Lecture by Michael Silberling, CEO of Metropolitan Gaming

Introduction

• Speaker: Michael Silberling, CEO of Metropolitan Gaming
• Company: Metropolitan Gaming
• Joined: 2021

Metropolitan Gaming Overview

• **Activities Since 2021: **
  • Bought and sold casinos
  • Refurbished casinos
  • Sold South African business
  • Acquired Mayfair and Park Lane Casino
  • Launched new brand, loyalty program, and app
  • Strengthened management teams
  • Started new online business

Personal Experience of Michael Silberling

• **Previous Experience: **
  • Worked in New Zealand, Canada, Africa, South America, Middle East, UK, US (Vegas)
  • Worked for public companies, private companies, government, and family businesses
  • Approach: learning from each place's good and bad aspects

Comparison of Vegas and London Casino Sectors

• **Vegas: **

  • Integrated with state economics
  • Pro: Employment, Capital Investment, Tax Generation, Tourism
  • Regulatory environment for safety and exclusion of unsavory elements
  • Large developments with entertainment, restaurants, shopping, etc.

• **UK: **

  • Restricted to permitted areas
  • Limited to 20 slot machines
  • Contradictions in policy: mobile wagering unrestricted vs. limited land-based wagering
  • Tight regulatory environment
  • Affordability checks on luxury purchase contrasts

Current State of UK Casino and Land-Based Sector

• Post-Pandemic Recovery:
  • Significant year-over-year growth
  • Striving to exceed pre-pandemic levels
  • Facing macroeconomic headwinds: political changes, European war, inflation, labor and energy costs

Gambling White Paper Recommendations

• **Potential Benefits: **
  • Increase in the number of machines
  • Approval of Random Number Generators (RNG)
  • Introduction of cashless operations
  • Offering credit to high net worth individuals
  • Opportunity for more consumer choices and flexibility

Online Presence and Strategy

• **New Online Platform: **

  • Partnered with Aspire Global
  • Largest land-based Casino Company without online offering
  • Targets existing customer base
  • De-risking by partnering rather than developing in-house

• **Current Online Features: **

  • Live roulette at Empire and Manchester casinos
  • Plans for more content and integration with loyalty programs

Goals for 2023

• **Commitment Areas: **

  • Customers: safe and responsible environment; compliance awards
  • Employees:
  • Financial Stakeholders:
  • Communities: growing the brand, gamifying app engagement

• **Specific Goals: **

  • Continuation of new brand rollout
  • Maximization of unused licenses in Leeds, Birmingham, and London
  • Capital investment in refurbishment
  • Handling macroeconomic challenges
  • Overall growth and advancement of the leisure and entertainment sector in the UK

Closing Remarks

• Optimism for future growth
• Aims for better macroeconomic conditions
• Best wishes for Metropolitan Gaming's achievements