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Golden Rim Resources Ltd

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FY2019 Annual Report · Golden Rim Resources Ltd
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Annual Report and Accounts

2019

Gaming Realms is a developer, publisher and licensor of 
mobile games, building an international portfolio of highly 
popular gaming content and brands.  
Through its unique IP and brands, Gaming Realms is bringing 
together media, entertainment and gaming assets in new 
game formats. The Gaming Realms management team includes 
accomplished entrepreneurs and experienced executives from 
a wide range of leading gaming and media companies.

Contents
Strategic Report
01  Highlights
02  At a Glance
04  Executive Chairman’s Statement
06  Financial Review
08  Engaging with Stakeholders
10  Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Corporate Governance
12  Board of Directors and Executive Management
14  Directors’ Report
15  Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
16  Corporate Governance

Independent Auditor’s Report

Financial Statements
20 
24  Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
25  Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
26  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
27  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
28   Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
59  Parent Company Statement of Financial Position
60  Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity
61  Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
64  Company Information

www.gamingrealms.com

1

Highlights

2019 Financial highlights:

 » EBITDA1 from continuing operations loss of £0.8m (2018: £0.6m loss)

 » Continuing revenue increased by 11.5% to £6.9m (2018: £6.2m) for the year 

•  Licensing revenue increased 84.5% to £4.1m (2018: £2.2m) 
•  Social Publishing revenue decreased by 29.6% to £2.8m (2018: £3.9m),  

with a 16% reduction in expenses and a 25.2% reduction in development costs 
capitalised in the year

 » Net cash inflow for the year of £1.0m (2018: £0.2m) with £2.6m cash at the year end
•  Cash inflow from disposal of assets net of cash disposed2 of £6.1m (2018: £6.0m)

 » Continuing Adjusted EBITDA3 loss £0.3m (2018: £0.1m loss)

•  Licensing £1.4m Adjusted EBITDA (2018: £1.0m) 
•  Social Publishing £0.8m Adjusted EBITDA (2018: £1.6m)

 » Loss for the year from continuing activities reduced to £4.6m (2018: £5.6m)

 » Adoption of IFRS 16 in the year increasing 2019 EBITDA by £0.1m  

due to lease presentation

2019 Operational highlights:

 » Sale of the B2C RMG business to River iGaming plc (“River”) completed in 

July 2019 for £11.5m on a cash free, debt free basis. After settlement of liabilities 
in connection with the disposed assets and termination of the £4.2m deferred 
consideration due from the sale completed in 2018, the Company received an 
initial cash sum of £7.0m, with a deferred consideration of £1.5m due on or before 
31 December 2020.

 » Game library growth to 36 proprietary games on the Group’s remote game server 

(“RGS”) (2018: 28)

 » Launched our first partner through the Relax Gaming distribution platform

 » Signed international distribution deal with Scientific Games

 » Launched with 14 new partners for Slingo Originals content, including Sun Bingo, 

William Hill, Kindred, Bettson

 » Extended our licensing of the Slingo brand to Zynga for Social casino

1   EBITDA is profit before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment expenses and is a non-GAAP measure. The Group uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA  

to comment on its financial performance.

2   Cash inflow from disposal of assets net of cash disposed of represents the cash consideration received by the Group on the disposal of assets, less the cash balance 

included in any subsidiaries at the time of disposal. See note 21 for further details.

3   Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding non-recurring material items which are outside the normal scope of the Group’s ordinary activities. Adjusting items include 
costs arising from a fundamental restructuring of the Group’s operations, relocation costs, impairment of financial assets and sales proceeds on business asset 
disposals. See note 5 for further details.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance2

At a Glance

Innovation 

Gaming Realms develops, publishes and licenses mobile gaming content. 

As the creator of a variety of Slingo™, bingo, slots and other casual games, we use our 
proprietary content to create a “Slingo” genre of games for our partners internationally. 
Gaming Realms has partnered with some of the most successful and popular global 
platforms and operators.

Integrated game development, licensing and publishing

Game development

Brand licensing

2 Mobile games studios:

Victoria, 
Canada

Colchester,  
United Kingdom

Rationale for sale  
of B2C RMG business

 » The Company has previously set out its 

strategy to focus its resources on content 
development and the international licensing 
of the Slingo brand and intellectual property 

 » 2019 has seen high growth for licensing 

in the New Jersey market as well as growth 
with tier 1 operators in the UK and Europe

IP licensor
 » North American Lottery Printed Scratch 

Games – Scientific Games

 » Global Electronic Gaming Machines – 

Scientific Games

 » Global Lottery Mobile Instant Games – IWG

 » Social Slot Games – Zynga Inc.

Game licensing

 » Social Puzzle Games – Electronic Arts Inc.

 » Bingo – Pala Interactive

 » iGaming Library – US and EU

• US – Caesars Interactive, Resorts Inc, Pala 
Interactive, Rush Street, Golden Nugget, 
Ocean Resorts, Bwin, Betfair and Hard Rock

• Europe – GVC, LadbrokesCoral, 888, 

JackpotJoy, Bet Victor, SkillOnNet, BeGame, 
Rank, William Hill, Sky Betting and Gaming, 
Kindred, Bettson, Buzz Bingo

Brand partnerships

 » Endemol – Deal or No Deal

 » Fremantle – Britain’s Got Talent, the X Factor, 

The Price Is Right

 » Sony – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

 » Scientific Games – Monopoly, Rainbow Riches

 » Inspired Entertainment – Centurion

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019Our key focus areas

Original game content  
and IP development
We build original content from our Colchester 
and Victoria game studios incorporating social 
meta games and real money mechanics with 
Slingo and well-known brands.

Data and algorithmic 
optimisation
“It’s all about the data” – we put the 
customer first, developing engaging content 
and using data to enhance the development 
feedback loop.

Advanced mobile  
gaming platform
We have invested significantly in our Remote 
Gaming Server (“RGS”) in order to increase 
the distribution of our games.

Strategic partners  
and licensing
Partners include Endemol, Zynga, IWG, 
Inspired Entertainment, Hasbro and Scientific 
Games. Not only do we leverage our own IP 
across multiple brands, but we also license 
Slingo into markets adjacent to the Group’s 
core mobile gaming business.

3

Responsible  
gambling
Despite the fact we disposed of our online 
casino operations, Gaming Realms has 
been committed, in the year, to providing 
an environment for customers to play 
responsibly and securely. Since commencing 
operations, we have had measures in place 
to encourage responsible play – to keep it 
fun – and have provided tools to help keep 
customers’ gaming and spending within 
their control. 

In addition, we fund research, education 
and treatment of problem gambling through 
donations to GambleAware.

We always ensure that Responsible Gambling 
is at the heart of our game design process 
and have recently built a tool for players to 
set their own limits on stakes and features 
within games. We only contract with licenced 
partners, ensuring that the players are given 
a high level of protection through these 
operators. As our games are certified in 
highly regulated markets such as the UK and 
Sweden, the standards we have to provide 
for our games and RGS systems in terms 
of player protection is already set to an 
incredibly high level.

Playing a new game

1.  Slingo Centurion

2.  Sligo Berserk

3.  Monopoly Slingo

4.  Slingo Advance

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance4

Executive Chairman’s Statement

A clear growth plan

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

2019 was a year 
of excellent progress 
for the Group, with 
the Licensing division 
increasing revenues 
by 84%.

The UK B2C real money online gaming 
market deteriorated throughout 2017, 
particularly for smaller companies. The 
increasing levels of regulation on many 
fronts, coupled with increased taxation, 
significantly increased costs and reduced 
margins to unsustainable levels.

In light of these poor market conditions, 
the Board took the difficult decision to 
sell a number of our B2C sites, completing 
that sale in 2018. By this time, it was 
apparent that conditions in this sector of 
the gaming market were still under pressure, 
and we withdrew completely from direct 
involvement in the UK B2C online casino 
market with the sale of the rest of these 
assets in July of the year under review.

These sales were accompanied by 
management’s decision to invest in the 
development of a Gaming Content and 
Distribution Division.

These asset disposals have transformed the 
Company, which is now concentrated on the 
development and international distribution 
of mobile focussed gaming content and 
brand licensing, using our unique Slingo IP. 

The Group has been able to reduce staff and 
operational costs, and now has a healthy 
cash balance to fund itself until it becomes 
cash generative which we hope will be 
before the end of the current year.

I am pleased to say that the Group delivered 
an Adjusted EBITDA loss on continuing 
activities for 2019 of £0.3m (2018 £0.1m 
loss), which was better than expected. 

The Group made excellent progress this year, 
with the Licensing division increasing revenues 
by 84% to £4.1m (2018: £2.2m). More 
importantly for the longer-term profitability of 
the Company, we saw an increasing demand 
for our products and recognition of the value 
of the Slingo IP. This can be seen from the 
following facts for 2019:

 » We increased our library of proprietary 
games by 8 to 36 games at year end.

 » We went live with 14 new partners during 
the year, all of whom have licensed our 
Slingo Originals content.

 » We signed games distribution deals with 
Relax Gaming and Scientific Games, who 
together have over 200 operators that they 
supply with content.

 » We are relying less on the UK marketplace 

as our games are distributed internationally. 
In Scandinavia, our games are carried by 
Kindred, Bettson, and Leo Vegas.

 » We are licensed as a game supplier in 

New Jersey, USA, where our games have 
maintained in excess of a 3.5% share of sales 
from online slot products throughout the 
year. During 2019, the New Jersey online 
casino market grew by 66.3% with Gaming 
Realms maintaining its percentage share.

As reported to shareholders during the year, 
we rationalised the Social division reducing 
costs and our exposure. Whilst this resulted in 
a decline in revenues of 30% to £2.8m (2018: 
£3.9m), the business is now making a positive 
cash contribution to Group results, and this 
appears to be sustainable. We will keep it 
under review, to ensure it is aligned with the 
best interests of shareholders at all times.

Further details on the 2019 results are 
contained in the Statement from the 
Finance Director which follows.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 20195

Market overview
The market for casino games is very crowded, 
with most operators having hundreds of 
games on their sites. It is apparent that Slingo 
games are able to get to the forefront of 
players attention, using its unique brand 
and format.

This is resulting in many partner sites giving 
our content enhanced placement, thus 
increasing awareness of Slingo games. 

This year has started well, and we have gone 
live on Sky Betting and Gaming in the UK, 
Draftkings in New Jersey, USA and Caliente in 
Mexico. We have submitted an application 
for a new license in Pennsylvania, USA which 
we hope will be granted by year end, and a 
number of operators in Pennsylvania have 
already agreed to take our games once they 
are licensed and approved. We will continue 
to expand in the USA as further States decide 
to regulate online casino gaming.

COVID-19
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I 
would like to reassure all our investors and 
stakeholders that the Group has taken 
every precaution to ensure the safety of 
our staff and those we work with. While 
it is impossible to predict the duration of 
this situation, we continue to experience 
a high level of demand for our products 
which supports the Board’s confidence in 
the future prospects of the business.

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

27 April 2020

We are increasing our efforts to grow revenues 
outside the UK market, given the increase in 
Point of Consumption Tax and ever increasing 
UK regulation. We have a good footprint in the 
New Jersey, USA, market, and as mentioned 
above we are live on a number of other 
overseas sites. We have certified our games 
for the regulated market of Sweden and are 
currently undergoing testing for the regulated 
Italian market. Over time we expect to see 
an increasing percentage of our revenues 
generated from outside the UK. 

Outlook for 2020
Our main focus for this year will be:

 » To develop more proprietary Slingo games 

to add to our portfolio

 » To continue expansion of the partners to 

whom our games are licensed, with 
particular emphasis on the international 
market

 » To maintain control over Group costs where 
we have achieved a significant reduction, as 
we move towards Group profitability

As regards current trading, I am pleased 
to inform shareholders that our Licensing 
revenues for the first quarter of this year were 
90% ahead of the same period of 2019, and 
we are operating ahead of management’s 
forecast. Whilst it is early in the year, these 
results, coupled with the new deals already 
announced and the pipeline of additional 
partners to come, gives the Board every 
confidence in the strategy being pursued 
and expectations for this year and beyond.

Board update
Early in February, the CEO Patrick Southon 
left the Company. On his departure, I became 
Executive Chairman and we announced 
we would be seeking a replacement. The 
successful division of duties between the 
Finance Director and myself, coupled with 
the performance of the Group in recent 
months, has led the Board to decide that 
we will not replace this position for the time 
being, which will also save costs. The Board 
believes the skill set and experience of the 
two Executives and four Non-Executives is 
appropriate for the size and strategy of the 
Company going forward, and provides the 
appropriate level of governance.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance -

6

Financial Review

A strong performance

Mark Segal
Chief Financial Officer

During 2019, the 
Group has continued 
implementing its core 
strategy of focusing its 
resources to grow the 
Licensing business.

2019 saw the Group complete its disposal of 
the real money B2C assets, following the initial 
disposal of four real money B2C brands in 2018.

Gaming Realms delivered a loss after tax of 
£5.4m (2018: £0.9m profit), including a £0.8m 
loss on discontinued operations and disposals 
(2018: £6.6m profit). Excluding the impact 
of discontinued operations and disposals, the 
Group reduced its loss after tax by £1.1m to 
£4.6m (2018: £5.6m). We have continued to 
present the B2C RMG and Affiliate Marketing 
segments as discontinued operations in the 
current and comparative period.

The Group realised a £0.8m profit on disposal 
of the real money B2C assets in the year 
(2018: £12.5m).

The Group adopted IFRS 16 on 1 January 
2019, which resulted in an increase in 2019 
EBITDA of £0.1m due to the presentation of 
lease interest and depreciation in the income 
statement compared with the previous 
standard. See note 1 for more detail on the 
adoption of this standard.

Continuing operations
Continuing operations generated an 
Adjusted EBITDA loss of £0.3m (2018: £0.1m 
loss). 2019 continuing Adjusted EBITDA 
would have been a loss of £0.4m prior to the 
adoption of IFRS 16.

EBITDA from continuing operations was a 
£0.8m loss (2018: £0.6m loss) including 
restructuring costs of £0.3m (2018: £0.2m) 
and impairment of assets of £0.2m (2018: 
£0.2m). 2019 EBITDA from continuing 
operations would have been a loss of £0.9m 
prior to the impact of IFRS 16 adoption 
(see note 1).

Year-on-year revenue increased 11% to £6.9m 
(£2018: £6.2m) due to the strong growth 
in Licensing, partially offset by the declining 
performance in Social Publishing.

Operating expenses for the year increased to 
£1.5m (2018: £0.9m) principally as a result of 
increased costs associated with the growth 
in the Licensing segment, offset by reduced 
operating costs in Social Publishing.

Administrative expenses increased to £5.7m 
(2018: £4.9m) due to increased investment 
in infrastructure to support the planned long-
term expansion of the Licensing segment, while 
cost savings of £0.1m were achieved in the 
Social Publishing segment compared to 2018.

Licensing
Licensing revenue increased 84% to £4.1m 
(2018: £2.2m) due to the successful 
implementation of the Group’s strategy 
of growing both the games content and 
distribution to an increased number of 
operators in Europe and the US.

During 2019, the Group went live with an 
additional 14 partners in Europe, New Jersey 
and Latin America, bringing the total to 27 
(2018: 17). After the year-end, the Group 
went live with a further 6 new operators, 
including tier 1 operator Sky Betting & 
Gaming in the UK and DraftKings in New 
Jersey, USA.

Social Publishing
Social Publishing continued to achieve 
profitability in 2019, delivering Adjusted 
EBITDA profit of £0.8m (2018: £1.6m). 

Social Publishing revenues reduced 30% to 
£2.8m (2018: £3.9m) as a result of tighter 
cost control during the year which saw 
marketing and operating expenses reduce by 
68% and 22% respectively.

Discontinued operations
Discontinued operations relate to B2C RMG 
and Affiliate Marketing. The Group recorded 
a loss after tax from discontinued operations 
of £0.8m (2018: £6.6m profit), comprising 
£0.7m profit on disposal of assets, £0.2m 
share of loss of associate prior to disposal, and 
incurred trading losses until disposal of £1.3m.

Discontinued operations have been discussed 
in more detail in note 21.

Real money gaming
In July 2019 the Group concluded the 
transaction with River, which finalised the 
Group’s strategy of withdrawing from the UK 
real money B2C market to focus on game 
development and licensing activities. The 
Group recorded a profit on disposal of these 
assets of £0.8m.

The Group received cash consideration 
on disposal of £7.0m and the transaction 
included settlement of the £4.2m deferred 
consideration due from the sale completed 
in 2018. The Group is due £1.5m deferred 
consideration on 31 December 2020.

This followed the 2018 transaction also with 
River, where the Group sold four of its B2C 
real money brands.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019 -

7

£4.1m

licensing revenue  
(2018: £2.2m)

£0.8m

Adjusted EBITDA profit, Social Publishing 
(2018: £1.6m)

+£1.0m 

Increase in net cash 
(2018: increase of £0.2m)

Regulatory pressures adversely impacted 
the performance of the discontinued 
RMG segment prior to its disposal in July 
2019. Prior to disposal, the RMG segment 
generated an EBITDA loss of £1.6m (2018: 
£0.5m EBITDA loss).

Affiliate Marketing
The Affiliate Marketing business was sold 
in March 2018 for £2.4m after generating 
revenues of £0.2m in 2018. The loss on disposal 
recognised in the prior year was £0.1m.

Cashflow, Balance Sheet and 
Going Concern
Net cash (note 20) increased by £1.0m in 
2019 (2018: increased by £0.2m) to £2.6m 
at 31 December 2019 (2018: £1.6m). The 
current year increase in net cash was largely 
driven through the £5.4m cash inflow 
on disposals, net of cash disposed of and 
disposal costs, offset by £1.5m cash used 
in operating activities (2018: £2.2m) and 
£2.7m of development costs capitalised in 
the year (2018: £3.0m).

The Group is due £1.5m deferred 
consideration on 31 December 2020 on the 
2019 disposal of the real money B2C assets.

Net assets totaled £12.1m (2018: £17.7m).

Following completion of the Group’s exit 
from the real money B2C market during 
2019 and the strong growth seen and 
forecast for the core Licensing business, the 
Directors believe the Group is in a strong 
position to take advantage of the significant 
opportunities in the Licensing and Social 
Publishing segments. 

Following the COVID-19 outbreak and 
the uncertainty this has brought to global 
markets and economies, the Directors have 
performed qualitative and quantitative 
assessments of the associated risks facing 
the business and its ability to meet its short 
and medium-term forecasts. The forecasts 
were subject to stress testing to analyse 
the reduction in forecast revenues required 
to bring about insolvency of the Company 
unless capital was raised. In such cases 
it is anticipated that mitigation actions 
such as reduction in overheads could be 
implemented to stall such an outcome.

The Directors confirm their view that they 
have carried out a robust assessment of 
the emerging and principal risks facing 
the business. As a result of the assessment 
performed, the Directors consider that the 
Group has adequate resources to continue 
its normal course of operations for the 
foreseeable future. 

Dividend
During the year, Gaming Realms did not pay 
an interim or final dividend. The Board of 
Directors are not proposing a final dividend 
for the current year.

Corporation and deferred 
taxation
The Group received £0.1m (2018: £0.1m) in 
research and development credits in Canada 
and a £0.1m tax charge in respect of previous 
periods. The Group also recognised an unwind 
of deferred tax of £0.1m (2018: £0.3m) which 
arose on prior year business combinations.

Mark Segal
Chief Financial Officer

27 April 2020

The table below sets out the split of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA on a continuing and discontinued operations basis:

 Discontinued operations 

Continuing operations

2019
Revenue 

Marketing expense 

Operating expense 

Administrative expense 

Share-based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA 

2018 
Revenue 

Marketing expense 

Operating expense 

Administrative expense 

Share-based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA 

 Real money 
gaming 
 £’000 

 Affiliate
 Marketing 
 £’000 

 Total 
discontinued 
 £’000 

6,002

(706)

(4,908)

(1,965)

–

(1,577)

–

–

–

–

–

–

 Licensing 
 £’000 

4,147

–

(773)

(1,970)

–

6,002

(706)

(4,908)

(1,965)

–

(1,577)

1,404

 Social 
Publishing 
 £’000 

2,758

(130)

(855)

 Head 
office 
 £’000 

106

(82)

1

(1,001)

(2,446)

–

772

(10)

(2,431)

Discontinued operations

Continuing operations

 Real money
 gaming 
 £’000 

16,365

(4,319)

(9,170)

(3,324)

–

(448)

 Affiliate 
Marketing 
 £’000 

 Total 
discontinued
 £’000 

168

(15)

(16)

(116)

–

21

16,533

(4,334)

(9,186)

(3,440)

–

(427)

 Licensing 
 £’000 

2,248

–

(200)

(1,055)

–

993

 Social 
Publishing 
 £’000 

3,921

(414)

(1,092)

(861)

–

1,554

 Head 
office 
 £’000 

394

(251)

–

(2,738)

(68)

(2,663)

 Total 
continuing
 £’000 

7,011

(212)

(1,627)

(5,417)

(10)

(255)

 Total 
continuing
 £’000 

6,563

(665)

(1,292)

(4,654)

(68)

(116)

Total 
2018
 £’000

13,013

(918)

(6,535)

(7,382)

(10)

(1,832)

 Total 
2018
 £’000

23,096

(4,999)

(10,478)

(8,094)

(68)

(543)

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance8

Engaging with Stakeholders

The Board recognises that we have a number of stakeholders 
including shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers and 
regulators. The Board is cognisant of its responsibility to understand 
each of their views and does this through a variety of methods, 
which are continually reviewed to remain effective. Updates are 
provided and discussed at Board and relevant Committee meetings. 
Throughout this Annual Report, we have provided information on 
some of the initiatives and approaches undertaken in relation to 
stakeholder engagement by the Group during 2019.

Section 172 statement
The Board of Directors, in line with their duties under section 172 
(“s172”) of the Companies Act 2016, act in a way they consider, 
in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the 
Company for the benefit of its members as a whole, and in doing so 
have regard to a range of matters when making decisions for the long 
term. Key decisions and matters that are of strategic importance to 
the Company are appropriately informed by s172 factors.

The 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (the ‘2018 UK Code’) 
reinforced the importance of the Board understanding the views 
of the Company’s key stakeholders and this section is intended 
to provide information on how stakeholders’ interests have been 
considered in Board discussions and decision making processes in 
accordance with the 2018 UK Code.

Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 requires Directors to take 
into consideration the interests of stakeholders and other matters 
in their decision making. The Directors continue to have regard to 
the interests of the Company’s employees and other stakeholders, 
the impact of its activities on the community, the environment and 
the Company’s reputation for good business conduct, when making 
decisions. In this context, acting in good faith and fairly, the Directors 
consider what is most likely to promote the success of the Company 
for its members in the long term. We explain in this annual report, 
and below, how the Board engages with stakeholders. 

The Board regularly reviews the Company’s principal stakeholders 
and how it engages with them. This is achieved through information 
provided by management and also by direct engagement with 
stakeholders themselves.

Shareholders
The Board is committed to maintaining constructive dialogue with shareholders and ensuring that it has a deep understanding of their 
views. It also recognises that shareholders consider a range of environmental, social and governance matters. The Chair, Chief Executive 
Officer (up to his resignation) and Chief Financial Officer, on behalf of the Board, meets shareholders regularly and reports to the Board on 
these discussions. All Directors are also available to meet institutional investors on request.

Some of the activities undertaken during 2019 are summarised below:

 » The Company has engaged with an Investor Relations consultant to liaise with investors for communications with investors.

 » The Chair engaged with key shareholders on corporate governance matters.

 » Private individual shareholders were communicated with via the Company Secretary.

 » The Company met with key investors and produced a Circular for an EGM to approve the disposal of the B2C real money gaming business to 

River iGaming plc.

Disposal of B2C RMG business and focus on Licensing
On 28 February 2019, the Company announced it had entered into agreement to sell its B2C real money gaming business to River iGaming 
plc, which was conditional amongst other things upon shareholder and regulatory approval. At this point, the Chairman, CEO and CFO 
engaged with shareholders to explain the rationale for the disposal. On this date, the Company also called an EGM to vote on the proposed 
sale which was voted in favor by shareholders on 18 March 2019.

AGM
Five of our Directors attended the 2019 AGM and an average of 52% of the total issued share capital was voted across all resolutions. 
A Q&A was given to attending shareholders at the 2019 AGM on the Group’s post-RMG strategy and future outlook.

The 2020 AGM will be held on 10 June 2020. Separate resolutions are proposed on each item of business.

Website and shareholder communications
Further details on the Group, our business and key financial dates can be found on our corporate website:

www.gamingrealms.com

Players
We always ensure that Responsible Gambling is at the heart of our game design process and have recently built a tool for players to set their 
own limits on stakes and features within games. We only contract with licenced partners, ensuring that the players are given a high level of 
protection through these operators. As our games are certified in highly regulated markets such as the UK and Sweden, the standards we 
have to provide for our games and RGS systems in terms of player protection is already set to an incredibly high level.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 20199

Customers
We are providing our customers with an increasing portfolio of unique games each year. We are making significant improvements to our 
platform in order to prepare for large scale growth.

We ensure our games and platform are fully tested before each new launch and adhere to any regulations required for them.

Trust is important to our customers and their end users and our competitive customer offering is maintained through our unique Slingo IP, 
together with constant communication and emphasis on accounts management.

We have invested in account managers who work closely with our B2B partners to ensure good relationships and that we get maximum 
exposure for our content.

Employees
Employee engagement is critical to our future success. In a year of transition for the business, our employees have worked hard to support 
the business and sustain our culture.

Empowerment, career development, health and well-being and social responsibility are all areas our employees have told us they consider 
important in the workplace.

The Board gains an understanding of the views of our employees and the culture of the organisation through visits to our offices, one-to-
one meetings, Board presentations and via assessment of office wide engagement scores and views.

We continue to monitor and develop our approach to performance management, to promote a culture of continuous improvement. 

Suppliers
We have established long-term partnerships that complement our in-house expertise, and have built a network of specialised partners 
within the industry and beyond.

We have an open, constructive and effective relationship with all suppliers through regular meetings which provide both parties the ability 
to feedback on successes, challenges and the future roadmap.

Our procurement policy includes a commitment to sustainable procurement and mitigation against the risk of modern slavery, anti-bribery 
and corruption, and data protection/privacy breaches across our supply chain. We aim to operate to the highest professional standards, 
treating our suppliers in a fair and reasonable manner and settling invoices promptly.

We regularly monitor the relationship and engagement approach with our third-party suppliers.

Following the disposal of the B2C real money gaming, we have reduced marketing and other direct costs and have worked closely with the 
associated partners who aided us in the operations of the casino. We worked closely with various partners and suppliers to ensure a smooth 
transition to the new owners of the business.

Regulators
We have an open and transparent dialogue with the regulatory and industry bodies that we work with.

In 2019 the Board met with the UK Gambling Commission (“UKGC”) and New Jersey Division for Gaming Enforcement (“DGE”) to discuss 
regulatory updates and best practice, and representatives from Gaming Realms attended the bi-annual UKGC ‘Raising Standards’ event.

The Group has a compliance team to ensure that all regulatory guidelines are met in its gambling operations. The Group also maintains 
close legal counsel to advise on any changes to the regulatory framework, as well as updates on territories currently outside the 
Group’s activities.

The sale of the B2C real money gaming business was conditional, amongst other things, on Regulatory approvals, and we worked closely 
with the Regulators to ensure approval of the transfer of the operating licences to River iGaming. 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance10

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The Board constantly monitors and assesses risks and uncertainties within the Group’s trading 
activities. There will always be a level of risk that needs to be evaluated against the Group’s 
potential returns in any activity.

Risk

How this risk is managed

Regulatory and legislation
Online gambling and gaming is subject to a dynamic and complex 
regulatory regime. 

The Group now holds licences from the UK Gambling Commission, 
the New Jersey Division for Gaming Enforcement and a Recognition 
Notice for the Malta Gaming Authority.

It is key to the Group to maintain compliance with all licences 
and any new ones that are required. These are critical to the 
continuing operation of the Group’s gambling activities and also 
the production and supply of its unique content into both its 
operations and other third parties.

Taxation risk
From the end of 2014, the gaming industry has been subject to 
point of consumption tax in relation to gambling activities within 
the UK. The rate increased to 21% in April 2019. 

The Group has a compliance team to ensure that all regulatory 
guidelines are met in its gambling operations. The Group also 
maintains close legal counsel to advise on any changes to the 
regulatory framework, as well as updates on territories currently 
outside the Group’s activities.

The remaining B2B business operates in multiple jurisdictions reducing 
the impact of UK specific tax. The tax liability is borne by the operator.

Residency
The Group has legal entities in several jurisdictions, including US, 
Canada and the UK.

The Group has undertaken a detailed transfer pricing exercise to 
ensure that revenue and profits are attributed correctly between the 
operating locations and continues to monitor taxation policies in all 
jurisdictions.

Competition
The online and free to play gaming markets are highly competitive 
in North America and the UK. Failure to be able to hold a 
competitive advantage would result in attracting less players 
and have lower engagement on our apps and sites. 

In following the Group’s strategy of developing new unique IP and 
content, the Group feels well placed to be able to compete in the 
markets it operates in. It invests significant resource to be able to 
improve its development and operations.

Diverse products and geographies also help to diversify the risk.

Brexit
On 23 June 2016 the UK voted to leave the EU which has now 
happened. We are now in a transition period until 31 December 
2020 while the government negotiates with the EU. This may 
reduce the Group’s ability to operate on an unfettered basis in 
certain EU markets.

The Group will continue to closely monitor the situation and respond 
as the timing and terms of the UK’s exit from the EU become clearer.

The Group is currently applying for a full Maltese licence, to ensure 
that we can continue operating within EU territories and to reduce 
any risk of reliance on the UK licence.

The Group, along with other EU based online gaming operators, 
have previously relied on the ability to challenge such protectionist 
measures through the EU Court of Justice (“CJEU”). In the event that 
the UK was to leave the EU, unless the Group was to re-domicile 
certain of its subsidiaries within the EU, it would no longer be able 
to rely on such protection. Such a re-domiciliation could give rise to 
higher taxes payable.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201911

Risk

How this risk is managed

Time to market
The Group invests highly in technology and bringing new products 
and games to market. A delay in time to market will result in a loss 
of competitive advantage, a loss in potential revenue and also 
increasing cost of development.

The Group has invested highly in having a dual product track to allow 
its products and games to be ready for both licensing and publishing 
exploitation in the same release.

Extensive work is undergone on the planning stage to ensure that 
timeframes can be met, and products go live at the highest standard.

Dependence on technology
As a provider of online gambling services, the Group’s business is 
reliant on technology and advanced information systems. If the 
Group does not invest in the maintenance and further development 
of its technology systems, there is a risk that these systems may 
not cope with the needs of the business and may fail. The Group 
is reliant on the Internet and is vulnerable to activities such as 
distributed denial of service attacks, other forms of cyber-crime 
and a wide range of malicious viruses.

Dependence on third-party service providers
The Group engages with a number of providers for cloud-based 
technology and remote deployment, as well as other important 
service providers. In the event that there is any interruption to 
the products or services provided by third parties, problems in 
supplying the products, one or more ceased to be provided or are 
provided on onerous terms to the Group, this may have an adverse 
effect on the Group’s business and performance.

The team
The ability to carry out the Groups strategy is dependent on the 
engagement of its senior management team, its technology, 
marketing and operations teams. The Group operates with a small 
team across two main locations.

If key employees leave, there is a risk of loss of knowledge.

The Group continues to invest in its proprietary platform to ensure the 
necessary features and functionality meet partner needs. In addition, 
it has adopted industry standard protections to detect intrusions or 
other security breaches and implements preventative measures to 
protect against sabotage, hackers, viruses and other cyber-crime.

The Group also holds relevant insurance to cover against this.

The Group uses reliable and well-known suppliers and ensures that 
contractual agreements with key partners offer adequate protection.

The Group continues to invest in its employees to ensure that it can 
attract, recruit and maintain a high-quality team.

Business disruption including COVID-19
Business disruptions may occur where the Group’s workforce is 
unable to work or communicate, including due to pandemics 
such as COVID-19. Such disruptions affect the global economy 
and therefore our B2B operators and end users, if spending and 
confidence are significantly affected. While there is currently 
evidence of increased customer activity on our games content, 
in the event of a prolonged period of uncertainty it is possible that 
consumer spending on our games content would be reduced which 
would therefore impact the revenues the Group generates.

The Group actively monitors developments which may affect its 
operations and the Directors have taken practical steps to mitigate 
disruption this is causing to the business. The Directors have carried 
out a detailed assessment of the potential risks and ways the 
COVID-19 outbreak could impact the business.

The Group’s workforce is predominantly based in the UK, Canada and 
the US. All employees are currently working remotely and are fully 
operational.

The 2019 Strategic Report on pages 1 to 11, has been approved by the Board of Directors.

On behalf of the Board:

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

27 April 2020

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance12

Board of Directors and Executive Management

An accomplished team

Board of Directors

MB

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

MS

Mark Segal
Chief Financial Officer

MW

Mark Wilson
Non-Executive Director

Michael Buckley was Chairman of Cashcade, 
which he founded with Patrick Southon and 
Simon Collins in 2000. Cashcade became 
a leading UK-based online gaming company 
prior to its sale to PartyGaming plc in 2009 
for an aggregate sale consideration of £96m 
for shareholders.

Michael has invested in and been Chairman 
of a number of public companies. These 
include SelecTV plc, a producer of comedy 
and comedy drama series for television such 
as Lovejoy, Birds of a Feather and The New 
Statesman. SelecTV invested in a consortium 
which in 1991 won the franchise to create 
Meridian Television of which Michael was 
a founding Director. He was also Chairman 
of Pacific Media plc, which invested in a 
number of internet backbone companies 
in Asia during the 1990s as well as creating 
a chain of movie theatres in South East Asia 
in partnership with United Artists Theatre 
Circuit Inc. Michael has held other public 
and private company directorships, having 
obtained a professional qualification as 
a chartered accountant in the UK.

PS

Patrick Southon
Chief Executive Officer
(resigned from the Board on 
11th February 2020)

Patrick Southon has been working within 
the online gambling sector for the last 
18 years. He is particularly focused on 
marketing, brand building and media buying. 
Patrick was Managing Director of Cashcade 
and Managing Partner of NewGame an 
investment fund focusing on innovation 
within the gambling sector. His marketing 
expertise allowed Cashcade to build a 
distinctive and prominent brand identity 
around, among others, its flagship “Foxy 
Bingo” brand and turned the company into 
one of the most effective advertisers on 
British television. Based on research by TNS, 
Marketing Magazine cited Foxy Bingo as 
having the best value television advertising 
between 2008 and 2010.

Mark Segal joined Gaming Realms in May 
2013 having left bwin.party as Finance 
Director for the bingo vertical. Previous to 
that Mark was Finance Director of Cashcade 
until it was acquired by PartyGaming plc 
in July 2009. Mark was responsible for the 
full finance function, including commercial 
negotiations, business intelligence and 
operational support in the business, and was 
involved in the sale to PartyGaming plc and 
acquisition by Cashcade of Independent 
Technology Ventures in July 2007. Prior to 
joining Cashcade, in May 2005, Mark spent 
five years at the accountancy firm Martin 
Greene Ravden, where he qualified as 
a chartered accountant in 2003. 

JR

Jim Ryan
Non-Executive Director

Jim Ryan is the CEO of Pala Interactive, 
LLC a real money gambling operator and 
B2B platform provider focused on the US 
regulated online gaming market. Prior to 
Pala Interactive, Jim was the Co-CEO of bwin.
party digital entertainment plc. He has spent 
the last 14 years of his career in leadership 
roles within the online gaming sector. Jim has 
led a number of the industry’s largest merger 
and acquisition transactions which include 
the merger of PartyGaming plc and bwin, the 
acquisitions of Cashcade (Foxy Bingo) and the 
World Poker Tour and the sale of St Minver 
Limited to GTECH. Jim held senior posts at 
four publicly listed companies. In addition 
to his role of CEO of PartyGaming plc and 
Co-CEO of bwin.party digital entertainment 
plc he was President and Chief Executive 
Officer of Excapsa Software Inc. and as 
Chief Financial Officer of CryptoLogic Inc. 
and Chief Financial Officer of SXC Health 
Solutions Corp and was CEO of St. Minver 
Limited. Jim also held senior management 
posts at Procuron Inc., Metcan Information 
Technologies Inc. and Epson Canada Limited. 
Educated at Brock University (Goodman 
School of Business) in Ontario, Canada, 
where he obtained a business degree with 
first class honours, Jim obtained professional 
qualifications as a chartered accountant 
and certified public accountant from the 
Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Mark Wilson is a strategic adviser and 
investor in media, gaming and real estate. 
Mark has held multiple senior leadership 
positions, serving as CEO of Television Games 
Network, Executive Chairman of Music 
Choice International, President of Hubbard 
Enterprises, Managing Member of New 
Mexico Gaming LLC, and General Counsel 
and Corporate Secretary of Churchill Downs. 
He received a Juris Doctorate from the 
University of Louisville.

CA

Chris Ash
Non-Executive Director

Chris is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs 
and experts on the gaming industry. In a 
career of over 18 years in the industry, Chris 
built and sold Ash Gaming Ltd to Playtech 
plc for £23m, which, at the time, was one 
of the leading gaming content developers in 
the UK.

Whilst at Playtech plc, Chris also ran the 
content aggregation business with 25 
partner studios and assisted with M&A. Chris 
is now an investor in, and advisor to, a range 
of software businesses.

MB

Mark Blandford
Non-Executive Director

Mark was the owner of a traditional ‘bricks 
and mortar’ bookmaker’s chain for over 
15 years, then recognised the potential of 
the internet in the mid 1990’s. In 1998 he 
founded Sportingbet.com, and in 2001 
floated the company on AIM. Mark stepped 
down from the Board of Sportingbet in 2007 
before its eventual sale in 2013 for £485m, 
with the assets being split between William 
Hill and GVC. In 2002, Mark was awarded 
AIM Entrepreneur of the Year.

After stepping down from the board of 
Sportingbet, Mark has become an active, 
successful and widely followed investor in 
the digital pay2play entertainment space.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201913

Executive Management

JB

Jonny Bennet
Chief Product Officer

Jonny creates and leads, high performing, 
agile, cross functional teams. He has 
over 10 years’ experience working in the 
online gambling sector, across marketing, 
operations and product delivery. He began 
his career at Ladbrokes, before moving to 
be part of the founding team at marketing 
agency, Quickthink Media. Following the 
acquisition of Quickthink Media by Gaming 
Realms in 2014, he led Gaming Realms B2C/
B2B UK casino team before becoming CPO 
where he now leads the product strategy 
and tech delivery across its global real money 
gaming and content distribution platforms 
and Slingo Originals games studio.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance14

Directors’ Report
for the year ended 31 December 2019

The Directors present their Annual Report together with the audited 
financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Principal activities
The Group’s principal activities during the year was that of content 
development and licensing to real money and social gaming 
customers in Europe and North America.

During the year, the Group also acted as an online casino operator 
and provided marketing services to real money gaming customers. 
The Group ceased involvement in these activities in July 2019 
following the transaction to dispose of the Group’s real money 
gaming assets. See note 21 to the financial statements for full details.

These financial statements present the results of the Group for the 
year ended 31 December 2019.

Names of Directors and dates of any changes
The Directors who served during the year and to the date of this 
report were:

 » Michael Buckley

 » Patrick Southon (resigned 11 February 2020)

 » Mark Segal

 » Jim Ryan

 » Mark Wilson

 » Simon Collins (resigned 11 October 2019)

 » Chris Ash (appointed 6 June 2019)

 » Mark Blandford (appointed 15 October 2019)

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance
The Group has purchased and maintains appropriate insurance cover 
in respect of Directors’ and Officers liabilities. The Group has also 
entered into qualifying third-party indemnity arrangements for the 
benefit of all its Directors, in a form and scope which comply with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Results and dividends
The results for the year are set out on page 24. The Company will not 
be paying a dividend this year.

As disclosed further in note 1 of the financial statements, whilst 
there are a number of risks to the Group’s trading performance as 
summarised on pages 10 and 11, the Group is confident of its ability 
to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The Group’s strategic 
forecasts, based on reasonable assumptions, indicate that the Group 
should be able to operate within the level of its currently available 
resources. After making enquiries and after consideration of the 
Group’s existing operations, cash flow forecasts and assessment of 
business, regulatory and financing risks, the potential risks and the 
impacts of Brexit and COVID-19, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group and Company have adequate resources 
to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 

Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the Annual report and Accounts.

Disclosure to auditors
The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Directors’ 
report confirm that, as far as they are aware, there is no relevant 
audit information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; 
and each Director has taken all the steps that ought to have been 
taken as a Director to make themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of 
that information.

BDO LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in office and a 
resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Annual General 
Meeting in accordance with Section 489 of the Companies Act 2006.

Financial instruments
Details of the Group’s financial risk management objectives and 
policies are included in note 25 to the financial statements.

Research and development
The Group maintains its level of investment in software development 
activities. In the opinion of the Directors, continued investment in this 
area is essential to strengthen the Group’s market position for future 
growth. During the year, the Group capitalised £2.7m (2018: £3.0m) 
of development costs (see note 14).

During the year, the Group claimed Research and Development relief 
as per note 12 to the financial statements.

Post balance sheet events
Significant events impacting the Company that occurred after 
31 December 2019 are disclosed in note 30.

Future developments
Future developments are discussed in the Executive Chairman’s 
Statement on pages 4 and 5.

Going concern
Under Company law, the Company’s Directors are required consider 
whether it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on the 
basis that the Group and Company are a going concern.

The Group meets its day-to-day working capital requirements from 
the cash flows generated by its trading activities and its available 
cash resources.

The Directors report was approved on behalf of the Board on 27 April 
2020 and signed on its behalf by

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

27 April 2020

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201915

Website publication
The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual Report 
and the financial statements are made available on a website. 
Financial statements are published on the Company’s website in 
accordance with legislation in the UK governing the preparation 
and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from 
legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity 
of the Company’s website is the responsibility of the Directors. 
The Directors’ responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity 
of the financial statements contained therein.

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements 
for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected 
to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) as adopted by the 
European Union and the company financial statements in accordance 
with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United 
Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Group for that period. The Directors are also required to prepare 
financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards 
and applicable law).

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

 » Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 » Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent;

 » State whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as 
adopted by the European Union, subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

 » Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless 

it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue 
in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the 
financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the 
Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance16

Corporate Governance

Chairman’s Introduction
The Directors recognise the importance of good corporate governance and have chosen to apply the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate 
Governance Code (the ‘QCA Code’). The QCA Code was developed by the QCA in consultation with a number of significant institutional small 
company investors, as an alternative corporate governance code applicable to AIM companies. The underlying principle of the QCA Code 
is that “the purpose of good corporate governance is to ensure that the company is managed in an efficient, effective and entrepreneurial 
manner for the benefit of all shareholders over the longer term”. The Group is not in compliance with all aspects of the Code due to the size 
and relative stage of development of the business, but remains committed to developing its compliance position over time as the business 
grows and matures. To see how the Company addresses the key governance principles defined in the QCA Code please refer to the Company’s 
website and the below table. (The Company has not prepared an official Chairman’s corporate governance statement).

The principles of the Quoted Company Alliance (QCA) Code

QCA Code Principle

What we do and why

1.  Establish a strategy 
and business model 
which promote 
long-term value for 
shareholders

The Company develops, publishes and licenses mobile real money and social games. Through its market 
leading mobile platform and unique IP and brands, Gaming Realms is bringing together media, entertainment 
and gaming assets in new game formats. Our goal is to try to beat the market by investing in unique content 
and relationships with partners. In 2019 we disposed of the B2C real money gaming business, please refer to 
the Chairman’s review for further details on the change in Company Strategy.

We do that through:

 » Investing in unique mobile content and features on our gaming platform 

 » Investing with discipline, because we are able to test new opportunities before we roll them out 

 » Using data and technology to continuously improve. We are able to AB test all developments in games and 

platform and able to deploy only the best.

 » We generate revenue by licensing our unique gaming content and Slingo brand to online real money gaming 

operators, social publishing operators and land-based gambling games manufacturers. 

Key challenges in implementing the strategy:

 » Regulatory framework is continually changing for Gambling which requires constant updates and development 

work per territory

 » Continuing to create best in class Games to licence to operators

 » Having technical resource to integrate the games onto Client sites

2.  Seek to understand 

and meet shareholder 
needs and expectations

Please refer to our website for further details on how we comply with this requirement of the QCA code: 
https://www.gamingrealms.com/wp-content/uploads/Statement-of-Compliance-with-the-QCA-Corporate-
Governance-Code-2020-02.pdf

3.  Take into account 

wider stakeholder and 
social responsibilities 
and their implications 
for long-term success

4.  Embed effective 

risk management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats, throughout 
the organisation

Please refer to our website for further details on how we comply with this requirement of the QCA code: 
https://www.gamingrealms.com/wp-content/uploads/Statement-of-Compliance-with-the-QCA-Corporate-
Governance-Code-2020-02.pdf

The Board recognises that maintaining sound controls and discipline is critical to managing the downside 
risks to our plan. 

To continue the improvement in this area we are adding to our existing controls department, expanding the 
compliance teams to ensure we remain compliant with regulations in all territories we will be working in and 
continued tight control on investment as we continue to develop the platform and the games content.

Both the Board and senior managers are responsible for reviewing and evaluating risk and the Executive 
Directors meet at least monthly to review ongoing trading performance, discuss budgets and forecasts and 
new risks associated with ongoing trading.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201917

QCA Code Principle

What we do and why

5.  Maintain the Board 

as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by 
the chair

The Board comprises the Executive Chairman, one Executive Director and four Non-Executive Directors. 
Michael Buckley, the Executive Chairman, is responsible for the running of the Board and is supported by 
Mark Segal, the Chief Financial Officer. He has executive responsibility for running the Group’s business 
and implementing Group strategy. Patrick Southon left the Board on 11 February and Michael Buckley will 
continue as Executive Chairman. The Board still has 4 Non-Executive Directors and is able to govern on an 
effective basis.

The Directors considered to be independent are Jim Ryan, Mark Wilson, Mark Blandford and Chris Ash. 

Key Board activities this year included: 

 » Input into the accelerating growth plan 

 » Considered our financial and non-financial policies 

 » Discussed strategic priorities, including disposal during the year 

 » Discussed the Group’s capital structure and financial strategy

 » Reviewed the Group risk register, including Compliance 

 » Reviewed feedback from shareholders post full and half year results

The Board is supported by the Audit and Remuneration Committees. The Committees’ roles and members are 
available on the Company’s website.

During the year there were six board meetings. Attendance records were:

Board member

Michael Buckley

Patrick Southon

Mark Segal

Jim Ryan

Mark Wilson

Simon Collins*

Chris Ash*

Mark Blandford*

Meetings 
attended

6

6

6

6

6

5

4

1

* 

 Simon Collins, who resigned during the year, and both Chris Ash and Mark Blandford, who were appointed during the year, 
were not eligible to attend all six meetings

6.  Ensure that between 
them the Directors 
have the necessary 
up-to-date experience, 
skills and capabilities

The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, it has an effective and appropriate balance of skills and 
experience, including in the areas of international online gambling, international licensing, finance, innovation, 
and marketing. All Directors receive regular and timely information on the Group’s operational and financial 
performance. Relevant information is circulated to the Directors in advance of meetings. The business reports 
monthly on its headline performance against its agreed budget, and the Board reviews the monthly update on 
performance and any significant variances are reviewed at each meeting.

The Board makes decisions regarding the appointment and removal of Directors, and there is a formal, rigorous 
and transparent procedure for appointments.

Full details of the Board members and their experience and skills can be found on page 12 of the 2019 Annual 
Report or via the Investor link on Gaming Realms plc’s website.

The Board has not sought external advice on any significant matter, apart from advice sought in the normal 
course of business from our lawyers and tax compliance and other advisors. No external advisors have been 
engaged by the Board of Directors, except as noted above.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance18

Corporate Governance
continued

QCA Code Principle

What we do and why

7.  Evaluate Board 
performance 
based on clear and 
relevant objectives, 
seeking continuous 
improvement

To date, the Board has not had a formal effectiveness review.

The Chairman will be undertaking a rolling assessment of the individual contributions of each of the members 
of the team to ensure that:

 » Their contribution is relevant and effective 

 » They are committed 

 » Where relevant, they have maintained their independence 

 » There is succession planning for Board members

Going forward, appraisals will be carried out each year with all Executive Directors.

8.  Promote a culture that 
is based on ethical 
values and behaviours

Gaming Realms takes its ethical values very seriously and, in particular, being in the gaming sector the areas of 
promoting responsible gaming and preventing underage gaming. Staff undergo regular training and processes 
are in place to ensure correct practice.

The culture of the Group is to put the customer, supplier, shareholder and people first. We believe in long-term 
partnerships in all these areas and work to maintain strong relationships.

There is a requirement to include in the Chairman’s corporate governance statement what the Board does to 
monitor and promote a healthy corporate culture. We have not provided a Chairman’s corporate governance 
statement but will look to publish such a statement in the future.

Please refer to our website for further details on how we comply with this requirement of the QCA code: 
https://www.gamingrealms.com/wp-content/uploads/Statement-of-Compliance-with-the-QCA-Corporate-
Governance-Code-2020-02.pdf

The Company communicates with shareholders through the Annual Report and Accounts, full-year and half-
year announcements, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and one-to-one meetings with large existing or 
potential new shareholders. 

The Board receives regular updates on the views of shareholders through briefings and reports from the 
Executive Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and the Company’s brokers. The Company communicates with 
institutional investors through briefings with management. 

In addition, analysts’ notes and brokers’ briefings are reviewed to achieve a wide understanding of investors’ 
views. The Company completes regular employee surveys to maintain an open dialogue with employees.

There is a requirement to prepare both an Audit Committee report and a Remuneration report. These have not 
been done in this report but we will look to publish such reports in the future.

9.  Maintain governance 

structures and 
processes that are 
fit for purpose and 
support good decision-
making by the Board

10.  Communicate 

how the Company 
is governed and 
is performing 
by maintaining 
a dialogue with 
shareholders and 
other relevant 
stakeholders

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201919

Board committees 
The Board is supported by the Audit and Remuneration committees. 
Each committee has access to such resources, information and advice 
as it deems necessary, at the cost of the Company, to enable the 
committee to discharge its duties. 

The Audit Committee have the primary responsibility of monitoring 
the quality of internal controls and ensuring that the financial 
performance of the Group is properly measured and reported on. 
It will receive and review reports from the Group’s management and 
external auditors relating to the interim and annual accounts and 
the accounting and internal control systems in use throughout the 
Group. The Audit Committee will meet not less than twice in each 
financial year and will have unrestricted access to the Group’s external 
auditors. The Audit Committee is chaired by Jim Ryan and also 
comprises Mark Blandford and Michael Buckley. 

The Remuneration Committee review the performance of the 
executive directors and make recommendations to the Board on 
matters relating to their remuneration and terms of service. The 
Remuneration Committee also make recommendations to the Board 
on proposals for the granting of share options and other equity 
incentives pursuant to any employee share option scheme or equity 
incentive plans in operation from time to time. The Remuneration 
Committee meet as and when necessary. In exercising this role, the 
directors shall have regard to the recommendations put forward in 
the QCA Guidelines. The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Mark 
Wilson and comprises Jim Ryan and Michael Buckley. 

The Company will continue review the corporate governance 
framework as the business grows.

Roles of the Board, Chairman  
and Chief Executive Officer
The Board is responsible for the long-term success of the Company. 
There is a formal schedule of matters reserved to the Board. It is 
responsible for overall Group strategy; approval of major investments 
(whether Capex or Opex); approval of the annual and interim results; 
annual budgets; dividend policy; and Board structure. It monitors the 
exposure to key business risks and reviews the strategic direction of 
all trading subsidiaries, their annual budgets and their performance 
in relation to those budgets. There is a clear division of responsibility 
at the head of the Company. The Chairman is responsible for running 
the business of the Board and for ensuring appropriate strategic focus 
and direction. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for proposing 
the strategic focus to the Board, implementing it once it has been 
approved and overseeing the management of the Company through 
the Executive Team. 

All Directors receive regular and timely information on the Group’s 
operational and financial performance. Relevant information is 
circulated to the Directors in advance of meetings. The business 
reports monthly on its headline performance against its agreed 
budget, and the Board reviews the monthly update on performance 
and any significant variances are reviewed at each meeting. Senior 
executives below Board level maybe invited to attend Board 
meetings where appropriate to present business updates. Board 
meetings throughout the year are held at the Company’s Head Office 
in London. 

Executive Team 
The Executive Team consists of Michael Buckley and Mark Segal 
(and Patrick Southon during 2019) with input from the vertical 
directors and teams. They are responsible for formulation of the 
proposed strategic focus for submission to the Board, the day-to-
day management of the Group’s businesses and its overall trading, 
operational and financial performance in fulfilment of that strategy, 
as well as plans and budgets approved by the Board of Directors. 
It also manages and oversees key risks, management development 
and corporate responsibility programmes. The Chief Executive Officer 
reports to the plc Board on issues, progress and recommendations 
for change. The controls applied by the Executive Team to financial 
and non-financial matters are set out earlier in this document, and 
the effectiveness of these controls is regularly reported to the Audit 
Committee and the Board. 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance20

Independent Auditors’ Report  
to the Members of Gaming Realms plc

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Gaming Realms plc (the 
‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for the year ended 
31 December 2019 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated and Company Statements 
of Financial Position, the Consolidated and Company Statements of 
Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and 
notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant 
accounting policies. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the 
preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by 
the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has 
been applied in the preparation of the Parent Company financial 
statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting 
Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced 
Disclosure Framework (United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice).

In our opinion:

 » the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the 

Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2019 
and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;

 » the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

 » the Parent Company financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice; and

 » the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 

requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards 
on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s 

responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our 
report. We are independent of the Group and the Parent Company 
in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our 
audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical 
Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other 
ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We 
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

 » the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 

preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

 » the Directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any 

identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about 
the Group’s or the Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt 
the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve 
months from the date when the financial statements are authorised 
for issue.

The key audit matters section of our report includes going concern 
as a matter based on our assessment of the significance of the risk, 
following the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak in 2020.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) 
we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the 
overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and 
directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a 
separate opinion on these matters.

Revenue recognition – Licencing Revenue (with reference to notes 1 and 3)

Key audit matter

Our response

The group has a number of revenue streams, as summarised in note 
3 to the financial statements. The details of the accounting policies 
applied during the period are disclosed in note 1 to the financial 
statements. 

We assessed whether the revenue recognition policies adopted by  
the group was in accordance with applicable accounting standards. 

For a sample of key contracts:

Licencing revenues include a number of significant revenues where 
contracts entered into in previous years span multiple accounting 
periods and involve IP or content licencing and/or minimum 
guarantees or uncertain future events.

 » We reviewed the terms to assess whether the revenue had been 

recognised in accordance with the group’s accounting policy and 
whether any other terms within the contract had any material 
accounting or disclosure implications;

There are significant judgements and estimates are required in 
determining the performance obligations in these contracts, 
whether revenue should be recorded at a point in time or over  
a period of time and the amount of revenue to be recognised.

Therefore, this was considered to be an area of focus for our audit.

 » We challenged the significant judgements such as the identification 

of performance obligations and the timing of recognition against the 
terms; and

 » Where applicable, we inspected supporting documentation of the 

satisfaction of the performance obligation.

Where revenue recognition was based on uncertain future events, we 
considered the adequacy the disclosure of the remaining performance 
obligations and judgements in the financial statements.

Key observations
Based on the work performed we consider that revenue has been recognised appropriately and in accordance with the group’s revenue 
recognition accounting policy.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201921

Impairment of intangible assets (with reference to notes 2 and 14)

Key audit matter

Our response

In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the group 
monitors the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible 
assets for indications of impairment. The group performs annual 
impairment reviews for all Cash Generating Units (CGUs). 

The audit team, which included our internal valuation specialists, 
challenged the appropriateness of the key assumptions used in the 
discounted cash flow models prepared by management, including 
the growth and discount rates applied. 

Impairment reviews also require significant judgement from 
management and are based on assumptions in respect of future 
profitability, growth rates and the discount rate to be applied to 
future cash flows.

Our work was based on our assessment of the historical accuracy of 
the group’s estimates in previous periods, our understanding of the 
commercial prospects of the CGUs, discussions with management 
surrounding the future plans for the operation, identification and 
analysis of changes in assumptions from prior periods and an 
assessment of the consistency of assumptions across the impairment 
reviews.

We checked the mathematical accuracy of the impairment model 
and compliance of the methodology therein with the requirements 
of relevant accounting standards.

We performed sensitivity analyses on management’s impairment 
review to assess the potential impairment of goodwill and assets 
associated with the Group’s two CGUs, Licencing and Social.

We challenged the basis and calculation of management’s allocation 
of expenses between CGU’s and ‘head office’ central costs through 
discussion with management and inspection of supporting 
documentation where available. 

We considered the appropriateness of the related disclosures provided 
in the group financial statements in light of the requirements of 
applicable accounting standards.

Key observations
Based on the procedures performed, we consider management’s assessment of recoverable amounts and the related disclosures to 
be appropriate.

Capitalisation of development costs (with reference to notes 1 and 14)

The group has material expenditure on the internal development 
of intangible software assets. Such expenditure should only 
be capitalised when it qualifies under the criteria of applicable 
accounting standards. 

In addition, during the year, the Group disposed of certain 
intangible assets including developed software, which required 
judgement in determining the appropriate accounting treatment  
of related development costs prior to the disposal of these assets. 

Due to the level of judgement required by management in 
determining costs that meet the criteria for capitalisation, this  
was considered to be an area of focus for our audit.

We assessed whether the capitalisation policies adopted by the group 
comply with applicable accounting standards.

We checked that the identified useful lives were in line with our 
expectations and that of comparable entities.

We agreed a sample of costs capitalised in the year, including those 
for assets disposed of during the year, to source documentation 
to check that they met the capitalisation criteria of applicable 
accounting standards.

We challenged management’s project analysis to check that the 
projects capitalised met the criteria of applicable accounting 
standards by:

 » Agreeing the accuracy of time capitalised to related timecards and 

payroll records for a sample of projects; and

 » Inspecting evidence of the projects subsequent launch or intention  

to launch.

Key observations
Based on the work performed we consider that costs have been capitalised in accordance with the group’s accounting policy.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance22

Independent Auditors’ Report  
to the Members of Gaming Realms plc continued

Going concern (with reference to note 1)

Key audit matter

Our response

In light of the recent COVID -19 outbreak, management have 
updated their going concern assessment, including the cash flow 
forecast and operational matters such as the ability of staff to work 
remotely and impact on future development projects. This involved 
considering a number of scenarios and performing stress tests on 
the key inputs. 

Due to the current uncertainties around COVID-19 and the 
significant judgement and estimates required by management in 
performing their going concern assessment, this was considered to 
be a significant risk and area of focus for our audit.

Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing 
our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. We consider 
materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including 
omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable 
users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements. In order 
to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any 
misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, 
performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. 
Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily 
be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of 
identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their 
occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial statements 
as a whole.

We consider Revenue to be the most appropriate performance 
measure for the basis of materiality in respect of the audit of the 
group, given the stage of development of the Groups’ operations and 
the loss in the year. 

Using this benchmark, we set materiality at £147k (2018: £270k) 
being 1.2% (2018: 1.2%) of Revenue. 

Materiality in respect of the audit of the Parent Company has been 
set at £139k (2018: £256k) based on 95% of group materiality (2018: 
95% of group materiality). 

Performance materiality was set at 75% (2018: 75%) of materiality 
for both the group and parent company audits. In setting the level of 
performance materiality we considered a number of factors including 
the expected total value of known and likely misstatements (based 
on past experience and other factors) and management’s attitude 
towards proposed adjustments.

We challenged the assumptions made in the cash flow forecasts, and 
our audit work included the following:

 » We compared historical forecasts prepared against actual outcomes 
to determine the reliability of management forecasts, and discussed 
variances with management, obtaining evidence for key variances. 

 » We agreed key customer or content launches in Q1 2020 and 

pipeline to underlying agreements and considered the sensitivity of 
the launch dates to assess the accuracy of assumptions and estimates 
in the period to date. 

 » We challenged the anticipated growth rates in the forecast period, 
including new customer or content launches, inspecting supporting 
documentation where available and considered their impact on the 
sensitised cash flows. 

 » We compared expenses, including development costs, in the 

forecast period with historic and current costs and the contractual 
commitments to assess the appropriateness thereof.

We inspected minutes of board meetings held during the year and 
up until sign off and considered these in relation to the forecasts 
prepared and 2020 results to date to identify any additional factors 
which could impact going concern. 

We obtained and challenged management’s analysis of the impact 
of COVID-19 on their supply chain and customer base to consider the 
potential impacts on the group operations and cash flow forecasts. 

We reviewed the disclosures in the annual report for consistency with 
management’s going concern assessment.

We set materiality for each component of the group, other 
than the parent company, based on a percentage of 20-75% 
of group materiality. 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them 
all audit differences individually in excess of £6.5k (2018: £13k). We 
also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our 
view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the 
group and its environment, including the group’s system of internal 
control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the 
financial statements at the group level. 

In determining the scope of our audit we considered the level 
of work to be performed at each component in order to ensure 
sufficient assurance was gained to allow us to express an opinion on 
the financial statements of the group as a whole. We tailored the 
extent of the work to be performed on each component, which was 
performed by the group audit team, based on our assessment of the 
risk of material misstatement at each component. 

The group consists of the parent company and seven subsidiaries. 
Four of the subsidiaries were considered to be significant components 
and along with the parent company were subject to a full scope audit 
by the group audit team. These procedures covered 100% of revenue, 
100% of profit before tax and 97% of total assets. Other components 
not considered significant were subject to desktop review by the 
group audit team. 

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201923

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other 
information comprises the information included in the annual report 
and accounts, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s 
report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not 
cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of 
assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit 
or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such 
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we 
are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement 
in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are 
required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of 
the audit:

 » the information given in the strategic report and the Directors’ report 
for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared 
is consistent with the financial statements; and

 » the strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in 

accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report  
by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the 
Parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic 
report or the Directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to 
you if, in our opinion:

 » adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 
from branches not visited by us; or

 » the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with 

the accounting records and returns; or

 » certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not 

made; or 

 » we have not received all the information and explanations we require 

for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 
set out on page 15, the Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine 
is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are 
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for 
assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going 
concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 
Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company 
or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the  
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 
financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report 
that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level 
of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in 
accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement 
when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered 
material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the 
basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s 
website: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description 
forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Parent Company’s members, as a 
body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 
2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state 
to the Parent Company’s members those matters we are required 
to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume 
responsibility to anyone other than the Parent Company and the 
Parent Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this 
report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Dominic Stammers (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
London, UK

27 April 2020

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales  
(with registered number OC305127).

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance24

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Continuing 

Revenue 

Marketing expenses 

Operating expenses 

Administrative expenses 

Impairment of financial asset 

Share-based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA – continuing 

Impairment of financial asset 

Restructuring expenses 

EBITDA – continuing 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Impairment of goodwill 

Finance expense 

Finance income 

Loss before tax 

Tax credit 

Loss for the financial year – continuing 

(Loss)/profit for the financial year – discontinued 

(Loss)/profit for the financial year – total 

Other comprehensive income 

Items that will or may be reclassified to profit or loss: 

Exchange (loss)/gain arising on translation of foreign operations 

Total other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income 

(Loss)/profit attributable to: 

Owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interest 

Total comprehensive income attributable to: 

Owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interest 

(Loss)/gain per share 

Basic and diluted – continuing 

Basic and diluted – discontinued 

Basic and diluted – total 

Note 

3

27

10

5

5

10

14

16

14

11

11

12

21

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

6,882,741 

6,173,196 

(212,473)

(1,498,294)

(665,363)

(901,807)

(5,743,747)

(4,870,226)

(200,000)

(9,972)

(228,451)

(67,824)

(255,116)

(200,000)

(326,629)

(781,745)

(115,669)

(228,451)

(216,355)

(560,475)

(2,982,845)

(3,535,972)

(204,714)

(145,269)

– 

(1,650,000)

(842,518)

146,661 

(576,107)

419,894 

(4,665,161)

(6,047,929)

31,335 

412,987 

(4,633,826)

(5,634,942)

(783,451)

6,564,246 

(5,417,277)

929,304 

(305,671)

(305,671)

491,611 

491,611 

(5,722,948)

1,420,915 

(5,341,669)

(75,608)

(5,417,277)

946,804 

(17,500)

929,304 

(5,647,340)

1,443,741 

(75,608)

(22,826)

(5,722,948)

1,420,915 

13

13

Pence

(1.60)

(0.28)

(1.88)

Pence

(1.97)

2.31

0.34

* 

 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures and exclude exceptional items, depreciation, and amortisation. Exceptional items are those items the Group 
considers to be non-recurring or material in nature that may distort an understanding of financial performance or impair comparability. See Note 5. 

The notes on pages 28 to 58 form part of these financial statements.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 
As at 31 December 2019

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets 

Other investments 

Property, plant and equipment 

Finance lease asset 

Other assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred consideration 

Finance lease asset 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Assets classified as held for sale 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Lease liabilities 

Liabilities classified as held for sale 

Non-current liabilities 

Deferred tax liability 

Other Creditors 

Derivative liabilities 

Lease liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 

Share capital 

Share premium 

Merger reserve 

Foreign exchange reserve 

Retained earnings 

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interest 

Total equity 

The notes on pages 28 to 58 form part of these financial statements.

25

31 December
2019
 £ 

31 December
2018
 £ 

Note

14

15

16

1

17

18

19

1

20

22

23

1

22

12

24

24

1

11,702,553

12,848,623

289,511

760,763

157,166

150,885

535,130

127,556

–

132,577

13,060,878

13,643,886

1,850,863

1,298,663

126,354

2,626,837

2,681,500

665,690

–

467,033

5,902,717

3,814,223

–

11,392,013

18,963,595

28,850,122

2,125,257

2,484,592

256,527

–

–

4,830,076

2,381,784

7,314,668

457,492

607,943

3,126,673

3,004,602

272,000

646,122

200,000

–

4,502,287

3,812,545

6,884,071

11,127,213

12,079,524

17,722,909

26

28,442,874

28,442,874

87,198,410

87,198,410

(67,673,657)

(67,673,657)

1,605,782

1,911,453

(37,570,601)

(32,308,495)

12,002,808

17,570,585

76,716

152,324

12,079,524

17,722,909

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 27 April 2020 and were signed on its behalf by:

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 December 2019

Cash flows from operating activities 

(Loss)/profit for the financial year 

Adjustments for: 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 

Impairment 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

Income tax credit 

Exchange differences 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Profit on disposal of assets 

Fair value movement on contingent consideration 

Cash settlement of director share-based payment 

Share of loss of associate 

Share based payments expense 

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 

Decrease in trade and other payables 

Increase in other assets 

Net cash flows used in operating activities before taxation 

Tax credit received in the year 

Net cash flows used in operating activities 

Investing activities 

Acquisition of associate 

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 

Capitalised development costs 

Proceeds from disposal of assets, net of cash disposed of 

Costs related to asset disposal 

Interest received 

Finance lease asset – sublease receipts 

Net cash from investing activities 

Financing activities 

Cost relating to issue of convertible debt 

Receipt of deferred consideration 

IFRS 16 lease payments 

Interest paid 

Net cash used in financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Exchange gain/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

Significant non-cash transactions are disclosed in note 21 and 24. 

The notes on pages 28 to 58 form part of these financial statements.

 Note 

2019
£

2018
 £ 

(5,417,277)

929,304

16, 21

211,055

14

2,982,845

145,269

4,319,920

4,479,026

(679,160)

576,107

(412,987)

(11,076)

41,646

200,000

(420,512)

842,518

(31,335)

41,336

28,081

(683,323)

(12,421,621)

–

–

1,900,065

(145,000)

157,307

9,972

1,330,674

(803,124)

(18,308)

172,360

67,824

(310,396)

(951,414)

–

(1,570,091)

(2,300,133)

73,424

133,130

(1,496,667)

(2,167,003)

–

(106,583)

(3,000)

(34,712)

(2,680,289)

(3,017,674)

6,135,529

6,037,133

(765,867)

(311,540)

3,705

120,507

120

–

2,707,002

2,670,327

–

(24,846)

385,000

(252,376)

(322,772)

(190,148)

1,020,187

1,550,141

38,127

–

–

(232,241)

(257,087)

246,237

1,319,098

(15,194)

2,608,455

1,550,141

11, 21

11

12

16

21

21

27

16

14

21

21

11

1

19

1

20

20

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
27

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2019

 Share 
capital 
 £ 

 Share
premium 
 £ 

 Merger
reserve 
 £ 

 Foreign
Exchange
Reserve 
 £ 

 Shares to 
be issued 
 £ 

 Retained
earnings 
 £ 

 Total to
equity
holders of
parents 
 £ 

 Non
controlling
interest 
 £ 

 Total 
equity 
 £ 

28,442,874 87,198,410 (67,673,657) 1,419,842

145,000 (33,323,123) 16,209,346

169,824 16,379,170

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

491,611

491,611

–

–

–

–

–

946,804

946,804

(17,500)

929,304

–

491,611

–

491,611

946,804

1,438,415

(17,500) 1,420,915

(145,000)

–

(145,000)

–

67,824

67,824

–

–

(145,000)

67,824

1 January 2018 

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Contributions by and 
distributions to owners 

Share-based payment to  
Director settled via cash 

Share-based payment on share 
options (Note 27) 

31 December 2018 

28,442,874 87,198,410 (67,673,657) 1,911,453

– (32,308,495) 17,570,585

152,324 17,722,909

1 January 2019 

Adjustment on the initial 
application of IFRS 16 

Adjusted balance at  
1 January 2019 

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Contributions by and 
distributions to owners 

Share-based payment on  
share options (Note 27) 

31 December 2019 

28,442,874 87,198,410 (67,673,657) 1,911,453

– (32,308,495) 17,570,585

152,324 17,722,909

–

–

–

–

–

69,591

69,591

–

69,591

28,442,874 87,198,410 (67,673,657) 1,911,453

– (32,238,904) 17,640,176

152,324 17,792,500

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(305,671)

(305,671)

–

–

–

–

–

(5,341,669)

(5,341,669)

(75,608)

(5,417,277)

–

(305,671)

–

(305,671)

(5,341,669)

(5,647,340)

(75,608)

(5,722,948)

9,972

9,972

–

9,972

28,442,874 87,198,410 (67,673,657) 1,605,782

– (37,570,601) 12,002,808

76,716 12,079,524

The notes on pages 28 to 58 form part of these financial statements. 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance28

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019

1. Accounting policies
General information
Gaming Realms Plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”).

The Company is admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. It is incorporated and domiciled 
in the UK. The address of its registered office is Two Valentine Place, London, SE1 8QH.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in British Pounds Sterling.

Basis of preparation
The Group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and endorsed by the European Union.

The Group financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except where certain assets or liabilities are held at amortised 
cost or at fair value as described in the accounting policies below. 

Basis of consolidation 
The Group financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company (subsidiaries). 
Control is achieved when the Company is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to 
affect those returns through its power over the investee. 

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from 
the effective date of acquisition up to the effective date of disposal. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of 
subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used in line with those used by the Group. 

All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. 

Going concern
The Group meets its day-to-day working capital requirements from the cash flows generated by its trading activities and its available cash resources. 

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts and re-forecasts regularly as part of the business planning process. The Directors have reviewed 
forecast cash flows for the forthcoming 12 months for the Group from the date of the approval of the financial statements and consider that 
the Group will have sufficient cash resources available to meet its liabilities as they fall due. These cash flow forecasts have been analysed 
in light of the COVID-19 outbreak and subject to stress testing, scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis, which the Directors consider 
sufficiently robust. As described on page 5, the Group is currently seeing evidence of an increase in customer activity on its games content, 
however the sensitivity analysis has assessed the impact of various degrees of downturn in medium term revenues generated. The Directors 
note that in an extreme scenario the Group also has the option to rationalise its cost base including cuts to discretionary capital, marketing and 
overhead expenditure. The Directors consider that the required level of change to the Group’s forecast cash flows to give rise to a material risk 
over going concern are sufficiently remote.

Accordingly, these financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes 
that the Group and the Company will realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Management has carried out 
an assessment of the going concern assumption and has concluded that the Group and the Company will generate sufficient cash and cash 
equivalents to continue operating for the next twelve months.

Adoption of new and revised standards
In preparing the Group financial statements for the current year, the Group has adopted a number of new IFRSs, amendments to IFRSs and IFRS 
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations described below. IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ is the only new or revised standard to materially impact the 
Group. Other new amended standards or interpretations issued by IASB did not impact the Group as they are either not relevant to the Group’s 
activities or require accounting which is consistent with the Group’s current accounting policies.

IFRS 16 “Leases”
IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ has replaced IAS 17 in its entirety. The distinction between operating leases and finance leases for lessees is removed and 
it results in most leases being recognised on the Statement of Financial Position as a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a lease liability. For leases 
previously classified as operating leases, the lease cost has changed from an in-period operating lease expense to recognition of depreciation of 
the right-of-use asset and interest expense on the lease liability. 

The Group has leasehold property used in its own operations previously treated as operating leases, and one leasehold property which is sublet 
to external tenants which is treated as a finance lease under IFRS 16.

The Group has applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach. A lease liability has been recognised equal to the present value of 
the remaining lease payments discounted using an incremental borrowing rate. A ROU asset has been recognised equal to the lease liability 
adjusted for prepaid and accrued lease payments.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201929

The Group has applied the below practical expedients permitted under the modified retrospective approach;

 » Exclude leases for measurement and recognition for leases where the term ends within 12 months from the date of initial application and 

account for these leases as short-term leases;

 » Applied portfolio level accounting for leases with similar characteristics;

 » Excluded initial direct costs from measuring the right of use asset at the date of initial application; and

 » Used hindsight when determining the lease term if the contract contains options to extend or terminate the lease.

The table below presents the cumulative effects of the items affected by the initial application on the statement of financial position as at 
1 January 2019:

Non-current assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Finance lease asset 

Current assets 

Finance lease asset 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Lease liabilities 

Other payables 

Non-current liabilities 

Lease liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Equity 

Retained earnings 

Total equity and liabilities 

 1 January 2019 
(as previously 
reported) 
 £ 

 IFRS 16 
adoption 
 £ 

 1 January
2019 
 £ 

127,556 

– 

– 

115,094 

295,118 

242,650 

295,118 

89,988 

89,988 

28,850,122 

500,200 

29,350,322 

– 

(986,349)

(136,431)

67,506 

(136,431)

(918,843)

– 

(361,684)

(361,684)

(11,127,213)

(430,609)

(11,557,822)

32,308,495 

(69,591)

32,238,904 

(28,850,122)

(500,200)

(29,350,322)

In measurement of the lease liability and finance lease asset, the Group discounted future lease payments using the nominal incremental 
borrowing rate at 1 January 2019, being 8.75%.

The lease liability at 1 January 2019 can be reconciled to the operating lease commitments as of 31 December 2018 as follows:

Minimum lease payments under operating leases at 31 December 2018 

Short term leases not recognised as liabilities 

Sub-lease to recognise as liability under IFRS 16 

Gross lease liabilities as at 1 January 2019 

Effect of discounting at incremental borrowing rate 

Present value of lease liabilities at 1 January 2019 

 £

 380,900

 (109,026)

 302,608

 574,482 

 (76,367)

 498,115

The impact on EBITDA as a result of the implementation of IFRS 16 is an increase of £116,715 during the year ended 31 December 2019, and a 
decrease of £41,393 in the Group’s net profit.

EBITDA reported – continuing 

Impact of IFRS 16 

EBITDA reported – continuing – prior to impact of IFRS 16 

2019
£

2018
£

 (781,745)

 (116,715)

 (560,475)

 – 

 (898,460)

 (560,475)

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance30

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Set out below, are the carrying amount of the Group’s right-of-use asset, finance lease asset and lease liability and the movement during 
the period:

As at 1 January 2019 

Leases entered into during the period 

Amortisation of ROU asset 

Interest income 

Interest expense 

Exchange differences 

Lease payments 

As at 31 December 2019 

 Right of use 
asset 
 £ 

 Finance lease
asset 
 £ 

 Lease 
liability 
 £ 

115,094 

385,106 

498,115 

644,281 

(116,713)

–

–

1,500 

–

644,162 

–

–

30,625 

–

(11,704)

(120,507)

283,520 

594,281 

–

–

72,056 

(9,427)

(252,376)

902,649 

As a lessor
The Group has one leased property which is also sublet. For the sublet property, the Group has recognised a lease receivable equal to the net 
investment in the sublease. This is based on the present value of future lease payments due from the tenant. The lease liability is not impacted. 
Payments by the tenant reduce the lease receivable and finance income is recognised on the unwind of the lease receivable.

The sublease covers the total lease commitment entered into by the Group. There are no variable lease payments.

Comparatives
The Group adopted IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach. The comparative figures in these financial statements were therefore 
accounted for in accordance with IAS 17. Under this standard, where substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership are 
not transferred to the Group (an “operating lease”), the total rentals payable under the lease are charged to the consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The aggregate benefit of lease incentives is recognised as a reduction 
of the rental expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis.

IFRIC 23 uncertainty over income tax treatments (“IFRIC 23”)
IFRIC 23 provides guidance on the accounting for current and deferred tax liabilities and assets in circumstances in which there is uncertainty 
over income tax treatments. The interpretation requires:

 » The Group to determine whether uncertain tax treatments should be considered separately, or together as a group, based on which approach 

provides better predictions of the resolution;

 » The Group to determine if it is probable that the tax authorities will accept the uncertain tax treatment; and

 » If it is not probable that the uncertain tax treatment will be accepted, measure the tax uncertainty based on the most likely amount or expected 

value, depending on whichever method better predicts the resolution of the uncertainty. This measurement is required to be based on the 
assumption that each of the tax authorities will examine amounts they have a right to examine and have full knowledge of all related information 
when making those examinations.

The Group made no adjustments on adoption or during the year as a result of adopting IFRIC 23.

Business combinations 
On acquisition, the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are measured at their fair values at the date of acquisition. Any 
excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired, including separately identifiable intangible assets, 
is recognised as goodwill. Any discount on acquisition, i.e. where the cost of acquisition is below the fair value of the identifiable net assets 
acquired, is credited to the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period of acquisition. 

Goodwill
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of the identifiable 
assets and liabilities, including separately identifiable intangible assets, of a subsidiary, associate or jointly controlled entity at the date of 
acquisition. 

Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated impairment. On disposal of a 
subsidiary, associate or jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss 
on disposal.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019 
 
31

Cost comprises the fair value of assets given, liabilities assumed and equity instruments issued, plus the amount of any non-controlling interests 
in the acquiree plus, if the business combination is achieved in stages, the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree. 

Contingent consideration is initially recognised at acquisition date fair value and remeasured subsequently through profit or loss. 

Goodwill is capitalised as an intangible asset with any impairment in carrying value being charged to the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income. Where the fair value of identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceed the fair value of consideration 
paid, the excess is credited in full to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on the acquisition date.

Interests in associates
Where the Group has the power to participate in (but not control) the financial and operating policy decisions of another entity, it is classified 
as an associate. Associates are initially recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost. Where the interest in the associate 
arises as a result of the disposal of a subsidiary, the amount recognised as cost is the fair value of the interest retained in the associate.

Subsequently associates are accounted for using the equity method, where the Group’s share of post-acquisition profits and losses and other 
comprehensive income is recognised in the consolidated statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income (except for losses in 
excess of the Group’s investment in the associate unless there is an obligation to make good those losses).

Profits and losses arising on transactions between the Group and its associates are recognised only to the extent of unrelated investors’ 
interests in the associate. The investor’s share in the associate’s profits and losses resulting from these transactions is eliminated against the 
carrying value of the associate.

Any premium paid for an associate above the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities 
acquired is capitalised and included in the carrying amount of the associate. Where there is an indicator that the investment in an associate 
may have been impaired the carrying amount of the investment is tested for impairment in the same way as other non-financial assets.

Adjusted EBITDA
The Board of Directors believes that in order to best represent the trading performance and results of the Group, the reported numbers should 
exclude certain one-off items. The Group therefore presents adjusted results, as described in note 5, which differ from statutory results due to 
the exclusion of these items. 

Management regularly uses the adjusted financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate the business and make operating 
decisions. These adjusted measures are among the primary factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods.

EBITDA is a non-GAAP Company specific measure defined as loss before tax adjusted for finance income and expense, depreciation 
and amortisation. 

Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-recurring material items which are outside the normal scope of the Group’s ordinary activities which the 
directors consider to be one-off or material in nature that should be brought to the reader’s attention in understanding the Group’s financial 
performance. 

The adjusting items are separately disclosed in order to enhance the reader’s understanding of the Group’s profitability and cash 
flow generation. 

Adjusting items include costs arising from a fundamental restructuring of the Group’s operations, relocation costs, impairment of financial 
assets and sales proceeds on business asset disposals. 

Revenue
Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes amounts collected on behalf of third 
parties. The Group recognises revenue when it transfers control over a product or service to a customer.

Performance obligations and timing of revenue recognition
Revenue comprises net gaming revenue derived from real money gaming, licensing of content and IP, and Social Publishing. 

The following is a description of the principal activities – separated by reportable segments – from which the Group generates its revenue. 
For more detailed information about reportable segments see note 10.

Net gaming revenue derived from real money gaming
Net gaming revenue derived from online gambling operations is defined as the difference between the amounts of bets placed by the players 
less amounts won by players. It is stated after deduction of bonuses, jackpots and prizes granted to players.

Revenue is recognised at a point in time when the player activity is concluded.

The Group accounts for revenue as principal where it is the licenced entity in the provision of gaming services to end users and controls the 
service provision. Where the Group is considered to be acting as agent in the service provision, revenues are recognised net.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance32

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Licensing revenue
Licensing revenue derives from contractual relationships for the right to use of intellectual property and the amount of consideration receivable 
is dependent upon the value of sales the customer makes using the IP.

For content licensing, revenue is sales-based dependent on the activity of the Group’s customers. Revenue is recognised as the usage occurs by 
the customer (under the IFRS 15 royalty exception).

Any minimum guarantees are recognised at a point in time when the control of the licence is passed to the customer. 

For brand licensing, revenue is recognised at a point in time when there are no further monetary or financial obligations to be fulfilled by 
the licensor. However, where the Group has ongoing obligations, licensing fees are further analysed for the contractual service provision and 
recognised either at point in time or over time, applying the royalty exception as applicable.

Determining the transaction price
Most of the Group’s revenue is derived from fixed price contracts and therefore the amount of revenue to be earned from each contract is 
determined by reference to those fixed prices and rates. 

Contracts where the transaction price is not fixed are royalties which are accounted for in accordance with the usage-based royalty exception 
in IFRS 15.

Allocating amounts to performance obligations
For most contracts, there is a fixed amount for each wager or credit purchased and only one performance obligation, being the honouring of 
the outcome of the wager/purchase. Therefore, there is no judgement involved in allocating the contract price. 

Licensing contracts work on a sales-based royalty. Therefore, there is no judgement involved in allocating the contract price. 

Social publishing revenue
Social publishing revenue derives from the purchase of credits and awards on social gaming sites. In addition, revenue is generated from in app 
advertisements. 

Revenue is recognised at a point in time when the user credit has been purchased as there is no further service to be delivered and credits are 
non-refundable. In app advertising revenue is recognised at a point in time when the advertisement is displayed, or offer has been completed 
by the customer and confirmed by third-party reports.

Affiliate revenue
Affiliate revenue is derived from marketing services provided in relation to online bingo and casino products. The commission revenue is 
calculated either as a percentage of net gaming revenue from the operators or in line with contracts, typically based on fixed price per player. 

Revenue is recognised at a point in time when the marketing services are provided.

Foreign currency
The financial information of the Group is prepared in British Pounds Sterling, which is the currency that best reflects the economic substance of 
the underlying events and circumstances relevant to the Group. The Group has subsidiaries with functional currencies of British Pounds Sterling, 
U.S. Dollars and Canadian Dollars. 

Transactions entered into by Group entities in a currency other than the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate 
(their “functional currency”) are recorded at the rates ruling when the transactions occur. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are 
translated at the rates ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of unsettled monetary assets and liabilities 
are recognised immediately in the statement of comprehensive income. Foreign exchange differences arising from financing transactions are 
recognised in finance income/loss, differences arising from trading balances are recognised in administration costs.

On consolidation, the results of overseas operations are translated into sterling at rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions 
took place. All assets and liabilities of overseas operations, including goodwill arising on the acquisition of those operations, are translated 
at the rate ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on translating the opening net assets at opening rate and the results of 
overseas operations at actual rate are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the foreign exchange reserve.

Exchange differences recognised as profit or loss in Group entities’ separate financial statements on the translation of long-term monetary 
items forming part of the Parent company’s net investment in the overseas operation concerned are reclassified to other comprehensive 
income and accumulated in the foreign exchange reserve on consolidation.

On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative exchange differences recognised in the foreign exchange reserve relating to that operation 
up to the date of disposal are transferred to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as part of the profit or loss on disposal.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201933

Impairment of non-financial assets
Impairment tests on goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful economic lives are undertaken annually. Other non-financial 
assets are subject to impairment tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be 
recoverable. Where the carrying value of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount (i.e. the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell), 
the asset is written down accordingly.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the impairment test is carried out on the smallest group of 
assets to which it belongs for which there are separately identifiable cash flows; its cash generating units (“CGUs”). Goodwill is allocated on 
initial recognition to each of the Group’s CGUs that are expected to benefit from a business combination that gives rise to the goodwill.

Impairment charges are included in the income statement, except to the extent they reverse gains previously recognised in other 
comprehensive income. An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed.

Discontinued Operations
The results of operations disposed of or classified as held for sale during the year are included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income up to the date of disposal. A discontinued operation is a component of the Group’s business that represents a separate major line of 
business or geographical area of operations or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale, that has been disposed of, has been 
abandoned or that meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale. 

Discontinued operations are presented in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as a single line which comprises the post-tax 
profit or loss of the discontinued operation along with the post-tax gain or loss recognised on the re-measurement to fair value less costs to sell 
or on disposal of the assets or disposal groups constituting discontinued operations.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less and – for the purpose of the statement of cash flows – bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within 
trade and other payables in current liabilities on the consolidated statement of financial position.

Assets held for sale
Non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if the carrying amount will be recovered through a sale transaction rather 
than through continuing use. This condition is regarded as being met only when the sale is highly probable, management is committed to a sale 
plan, the asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition and the sale is expected to be completed within one year from the date of 
classification. These assets are measured at the lower of carrying value and fair value less associated costs of sale except where the assets were 
previously classified as available for sale, in which case they are carried at fair value. Following their classification as held for sale, non-current 
assets (including those in a disposal group) are not depreciated.

Non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interest is initially recognised at the present ownership instruments’ proportionate share in the recognised amounts of the 
acquiree’s identifiable net assets. The total comprehensive income of non-wholly owned subsidiaries is attributed to owners of the parent and 
to the non-controlling interests in proportion to their relative ownership interests.

Share-based payments
Where equity-settled share options are awarded to employees, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number 
of equity instruments expected to vest at each reporting date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is 
based on the number of options that eventually vest. Non-vesting conditions and market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of 
the options granted. As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, a charge is made irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions 
are satisfied. The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting condition or where a non-vesting condition is 
not satisfied.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income is charged with 
the fair value of goods and services received.

The fair value of share options issued without market-based vesting conditions is measured by the application of the Black-Scholes option 
pricing model by reference to the grant date of the options. The fair value of share options issued with market-based vesting conditions is 
measured by use of the Monte Carlo method.

Externally acquired intangible assets
Externally acquired intangible assets are initially recognised at cost and subsequently amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful 
economic lives. 

Intangible assets are recognised on business combinations if they are separable from the acquired entity or arise from other contractual/
legal rights. The amounts ascribed to such intangibles are arrived at by using appropriate valuation techniques (see section related to critical 
estimates and judgements on page 35).

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance34

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Internally generated intangible assets (development costs)
Expenditure on internally developed products is capitalised if it can be demonstrated that:

 » it is technically feasible to develop the product for it to be sold;

 » adequate resources are available to complete the development;

 » there is an intention to complete and sell the product;

 » the Group is able to sell the product;

 » sale of the product will generate future economic benefits; and

 » expenditure on the project can be measured reliably.

Capitalised development costs are amortised over the periods the Group expects to benefit from selling the products developed. 

Development expenditure not satisfying the above criteria and expenditure on the research phase of internal projects are recognised in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income as incurred.

The significant intangibles recognised by the Group, their useful economic lives and the methods used to determine the cost of intangibles 
acquired in a business combination are as follows:

Intangible asset

Customer databases

Development costs

Intellectual property

Domain names

Software

Useful economic life

1-2 years

3-5 years

8 years

2-3 years

3-5 years

Research and development tax
Research and development taxation relief is recognised once management considers it probable that any amount claimable will be received.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the consolidated statement of financial 
position differs from its tax base, except for differences arising on:

 » The initial recognition of goodwill

 » The initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction which is not a business combination and at the time of the transaction affects 

neither accounting nor taxable profit

 » Investments in subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities where the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the difference and it is 

probable that the difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to those instances where it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the 
difference can be utilised. 

The amount of the asset or liability is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and are 
expected to apply when the deferred tax liabilities/(assets) are settled/(recovered). 

Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are initially recognised at cost. As well as the purchase price, cost includes directly attributable costs 
and the estimated present value of any future unavoidable costs of dismantling and removing items. The corresponding liability is recognised 
within provisions.

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value, of each 
asset evenly over its expected useful life as follows:

Office, furniture and equipment

20% per annum straight–line

Computer equipment

33% per annum straight–line

Leasehold improvements

Over the life of the lease

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201935

Reserves
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within equity:

Reserve

Share capital

Share premium

Merger reserve

Retained earnings

Description and purpose

Nominal value of shares subscribed for.

Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

Adjustments arising on the reverse transaction and the excess of the fair value over nominal 
value for shares issued in business combinations qualifying for merger relief under the 
Companies Act 2006.

All other net gains and losses and transactions with owners not recognised elsewhere.

Foreign exchange reserve

Gains/losses arising on retranslating the net assets of overseas operations into sterling.

Player liabilities
Liabilities to players comprise the amounts that are credited to customers’ accounts including provision for bonuses granted by the Group. 
These amounts are repayable in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions.

2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Group makes certain estimates and assumptions regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated based on 
historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. 
In the future, actual experience may differ from these estimates and assumptions. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk 
of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

Estimates
(a)  Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets are reviewed for impairment and their values are written down on the basis of the Group’s expectations 
of future economic benefits expected to be received. Any process which attempts to estimate future outcomes to determine the recoverable 
amount is subject to uncertainty. The recoverable amount is determined based on the lower of value in use calculations, which require the 
estimate of future cash flows and the choice of discount rate to calculate the present value of the cash flows, and fair value less costs to sell. 
Calculations are based on management’s forecasts for the period, and past experience of the same or similar assets. Where it is believed that 
the estimation uncertainty can give rise to material differences in asset carrying values, this will be stated in the relevant notes to the financial 
statements. See note 14.

(b)  Amortisation of development costs
Capitalised development costs are subject to amortisation over the estimated useful life and reviewed for impairment whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The estimated useful life of these assets is based on 
management’s estimates of the period over which the assets are expected to generate revenue and are periodically reviewed to confirm they 
are still appropriate. 

(c) Fair Value Measurement
A number of assets and liabilities included in the Group’s financial statements require measurement at, and/or disclosure of, fair value.

The fair value measurement of the Group’s financial and non-financial assets and liabilities utilises market observable inputs and data as far as 
possible. Inputs used in determining fair value measurements are categorised into different levels based on how observable the inputs used in 
the valuation technique utilised are (the ‘fair value hierarchy’):

 » Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical items (unadjusted)

 » Level 2: Observable direct or indirect inputs other than Level 1 inputs

 » Level 3: Unobservable inputs (i.e. not derived from market data)

The classification of an item into the above levels is based on the lowest level of the inputs used that has a significant effect on the fair value 
measurement of the item. Transfers of items between levels are recognised in the period they occur.

The Group measures a number of items at fair value:

 » Financial instruments (note 25) 

 » Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale (note 22)

 » Contingent consideration (note 21)

 » Investment in associate (note 21) – Initial recognition of interests in associates are recognised at the fair value of interest retained

For more detailed information in relation to the fair value measurement and sensitivities of the items above, please refer to the 
applicable notes.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance36

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements (continued)
(d) Arrangement with Gamesys Group plc (previously JackpotJoy Group)
The arrangements entered into with Gamesys Group plc in 2017 are complex. The initial recognition involves estimating the fair value of the 
derivative liability, and estimating the initial carrying value of the loan liability using a suitable discount rate. The values computed reflected the 
directors’ expectations of the timing and quantum of expected cash outflows on the loan and the probability of the conversion option being 
exercised. If these estimates change this will have an impact on the carrying amounts of the conversion option and the loan. The ‘free services’ 
revenue element of the agreement is designated as the residual value on initial recognition. See note 24 for further detail.

(e) Determining the discount rate of a lease liability under IFRS 16
The Group discounts the lease payments using its incremental borrowing rate. The possible effects of a change in the incremental borrowing 
rate are an increase or decrease in the lease liability, right-of-use asset and depreciation and financing expenses recognised.

(f) Impairment of financial assets and expected credit losses
Loss allowances for financial assets are based on assumptions about the risk of default and expected loss rates. The Group uses judgement in 
making these assumptions and selecting the inputs to the impairment calculations based on the Group’s past history, existing market conditions 
as well as forward looking estimates at the end of each reporting period. See note 5 for further detail.

Judgements
(a)  Revenue recognition
The treatment of group revenues as agent or principal in the service delivery can be a complex judgement dependent on the terms of the 
agreement with the partner. The Group accounts for revenue as principal where it is the licenced entity in the provision of gaming services 
to end users and controls the service provision. Where the Group is considered to be acting as agent in the service provision, revenues are 
recognised net.

(b) Capitalisation of development costs
The identification of development costs that meet the criteria for capitalisation is dependent on management’s judgement and knowledge of 
the work done. Development costs of gaming software platforms are separately identified. Key judgements relate to the separately identified 
projects, the expected future benefits and the useful economic life and are based on the information available at each period end. Economic 
success of any development is assessed on a reasonable basis but remains uncertain at the time of recognition. Development costs capitalised 
total £2.7m (2018: £3.0m). See note 14.

(c)  Determining the lease term under IFRS 16
In order to determine the lease term, the Group takes into consideration the period over which the lease is non-cancellable, including renewal 
options that it is reasonably certain it will exercise and/or termination options that it is reasonably certain it will not exercise. The possible 
effects are an increase or decrease in the initial measurement of a right of use asset and lease liability and in depreciation and financing 
expenses in subsequent periods.

(d)  Deferred tax
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for temporary differences and for tax loss carry-forwards. The assessment of temporary 
differences and tax loss carry-forwards is based on management’s estimates of future taxable profits against which the temporary differences 
and loss carry-forwards may be utilised.

The Group has not recognised a deferred tax asset in respect of their losses as there is no track record of taxable profits at this time. Deferred 
tax assets will be recognised when the Group has established a track record of expected future taxable profit. The total unrecognised deferred 
tax asset was £6.4m (2018: £5.6m). See note 12.

(e) Discontinued operations
The directors have assessed the B2C RMG CGU to be held for sale as at 31 December 2018. Judgement was involved to determine if ‘held for 
sale’ conditions were met. 

(f) Arrangement with Gamesys Group plc (previously JackpotJoy Group)
The agreement with Gamesys Group plc allows for early settlement of the loan if a change of control occurs. The directors’ have used their 
judgement in order to determine that the probability of a change in control is low. Had this judgement been different, the Group may be 
liable, if the option is exercised, to make an additional cash payment to Gamesys Group plc earlier than the end of the term. See note 24 for 
more detail.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201937

3. Revenue from contracts with customers
Disaggregation of revenue
The Group has disaggregated revenue into various categories in the following table which is intended to:

 » depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic date; and

 » enable users to understand the relationship with revenue segment information provided in note 10.

Revenue from discontinued RMG operations (see note 21) in the period all arise from the UK, including Channel Islands and was direct to 
consumers (B2C) recognised at a point in time. There were no remaining performance obligations unsatisfied at the year end.

2019 continuing revenue 

Primary geographical markets 

UK, including Channel Islands 

USA 

Isle of Man 

Rest of the World 

Contract counterparties 

Direct to consumers (B2C) 

B2B 

Timing of transfer of goods and services 

Point in time 

Over time 

2018 continuing revenue 

Primary geographical markets 

UK, including Channel Islands 

USA 

Isle of Man 

Rest of the World 

Contract counterparties 

Direct to consumers (B2C) 

B2B 

Timing of transfer of goods and services 

Point in time 

Over time 

 Licensing 
 £ 

455,727

1,659,667

1,450,318

581,145

 Social
publishing 
 £ 

–

2,758,475

–

–

4,146,857

2,758,475

 Other 
 £ 

 Intra-group 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

–

(128,755)

326,972

6,148

–

100,016

106,164

–

–

–

4,424,290

1,450,318

681,161

(128,755)

6,882,741

–

2,758,475

4,146,857

4,146,857

–

2,758,475

–

106,164

106,164

–

2,758,475

(128,755)

4,124,266

(128,755)

6,882,741

3,806,415

2,758,475

106,164

(128,755)

6,542,299

340,442

–

–

–

340,442

4,146,857

2,758,475

106,164

(128,755)

6,882,741

 Licensing 
 £ 

443,204

977,461

493,549

333,789

 Social
publishing 
 £ 

–

3,920,619

–

–

2,248,003

3,920,619

 Other 
 £ 

 Intra-group 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

14,088

135,409

–

244,541

394,038

(389,464)

67,828

–

–

–

5,033,489

493,549

578,330

(389,464)

6,173,196

–

3,920,619

2,248,003

–

2,248,003

3,920,619

–

394,038

394,038

–

3,920,619

(389,464)

2,252,577

(389,464)

6,173,196

1,893,399

3,920,619

394,038

(389,464)

5,818,592

354,604

–

–

–

354,604

2,248,003

3,920,619

394,038

(389,464)

6,173,196

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance38

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

3. Revenue from contracts with customers (continued)
Remaining performance Obligations
The vast majority of the Group’s contracts are for services that will be provided within the next 12 months. Certain licence contracts have been 
entered into for which both:

 » the original contractual period was greater than 12 months; and

 » the Group’s right to consideration does not correspond directly with the performance.

The amount of revenue that will be recognised in future periods on these contracts when those remaining performance obligations will be 
satisfied is:

Next 12 months 

12-24 months 

24+ months 

4. Expenses by nature
Loss before interest and tax has been arrived at after charging/(crediting): 

Employee benefit expenses (see note 9) 

Share-based payments 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Foreign exchange loss/(gain) 

2019
 £ 

320,615

80,154

–

400,769

2018
 £ 

793,466

52,256

104,513

950,235

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

3,868,943

5,307,869

9,972

204,714

67,824

145,269

2,982,845

4,319,920

51,261

(8,091)

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201939

5. Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures and exclude exceptional items, depreciation, and amortisation. Exceptional items are 
those items the Group considers to be non-recurring or material in nature that may distort an understanding of financial performance or impair 
comparability.

Adjusted EBITDA is stated before exceptional items as follows:

Impairment of financial asset 

Restructuring costs 

Adjusting items

2019
 £ 

(200,000)

(326,629)

(526,629)

2018
 £ 

(228,451)

(216,355)

(444,806)

Restructuring costs
Restructuring costs of £0.3m (2018: £0.2m) were incurred relating to redundancy, consulting and relocation costs. 

Impairment of financial asset
In accordance with IFRS 9, management have performed an expected credit loss review over its trade and other receivable balances. As 
a result of this review, an impairment provision of £200,000 has been recorded in the income statement. The balance owed by Gamerail 
Entertainment LLC as at 31 December 2017 of £228,451 ($253,454) was fully provided for in 2018. 

6. Auditor’s remuneration
During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Company’s auditor: 

Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Group's annual accounts 

Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the subsidiary financial statements 

Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the review of the interim statement 

Fees payable to the Company's auditor for other services: 

– Tax compliance services 

– Tax advisory services 

– Corporate finance 

– Other 

2019
 £ 

25,000

70,900

3,588

30,197

22,938

–

–

2018
 £ 

25,000

80,000

3,178

40,000

10,000

13,830

13,600

152,623

185,608

7. Key management personnel remuneration
During the year the Group paid the following remuneration to the key management personnel (which include directors) of the consolidated entity:

Short-term benefits of key management personnel 

Post-employment benefits of key management personnel 

Share-based benefits of key management personnel 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

1,327,969

1,517,689

41,065

3,551

46,375

121,774

1,372,585

1,685,838

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance40

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

8. Directors’ remuneration
The following table presents the Directors’ remuneration of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Michael Buckley 

Patrick Southon 

Mark Segal 

Jim Ryan 

Mark Wilson 

Chris Ash 

Mark Blandford 

Simon Collins 

Atul Bali 

Chris Bell 

Salary
and fees
 £ 

150,000

229,167

200,000

40,000

40,000

23,333

8,333

31,385

–

–

Benefits
 £ 

–

10,429

781

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2019
Total
 £ 

150,000

239,596

200,781

40,000

40,000

23,333

8,333

31,385

–

–

2018
Total
 £ 

210,000

263,077

200,713

40,000

40,000

–

–

135,118

50,000

20,000

722,218

11,210

733,428

958,908

The remuneration for Michael Buckley (including amounts paid to third parties, see note 28) includes repayment of expenses incurred wholly 
for the benefit of Gaming Realms plc of £15,000.

The Directors’ ordinary shares in the Company, were as follows:

Michael Buckley 

Patrick Southon 

Simon Collins 

Mark Segal 

Jim Ryan 

Mark Wilson 

Chris Ash 

Mark Blandford 

2019
 No. of shares 

2018
 No. of shares 

27,000,000

23,000,000

12,417,319

12,417,319

7,161,397

10,806,742

740,761

740,761

1,384,615

1,384,615

384,615

1,965,680

10,000,000

384,615

–

–

61,054,387

48,734,052

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201941

Directors’ interests in long-term incentive plans
The Directors’ interests in share options, over ordinary shares in the Company, were as follows:

Michael Buckley1 

Patrick Southon1 

Simon Collins1 

Mark Segal1 

Jim Ryan2 

Mark Wilson2 

Option at
 1 Jan 2019 

5,769,230

5,769,230

4,615,384

3,076,923

769,230

769,230

Option
 granted 

Option
 lapsed 

Option at
 31 Dec 2019 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,769,230

5,769,230

4,615,384

3,076,923

769,230

769,230

Exercise
 price 

£0.01

£0.01

£0.01

£0.01

£0.13

£0.13

Hurdle
 price 

£0.20

£0.20

£0.20

£0.20

–

–

Date of
 grant 

01-Aug-13

01-Aug-13

01-Aug-13

01-Aug-13

01-Aug-13

01-Aug-13

1   On 1 August 2013 the Company granted options to B Shares under the Gaming Realms 2013 EMI plan. The B Share value will be 20 pence less than the prevailing 
price of the ordinary shares and will therefore have no value unless the value of the new ordinary shares exceeds 20 pence. EMI options can only be granted to 
employees who meet the statutory working time requirement and cannot normally be exercised before 15 July 2015. All options granted under the New Share 
Option Scheme on Admission will be exercisable over B Shares at their nominal value of £0.01 and will be capable of exercise, subject to certain exceptions, after 
two years of the date of grant.

2   On 1 August 2013, the Company granted Unapproved Options which have the same rights as the options granted over the B Shares under Gaming Realms 2013 

EMI plan, save that the exercise price will be 13 pence per ordinary share.

9. Employee benefit expenses

Employee benefit expenses (including directors) comprise: 

Wages and salaries 

Share-based payment expense (Note 27) 

Social security contributions and similar taxes 

Pension contributions 

Staff costs capitalised in respect of internally generated intangible assets 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

4,847,133

6,418,110

9,972

522,976

175,723

67,824

687,288

209,146

5,555,804

7,382,368

(1,676,889)

(2,006,675)

3,878,915

5,375,693

The Group makes contributions to defined contribution plans and has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. 
The contributions are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. The assets of the individual schemes are held separately 
from those of the Group in independently administered funds. 

The average number of employees was 85 (2018: 115).

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance42

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

10. Segment information
The Board is the Group’s chief operating decision-maker. Management has determined the operating segments based on the information 
reviewed by the Board for the purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. 

The Group has 2 continuing reportable operating segments:

 » Licensing – brand and content licensing to partners in Europe and the US

 » Social Publishing – providing freemium games to the US and Europe

There were no customers who generated more than 10% of total revenue. The results of the discontinued segments are included in note 21. 
Management do not report segmental assets and liabilities internally and as such an analysis is not reported.

2019

Revenue 

Marketing expense 

Operating expense 

Administrative expense 

Share-based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA – continuing 

Impairment of financial asset 

Restructuring expenses 

EBITDA – continuing 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Finance expense 

Finance income 

Loss before tax – continuing 

2018

Revenue 

Marketing expense 

Operating expense 

Administrative expense 

Share-based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA – continuing 

Impairment of financial asset 

Restructuring expenses 

EBITDA – continuing 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Impairment 

Finance expense 

Finance income 

Loss before tax – continuing 

 Licensing 
 £ 

 Social 
publishing 
 £ 

 Head 
Office 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

 4,146,857 

 2,758,475 

 106,164 

 7,011,496 

 – 

 (130,505)

 (81,968)

 (212,473)

 (772,827)

 (854,984)

 762 

 (1,627,049)

 (1,970,455)

(1,001,103)

 (2,445,560)

(5,417,118)

 – 

 – 

 (9,972)

 (9,972)

 1,403,575 

 771,883 

 (2,430,574)

 (255,116)

 (200,000)

 (326,629)

(781,745)

 (2,982,845)

 (204,714)

(842,518)

146,661 

(4,665,161)

 Licensing 
 £ 

 Social
publishing 
 £ 

 Head 
Office 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

 2,248,003 

 3,920,619 

 394,038 

 6,562,660 

 – 

 (414,064)

 (251,299)

 (665,363)

 (199,412)

 (1,091,460)

 (399)

 (1,291,271)

 (1,054,712)

 (861,253)

 (2,737,906)

 (4,653,871)

 – 

 – 

 (67,824)

 993,879 

 1,553,842 

 (2,663,390)

 (67,824)

 (115,669)

 (228,451)

 (216,355)

 (560,475)

 (3,535,972)

 (145,269)

 (1,650,000)

 (576,107)

 419,894 

 (6,047,929)

Segmental revenue includes £128,755 (2018: £389,464) of inter-segment Licensing revenue. This is shown as an Operating Expense under the 
real money gaming discontinued operations and eliminates on consolidation.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019The Group’s non-current assets by geographical area are detailed below.

UK 

USA 

Sweden 

Canada 

11. Finance income and expense

Finance income 

Interest received 

Interest income on unwind of finance lease asset

Interest income on unwind of deferred consideration receivable 

Fair value gain on derivative liability 

Total finance income 

Finance expense 

Bank interest paid 

Fair value loss on other investments 

Fair value movement on derivative liability

Effective interest on other creditor 

Interest expense on lease liability 

Total finance expense 

12. Tax credit 

Current tax 

Adjustment for current tax of prior periods 

R&D tax credit for the year 

Current tax expense 

Total current tax credit 

Deferred tax 

Unwind of deferred tax 

Total deferred tax credit 

Total tax credit

43

1

19

24

15

24

24

1

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 12,485,328 

 12,894,853 

 186,959 

 289,511 

 99,080 

 200,440 

 535,130 

 13,463 

 13,060,878

 13,643,886 

2019
 £ 

 3,705 

30,625

 112,331 

 – 

 146,661 

 45,931 

 245,619 

72,000

 406,912 

 72,056 

 842,518 

2018
 £ 

 120 

–

 19,774 

 400,000 

 419,894 

 3,540 

 212,092 

–

 360,475 

 – 

 576,107 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

(134,631)

97,007

(62,784)

(11,078)

144,208

–

(100,408)

133,130

131,743

131,743

31,335

279,857

279,857

412,987

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance44

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

12. Tax credit (continued)
The reasons for the difference between the actual tax credit for the period and the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK applied to profits 
for the year are as follows: 

Loss before tax for the year – continuing 

(Loss)/profit before tax for the year – discontinued 

(Loss)/profit before tax for the year 

Expected tax at effective rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.0% (2018: 19.0%) 

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 

Income not chargeable for tax purposes 

Effects of overseas taxation 

Adjustment for under-provision in prior years 

Research and development tax credit 

Timing difference not recognised 

Tax losses for which no deferred tax assets have been recognised 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

(4,665,161)

(6,047,929)

(783,451)

6,564,246

(5,448,612)

(1,035,236)

36,755

516,317

98,100

920,066

(129,831)

(1,999,096)

62,785

134,631

(97,007)

29,959

966,609

290,594

11,078

(144,208)

115,285

295,194

(31,335)

(412,987)

There are unused UK tax losses carried forward as at the balance sheet date of £37.7m (2018: £32.7m) equating to an unrecognised deferred 
tax asset of £6.4m (2018: £5.6m) using the expected future tax rates in the UK of 17% (2018: 17%) as announced at Budget 2016. No deferred 
tax asset has been recognised in respect of these losses, as the recoverability of any asset is dependent upon sufficient profits being achieved in 
future years to utilise this asset. The timings of such profits are uncertain. 

Deferred Tax Liability 

At 1 January 2019 

Unwind of deferred tax recognised on business acquisitions 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2019

2019
 £ 

607,943

(131,743)

(18,708)

457,492

2018
 £ 

881,511

(279,857)

6,289

607,943

13. Profit/(Loss) per share
Basic profit/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing the result attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of 
shares in issue during the year. For fully diluted loss per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume 
conversion of dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Group’s potentially dilutive securities consist of share options, performance shares and 
a convertible bond. As the continuing operations of the Group are loss-making, none of the potentially dilutive securities (see note 27) are 
currently dilutive.

Loss after tax – continuing 

(Loss)/profit after tax – discontinued 

(Loss)/profit after tax – total 

 Note 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

(4,558,218)

(5,617,442)

21

(783,451)

6,564,246

(5,341,669)

946,804

 Number 

 Number 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating basic loss per share 

26

284,428,747

284,428,747

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating dilutive loss per share 

284,428,747

284,428,747

Basic and diluted loss per share – continuing 

Basic and diluted (loss)/profit per share – discontinued 

Basic and diluted (loss)/profit per share – total 

 Pence 

(1.60)

(0.28)

(1.88)

 Pence 

(1.97)

2.31

0.34

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201945

14. Intangible assets

Cost 

 Goodwill 
 £ 

 Customer
database 
 £ 

 Software 
 £ 

 Development
costs 
 £ 

 Domain 
names 
 £ 

 Intellectual
Property 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

At 1 January 2018 

10,645,557

1,626,509

1,403,941

10,047,108

394,331

5,843,092

29,960,538

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held  
for sale 

–

–

(2,191,809)

(133,550)

(1,699,000)

–

–

–

–

Exchange differences 

302,020

89,231

84,659

At 31 December 2018 

7,056,768

1,582,190

1,488,600

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held  
for sale 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Exchange differences 

(207,720)

(61,681)

(68,226)

(3,374,902)

18,257

9,708,137

2,680,289

(437,023)

(8,264)

At 31 December 2019 

6,849,048

1,520,509

1,420,374

11,798,373

Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

1,327,658

1,057,660

5,061,262

300,949

(133,550)

–

–

277,088

2,946,864

–

–

–

–

–

(2,108,114)

3,017,674

–

–

(364,986)

29,418

6,194,372

26,059,485

(144,766)

(20,000)

–

–

–

3,017,674

(2,690,345)

(5,073,902)

351,280

845,520

–

–

–

(231,600)

2,680,289

(164,766)

(437,023)

(577,856)

5,962,772

27,560,129

1,737,175

9,496,368

742,549

4,319,920

–

–

–

(469,812)

1,650,000

(2,108,114)

–

73

–

–

(365)

9,053

312,613

52,470

(336,262)

–

–

At 31 December 2018 

1,650,000

1,582,190

1,407,255

5,923,789

29,418

2,618,210

13,210,862

87,133

72,507

23,777

597

138,486

322,500

–

–

–

79,731

2,128,156

–

774,958

2,982,845

–

–

(60,389)

(20,000)

–

–

(365)

9,053

–

–

(80,389)

–

(121,563)

(255,742)

3,271,605

15,857,576

(61,681)

(66,612)

(5,521)

At 31 December 2019 

1,650,000

1,520,509

1,420,374

7,986,035

Net book value 

At 31 December 2018 

5,406,768

At 31 December 2019 

5,199,048

–

–

81,345

–

3,784,348

3,812,338

–

–

3,576,162

12,848,623

2,691,167

11,702,553

The Group has no contractual commitments for development costs (2018: none). 

At 1 January 2018 

Amortisation charge 

Disposals 

Impairment 

Reclassified as held  
for sale 

Exchange differences 

–

–

–

1,650,000

–

–

Amortisation charge 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held  
for sale 

Exchange differences 

–

–

–

–

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance46

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

14. Intangible assets (continued)
Goodwill
The Group has 2 continuing CGUs (2018: 2) for which the carrying amount of goodwill is allocated as follows:

Licensing 

Social Publishing 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

4,964,607

5,163,223

234,441

243,545

5,199,048

5,406,768

Impairment of goodwill
The Group is required to test, on an annual basis, whether goodwill has suffered any impairment. A detailed impairment test was undertaken at 
31 December 2019 to assess whether the carrying value of assets was supported by its recoverable amount. 

The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal, and value in use. The use of this method requires the estimation of 
future cash flows and the determination of a discount rate in order to calculate the present value of the cash flows. No indicators of impairment 
arose as a result of this review. 

The recoverable amounts of both continuing CGUs have been determined from value in use calculations based on cash flow projections 
from formally approved budgets. Cash flow projections have been prepared for a three-year period to 31 December 2022, which have been 
extended by a further 2 years using estimated growth rates to give 5-year projections. Other major assumptions are as follows:

2019

Licensing 

Social Publishing 

2018

Licensing 

Social Publishing 

Discount
rate

Long-term 
growth rate*

13.7%

15.7%

14.5%

16.5%

2%

2%

5%

0%

* 

 The growth rate assumptions apply only to the period beyond the formal budgeted period with the value in use calculation based on an extrapolation of the 
budgeted cash flows for year 5.

The discount rates used in discounting the projected cash flows are based on the Group’s Weighted Average Cost of Capital, after considering 
the specific risks of the different CGU’s. 

The discount rates used have been considered based on the risks involved in each of the underlying business units and terminal growth rates 
and reflect the expected growth in underlying EBITDA expected from these units. These CGUs have been considered for impairment and 
sensitivities have been calculated around the terminal growth rates and discount factors used together with specific scenarios including the 
loss of revenue where those revenues might be considered to be at risk. 

No indicators of impairment have arisen as a result as the impact of all sensitivities were judged to be within tolerable levels.

15. Other investments

At 1 January 2018 

Change in fair value 

At 31 December 2018 

Change in fair value 

At 31 December 2019 

 Other investments 
 £ 

747,222

(212,092)

535,130

(245,619)

289,511

The other investment balance comprises a 6.6% interest in Ayima Group AB (“Ayima”). The shares of Ayima are quoted on AktieTorget, a Nordic 
stock exchange (www.aktietorget.se). The investment is remeasured each reporting period to fair value based on the quoted share price. 

As at 31 December 2019 the quoted share price was SEK 10.35 (£0.83). This is a level 1 valuation as defined by IFRS 13. Under IFRS 9, 
movements in fair value are taken to the income statement. 

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201916. Property, plant and equipment

 ROU lease 
assets 
 £ 

 Leasehold
improvements 
 £ 

 Computers 
and related
equipment 
 £ 

 Office 
furniture and 
equipment 
 £ 

47

 Total 
 £ 

630,085

34,712

(131,232)

(62,047)

(564)

470,954

115,094

750,864

(241,127)

(1,125)

167

294,578 

229,630 

105,877 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

6,403 

(102,841)

– 

(560)

22,829 

(19,523)

(51,534)

(503)

197,580

180,899

115,094 

644,281 

– 

– 

959 

–

60,968

(181,100)

–

(916)

–

15,279

(13,093)

(1,125)

235

5,480 

(8,868)

(10,513)

499 

92,475

–

30,336

(46,934)

–

(111)

760,334

76,532

182,195

75,766

1,094,827

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

116,713 

– 

– 

(541)

116,172

170,453 

75,038 

(95,629)

– 

(894)

148,968

40,627

(174,938)

–

(766)

136,191 

49,131 

(15,758)

(42,474)

(459)

126,631

36,836

(12,871)

–

161

60,372 

21,100 

(6,923)

(6,785)

35 

67,799

10,538

367,016

145,269

(118,310)

(49,259)

(1,318)

343,398

204,714

(25,237)

(213,046)

–

144

–

(1,002)

13,891

150,757

53,244

334,064

–

644,162

48,612

62,641

54,268

31,438

24,676

22,522

127,556

760,763

Cost 

At 1 January 2018 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held for sale 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2018 

Additions on adoption of IFRS 16 

Additions 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held for sale 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2019 

Accumulated deprecation 

At 1 January 2018 

Depreciation charge 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held for sale 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2018 

Depreciation charge 

Disposals 

Reclassified as held for sale 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 December 2018 

At 31 December 2019 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance48

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

17. Other assets

Other assets 

Other assets represent the rental deposit on operating leases and deposits held with third-party suppliers. 

18. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Tax and social security 

Prepayments and accrued income 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

150,885

132,577

2019
 £ 

974,321

145,855

123,919

606,768

2018
 £ 

467,802

719,750

354,113

1,139,835

1,850,863

2,681,500

The carrying value of trade and other receivables classified at amortised cost approximates fair value.

All amounts shown fall due for payment within one year.

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses using a lifetime expected credit loss provision for trade 
receivables. To measure expected credit losses on a collective basis, trade receivables are grouped based on similar credit risk and aging. 

Management have assessed the expected loss rate based on the Group’s historical credit losses experienced over the four-year period ended 
31 December 2019. The historical loss rates are then adjusted for current and forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors 
affecting the Group’s customers. As discussed in note 5, the result of this review performed by management was a provision of £200,000 
(2018: £228,451) being recognised in the income statement.

19. Deferred consideration

At 1 January 2019 

Deferred consideration received in the year 

Interest recognised as finance income on  
b/fwd balance 

Eliminated on 2019 RMG disposal 

Deferred consideration on 2019 RMG disposal 

Interest recognised as finance income on  
2019 disposal 

At 31 December 2019 

Note

11, 21

21

21

11

Affiliate
Marketing
Continuing
 £ 

385,000

(385,000)

RMG
Continuing
 £ 

Total
Continuing
 £ 

RMG
Discontinued
 £ 

Total
 £ 

280,690

665,690

3,623,425

4,289,115

–

(385,000)

–

(385,000)

–

–

–

–

–

22,034

22,034

273,851

295,885

(302,724)

(302,724)

(3,897,276)

(4,200,000)

1,208,366

1,208,366

90,297

90,297

1,298,663

1,298,663

–

–

–

1,208,366

90,297

1,298,663

RMG disposals
Disposal in 2019
As part of the 2019 disposal of the B2C RMG CGU (see note 21), the Group is due £1.5m deferred consideration on 31 December 2020. 
A discount rate of 14.5% was used to calculate the present value of the £1.5m (£1,208,366). Interest income of £90,297 was recognised within 
finance income on the unwind of this balance. The balance at 31 December 2019 totalled £1,298,663.

Disposal in 2018
As part of the 2018 disposal of 4 of the Group’s B2C RMG brands (see note 21), £4.2m of consideration was deferred for receipt until 31 August 
2019. A discount rate of 14.5% was used to calculate the present value of the £4.2m at inception based on the Group’s Weighted Average Cost 
of Capital. The deferred consideration was recognised in the subsidiaries involved in the disposal. As a result of the RMG CGU being classified as 
held for sale, £3.6m of deferred consideration was included in the disposal group at 31 December 2018. The 2019 RMG disposal transaction 
terminated this deferred consideration receivable.

Affiliate Marketing
The Group sold its Affiliate Marketing CGU during 2018 (see note 21). As part of the disposal, deferred consideration was capped at £400,000 
and reduced based on performance targets. The amount receivable of £385,000 was received in January 2019.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201920. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash – held for sale (see note 22) 

Restricted cash 

Cash and cash equivalents for Statement of Cash Flows 

49

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

2,626,837

467,033

–

1,101,489

(18,382)

(18,382)

2,608,455

1,550,141

The Group has restricted cash of £18,382 (2018: £18,382) relating to funds held in Swiss subsidiaries which are currently in liquidation. 
The funds are restricted and are not included in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

21. Discontinued operations
During the year, the Group disposed of the remaining elements of its real money gaming B2C CGU that was classified as held for sale within the 
2018 balance sheet date. During the year the Group also disposed of one of its subsidiaries, Blastmedia LLC, a software development Company.

During the prior year, the Group sold its Affiliate Marketing CGU, disposed of certain elements of the real money gaming CGU and was 
sufficiently progressed with active discussions concerning the remainder of the B2C RMG CGU that this element was reclassified as held for sale 
as at 31 December 2018, and subsequently disposed of during 2019.

Analysis of profit for the financial year – discontinued operations:

B2C RMG – 2019 and 2018 disposals 

Profit on disposal 

Loss for the financial year 

B2C RMG business reclassified as held for sale 

Share of loss of associate 

Impairment in associate 

Fair value movement on contingent consideration 

(Loss)/profit on disposal of B2C RMG 

Others: 

Blastmedia LLC – loss on disposal 

Affiliate Marketing – loss on disposal 

Affiliate Marketing – profit for the financial year 

(Loss)/profit for the financial year – discontinued 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 791,488 

 12,492,369 

 (1,309,467)

 (977,362)

 (157,307)

 (172,360)

 – 

 – 

 (2,829,026)

 (1,900,065)

 (675,286)

 6,613,556 

 (108,165)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 (70,748)

 21,438 

 (783,451)

 6,564,246 

A

E

B

C

D

E

B2C RMG
Disposal in 2019
On 17 July 2019, the Group completed the transaction to (i) sell the entire issued share capital of Bear Group Limited, (ii) license the Company’s 
real money gaming platform, and (iii) sell the Company’s residual interest in River UK Casino Limited, to River iGaming plc (“River”).

The cash consideration of the transaction is £11.5m on a cash-free, debt-free basis, with £1.5m deferred for receipt until 31 December 
2020. The transaction terminated the £4.2m deferred consideration due on 31 August 2019 and the put/call option over the Group’s 30% 
shareholding in River UK Casino. 

Disposal in 2018
On 16 August 2018 the Group entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with River for the sale of 4 of the Group’s B2C RMG brands. 

The disposed brands and associated activities were contributed to a newly incorporated company in Malta, River UK Casino. As part of the sale 
agreement, the Group received a 30% equity interest in this Company. In addition, a put and call option was entered into giving River the right 
to purchase, and the Group the right to sell to River, Gaming Realms’ 30% share of River UK Casino at the end of the earn-out period based on 
an Enterprise value of 5.5 times River UK Casino’s EBIT.

The minimum consideration receivable of £8.4m was structured as follows; £4.2m received on completion plus a further £4.2m payable 31 
August 2019. Further consideration was achievable on an earn-out basis, payable no later than 30 September 2019 based on 5.5 times River UK 
Casino’s EBIT for the 12 months to 30 June 2019 to a maximum of £14.7m. 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance50

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

21. Discontinued operations (continued)
A – B2C RMG profit on disposal 

Cash consideration 

Deferred consideration 

Deferred consideration cancelled

Contingent consideration 

Fair value of put/call option 

Investment in River UK Casino 

Total consideration received 

Cash disposed of 

Net cash inflow on disposal 

Net assets disposed (other than cash): 

Intangible assets 

Investment in Bear Group Limited 

Investment in River UK Casino 

Property, plant and equipment 

Other assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Total net assets disposed (other than cash) 

Gain on disposal of discontinued operation 

Less: Disposal costs 

Profit on disposal of discontinued operation 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 6,967,718 

 4,200,000 

 1,208,366 

 3,629,074 

(4,200,000)

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 1,900,065 

 – 

 5,266,579 

 3,976,084 

 14,995,718 

 (811,858)

 – 

 6,155,860 

 4,200,000 

 3,402,811 

 2,191,809 

 1 

B

 2,110,885 

 8,100 

 32,000 

 494,787 

 (4,441,713)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

1,606,871

 2,191,809 

 1,557,355 

 12,803,909 

 (765,867)

 (311,540)

 791,488 

 12,492,369 

B – Share of loss in associate investment in River UK Casino
The Group used the equity method of accounting for associates. The following table shows the aggregate movement in the Group’s interests 
in associates:

At 1 January 

Initial recognition of associate 

Share of associate's loss 

Impairment 

Disposal of associate 

At 31 December 

2019
 £ 

 2,268,192 

2018
 £ 

 – 

 – 

 5,269,578 

 (157,307)

 (172,360)

 – 

 (2,829,026)

 (2,110,885)

 – 

 – 

 2,268,192 

C – Disposal of Blastmedia LLC
On 11 February 2019 the Group disposed of its investment in Blastmedia LLC, a software development company, for consideration of $100 
(£77), which resulted in a loss on disposal of the investment being recognised of £108,165.

Cash consideration 

Cash disposed of 

Net cash outflow on disposal 

Less: Assets disposed 

Investment in Blastmedia LLC 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Other receivables 

Other payables 

Total net assets disposed (other than cash) 

Loss on disposal of Blastmedia LLC 

2019
 £ 

 77 

 (20,408)

 (20,331)

 12,076 

 72,680 

 4,528 

 1,124 

 (2,574)

 87,834 

 (108,165)

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201951

D – Loss on disposal of the Affiliate Marketing CGU
On 22 March 2018 the Group sold its Affiliate Marketing CGU for total consideration of £2.4m to First Leads Ltd. First Leads paid £2.0m on 
closing, and a further £0.4m was received in January 2019 based on the achievement of performance targets.

Cash consideration 

Deferred consideration 

Less: Disposal costs 

Net proceeds 

Less: Assets disposed 

Intangible assets 

Loss on disposal of discontinued operation 

E – Results of discontinued operations

B2C RMG 

Revenue 

Marketing expenses 

Operating expenses 

Administrative expenses 

EBITDA – B2C RMG 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Finance income 

Loss for the financial year – B2C RMG 

Affiliate Marketing 

Revenue 

Marketing expenses 

Operating expenses 

Administrative expenses 

EBITDA – Affiliate Marketing 

Total EBITDA – discontinued 

Total loss for the financial year – discontinued 

The net cash flows arising from discontinued operations are as follows:

Operating activities 

Investing activities 

Financing activities 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) 

2019
 £ 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2018
 £ 

 2,000,000 

 385,000 

 (162,867)

 2,222,133 

 (2,292,881)

 (70,748)

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 6,002,455 

 16,364,816 

 (706,213)

 (4,318,842)

 (4,907,731)

 (9,169,594)

 (1,965,488)

 (3,325,060)

 (1,576,977)

 (448,680)

 – 

 (783,948)

 (6,341)

 273,851 

 (1,309,467)

2019
 £ 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 255,266 

 (977,362)

2018
 £ 

 168,018 

 (14,833)

 (15,809)

 (115,938)

 21,438 

 (1,576,977)

 (1,309,467)

 (427,242)

 (955,924)

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

(1,072,258)

(655,149)

4,932,639 

4,704,939 

– 

– 

3,860,381 

4,049,790 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance52

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

22. Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale
During H2 2018 the Board concluded to pursue the sale of the remaining real money gaming business and to accelerate the conclusion of 
the put/call option over the Group’s 30% interest in River UK Casino. Advisors were appointed and offers invited, which were actively being 
discussed during late 2018. The Group therefore reclassified this business and the Group’s interest in River UK Casino as held for sale as at 
31 December 2018. These items were subsequently disposed of as part of the July 2019 disposal of the remaining B2C RMG CGU (see note 21).

Analysis of assets and liabilities classified as held for sale in the year
The following major classes of assets and liabilities relating to these operations were classified as held for sale in the consolidated statement of 
financial position on 31 December 2018:

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets – goodwill 

Intangible assets – platform development costs 

Investment in associate 

Property, plant and equipment 

Other assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred consideration 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Assets held for sale 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Liabilities held for sale 

23. Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Other payables 

Tax and social security 

Accruals 

31 December
2019
 £ 

31 December
2018
 £ 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,699,000

1,266,788

2,268,192

12,789

32,000

5,278,769

1,388,330

3,623,425

1,101,489

11,392,013

4,830,076

4,830,076

2019
 £ 

488,755

634,807

170,931

830,764

2018
 £ 

766,628

986,349

143,207

588,408

2,125,257

2,484,592

The carrying value of trade and other payables classified as financial liabilities measured at amortised cost approximates fair value.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201953

24. Arrangement with Gamesys Group plc (previously Jackpotjoy Group)
In December 2017 the Group entered into a complex transaction with Gamesys Group plc (previously Jackpotjoy plc) and group companies 
(together “Jackpotjoy Group”). The transaction includes a £3.5m secured convertible loan agreement alongside a 10-year framework services 
agreement for the supply of various real money services. Under the framework services agreement the first £3.5m of services are provided 
free-of-charge within the first 5 years.

The convertible loan has a duration of 5 years and carries interest at 3-month LIBOR plus 5.5%. It is secured over the Group’s Slingo assets 
and business. At any time after the first year, Gamesys Group plc may elect to convert all or part of the principal amount into ordinary shares 
of Gaming Realms plc at a discount of 20% to the share price prevailing at the time of conversion. To the extent that the price per share at 
conversion is lower than 10p (nominal value), then the shares can be converted at nominal value with a cash payment equal to the aggregate 
value of the convertible loan outstanding multiplied by the shortfall on nominal value payable to Gamesys Group plc. Under this arrangement, 
the maximum dilution to Gaming Realms shareholders will be approximately 11%, assuming the convertible loan is converted in full.

The option violates the fixed-for-fixed criteria for equity classification as the number of shares is variable and as a result is classified as a liability. 

The fair value of the conversion feature is determined at each reporting date with changes recognised in profit or loss. The initial fair value was 
£0.6m based on a probability assessment of conversion and future share price. This is a level 3 valuation as defined by IFRS 13. The fair value as 
at 31 December 2019 was £0.3m (2018: £0.2m) based on revised probabilities of when and if the option will be exercised. The key inputs into 
the valuation model included timing of exercise by the counterparty (based on a probability assessment) and the share price.

The initial fair value of the host debt was calculated as £2.7m, being the present value of expected future cash outflows. The rate used to 
discount future cashflows was 14.1%, being the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. This rate was calculated by reference to the Group’s cost 
of equity in the absence of reliable alternative evidence of the Group’s cost of borrowing given it is predominantly equity funded. Expected 
cashflows are based on directors’ judgement that a change in control event would not occur. Subsequently the loan is carried at amortised 
cost. The residual £0.2m of proceeds were allocated to the obligation to provide free services.

At 1 January 2019 

Utilisation of free services 

Effective interest 

Interest paid 

Change in fair value

At 31 December 2019 

 Fair value 
of debt host 
 £ 

 Obligation 
to provide 
free services 
 £ 

 Fair value 
of derivative 
Liability 
 £ 

 Total 
 £ 

2,795,602

209,000

200,000

3,204,602

–

(8,000)

406,912

(276,841)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

72,000

(8,000)

406,912

(276,841)

72,000

2,925,673

201,000

272,000

3,398,673

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance54

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

25. Financial instruments and risk management – Group
The Group is exposed through its operations to risks that arise from use of its financial instruments. The Group’s financial assets and liabilities 
are shown on the face of the consolidated statement of financial position and are presented in the table below by category, as defined by IFRS 
9 ‘Financial Instruments’. The Group has separately analysed the 2018 assets and liabilities in a disposal group. No instruments in held for sale 
were classified as held at fair value. 

Amortised cost

Fair Value

2019
 £ 

2018
Continuing
 £ 

2018
Held for sale
 £ 

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

Financial assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred consideration 

Finance lease asset

Other assets 

Other investments 

Financial liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Accruals 

Player liabilities 

Other creditors 

Derivative liability 

Lease liability 

2,626,837

467,033

1,101,489

1,120,176

1,187,552

1,388,330

1,298,663

665,690

3,623,425

283,520

150,885

–

–

–

132,577

32,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

289,511

535,130

1,123,562

1,752,977

830,764

588,408

–

–

3,126,673

3,004,602

–

902,649

–

–

2,631,917

1,894,730

303,429

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

272,000

200,000

–

–

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of 
the instrument.

The Group classifies its financial instruments in the following categories:

 » Financial assets held at amortised cost;

 » Financial assets held at fair value;

 » Financial liabilities held at amortised cost; and

 » Financial liabilities held at fair value.

The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets and liabilities were acquired. Management determines the classification 
of its financial instruments at initial recognition or in certain circumstances on modification.

In the Directors’ opinion, there is no material difference between the book value and the fair value of any of the financial instruments.

The Group has some exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk. There has been no material change to the financial instruments used within the 
business during the year except for contingent consideration and therefore no material changes to the risk management policies put in place by 
the Board which are now discussed below.

The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group’s risk management objectives and policies. Whilst acknowledging this 
responsibility, it has delegated the authority and day to day responsibility for designing and operating systems and controls which meet these 
risk management objectives to the finance and administration function. The Board regularly reviews the effectiveness of these processes in 
meeting its objectives and considers any necessary changes in response to changes within the business or the environment in which it operates.

Currency risk
The Group is exposed to currency risk on translation and on sales and purchases that are denominated in a currency other than Pounds Sterling 
(GBP). The currency in which these transactions are primarily denominated is US Dollars (USD).

The Group’s policy is, where possible to allow group entities to settle liabilities denominated in their functional currency with the cash 
generated from their own operations in that currency. Where group entities have liabilities denominated in a currency other than their 
functional currency cash already denominated in that currency will, where possible, be transferred from elsewhere in the Group.

All financial instruments included in held for sale are denominated in GBP.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019As of 31 December 2019 the Group’s net exposure to foreign exchange risk was as follows:

Net foreign currency financial assets 

Sterling 

US Dollar 

Canadian Dollar 

Other 

55

2019
£

–

780,928

141,712

17,787

940,427

2018
£

–

234,737

7,124

11,077

252,938

The effect of a 20% strengthening in Sterling against other currencies, all other variables held constant, have resulted in a decrease in losses 
and an increase in net assets of £188,086 (2018: decrease in losses and increase of net assets of £50,587). A 20% weakening in the exchange 
rates would, on same basis increase loss after tax and decrease net assets by £188,086. (2018: increase loss after tax and decrease net assets 
by £50,587).

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk arises from the Group’s management of working capital and the finance charges and principal repayments on its debt instruments. 
It is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting its financial obligations as they fall due.

The Group’s policy is to ensure that it will always have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities when they become due. 

All financial liabilities included in held for sale are due within 1 year.

The following table sets out the undiscounted contractual cash flows:

At 31 December 2019 

Trade and other payables 

Accruals 

Other creditors 

Lease liability 

Total 

At 31 December 2018 

Trade and other payables 

Accruals 

Other creditors 

Lease liability 

Total 

Within 
1 year
 £ 

1,123,562

830,764

263,219

327,030

2,544,575

Within 
1 year
 £ 

1,752,977

588,408

279,921

–

1-2 
years
 £ 

–

–

Over 
2 years
 £ 

–

–

264,600

356,919

621,519

3,754,338

368,315

4,122,653

1-2 
years
 £ 

–

–

Over 
2 years
 £ 

–

–

263,219

4,018,938

–

–

2,621,306

263,219

4,018,938

Credit risk
The Group’s trading is mainly exposed to credit risk through credit sales in the Licencing and Social Publishing segments. Generally, receivables 
are due and collected within 30 days of invoice or contract. See note 18 for further detail on receivables exposure and expected credit 
loss analysis. 

Management considered the credit risk on other financial assets including deferred consideration and the counterparty debt risk and concluded 
no provision was required. In the opinion of management, the credit risk to cash and lease deposits is immaterial. 

See further disclosure on results of expected credit losses in note 18. 

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance56

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

25. Financial instruments and risk management – Group (continued)
Financial liabilities measured at fair value
The fair value hierarchy of financial liabilities measured at fair value is provided. 

The fair value of derivative liabilities totalling £0.3m (2018: £0.2m) was based on a probability assessment of conversion and future share price. 
This is a level 3 valuation as defined by IFRS 13.

Included in the held for sale group at the prior year end is contingent consideration and a put/call option over the Group’s associate interest 
arising from the 2018 disposal disclosed in note 21. The value of contingent consideration and the put/call option were based on future EBITDA 
multiples. This is a level 3 valuation as defined by IFRS 13.

The fair value measurement hierarchy is based on the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The inputs are categorised into 
three levels, with the highest level (level 1) given to inputs for which there are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets 
or liabilities and the lowest level (level 3) given to unobservable inputs. Level 2 inputs are directly or indirectly observable inputs other than 
quoted prices. 

Capital management
The Group is funded through shareholders’ funds and a £3.5m facility with Gamesys Group plc (note 24).

The Group monitors its capital structure, which comprises all components of equity (i.e. share capital, share premium, non-controlling interest 
and retained earnings) and monitors external debt. The Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

Changes in liabilities
IAS 7 requires an entity to provide disclosures that enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing 
activities, including both cash and non-cash changes. The Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities consist of the Gamesys Group plc 
arrangement (see note 24), Derivative liability (see note 24), an obligation to provide free services (see note 24) and lease liabilities (see note 1). 
A reconciliation between the opening and closing balances of these items is provided below.

2019

Opening balance 

Adoption of IFRS 16 

New leases entered into during the year 

Cash 

Transaction costs 

Non-cash transaction 

Unwind of discount 

Exchange differences 

Change in fair value 

Carried forward 

2018

Opening balance 

Cash 

Transaction costs 

Non-cash transaction 

Unwind of discount 

Change in fair value 

Carried forward 

Fair value 
of debt host
 £ 

Obligation 
to provide 
free services
 £ 

Fair value 
of derivative
liability
 £ 

2,795,602

209,000

200,000

–

–

(276,841)

–

–

406,912

–

–

–

–

–

–

(8,000)

–

–

–

2,925,673

201,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

72,000

272,000

Fair value 
of debt host
 £ 

2,630,469

(170,495)

(24,846)

Obligation 
to provide 
free services
 £ 

Fair value 
of derivative
liability
 £ 

213,000

600,000

–

(4,000)

360,475

–

–

–

2,795,603

209,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

(400,000)

200,000

Lease 
liability
 £ 

–

498,115

594,281

(252,376)

–

–

72,056

(9,427)

–

902,649

Lease 
liability
 £ 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201957

26. Share capital 
Ordinary shares

2019
 Number 

2019
 £ 

2018
 Number 

2018
 £ 

Ordinary shares of 10 pence each 

284,428,747

28,442,874

284,428,747

28,442,874

27. Share-based payments 
Gaming Realms 2013 EMI Plan
On 1 August 2013 the Company adopted the Gaming Realms 2013 EMI Plan to allow, at the discretion of the Board, eligible employees to be 
granted EMI or non-EMI options at an exercise price to be determined by the Board not less than the nominal value of a share. Options will vest 
subject to such time based and share price performance-based conditions as the Board may determine. 

Options to acquire ordinary shares under the EMI plan may be granted up to a maximum of £3m (based on the market value of the shares 
placed under option at the date of the grant).

No consideration is payable for the grant of the option and the options are not transferable or assignable. Cash consideration is paid to the 
Company by the employee at the point that the share options are exercised. 

In 2013, the Company granted options for B Shares under the Gaming Realms 2013 EMI plan. The B Share value will be 20 pence less than 
the prevailing price of the ordinary shares and will therefore have no value unless the value of the new ordinary shares exceeds 20 pence. EMI 
options can only be granted to employees who meet the statutory working time requirement and cannot normally be exercised before 15 
July 2015. All options granted under the New Share Option Scheme on Admission will be exercisable over B Shares at their nominal value of 
£0.01 and will be capable of exercise, subject to certain exceptions, after two years of the date of grant. Options are not exercisable later than 
midnight on the day before the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

Options were fair valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, or where there are market-based performance conditions, a Monte Carlo 
simulation pricing model. Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company’s competitors in the sector. 
The inputs into the Black Scholes model for issues in previous years can be found in the respective annual reports.

IFRS 2 (Share-based payments) requires that the fair value of such equity-settled transactions is calculated and systematically charged to the 
statement of comprehensive income over the vesting period. The total fair value that was charged to the income statement in relation to the 
equity-settled share-based payments was £9,972 (2018: £67,824).

Outstanding at 1 January 2018 

Forfeited during the year 

Number of options outstanding at 31 December 2018 

Forfeited during the year 

Number of options outstanding at 31 December 2019 

Exercisable at 31 December 2019 

 Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (pence) 

9.48

22.70

15.45

17.12

15.33

15.33

 Number 

44,384,887

(4,879,562)

39,505,325

(2,603,214)

36,902,111

36,902,111

Options to subscribe under various schemes, including those noted in Directors’ interests in note 8, are shown in the table below: 

Date granted 

 Exercise 
price (pence) 

Approved 

1 August 2013 

Unapproved 

1 August 2013 

Approved 

Approved 

Approved 

Approved 

Approved 

Approved 

Unapproved 

2 April 2014 

17 June 2014 

19 February 2015 

15 October 2015 

10 November 2015 

28 July 2016 

28 July 2016 

0.01

13.00

23.00

28.88

33.00

25.13

25.00

20.00

20.00

Exercisable between 

31 July 2015 to 31 July 2023 

31 July 2015 to 31 July 2023 

1 April 2017 to 1 April 2024 

16 June 2016 to 16 June 2024 

19 February 2018 to 19 February 2025 

 2019
Number 
of shares 

 2018
Number 
of shares 

26,153,837

26,153,837

1,538,460

1,690,621

326,087

172,475

1,538,460

2,780,663

326,087

284,141

15 October 2018 to 15 October 2025 

5,535,000

5,810,000

10 November 2018 to 10 November 2025 

28 July 2018 to 28 July 2026 

28 July 2018 to 28 July 2026 

866,905

588,726

30,000

1,410,711

1,069,251

132,175

36,902,111

39,505,325

Modification
During the prior year certain share options were terminated and replaced with new options with lower exercise price or quantity. This has been 
accounted for as a modification under IFRS 2. The fair value of the reissued options is less than the fair value of the original grant.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance58

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

28. Related party transactions
Jim Ryan is a Non-Executive Director of the Company and the CEO of Pala Interactive, which has a real-money online bingo site in New Jersey. 
During the year, total license fees earned by the Group were $19,269 (2018: $13,709) with $4,120 due at 31 December 2019 (2018: $1,102).

Jim Ryan is a Non-Executive Director of Gamesys Group plc. In December 2017 the Group entered into a 10-year framework services 
agreement and a 5-year convertible loan agreement for £3.5m with Gamesys Group plc (previously JackpotJoy Group) (see Note 24).

During the year £90,000 (2018: £150,000) of consulting fees were paid to Dawnglen Finance Limited, a company controlled by Michael 
Buckley, which is included in the remuneration figure of £150,000 (2018: £210,000) shown in note 8. No amounts were owed at 31 December 
2019 (2018: £nil).

Simon Collins was a Non-Executive Director of the Company until 11 October 2019 and held a 6% shareholding in Stannp Limited. During 2018 
the Group spent £2,593 on customer mailings with Stannp Limited. This amount was fully paid as at 31 December 2018 and no transactions 
arose in 2019.

Atul Bali was a Non-Executive Director of the Company until 30 June 2018. Atul Bali is an advisor of Gamerail Entertainment LLC, a social lottery 
gaming company. During 2018, a balance of $253,454 receivable in Blastworks Inc., which arose from historical transactions was fully provided 
for. No services were provided in 2018 or 2019.

Atul Bali is an advisor to Instant Win Gaming. In April 2016, Instant Win Gaming entered into an agreement with Bear Group Limited to supply 
Instant Win Games on its online gaming websites. During 2018, up to 30 June 2018, the total revenue share payable by Bear Group Limited for 
the supply of game content totalled £22,033, which has all been settled in full.

In addition, Instant Win Gaming has entered into a licensing agreement with Blastworks Limited for the Slingo Brand. Instant Win Gaming 
licensed the Slingo Brand to create and distribute Slingo Branded Instant Win Games. During 2018, up to 30 June 2018, total license fees 
earned were £18,835, which has been received in full.

Following Atul’s resignation on 30 June 2018, the above entities ceased to be a related party on this date.

The details of key management compensation are set out in note 7.

29. Subsidiaries
The subsidiaries of the Company, all of which have been included in these consolidated financial statements, are as follows:

Name 

Registered Office 

Country of
Incorporation 

Principal activity 

Proportion held 
by Parent Company 

Proportion 
held by Group 

Quickthink Digital Limited 

2 Valentine Place, London, SE1 8QH

Blastworks Limited 

2 Valentine Place, London, SE1 8QH

Alchemybet Limited 

2 Valentine Place, London, SE1 8QH

UK

UK

UK

Marketing services 100%

IP owner

91%

Software Developer 89%

Blueburra Holdings Limited 

Digital Blue Limited 

Blastworks Inc. 

49 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, 
IM1 2LD

49 Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, 
IM1 2LD

Isle of Man

Marketing services 100%

Isle of Man

Marketing services 0%

300 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater,  
WA 98501

USA

Social publishing 
operator

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Backstage Technologies, Inc. 

Hullabu Inc. 

808 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC,  
V8W 2B6

848 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas,  
NV, 89101

Canada

Software Developer 100%

USA

IP owner

0%

62.5%

The Group held 100% interest in the following subsidiaries that were in the process of liquidation at the balance sheet date:

Name

PDX Businessgroup AG

PDX Technologies AG

PDX Management AG

PDX Public Health and Safety AG

BFX Solutions AG

DDX Solutions AG

Registered 
Office

Vordergasse  
53 8200 
Schaffhausen

Country of 
Incorporation

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

Principal activity

Proportion held 
by Parent Company

Proportion held 
by Group

In liquidation

100%

In liquidation

In liquidation

In liquidation

In liquidation

In liquidation

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

30. Post balance sheet events
Following the COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty this has brought to global markets and economies, the Directors have performed 
qualitative and quantitative assessments of the associated risks facing the business and its ability to meet its short and medium term forecasts. 
See the strategic report and note 1 for further information.

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019Parent Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2019

Non-current assets 

Investment in subsidiary undertakings 

Other investments 

Property, plant and equipment 

Other assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred consideration 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Assets classified as held for sale 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Lease liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

Other Creditors 

Derivative liabilities 

Lease liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 

Share capital 

Share premium 

Merger reserve 

Retained earnings 

Total equity 

59

31 December
2019
 £ 

31 December
2018
 £ 

Note

2

2

3

4

5

5,128,030

10,897,262

289,511

629,699

138,798

535,130

48,596

120,000

6,186,038

11,600,988

15,251,311

16,598,253

1,298,663

1,717,280

–

59,561

18,267,254

16,657,814

–

3,000

24,453,292

28,261,802

6

8,053,805

6,386,838

106,720

–

8,160,525

6,386,838

7

7

3,126,673

3,008,603

272,000

444,160

200,000

–

3,842,833

3,208,603

12,003,358

9,595,441

12,449,934

18,666,361

8

28,442,874

28,442,874

87,918,410

87,918,410

2,683,702

2,683,702

(106,595,052)

(100,378,625)

12,449,934

18,666,361

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, a separate profit and loss account of the Company is not presented. The Company’s 
loss for the financial year was £6,226,399 (2018: £9,448,719). 

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 27 April 2020 and were signed on its behalf by:

Michael Buckley
Executive Chairman

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance60

Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2019

 Share 
capital 
 £ 

 Share 
premium 
 £ 

 Merger 
reserve 
 £ 

 Shares 
to be issued 
 £ 

 Retained 
earnings 
 £ 

 Total 
equity 
 £ 

28,442,874

87,918,410

2,683,702

145,000

(90,997,730)

28,192,256

1 January 2018 

Loss for the year 

Share-based payment to director 

Share-based payment on share options 

31 December 2018 

Loss for the year 

Share-based payment on share options 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

28,442,874

87,918,410

2,683,702

–

–

–

–

–

–

31 December 2019 

28,442,874

87,918,410

2,683,702

The notes on pages 61 to 63 form part of these financial statements.

–

(9,448,719)

(9,448,719)

(145,000)

–

(145,000)

–

–

–

–

–

67,824

67,824

(100,378,625)

18,666,361

(6,226,399)

(6,226,399)

9,972

9,972

(106,595,052)

12,449,934

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 201961

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019

1. Principal accounting policies
These financial statements present the results of Gaming Realms plc for the year ended 31 December 2019.

These financial statements were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (FRS 101). 

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention. No profit and loss account is presented by the Company as 
permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The financial statements are prepared in British Pounds Sterling. 

Basis of preparation
The accounting policies which follow set out those policies which apply in preparing the financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2019. 

The Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions under FRS 101: 

a)  IFRS 2 Share-based Payment disclosure, the share-based payment arrangement concerns its own equity instruments and its separate financial 

statements are presented alongside the consolidated financial statements of the Group;

b)  IFRS 7 Financial Instruments disclosures, given that equivalent disclosures are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Group 

in which the entity is consolidated;

c)  IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement disclosures; 

d)  Certain disclosures required by IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, including certain comparative information in respect of share 

capital movements;

e) IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows and related notes;

f)  IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures relating to key management personnel compensation; and

g)  IAS 24 Disclosure of related party transactions entered into between two or more members of a group, given that any subsidiary which is 

party to the transaction is wholly owned by such a member. 

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries and associates are stated at cost less provision for impairment in value, except for investments acquired before 1 
October 2013 (date of adoption of IFRS) where shares issued to effect business combinations and the conditions of the Companies Act 2006 
are met, merger relief was applied and the resulting investment is recorded at the nominal value of the shares issued.

Taxation
Current tax, including UK corporation tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have 
been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet. 

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date, where 
transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the 
balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is measured at the average tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the timing differences are expected to 
reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Foreign currencies
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at exchange rates as of the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.

Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities held by the company consist of trade payables, deferred consideration, long-term borrowings and other short-term 
monetary liabilities, which are held at amortised cost, and derivative liabilities which are held at fair value through profit and loss.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance62

Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019 continued

2. Investments 

At 1 January 2018 

Change in fair value 

Additions 

Impairment 

At 31 December 2018 

Change in fair value 

Disposals 

Impairment 

At 31 December 2019 

 Investment 
in subsidiary
undertakings 
 £ 

 13,297,262 

 – 

 – 

 (2,400,000)

 10,897,262 

 – 

 (1)

 (5,769,231)

 5,128,030 

 Investment 
in associate 
 £ 

 – 

 – 

 3,000 

 – 

 3,000 

 – 

 (3,000)

 – 

 – 

 Other 
investments 
 £ 

 747,222 

 (212,092)

 – 

 – 

 535,130 

 (245,619)

 – 

 – 

 289,511 

As part of the Groups transaction with River iGaming plc during the year, the Company disposed of its £1 investment in Bear Group Limited. 
See note 21 of the consolidated accounts for further information. During the current year, following the disposal of Bear Group Limited and 
changes in operations, an impairment of subsidiary investments of £5.8m was recognised. 

During the prior year, the investment in Blueburra Holdings Limited was impaired as a result of the Affiliate Marketing business sale.

Details of the Company’s investments can be found in note 29 of the consolidated financial statements.

3. Property, plant and equipment

Cost 

At 1 January 2019 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2019 

Accumulated deprecation 

At 1 January 2019 

Depreciation charge 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 December 2018 

At 31 December 2019 

 ROU lease 
assets 
 £ 

 Leasehold
improvements 
 £ 

 Computers 
and related 
equipment 
 £ 

 Office 
furniture and 
equipment 
 £ 

 – 

 644,281 

 – 

644,281

226,115

60,968

(226,115)

60,968

 – 

 86,569 

191,172

36,498

 – 

(219,953)

86,569

7,717

9,136

3,624

(1,339)

11,421

7,359

1,679

(1,117)

7,921

54,111

18,797

(53,861)

19,047

42,235

8,747

(47,171)

3,811

 Total 
 £ 

289,362

727,670

(281,315)

735,717

240,766

133,493

(268,241)

106,018

–

557,712

34,943

53,251

1,777

3,500

11,876

15,236

48,596

629,699

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 20194. Trade and other receivables

Amounts due from Group companies 

Tax and social security 

Other debtors 

Prepayments and accrued income 

63

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 15,127,642 

 16,407,738 

 39,140 

 18,286 

 66,243 

 26,902 

 46,840 

 116,773 

 15,251,311 

 16,598,253 

The balances due from fellow Group companies are repayable on demand and interest free. Management has assessed its receivables from 
Group companies using a forward-looking expected credit loss model. The methodology used in determining the amount of provision as at 
the reporting date is that of lifetime expected credit losses which is defined as a credit loss estimate of the present value of cash shortfalls over 
the expected life of the financial assets (receivables from Group companies). The expected credit loss charge in the year was calculated to be 
£15,252 (2018: £6,500,000).

5. Deferred consideration
See note 19 of the consolidated accounts for further information.

6. Trade and other payables

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Amounts due to Group companies 

Trade creditors 

Other creditors 

Accruals and deferred income 

Tax and social security 

7. Other creditors & derivative liability
See note 24 of the consolidated accounts for further information.

8. Called up share capital
Allotted, called up and fully paid

2019
 £ 

2018
 £ 

 7,487,624 

 6,056,090 

 113,876 

 86,267 

 342,447 

 23,591 

 49,711 

 – 

 255,358 

 25,679 

 8,053,805 

 6,386,838 

Ordinary shares of 10 pence each 

284,428,747

28,442,874

284,428,747

28,442,874

2019
 Number 

2019
 £ 

2018
 Number 

2018
 £ 

Allotted and fully paid up 

At 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2018 

9. Employee information
The Company had an average of 8 (2018: 10) employees during the year.

The employee costs for the Company were £944,117 (2018: £1,103,599).

 £ 

 28,442,874 

Details of Directors’ remuneration can be found in note 8 of the consolidated financial statements.

10. Related party transactions
During the year £90,000 (2018: £150,000) of consulting fees were paid to Dawnglen Finance Limited, a company controlled by 
Michael Buckley. No amounts were owed at 31 December 2019 (2018: £nil).

The details of key management compensation are set out in note 7 of the consolidated financial statements.

Financial StatementsStrategic ReportCorporate Governance64

Company Information

Directors
Michael Buckley, Executive Chairman

Patrick Southon, Chief Executive Officer (resigned 11 February 2020)

Mark Segal, Chief Financial Officer

Simon Collins, Non-executive Director 

Jim Ryan, Non-executive Director

Mark Wilson, Non-executive Director

Chris Ash, Non-executive Director (appointed 6 June 2019)

Mark Blandford, Non-executive Director (appointed 15 October 2019)

Company Secretary
Mark Segal

Auditors
BDO LLP, 55 Baker Street, London, W1U 7EU

Bankers
Barclays Bank plc, 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP

Nominated advisors
Peel Hunt, 120 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5ET

Solicitors
Memery Crystal LLP, 44 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AP

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE

Registered office
Two Valentine Place, London, SE1 8QH

Registered Number
04175777

Gaming Realms plc Annual Report and Accounts 2019Designed and produced by Instinctif Partners  
creative.instinctif.com

Gaming Realms plc
Two Valentine Place 
London
SE1 8QH

www.gamingrealms.com