The principal activities of IZI Finance p.l.c. and subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the ‘group’) are to manage and operate casinos, the national lottery, and electronic gaming machines (EGM), sports betting, online gaming, commercial bingo and immovable property situated in Malta.

2      

General information and statement of compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

IZI Finance p.l.c. (the ‘company’), the group’s parent company, is a public limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in Malta. It was registered with the Malta Financial Services Authority on the 30th day of December 2021. The address of the company’s registered office, which is also its principal place of business, is Portomaso Business Tower, Level 11 Portomaso, St. Julian’s, Malta.

The company forms part of the IZI Group of companies and its parent company is IZI Group plc, which is of the same registered office. IZI Group plc also draws up consolidated financial statements of which the group forms part.

The financial statements of the company and the consolidated financial statements of the group have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union (EU) , and in accordance with the Companies Act, Cap 386.

3      

Going concern

The going concern basis underlying the preparation of these financial statements assumes that the company’s and the group’s lenders and creditors will continue to provide the financial support necessary to enable the company and the group to finance their investments and to meet their debts as they fall due.

In the year under review, the group generated positive cash flows of € 17.19 million, a € 14.38 million increase from previous year. In 2023, the group made significant strategic investments in fixed assets particularly in operating equipment, store refurbishments and the acquisition of a site on which the group intends to consolidate all its operations in the future. The majority of these investments were paid by the group from cash generated from operations. The group’s and the company’s working capital positions as at the end of the reporting period reflect deficits of € 19.01 million (€ 40.56 million and € 258,000 (2022: € 41.73 million), respectively.

Management has performed an assessment incorporating cash flows to be generated from operations during the period 2023 – 2024 and actual cash outflows including interest and other changes. Management has built its assessment on the actual performance of the group and the projected growth in revenues for the said period.

Moreover, the directors are adopting additional measures to ensure that the group will continue to translate the positive operating cash flows into adequate levels of funding to sustain its growth operations and prospective investments. This will be realised through a concerted effort to realise efficiency gains through consolidation of functions, streamlining of operating expenditure and performance optimisation across all subsidiaries. In parallel, the group will also consider aligning its payment commitments to its projected inflows to adequately match the timing of the respective cash flows.

These measures together with the continued improvement in the operating performances of the group’s investments are expected to maintain adequate funding levels to enable the group and the company to meet its financial obligations and sustain its growth efforts going forward.

Based on the foregoing, the directors believe that it remains appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. Consequently, these financial statements do not include any adjustments that may be necessary should the directors’ expectation materialise.

4      

New or revised Standards or Interpretations

4.1

New standards adopted

Some accounting pronouncements which have become effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2022 and have therefore been adopted do not have a significant impact on the group’s financial results or position.

4.2

Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been adopted early by the group

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, several new, but not yet effective, Standards, amendments to existing Standards, and Interpretations have been published by the IASB. None of these Standards, amendments or Interpretations have been adopted early by the group.

Management anticipates that all relevant pronouncements will be adopted for the first period beginning on or after the effective date of the pronouncement. New Standards, amendments and Interpretations not adopted in the current year have not been disclosed as they are not expected to have a material impact on the group’s financial statements.

5.1   

Overall considerations

The financial statements have been prepared using the significant accounting policies and measurement basis specified by IFRS as adopted by the EU for each type of asset, liability, income and expense. The measurement bases are more fully described in the accounting policies below.

The significant accounting policies have been consistently applied by the group and are consistent with those used by the subsidiaries in previous years.

The financial information has been prepared from the audited financial statements of the companies comprising the group (see note 17).

5.2   

Presentation of financial statements

The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (Revised 2007) . The group has elected to present statements of comprehensive income.

5.3

Basis of consolidation

The group financial statements consolidate those of the company and all of its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 30 June 2023.  All subsidiaries have a reporting date of 30 June.

Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the group has control. The group controls an entity where the group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

All transactions and balances between group companies are eliminated on consolidation, including unrealised gains and losses on transactions between group companies. Where unrealised losses on intra-group asset sales are reversed on consolidation, the underlying asset is also tested for impairment from a group perspective. Amounts reported in the financial statements of subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the accounting policies adopted by the group.

Profit or loss and other comprehensive income of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are recognised from the effective date of acquisition, or up to the effective date of disposal, as applicable.

The group attributes total comprehensive income or loss of subsidiaries between the owners of the parent and the non-controlling interests based on their respective ownership interests.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the financial statements of the companies as set out in note 17.

5.4

Business combination

The group applies the acquisition method in accounting for business combinations. The consideration transferred by the group to obtain control of a subsidiary is calculated as the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of assets transferred, liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the group, which includes the fair value of any asset or liability arising from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

The group recognises identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination regardless of whether they have been previously recognised in the acquiree’s financial statements prior to the acquisition. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed are generally measured at their acquisition-date fair values.

The group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquired entity on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquired entity’s net identifiable assets.

Goodwill is stated after separate recognition of identifiable intangible assets.  It is calculated as the excess of the sum of a) fair value of consideration transferred, b) the recognised amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and c) acquisition-date fair value of any existing equity interest in the acquiree, over the acquisition-date fair values of identifiable net assets.  If the fair values of identifiable net assets exceed the sum calculated above, the excess amount (i.e. gain on a bargain purchase) is recognised in the statements of comprehensive income.

A merger of entities under common control is accounted for by applying the pooling of interests method (predecessor accounting). Under this method, the financial statement items of the combining entities for the period in which the combination occurs and for any comparative periods disclosed are included in the financial statements of the company (the acquirer) as if they had been combined from the beginning of the earliest period presented. Any difference between the amount recorded as share capital issued plus any additional consideration in the form of cash or other assets and the amount recorded for the share capital acquired is adjusted against reserves.

5.5   

Foreign currency translation

Functional and presentation currency

The financial statements are presented in euro (€), which is also the group’s functional currency.

Foreign currency transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency of the group using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions (spot exchange rate).  Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the remeasurement of monetary items denominated in foreign currency at year-end exchange rates are recognised in the statements of comprehensive income.

Non-monetary items are not retranslated at year-end and are measured at historical cost (translated using the exchange rates at the transaction date).

5.6   

Segment reporting

The group has four operating segments: casino and catering, retail gaming, online gaming and real estate. In identifying these operating segments, management generally follows the group’s service lines representing its main products (see Note 7).

Each of these operating segments is managed separately as each requires different technologies, marketing approaches and other resources. All inter-segment transfers are carried out at arm’s length prices based on prices charged to unrelated customers in stand-alone sales of identical goods or services.

For management purposes, the group uses the same measurement policies as those used in its financial statements, except for certain items not included in determining the operating profit of the operating segments.

5.7   

Revenue

Revenue comprises revenue from gaming activities and food and beverages.

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised when performance obligations have been satisfied and the consideration to which the group expects to be entitled to can be measured reliably.

The group evaluates all contractual arrangements it enters into and evaluates the nature of the promised goods or services, and rights and obligations under the arrangement, in determining the nature of its performance obligations.  Where such performance obligations are capable of being distinct and are distinct in the context of the contract, the consideration the group expects to be entitled under the arrangement is allocated to each performance obligation based on their relative stand-alone selling prices.  Revenue is recognised at an amount equal to the transaction price allocated to the specific performance obligation when it is satisfied, either at a point in time or over time, as applicable, based on the pattern of transfer of control.

Gaming revenue

The group recognises revenues as the net win from gaming activities, which is the difference between bets placed less players winnings.

The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:

Draw-based games

Revenue from draw-based games is recognised on the sale of tickets net client winnings.

Gaming tables

Revenue from gaming tables is recognised on the closure of the individual tables and represents the increase or decrease in each table’s position after the settlement of client winnings.

Electronic Gaming Machines

Revenue from EGM’s is recognised when machine counts are carried out and represents the increase or decrease in each machine’s position net of client winnings.

Sports betting

Revenue from sportsbook is recognised on gains and losses in respect of bets placed on live sporting events.

Bingo

Revenue from bingo is recognised on the sale of bingo tickets less clients’ winnings.

Food and beverage revenues

Revenue from the sale of food and beverages is recognised when the food and beverage service is consumed by the customer.

Interest income

Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, which is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to the asset’s net carrying amount.

5.8   

Operating expenses

Operating expenses are recognised in the statements of comprehensive income upon utilisation of the service or at the date of their origin.

5.9   

Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset are capitalised during the period of time that is necessary to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use or sale.  Other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred and reported in ‘finance costs’.

5.10

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognised. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Refer to Note 5.14 for a description of impairment testing procedures.

5.11

Other intangible assets

Intangible assets include acquired software licences, concession fee, trademarks and domain and key money. They are accounted for using the cost model whereby capitalised costs are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, as these assets are considered finite.  Residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each reporting date. In addition, they are subject to impairment testing as described in note 5.14. The following rates are applied:

Concession fee is written off to the statements of comprehensive income by equal annual instalments over the term of the concession.

Acquired software is capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and install the specific software.

Costs associated with maintaining computer software are expensed as incurred.

Trademark acquired in a business combination that qualifies for separate recognition is recognised as intangible asset at fair value.

5.12

Property, plant and equipment

Items of property, plant and equipment, except for land, are carried at acquisition cost less subsequent depreciation and impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised on a straight-line basis to write down the cost less estimated residual value of property, plant and equipment as follows:

In the case of leasehold property, expected useful life is of 10 years or over the term of the lease, if shorter.

Land owned is stated at revalued amounts. Revalued amounts are fair values based on appraisals prepared by external professional valuers once every two years or more frequently if market factors indicate a material change in fair value. Any revaluation surplus is recognised in other comprehensive income and credited to the revaluation reserve in equity. To the extent that any revaluation decrease or impairment loss has previously been recognised in profit or loss, a revaluation increase is credited to profit or loss with the remaining part of the increase recognised in other comprehensive income. Downward revaluations of land are recognised upon appraisal or impairment testing, with the decrease being charged to other comprehensive income to the extent of any revaluation surplus in equity relating to this asset and any remaining decrease recognised in profit or loss. Any revaluation surplus remaining in equity on disposal of the asset is transferred to retained earnings.

As land does not have a finite useful life, related carrying amounts are not depreciated.

Material residual value estimates and estimates of useful life are updated as required, but at least annually, whether or not the asset is revalued.

Gains or losses arising on the disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined as the difference between the disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the assets and are recognised in the statements of comprehensive income within other income or other expenses.

5.13  

Investment property

Investment property comprises an arable land currently held for undetermined future use, a shop and asset under construction for the purpose of earning rental once completed. They are accounted for using the cost model.

The land is carried at its purchase price and directly attributable expenditure such as professional fees for legal services, property transfer taxes and other transaction costs.

As no finite useful life for land can be determined, related carrying amounts are not depreciated. Depreciation on asset under construction does not commence until they are complete and available for use.

5.14  

Impairment of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and investment property

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are largely independent cash inflows (cash-generating units).  As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment and some are tested at cash-generating unit level.

All individual assets or cash-generating units are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.  The recoverable amount is the greater of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. To determine the value in use, the group’s management estimates expected future cash flows from each cash-generating unit and determines a suitable interest rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows.  Discount factors are determined individually for each cash-generating unit and reflect their respective risk profiles as assessed by the group’s management.

Impairment losses are recognised immediately in the statements of comprehensive income. Impairment losses for cash-generating units are charged pro rata to the assets in the cash-generating unit.  All assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist.  An impairment charge that has been recognised is reversed if the cash-generating unit’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount.

5.15 

Leased assets

The group as a lessee

The group makes the use of leasing arrangements principally for its land-based casino, retail shops and office space. The rental contracts for offices are typically negotiated for terms of between 3 and 20 years and some of these have extension terms. Lease terms for office fixtures and equipment and motor vehicles have lease terms of between 6 months and 6 years without any extension terms. The group does not enter into sale and leaseback arrangements. All the leases are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide variety of different terms and conditions such as purchase options and escalation clauses.

The group considers whether a contract is or contains a lease. A lease is defined as ‘a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration’. To apply this definition the group assesses whether the contract meets three key evaluations which are, whether:

Measurement and recognition of leases as a lessee

At lease commencement date, the group recognises a right of use asset and a lease liability on the statement of financial position. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liability, any initial direct costs incurred by the group, an estimate of any costs to dismantle and remove the asset at the end of the lease, and any lease payments made in advance of the commencement date (net of any incentives received).

Subsequent to initial measurement, right-of-use assets of emphyteutic deed are stated at revalued amounts. Revalued amounts are fair values based on appraisals prepared by external professional valuers annually or more frequently if market factors indicate a material change in fair value. Any revaluation surplus is recognised in other comprehensive income and credited to the revaluation reserve in equity.  To the extent that any revaluation decrease or impairment loss (note 5.14) has previously been recognised in profit or loss, a revaluation increase is credited to profit or loss with the remaining part of the increase recognised in other comprehensive income.  Downward revaluations of right-of-use assets are recognised upon appraisal or impairment testing, with the decrease being charged to other comprehensive income to the extent of any revaluation surplus in equity relating to this asset and any remaining decrease recognised in profit or loss.  Any revaluation surplus remaining in equity on disposal of the asset is transferred to retained earnings.

The group depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term.

At lease commencement date, the group measures the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments unpaid at that date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily available or the group’s incremental borrowing rate.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are made up of fixed payments (including in substance fixed), variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and payments arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised.

Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reduced for payments made and increased for interest. It is remeasured to reflect any reassessment or modification, or if there are changes in in-substance fixed payments.

When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is reflected in the right-of-use asset, or profit and loss if the right-of-use asset is already reduced to zero.

On the statements of financial position, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities have been presented separately.

Finance lease

Management applies judgment in considering the substance of a lease agreement and whether it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the leased asset. Key factors considered include the length of the lease term in relation to the economic life of the asset, the present value of the minimum lease payments in relation to the assets value and whether the group obtains ownership of the asset at the end of the lease term.

For leases of land and buildings, the minimum lease payments are first allocated to each component based on the relative fair values of the respective lease interests. Each component is then evaluated separately for possible treatment as a finance lease, taking into consideration the fact that land normally has an indefinite useful life.

Finance lease as lessee or property

Leases of motor vehicle where the group, as lessee, has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are classified at the lease’s inception at the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present value of minimum lease payments. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance lease charges, are included in other short-term and long-term trade and other payables. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to the profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The motor vehicles or property acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the assets’ useful lives or over the shorter of the assets’ useful lives and the lease term if there is no reasonable certainty that the group will obtain ownership at the end of the lease term.

5.16  

Investment in subsidiaries

Investment in subsidiaries is included in the company’s statement of financial position at cost less any impairment loss that may have arisen.  Income from investment in subsidiaries is recognised only to the extent of distributions received by the company from post-acquisition profits.  Distributions received in excess of such profits are regarded as a recovery of the investment and are recognised as a reduction of the cost of the investment.

At each reporting date the company reviews the carrying amount of its investment in subsidiaries to determine whether there is any indication of impairment and, if any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the investments is estimated. An impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount of an investment exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. An impairment loss that has been previously recognised is reversed if the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its recoverable amount.  An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the carrying amount of the investment does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined if no impairment loss had been previously recognised.  Impairment losses and reversals are recognised immediately in the statement of comprehensive income.

5.17  

Investment in associate

Associate is an entity over which the group is able to exert significant influence, but which is neither subsidiary nor a joint venture. Investment in associate is initially recognised at cost and subsequently accounted for using the equity method. Any goodwill or fair value adjustment attributable to the group’s share in the associate is not recognised separately and is included in the amount recognised as investment in associate.

The carrying amount of the investment in associate is increased or decreased to recognise the group’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income of the associate. These changes include subsequent depreciation, amortisation or impairment of the fair value adjustment of assets and liabilities.

5.18  

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs of ordinarily interchangeable items are assigned using weighted average cost formula. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less any applicable selling expenses.

Recognition and derecognition

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument.

Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or when the financial asset and all substantial risks and rewards are transferred. A financial liability is derecognised when it is extinguished, discharged, cancelled or expires.

Classification and initial measurement of financial assets

Except for those trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component and are measured at the transaction price in accordance with IFRS 15, all financial assets are initially measured at fair value adjusted for transaction costs (where applicable).

Financial assets are classified into the following categories:

·         amortised cost

·         fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL)

·         fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI).

The group and the company do not have any financial assets categorised as FVTPL and FVOCI in the periods presented.

The classification is determined by both:

·         the entity’s business model for managing the financial asset; and

·         the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset.

All income and expenses relating to financial assets that are recognised in the statements of comprehensive income are presented within ‘finance costs’ or ‘finance income’.

Subsequent measurement of financial assets

Financial assets at amortised cost

Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if the assets meet the following conditions (and are not designated as FVTPL):

After initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.  The group’s cash and cash equivalents, loans and receivables fall into this category of financial instruments.

Trade and other receivables

The group makes use of a simplified approach in accounting for trade and other receivables and records the loss allowance as lifetime expected credit losses.  These are expected shortfalls in contractual cash flows, considering the potential for default at any point during the life of the financial instrument.  In calculating, the group uses its historical experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate the expected credit losses using a provision matrix.

The group assess impairment of trade receivables on a collective basis as they possess share credit risk characteristics.

Classification and measurement of financial liabilities

The group’s financial liabilities include borrowings, lease liabilities and trade and other payables.

Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, and, where applicable, adjusted for transaction costs unless the group designates a financial liability at fair value through profit or loss.

All interest-related charges and, if applicable, changes in an instrument’s fair value that are reported in the statements of comprehensive income are included within ‘finance costs’ or ‘finance income’.

Offsetting financial instruments

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the statements of financial position when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, or realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

For the purposes of the statements of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and at bank.

Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued.

Accumulated losses include current and prior period results.

Provisions are recognised when present obligations as a result of a past event will probably lead to an outflow of economic resources from the group and amounts can be estimated reliably. Timing or amount of the outflow may still be uncertain.  A present obligation arises from the presence of a legal or constructive commitment that has resulted from past events, for example, product warranties granted, legal disputes or onerous contracts. Restructuring provisions are recognised only if a detailed formal plan for the restructuring has been developed and implemented, or management has at least announced the plan’s main features to those affected by it. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses.

Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure required to settle the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence available at the reporting date, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the present obligation. Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole. Provisions are discounted to their present values, where the time value of money is material.

In those cases where the possible outflow of economic resources as a result of present obligations is considered improbable or remote, no liability is recognised.

All provisions are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to reflect the current best estimate.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.  Use of available information and application of judgement are inherent in making estimates. Actual results in the future could differ from such estimates and the differences may be material to the financial statements. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Except as disclosed below, in the opinion of the directors, the accounting estimates and judgements made in the course of preparing these financial statements are not difficult, subjective or complex to a degree which would warrant their description as critical in terms of the requirements of IAS 1 (revised).

Significant management judgement

The following is a significant management judgement in applying the accounting policies of the group that has the most significant effect on the financial statements.

Recognition of deferred tax asset

The assessment of the probability of future taxable income in which deferred tax asset can be utilised is based on the group’s latest approved budget forecast, which is adjusted for significant non-taxable income and expenses and specific limits to use of any unused tax loss or credit.  If a positive forecast of taxable income indicates the probable use of a deferred tax asset, that deferred tax asset is usually recognised in full.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease

The group uses its judgement in determining whether an arrangement contains a lease, based on the substance of the arrangement and makes assessment of whether it is dependent in the use of a specific asset or assets, conveys a right to use the asset and transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership to/from the group.

In the opinion of the directors, the accounting and estimates made in the course of preparing these financial statements are not difficult, subjective or complex to a degree which would warrant their description as critical in terms of the requirements of IAS 1 (revised).

Estimation uncertainty

Information about estimates and assumptions that have the most significant effect on recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses is provided below. Actual results may be substantially different.

Useful life of depreciable assets

Management reviews its estimate of useful lives of depreciable assets at each reporting date based on the expected utility of the assets. Uncertainties in these estimates relate to technical obsolescence that may change the utility of certain plant and equipment.

Leases - Estimating the incremental borrowing rate

The group cannot readily determine the interest rate implicit in the lease, therefore, it uses its incremental borrowing rate (IBR) to measure lease liabilities. The IBR is the rate of interest that the group would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. The IBR therefore reflects what the group ‘would have to pay’, which requires estimation when no observable rates are available or when they need to be adjusted to reflect the terms and conditions of the lease. The group estimates the IBR using observable inputs (such as market interest rates) when available and is required to make certain entity-specific estimates (such as the entity’s stand-alone credit rating).

Impairment of intangible assets including goodwill and tangible assets

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. To determine the recoverable amount, management estimates expected future cash flows from each cash-generating unit and determines a suitable interest rate in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows (see note 5.14). In the process of measuring expected future cash flows management makes assumptions about future operating results. These assumptions relate to future events and circumstances. The actual results may vary, and may cause significant adjustments to the group’s assets within the next financial year.

In most cases, determining the applicable discount rate involves estimating the appropriate adjustment to market risk and the appropriate adjustment to asset-specific risk factors.

The group tests goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill or intangibles might be impaired. Determining whether the carrying amounts of these assets can be realised requires an estimation of the recoverable amount of the cash generating units. The value in use calculation requires the directors to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash generating unit and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value.

Goodwill arising on a business combination is allocated, to the cash-generating units (“CGUs”) that are expected to benefit from that business combination.

Furthermore, following an in-depth review of the projections, management opted to include an execution risk premium (based on their professional judgement) to mitigate the current forecasting uncertainty and to obtain added comfort that the carrying value of the intangible assets is indeed recoverable.

For further details, refer to note 6 of these financial statements.

CGUs – Casino, Lottery and Online Gaming

The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from their value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to selling prices and direct costs during the period. The directors estimate discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGUs. The growth rates are based on industry growth forecasts. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on past practices and expectations of future changes in the market.

The assessment of recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets includes:

Based on the above assessment, the directors expect the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life to be recoverable.

CGU – Property holding entities

The recoverable amount of the property which is expected to generate rental revenue is determined from the value in use calculation. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to selling prices and direct costs during the period. The directors estimate discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGUs. The growth rates are based on industry growth forecasts. Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on past practices and expectations of future changes in the market.

The assessment of recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill and the investments held by the company includes:

The recoverable amount of property which comprises land and which is carried at cost is determined by reference to market value.

Based on the above assessment, the directors expect the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life to be recoverable.

Inventories

Management estimates the net realisable values of inventories, taking into account the most reliable evidence available at each reporting date. The future realisation of these inventories may be affected by expiry, obsolescence or other market-driven changes that may reduce future selling prices.

6

Acquisition of subsidiaries

7

Segment reporting

8

Other income