant 15% jump in adjusted EBITDA.
More impressively, net profit reached $37 million, a 37% increase when accounting for discontinued operations, reflecting disciplined execution and a favorable product mix in key markets like the United States and Italy.
Strategic Evolution: Beyond Traditional Lottery
CEO Vince Sadusky used the firm’s earnings call to outline a transformative long-term strategy that seeks to capitalize on Brightstar’s massive digital footprint. While lottery remains the “core,” Brightstar intends to retain users within its own digital ecosystem by integrating online casino and sports betting products directly into its primary app.
Sadusky highlighted the potential to leverage the existing retail network and the millions of daily active users who use the app to check ticket results. He told investors:
“A lot of the growth we have had so far has been around the iLottery market and our market share. That primarily drives our success – but so does, to a lesser extent, also offering consumers the ability to play iCasino games and sports betting [on the app]. I think what’s most exciting about that opportunity is the ability to work with our retail network and leverage the players that are using the app and the website on a daily basis.”
Global Performance and 2026 Outlook
Looking at the Q1 breakdown, service revenue edged up to $558 million, while product sales increased 12%. Performance was bolstered by a 3.1% same-store sales growth in Italy and a positive product mix in the US. Despite unfavorable foreign currency movements, pre-tax profit hit $92 million, up 64%.
With optimism high, Brightstar reaffirmed its outlook for the full year, projecting revenue between $2.50 billion and $2.55 billion.
Sadusky concluded:
“We delivered a solid start to the year… We are on track with our multi-year goal of delivering accelerated sales and profit growth that we expect to create compelling, incremental value.”
This multi-vertical approach marks a significant shift for the lottery giant as it looks to compete more directly with traditional iGaming operators in regulated markets.
