Super Group CEO: we’re the FanDuel and DraftKings of various African markets
Super Group kicked off the year with strong results, posting a 25% rise in group revenue to $517 million in the first quarter. EBITDA climbed 46.6% to $107 million, while net profit more than doubled, up 105.4% to $76 million. These figures underscore the operator’s ability to combine scale with profitability and set the stage for further growth across its global footprint.
Africa and the Middle East take the lead
In a noteworthy shift, the Africa and Middle East region overtook North America to become Super Group’s largest revenue generator. Together, , up from 37% a year earlier. North America’s share fell from 37% to 35% following the partial disposal of its US business. Asia-Pacific and Latin and South America also saw revenue share declines, while Europe climbed from 15% to 19%.
Accelerating expansion plans
On a post-Q1 analysts call, CEO Neal Menashe confirmed that the operator is gearing up to launch in more African countries. “Botswana was only launched in February… but I think it’s off to a great start and that’s what we need to see,” he said. He outlined plans for Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Angola, among others, stressing the need to ensure that “the taxes and the repatriation of the money out of those countries works for us.” Menashe added that many North African and West Coast markets remain untapped, representing “a lot of opportunity everywhere.”
Profitable growth in African markets
Super Group’s CEO emphasised the unusually high margins available in Africa. “The secret for Africa is that every bit of extra revenue is super, super, super profitable,” he said. “If we grow revenue by 30% or 40%, you could almost double your profits there. This is the beautiful part of it.” Menashe noted that the focus is not just on driving top-line growth but on profitable revenue, where incremental gains flow “really flying down to the bottom line.”
Regulatory and economic tailwinds
Chief Financial Officer Alinda Van Wyk highlighted the favourable economic backdrop in Africa, which hosts 13 of the 20 fastest growing economies in the world. Growing populations and friendlier regulatory frameworks, especially compared with the US, have supported Super Group’s efforts. “For the last 15 years, we’ve been dealing with every country’s regulation side-by-side, and that’s been helping a lot with expansion,” Van Wyk said, pointing to the scale the operator enjoys across diverse jurisdictions.
Seamless tech integration
A key enabler of Super Group’s rapid rollouts is its flexible technology stack. Menashe noted that the platform supports around 150 different banking integrations across Africa, making it straightforward to deploy new features continent-wide. “If we roll out a feature in South Africa or Ghana, we can roll it out in Tanzania. So, that’s helping a lot,” he explained. This modular approach accelerates product launches while navigating the varied regulatory environments of each market.
Matching FanDuel and DraftKings
With its growing footprint, Super Group now occupies a leading position in many of its African markets. Menashe drew a parallel with the US sports-betting giants: “In the markets where we have got podium positions, you probably have to think of us like what FanDuel and DraftKings are to the US, especially from the sports side of things, right? It’s bringing the customers, and it’s about brand resonance. You have this customer base that you are building on.” The comparison reflects Super Group’s ambition to be the go-to operator for local sports and gaming fans.
Driving efficiency amid competition
Menashe acknowledged that new entrants will continue to target high-growth African markets, making operational efficiency crucial. “It is not about driving down costs but becoming efficient with the costs that you are utilising, whether it’s in CRM, risk management, or processing fees,” he said. He pointed to marketing funnel optimisation as a key lever: “If you are open to actors or converting at a certain percentage in each market, how do you make that better, what new products can we do, how do we scale?” Through disciplined cost management and innovative product development, Super Group aims to stay ahead of both local and global rivals.
By combining strong financial results, aggressive expansion, high-margin markets and a scalable technology platform, Super Group is positioning itself as the FanDuel and DraftKings of many African markets, ready to capture the next wave of growth on the continent.
