How To Monetize Online Video Games - Timeless Advice From Andrew Pascal, Founder, Chairman, & CEO of Play Studios (Nasdaq: $MYPS)

Andrew Pascal serves as Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive
Officer of PLAYSTUDIOS (Nasdaq: $MYPS), a developer of
award-winning, free-to-play casual games for mobile and social
platforms. Mr. Pascal formed PLAYSTUDIOS in 2011, positioning the
brand to be at the forefront of the then-nascent mobile gaming
industry. Mr. Pascal’s achievements and forward-thinking insight
allowed PLAYSTUDIOS to garner early support from gaming giants
MGM Resorts International and Activision Blizzard, among others.
Under his leadership, the company grew its portfolio of game
offerings and real-world rewards while simultaneously embarking
on a global expansion, opening offices and design studios in
Burlingame, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Austin, Texas; Hong
Kong; and Tel Aviv, Israel. Through its first decade, Mr. Pascal
conceived and led the development of playAWARDS, a groundbreaking
loyalty marketing platform that is key to the company’s growth
and retention strategy. Following nearly 10 years of successful
growth across its mobile and social gaming apps, Mr. Pascal led
the company’s transition to a publicly traded enterprise (MYPS)
in 2021. The transaction valued PLAYSTUDIOS in excess of $1
billion. Mr. Pascal remains in the Chief Executive Officer role,
along with his founder-led management team. In 2021, PLAYSTUDIOS
was honored to win the exclusive rights to develop Tetris in the
mobile gaming space. Tetris is ranked the number 1 game in the
history of gaming. In 2022, Mr. Pascal led the acquisition of
Brainium Studio for $70 million. The acquisition adds a rich
suite of popular casual games, such as Solitaire, Spider
Solitaire, Sudoku, and Mahjong, to PLAYSTUDIOS’ portfolio of
industry-leading casino style social games. Prior to founding
PLAYTUDIOS, Mr. Pascal was widely recognized for his stewardship
of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas, the flagship luxury
casino resort properties owned by Wynn Resorts, Ltd. Having
joined the company during its start-up phase in 2003, Mr. Pascal
served as Senior Vice President of Product Marketing and
Development, ultimately ascending to the roles of President and
Chief Operating Officer in 2005. Throughout Mr. Pascal’s tenure,
Wynn Las Vegas garnered multiple awards from the world’s leading
hospitality guides, including the coveted five Red Pavilions from
Michelin, five Diamonds from AAA, and five Stars from Forbes
(formerly Mobil Travel). In 2008, Mr. Pascal led the development
and launch of Wynn Las Vegas’ sister property, Encore Las Vegas.
Together, the two resorts are recognized as the world’s
seventh-largest hotel, with 13,000 employees, 4,750 rooms, and a
number of award-winning gaming, entertainment, retail and
convention offerings. Under Mr. Pascal’s leadership, Wynn Resorts
achieved record performance while also making Las Vegas history,
garnering Forbes five-star ratings in the hotel, restaurant, and
spa categories simultaneously. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Pascal
served as President and Chief Operating Officer of WagerWorks, a
company he founded as a casino solutions and content supplier for
many of the world’s largest gaming and media brands, including
Sky, Virgin Group, SONY, MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts
International), Pearson Television, Action Gaming, and WMS
Gaming. Following Mr. Pascal’s departure, WagerWorks was acquired
by International Game Technology (IGT). Mr. Pascal achieved early
entrepreneurial success in 1994 with the formation of Silicon
Gaming. Backed by Kleiner Perkins and Benchmark Capital, the
startup focused on reinventing the slot machine experience for an
evolving generation of gaming consumers. The company’s
groundbreaking product, the Odyssey, is credited with
establishing the casino industry’s current digital slot machine
paradigm. Silicon Gaming went public in 1996 and launched its
celebrated Odyssey product suite that same year. Mr. Pascal sold
Silicon Gaming to International Game Technology in 2001. Website:
PlayStudios.com