Aristocrat Leisure Ltd saw its net profit after tax and before amortisation of acquired intangibles (NPATA) rise 8.4 percent year-on-year on a reported-currency basis for the half year to March 31. On a constant currency basis, the increase was 16.3 percent.
Such profit was AUD794.0 million (US$574.4 million) from AUD732.6 million a year earlier, the group said in a Wednesday filing to the Australian Securities Exchange.
The board authorised an interim unfranked dividend of AUD0.50 per share – amounting to AUD301 million based on the shares issued at the date of the financial statements – for the period ended March 31, 2026.
The record and payment dates for the dividend are May 26 and July 1, respectively.
Donald Carducci and Michael James, analysts at JP Morgan Securities Australia Ltd, said in a Wednesday note: “Worth noting is the AUD45 million of litigation settlement proceeds” from the Dragon Train intellectual property proceedings with Light & Wonder Inc, “taken above the line, but this had been pre-flagged at the annual general meeting update in February and factored into JP Morgan estimates.”
Aristocrat’s chief executive and managing director Trevor Croker was cited saying in a company statement: “Aristocrat delivered a strong first half, with clear progress across the business, and market share gains in key segments.”
He added: “Our earnings growth reflects disciplined execution, strong revenue momentum throughout our portfolio, and a continued focus on efficiency and extracting operating leverage.”
In its financial year ending September 30, 2025, Aristocrat Leisure had undergone a rejig of its digital operating segments.
For the half year to March 31, Aristocrat’s earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations were AUD1.32 billion, up 5.6 percent on a reported currency basis, and 13.1 percent on a constant-currency basis.
That was on consolidated revenue of AUD3.03 billion, which was down 0.2 percent judged by reported currency, but up 6.4 percent measured by constant currency.
The group’s net debt stood at AUD948.6 million as of March 31, up 123.1 percent in year-on-year terms.
The group’s three main segments are gaming, including casino slot machine equipment; Product Madness, for social gaming products; and interactive – covering gaming systems, iLottery, iGaming and sports, iGaming white-label, and content and aggregation.
Gaming segment profit for the half-year to March 31 was AUD1.06 billion, up 3.0 percent year-on-year, on revenue of AUD1.96 billion.
Under the “rest of the world” heading for gaming – which includes casino slot machine sales in Asia-Pacific – the group reported revenue of AUD403.7 million, up 18.3 percent year-on-year.
Rest of the world EBITDA were AUD184.1 million, up 22.0 percent. The group shipped 2,799 units to those markets in the reporting period, versus 2,964 a year earlier.
Aristocrat Leisure also announced on Tuesday that the board had nominated Michael Rumbolz – who had been executive chairman of gaming supplier Everi Holdings Inc up to July last year – as a non-executive director, to take effect from July 1. The move is subject to regulatory approvals.
Mr Croker was cited as saying: “Michael brings more than 45 years of experience across the gaming industry, and we are proud to have someone of his calibre join the Aristocrat board.”
Per a separate statement, Aristocrat said Mr Rumbolz currently serves as a director of Vici Properties Inc, a United States-based real estate investment trust specialising in casino and entertainment properties.
Mr Rumbolz is also a member of the board of managers of Seminole Hard Rock International, LLC
