Draftkings stock shot up in after hours trading as it reported an 88% jump in second-quarter revenue and earnings ahead of management’s previous expectations. It highlighted a 44% increase in MUPs (that’s monthly unique players) to 2.1 million, meanwhile, revenue per MUP was up 33% at US$137 for the quarter.

For the three months ended June 30, 2023, DraftKings reported revenue of $875 million, an increase of 88% compared to $466 million during the same period in 2022 driven primarily by continued healthy customer retention and engagement, efficient acquisition of new customers, product innovation leading to increased parlay mix and thus higher hold percentage, and improved promotional intensity.

“DraftKings produced outstanding results for the second quarter of 2023. We grew revenue at an impressive year-over-year rate, captured additional GGR share in a cost-effective manner, and maintained our focus on operational efficiency,” said Jason Robins, DraftKings’ Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder.

“The positive Adjusted EBITDA that we generated in the second quarter exceeded our guidance, and we are well on our way to achieving positive Adjusted EBITDA again in the fourth quarter of 2023 and for fiscal year 2024 and beyond. We are excited by the additional product features and functionality that we are introducing leading into football season and also look forward to another successful online sportsbook launch in Kentucky this fall pending licensure and regulatory approvals.”

“We are acquiring new customers efficiently while simultaneously retaining and monetizing our existing players through rapid product innovation, less promotions, and higher hold from better bet mix,” said Jason Park, DraftKings’ Chief Financial Officer. “Our unit economics are outstanding with older states generating more than enough cash to fund investment in new states.  

This performance, combined with fixed costs that grew at only a mid-single digit year-over-year percentage rate in the second quarter, resulted in an inflection to positive Adjusted EBITDA that we expect will occur again in the fourth quarter and for full year 2024.   As a result, we are increasing the midpoint of our fiscal year 2023 revenue guidance to $3.5 billion from $3.185 billion and improving the midpoint of our fiscal year 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to ($205) million from ($315) million.”