Inspired Entertainment, Inc. - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K 

(Mark One) 

☒  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

or

☐  TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____to _____

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-36689

INSPIRED ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

250 West 57th Street, Suite 2223

New York, New York 10107

(646) 565-3861

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices

and telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐  No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐  No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒  No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of the chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒  No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 126-2 of the act): Yes  ☐  No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock, other than shares held by persons who may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing sales price for the registrant’s common stock on March 31, 2017, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was approximately $44.3 million. For the purpose of this disclosure, executive officers, directors and holders of 10% or more of the registrant’s common stock are considered to be affiliates of the registrant.

As of November 29, 2017, there were 22,415,097 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement relating to the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III. The proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the conclusion of the registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements and other information set forth in this report, including in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere herein, may relate to future events and expectations, and as such constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives and our expected or contemplated future operations, results, financial condition, beliefs and intentions. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations or predictions of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions on which such statements are expressly or implicitly based, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “can”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “scheduled”, “seek”, “should”, “would” and similar expressions, among others, and negatives expressions including such words, may identify forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations about our future results, performance, liquidity, financial condition, prospects and opportunities, and are based upon information currently available to us, our interpretation of what we believe to be significant factors affecting our business and many assumptions regarding future events. Actual results, performance, liquidity, financial condition, prospects and opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. This could occur as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including the following:

In light of these risks and uncertainties, and others discussed in this report, there can be no assurance that any matters covered by our forward-looking statements will develop as predicted, expected or implied. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. We advise you to carefully review the reports and documents we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

Overview

We are a global business-to-business gaming technology company, supplying Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming (“SBG”) products to regulated lottery, betting and gaming operators worldwide through an “omni-channel” distribution strategy. We provide end-to-end digital gaming solutions on our proprietary and secure network, which accommodates a wide range of devices, including land-based gaming machine terminals, mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and online computer and social applications.

Our Virtual Sports business designs, develops, markets and distributes ultra-high-definition games that create an always-on sports wagering experience. We believe we have a strong position in the supply of Virtual Sports gaming products, with a wide product offering available. As of September 30, 2017, our Virtual Sports products were available in more than 40,000 retail venues and on more than 100 websites. Our products are installed in approximately 35 gaming jurisdictions worldwide, including the UK, Italy, Greece, the U.S. and China.

Our SBG business designs, develops, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of more traditional games through our digital network architecture. Our SBG products are offered through approximately 29,000 digital terminals in gaming and lottery venues around the world, with additional terminals contracted for deployment.

Our Virtual Sports products are typically offered to operators on a participation basis, whereby we receive a portion of the gaming revenues generated, plus an upfront software license fee. Our SBG products are typically offered directly to land-based and online casino gaming operators, either: (i) through product sales or (ii) on a participation basis. Because our SBG products are fully digital, they can interact with a central server and are provided on a “distributed” basis, which allows us to realize a number of benefits, including that we are able to access a wider geographic footprint through the internet and proprietary networks. We offer SBG products that operate with a single technology architecture compliant with each of UK (B2/B3), Italian (‘6B), G2S (Greek) and China Lottery (CAOS) technical regulations.

Our customer base includes regulated operators of lotteries, licensed sports bookmakers, gaming and bingo halls, casinos and regulated online operators. Some of our key customers include William Hill, SNAI, Sisal, Lottomatica, Betfred, Paddy Power Betfair, Ladbrokes Coral, Genting, Codere, Sky Vegas, Fortuna and the Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics S.A. (OPAP S.A.). Geographically, more than half of our revenues are derived from, and more than half of our non-current assets are attributed to, our UK operations, with the remainder of our revenues derived from, and non-current assets attributed to, Italy, Greece and the rest of the world. In the year ended September 30, 2017, we earned approximately 65% of our revenue in the UK, 13.5% in Italy, 10% in Greece and the remaining 11.5% across the rest of the world.

Unlike traditional suppliers to the gaming industry, we do not supply traditional slot machines or casino systems. All of our products are provided through multiple channels over a digital network. All of our products are designed to operate within applicable gaming and lottery regulations and all of our customers are regulated gaming or lottery operators.

We operate in a highly regulated industry. We and our products, as applicable, are licensed, authorized or certified, as applicable, in a number of major gaming and lottery jurisdictions. Our key licenses, authorizations and certifications include those from the Gambling Commission of Great Britain, the Italian gaming authorities and the Greek gaming authorities, as well as the Licensing Authority of Gibraltar, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the State of New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. We are a member of key industry associations, including the Gaming Standards Association, the World Lottery Association and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers.

Our Products

We operate our business in two business segments – Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming – representing our different products and services. We evaluate our business performance, resource allocation and capital spending on an operating segment level, where possible. We use the operating results and identified assets of each operating segment to make prospective operating decisions. Although our revenues and cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) are reported exclusively by segment, we include an unallocated column in our financial statements for certain expenses, including depreciation and amortization as well as selling, general and administrative expenses. Unallocated balance sheet line items include items that are a shared resource and therefore not allocated between operating segments. For information about our revenues, operating results, assets, liabilities and cash flows, see our consolidated financial statements and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this report.

Our products in the Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming categories both offer innovative games, available through a variety of distribution channels, including digital SBG terminals, mobile gaming products, computer and online gaming products and services and electronic table games (“ETG”). We believe our omni-channel distribution is an important differentiator of our products in the market, allowing us to update our game and operating software remotely and keep pace with fast-evolving requirements in game play, security, technology and regulations.

Virtual Sports offers ultra-high-definition games that create an always-on sports wagering experience, while SBG offers more traditional casino games such as slots, roulette and other table games. Our Virtual Sports game portfolio includes branded titles such as Rush Football 2^®, Rush Boxing^® featuring Mike Tyson, as well as horse racing, tennis, motor racing, cricket and other sports titles. We offer a comprehensive array of sports titles in Virtual Sports.

Our SBG game portfolio includes a broad selection of leading omni-channel slots titles including Centurion^TM, Super Hot Fruits^TM, and 2 Fat Cats^TM. These games offer customers a wide range of volatilities, return-to-player and other special features. We also offer a range of more traditional casino games through its SBG network, such as roulette, blackjack and keno.

We generate revenues in two principal ways: on a participation basis and through product sales and software license fees. Participation revenues include a right to receive a share of revenue generated from (i) our Virtual Sports products placed with operators; (ii) our SBG terminals placed in gaming and lottery venues; (iii) licensing our game content and intellectual property to third parties; and (iv) our games on third-party online gaming platforms that are interoperable with our game servers. Under our participation agreements, payments made to us are calculated based upon a percentage of the net win, which is the amount of earnings generated from end-users playing the gaming machines, after adjusting for player winnings and relevant gaming taxes. Product sales include the sale of new SBG terminals and associated parts to gaming and betting operators. Software license revenues are principally related to our Virtual Sports product and to license sales of our SBG platform.

Virtual Sports

We believe we are one of the leading suppliers of Virtual Sports gaming products in the world. We offer a wide range of sports and numbers games to more than 40,000 retail venues and more than 100 websites. Our customers are many of the largest operators in lottery, gaming and betting worldwide. We also supply Virtual Sports and other digital games to mobile and online operators in the UK, the U.S. states of Nevada and New Jersey, Gibraltar and other regulated, EU markets. Virtual Sports can be adapted to function in sports betting, lottery, or gaming environments and is therefore available to a wide range of customers in both public and private implementations.

Our Virtual Sports product is comprised of a complex software and networking package that provides fixed odds wagering on an ultra-high definition computer rendering of a simulated sporting event, such as soccer or boxing. Players can bet on the simulated sporting event, in both a streaming and on-demand environment, overcoming the relative infrequency of live sporting events. We have developed this product using an award-winning TV and film graphics team with advanced motion capture techniques.

In addition to soccer and boxing, our virtual sports products also include tennis, speedway (track motorcycle racing), motorcar racing (single seater style and stock cars), velodrome cycle racing, greyhound and horse racing, basketball, boxing, darts and cricket, as well as various lottery ball draw and other numbers games. We have also licensed the use of images of certain sports figures in our games, including boxer Mike Tyson and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal.

Our customers together offer Virtual Sports events to millions of their customers, through land-based, online and mobile platforms, many of them available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and often concurrently within the same location. In 2016 we launched a remote game server Virtual Sports product in 2016, which enables the provision of on-demand Virtual Sports events alongside the scheduled events Virtual Sports events that have so far predominated in our product offerings.

In addition to on-demand Virtual Sports, our Virgo RGS™ offers a wide range of premium slots from feature-rich bonus games to European-style casino free spins, and table games incorporating well-known first and third-party brands including 20p Roulette and Mike Tyson Blackjack. Inspired releases several new titles per month and new games can be seamlessly deployed to the full estate of operators via its Virgo RGS™. Inspired’s Virgo RGS™ is integrated with a number of leading casino brands, including William Hill, Ladbrokes Coral, Bet365, Bwin, Paddy Power, Betfair, LeoVegas and SkyBingo.

Server Based Gaming (SBG)

We supply SBG products, offering games through approximately 29,000 digital terminals located in gaming and lottery venues around the world, with additional terminals contracted for deployment. Because our SBG products are fully digital, they can interact with a central server and are provided on a “distributed” basis, which allows us to realize a number of benefits, including that we are able to access a wider geographic footprint through the internet and proprietary networks. We offer SBG products that operate with a single technology architecture compliant with each of UK (B2/B3), Italian (‘6B), G2S (Greek) and China Lottery (CAOS) technical regulations.

We have a strong market position in the UK, where our SBG terminals account for a material portion of all SBG terminal placements and we offer over 100 games. In addition, we currently have additional terminals contracted to be placed in the EU during fiscal year 2018. We offer SBG terminals such as the Flex4k curved screen, Eclipse, Inceptor, Optimus and Blaze, each offering a different size terminal, graphics, technology and price proposition.

We distribute games to devices via different Game Management Systems (“GMSs”), each tailored to a specific operator and market type. Our CORE^TM system is designed for distributed street-gaming markets and uses Inspired or third-party cabinets in combination with Inspired Inside, and gaming content from a wide portfolio of independent game developers. CORE-CONNECT is our American Gaming Association G2S standard-based Video Lottery Terminal (“VLT”) platform, currently deployed in the Greek VLT market. CORE EDGE^TM is the next iteration of our GMSs, and uses our Virgo remote gaming server (“RGS”), which is also used to power our web-based and mobile content delivery platform. This system, and the HTML5-based games that are deployed on it, mean that we can offer a genuine omni-channel game experience.

Our Strategy

We are focused on executing on key strategies to achieve long-term growth in revenues, profit and cash flow. Our strategic priorities are based on our experience in serving customers in multiple jurisdictions throughout the world, as well as on our expectations for the evolution of the gaming market. We believe the gaming industry will continue to migrate towards networked, distributed, omni-channel gaming. As a result, we have concentrated on developing products that could be distributed via our omni-channel strategy, using a common technology platform. This strategy allows us to update our games and operating software remotely, keeping pace with evolving requirements in game play, security, technology and regulations.

Our key strategic priorities are as follows:

Extend our strong positions in each of Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming by developing new omni-channel products.

We continually invest in new product development in each of our Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming business segments. We believe these investments benefit our existing and new customers by making new products available to them and bringing exciting entertainment experiences to their players. Our digital approach, which connects our content to a wide range of devices and is compatible with a wide range of protocols and regulatory standards, is a differentiator in our industry and creates a significant competitive advantage for us. We have continued to focus on channels where we believe there is considerable growth available – especially mobile, where we can deploy our RGS products. We believe our technological approach allows us to quickly adapt to changes in player preferences.

Continue to invest in games and technology in order to grow our existing customers’ revenues.

Over the last three years, a substantial portion of our annual revenue has been recurring and based on written contracts with customers. These contracts are in the participation-based portion of our business, where our revenues typically grow in line with the growth of our customers’ gaming revenues from our products. We work closely with our customers to assist in the optimization of their terminal operations so they can achieve growth in revenues, which we believe is to our benefit. Accordingly, we continually invest in new game and technology offerings that we believe will enable our customers to keep their offerings fresh and allow them to offer their players new forms of entertainment. We believe our game development is a key aspect of our strategy. We intend to continue this strategic priority in both our Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming businesses.

Add new customers by expanding into underpenetrated markets and newly-regulated jurisdictions.

We believe that our historical growth has been driven, in part, by our entry into new geographic markets, and we expect such geographic expansion to continue. We also intend to seek opportunities to enter new product markets where we believe that we may enjoy competitive advantages. We believe that there are major gaming markets in which we currently have limited participation, but where our products are well positioned, or can be positioned, for future success. For example, we have recently commenced the placement of our products in Nevada with William Hill, and have signed contracts with internet gaming platform providers for the placement of our products in New Jersey.

Pursue targeted mergers and acquisitions to expand our product portfolio and distribution footprint.

In addition to growing our business organically, we continue to pursue merger and acquisition opportunities that will help strengthen and scale our operations and take further advantage of our competitive position in digital gaming. Our management team shares a combination of operating, investing, financial and transactional experience that we believe will serve the Company well as it seeks to identify opportunities for value-adding acquisitions and negotiate and close on beneficial acquisition transactions.

Our Competitive Strengths

We intend to execute our strategy by leveraging the following competitive strengths:

Significant Base of Operations with Recurring Revenue from Long-Term Relationships

Over the last three years, a substantial portion of our annual revenue has been recurring and based on written contracts with customers. Our customers include major blue-chip lottery, sports betting and gaming operators (both land-based and online) within the regulated UK and European markets. Many of our customer relationships are long-standing and in excess of 10 years.

Strong Position in Virtual Sports

Our Virtual Sports products currently generate over $10 billion in player wagers per year. Inspired’s award-winning Virtual Sports products offer a wide range of betting markets and what we consider to be superior graphics. Our Virtual Sports revenue is fast growing and high margin, and complements our recurring-revenue base, which is itself growing.

History of Strong Content Development

We deploy over 100 new games per year across our GMSs. Many of our recent game launches, including Leaders of the Freespin World^TM, 2 Fat Cats^TM, and Super Hot Fruits^TM (a consistent top performer in the Greek market) have been omni-channel, offering a premium player experience across multiple platforms.

Omni-Channel Digital Gaming Platform

Our proprietary digital gaming platform has been developed internally by development teams based in the UK and the EU. We offer SBG products that operate with a single technology architecture compliant with each of UK (B2/B3), Italian (‘6B), G2S (Greek) and China Lottery (CAOS) technical regulations. Our 100% digital, omni-channel platform is able to deliver our content and user experience to devices ranging from SBG terminals to mobile devices.

Experienced Management Team

Our seasoned management team is led by founder, CEO and President Luke Alvarez and Executive Chairman Lorne Weil, whose past leadership includes growing a diversified global gaming technology company. Our management team has broad and deep experience in the gaming industry. In addition, our Executive Chairman and our Chief Strategy Officer have centered their careers on identifying and implementing value creation initiatives, often through acquisitions or other transactional means, and our President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other members of our management team are experienced with the acquisition and integration of businesses.

Industry Overview

We operate within the global gaming and lottery industry. Global gaming and lottery growth has been resilient in the face of economic cycles over the last decade. According to H2 Gambling Capital, the industry has grown at a 3.5% compounded annual growth rate from 2006 to 2016, driven by increased consumer spend and the introduction of new regulated markets.

During this period, digital online and mobile gaming and lottery have grown at a faster pace. According to H2 Gambling Capital, this portion of the industry has grown at a 10.0% compound annual growth rate, driven by rapid growth in the deployment of digital games and technologies, such as Virtual Sports and digital SBG terminals, into land-based venues in the primary markets in which we operate, where regulators have supported the transition to digital, online and retail channels.

We believe that the overall global gaming and lottery industry will continue to grow, with more robust growth in the digital gaming and lottery markets. We believe the industry is content driven and, much like music, videogames and motion pictures, will continue to be transformed by the propagation of digitally-networked technologies.

As a gaming and lottery business-to-business supplier focused on digital products and technologies, we believe we are well-positioned to benefit from these trends.

Influencers of Digital Adoption

We believe the digital segment of the global gaming and lottery industry will continue to grow, including as a result of the following factors:

Governments: Opening of new gaming territories. Many national and state governments operating in developed economies in Europe and the United States are suffering from structural funding deficits. The regulation and liberalization of gaming and lottery is frequently relied upon to raise new sources of revenue for these governments. In most cases, we believe such liberalization does not favor buildouts of large new destination resort casinos, but rather focuses on smaller “edge” venues with lottery, gaming and sports betting, combined with online or mobile gaming.

Digital Multi-Channel Offerings: Replacement of legacy analogue machines with larger volume of smart digital devices, including retail and mobile. In many established markets, as existing gaming terminals mature, governments and regulatory authorities have implemented regulations to upgrade the established terminal base to digital operation.

Smartphones and Mobile Devices: Rapid adoption of gaming and lottery applications on growing volume. In certain markets, mobile play on sports betting and gaming now exceeds such play on personal computers. According to H2 Gambling Capital, mobile gaming revenues in such markets exhibited a 55% compounded annual growth rate between 2008 and 2016. Mobile gaming and lottery is now expanding in other markets, and mobile play has recently been approved in other markets for gaming or lottery. Lottery authorities in certain Asian markets, a market with approximately 600 million smartphones, are currently considering licenses for mobile lottery.

In addition to the foregoing, we believe there are significant benefits for SBG operators in the adoption of digitally networked gaming and lottery. SBG allows operators to remotely manage their operations with minimal disruption to their businesses. The system centralization enabled by digital operations offers flexibility to rotate or change games, tailor game availability to time-of-day, target specific player demographics and take advantage of seasonal and themed marketing opportunities. New games can be phased in without the revenue dip often associated with replacing games on traditional slot machines. In addition, digital operations permit more games per terminal, enabling operators to test new games and new suppliers, seek to appeal to a broader base of players with minimal cost or risk, commission games from third-party party suppliers on an open game interface and reduce procurement risk. Moreover, digital operations significantly reduce the need for on-site repairs, improve terminal up-time and should extend terminal life cycles as well as the time period over which capital costs can be depreciated.

Regulatory Framework

We conduct business in a number of different jurisdictions, of which Great Britain and Italy have historically contributed the most significant recurring revenues. The gaming regulator responsible for our activities in Great Britain is the Gambling Commission of Great Britain (the “UK Gambling Commission” or the “Gambling Commission”). In Italy, the operation of gaming machines and remote gaming is regulated by L’Agenzia delle dogane e dei Monopoli (“ADM”). In addition, we are licensed or certified (as applicable) by the Greek gaming authorities and in a number of other jurisdictions by regulators such as the Licensing Authority of Gibraltar, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and the State of New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Great Britain

In the British market, we supply and distribute Category B2 gaming machines (also known as Fixed-Odd Betting Terminals, or FOBTs, with maximum betting stakes for players of £100), B3 gaming machines (with maximum betting stakes for players of £2) and ETG machines to third parties who are licensed to operate such machines in bricks-and-mortar premises. B2 gaming machines can include B3 content on them. We also supply virtual racing software to local retail venues and to online operators who are licensed to target the British market. We also supply our mobile RGS product to remote operators who are licensed to target the British market. The provision of our products and services in relation to the British market is authorized by a series of licenses issued by the UK Gambling Commission, namely remote and non-remote Gaming Machine Technical (Full) operating licenses, a remote casino operating license, a remote and non-remote gambling software license and a remote general betting standard (virtual events) license.

On October 31, 2017, the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport released a written consultation document, seeking written public responses to proposals it set forth in the document for changes to gaming machine regulations, including reductions in the maximum bets permitted on certain gaming machines in the UK. See the risk factor entitled “A determination by the UK Government to substantially reduce maximum permitted bets on certain gaming machines in the UK could have a material negative impact on our business” in Item 1A, below.

British Betting and Gaming Laws and Regulations. The Gambling Act 2005 (the “GA05”) is the principal legislation in Great Britain governing gambling (other than in relation to the National Lottery, which is governed by separate legislation). The GA05 applies to both land-based gambling (referred to as “non-remote” gambling) and online and mobile gambling (referred to as “remote” gambling).

The GA05 provides that it is an offense to make a gaming machine available for use without an appropriate operating license. There are a number of different categories of licensable gaming machines (the GA05 provides for category A to D machines, although no category A machines are currently in operation); each category is subject to different levels of maximum stakes and prize limits. In addition, there are limits on the numbers and types of gaming machines that can be operated from licensed premises: for example, a licensed betting office is permitted to house up to four category B2 to D machines, while a large casino may house up to 150 category B to D machines (subject to satisfying certain ratios of machines to gaming tables).

Gaming machine suppliers are required to hold an operating license in order to manufacture, supply, install, adapt, maintain or repair a gaming machine or part of a gaming machine. Gaming machine suppliers must also comply with the Gaming Machine Technical Standards published by the Gambling Commission in relation to each category of machine, and such machines must meet the appropriate testing requirements.

In relation to remote gambling, the GA05 (as amended by the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 provides that it is an offense to “provide facilities” for remote gambling either (a) using “remote gambling equipment” situated in Great Britain, or (b) which are used by players situated in Great Britain, in each case without a remote gambling operating license. It is also an offense to manufacture, supply, install or adapt gambling software in Great Britain without an appropriate gambling software license.

A remote gambling operating license holder providing facilities for remote gambling to British players is required to use gambling software manufactured and supplied by the holder of a gambling software license (and to failure to do so is an offence). Where gambling software is used or supplied for use in relation to the British market, it must satisfy the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards published by the Gambling Commission.

The holder of a British gambling operating license is subject to a variety of ongoing regulatory requirements, including but not limited to the following:

Italy

We operate two different gaming businesses in Italy. We supply video lottery terminals (“VLTs”), including the terminal machines themselves, the related online platforms and the games available on the machines, to brick-and-mortar gaming halls. We also supply Virtual Sports products, including online platforms and games, to betting shops and online platforms. Our businesses are operated through the Italian branches of certain of our UK subsidiaries. These branches hold police licenses and are enrolled in the Register of Gestori, as further described below. We supply our Italian VLTs and Virtual Sports products only to operators licensed under Italian gaming laws and regulations.

Our VLT and Virtual Sports platforms must be connected over the internet to servers operated by the ADM. Information regarding gaming sessions and the amounts wagered and won is provided in real time through the ADM servers, in order to enable the ADM to monitor the operation of machines and games and to verify the amount of taxes due.

As further described below, the ADM has issued a decree requiring that VLT platforms, machines and games undergo a substantial technical upgrade by April 1, 2019. Our current expectation is that upgrading our VLT platforms, games and machines to comply with the decree would involve material expenditures on our part. We have not yet decided whether to incur such expenditures or otherwise modify our Italian business.

Italian Betting and Gaming Laws and Regulations. Operators of betting premises offering VLTs (including the entities managing the networks connecting such VLTs to ADM servers), and operators of betting premises or online platforms offering Virtual Sports products, must hold an Italian gaming license. No gaming license is required in order to supply VLTs or Virtual Sports products to such operators. Such VLT platforms, machines and games, and Virtual Sports platforms and games, must be certified and approved by SOGEI, an entity authorized to conduct such certifications, and approved by the Italian Ministry of Finance. Such certifications and approvals must be obtained by such operators, rather than the suppliers of such VLT platforms, machines and games, and Virtual Sports platforms and games.

Suppliers of gaming machines, including VLTs, must hold a police license (as prescribed by article 86, paragraph 3, of the Italian United Text of Public Security Law (TULPS) provided by the Royal Decree 18 June 1931, No. 773) and be enrolled in a registry prescribed by article 1, paragraph 82 of Law No. 220/2010 (known as the “Register of Gestori”). If a supplier of gaming machines is not enrolled in the Register of Gestori, any agreement it enters into regarding the supply of gaming machines is null and void. In addition, if the enrollment is not renewed, existing agreements regarding the supply of gaming machines become null and void. Enrollment in the Register of Gestori is subject to, among other things, a review of the suitability of the applicant business entity and its directors. In the event of a change of control of the entity enrolled in the Register of Gestori (but not of such entity’s direct or indirect parent entities), the details of such change must be notified to the ADM and suitability must be reconfirmed.

Suppliers of Virtual Sports products are not required to hold a police license, be enrolled in the Register of Gestori or otherwise be licensed or registered.

ADM Decree No. 37100, dated April 4, 2017, requires that VLT platforms, machines and games undergo a substantial technical upgrade by April 1, 2019. In absence of such an upgrade, a VLT supplier would be in breach of any agreements with its operators to remain in compliance with Italian gaming laws and regulations, and its platforms and machines would no longer be authorized to offer games.

Greece

In Greece, we supply VLTs, including the terminal machines themselves, the related online platforms and the games available on the machines, to brick-and-mortar gaming locations operated by OPAP, the country’s sole licensed operator of gaming machines. We supply such VLTs under a certification provided by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (the “HGC”). We also supply Virtual Sports products within retail venues operated by OPAP and via self-service betting terminals within OPAP venues.

Greek Betting and Gaming Laws and Regulations. According to articles 25(b) and 44 par. 2 of Law 4002/2011 as in force, as well as according to HGC’s Decision No 225/2/25.10.2016, all suppliers of gaming machines in Greece must be certified by the HGC in order to legally supply, sell, lease, offer or distribute any VLT or virtual game or any other game of chance (i.e. games including wagers or bets and the result of which games depends, even partly, on the influence of luck). Suppliers are divided into two types, manufacturers and importers/distributors (according to articles 47 and 48 of the aforementioned HGC’s Decision). In order for a manufacturer to receive certification, it must satisfy the HGC as to its corporate and financial status and must not have been denied a gaming license or certification in any other country. In order for an importer/distributor to receive certification, it must satisfy the HGC as to its corporate and financial status, must not have been denied a gaming license or certification in any other country and must have the approval of the manufacturer to supply its products in the Greek market.

Gaming Regulation and Changes in Ownership

In all of the jurisdictions in which we are subject to gaming regulations, regulators require us to keep them informed as to our ownership structure and composition and, to varying extents and in various circumstances, require us to disclose certain information regarding the persons who directly or indirectly hold our shares. Depending on the regulator, we may need to provide such information not only when we first seek licenses or certifications, but also when material changes (measured at different levels) occur in the ownership of our shares. As a result, material changes in our shareholdings may be subject to special procedures in order to ensure the continuation of our gaming licenses and certifications.

Content Development

We continually invest in new product development in each of our Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming business segments. Inspired has a full stack game development structure, combining its own leading technology frameworks together with some of the industry’s best math, art, creative and production personnel, along with a select few external development teams to deliver the best in omni-channel mobile and VLT games. We deploy over 100 new games per year across our SBG and mobile RGS network. Many of our recent game launches have been omni-channel, including Leaders of the Freespin World^TM, 2 Fat Cats^TM, and Super Hot Fruits^TM, which has also launched to great success in the Greek VLT market. In Virtual Sports we combine graphical assets and software that controls those assets to schedule events and generate results via a random number generator, as well as supplying on demand versions of our content. We account for our development costs as software development costs and these are typically amortized over a two year period.

Suppliers

Our principal supply arrangements concern the supply of our SBG terminal components, content provision and outsourced labor. We work closely with our key suppliers to ensure a high level of quality of goods and services is obtained and have worked with many of these suppliers for many years. We have achieved significant cost savings through centralization of purchases.

Customers

Our customer base includes regulated operators of lotteries, licensed sports bookmakers, gaming and bingo halls, casinos and regulated online operators. Some of our key customers include William Hill, SNAI, Sisal, Lottomatica, Betfred, Paddy Power Betfair, Ladbrokes Coral, Genting, Codere, Sky Vegas, Fortuna and OPAP S.A. We typically implement design and content variations to customize their terminals and player experiences. Our license agreements with customers for the provision of SBG content and Virtual Sports products include provisions to protect our intellectual property rights in our games and other content.

Operations

Our operations include game production, platform and hardware design, production, testing, and distribution; the maintenance, management, and extension of our centralized network for product distribution and product monitoring; the delivery and, in certain circumstances, maintenance of SBG terminals; gaming machine engineering, assembly, repair and storage; parts supply; change and release management; remote operational services; problem management; business development; market account management; and general administration and management, including Finance, Legal, People (Human Resources), Investor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Quality, Compliance and Information Security.

Employees

We have over 760 full time employees, circa 95% of them are located in the United Kingdom, in six principal locations. Approximately 35 of our full-time employees are located in Italy. Six of our full-time employees are located in the United States. We also have 80 people located with nearshore and offshore partners throughout the world.

We have over 250 full-time employees and 70 nearshore or offshore personnel dedicated to delivering our SBG and digital platforms. Approximately 100 of our full-time employees are assigned to the ongoing operation of our network, through which we supply and maintain our products. We have 150 full-time employees involved in UK field operations. Our management, sales and administration teams account for approximately 60 employees.

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property consists principally of the propriety software we develop to operate our network and in the design and distribution of our games. We depend upon agreements relating to trade secrets and proprietary know-how to protect our rights in this intellectual property. We require all our employees, contractors and other collaborators to enter into agreements that prohibit the disclosure of our confidential information to other parties. In addition, it is our policy to require our employees, contractors and other collaborators who have access to proprietary and trade secret material to enter into agreements that require them to assign any and all intellectual property rights to us that arise as a result of their work on our behalf. We also require our employees to review and acknowledge our trade secret policies regarding how we handle trade secrets. These agreements, acknowledgements and policies may not provide adequate protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use or disclosure in violation of these agreements, and may not be sufficient to secure for us the value in such developments that they are designed to secure.

We also hold certain patents, trademarks, design rights and other intellectual property rights in respect of our products, systems, web domains, and other intellectual property. We also rely on certain products and technologies that we license from third parties. Proprietary licenses typically limit our use of intellectual property to specific uses and for specific time periods.

Competition

We operate in a highly competitive industry, and in highly competitive business segments. We face competition from a number of worldwide businesses, many of which have substantially greater financial resources and operating scale than we do. Such competition could adversely affect our ability to win new contracts and sales and renew existing contracts. We operate in a period of intense price-based competition in some key markets, which could affect the profitability of the contracts and sales we do win. In certain markets, our businesses also face competition from suppliers, operators or licensees who offer products for internet gaming in illegal or unregulated markets, but are still able or permitted to supply products and compete with us in regulated markets. These competitors often have substantially greater financial resources and operating scale than we do. Our principal competitors include, among others, certain businesses that have vertically integrated gaming machine and retail betting operations and businesses that operate in both regulated and unregulated markets and thereby effectively subsidize their regulated operations with unregulated operations.

Seasonality

Our revenues are subject to a number of variations. Equipment sales and software license revenues usually reflect a limited number of large transactions, which may not recur on an annual basis. Consequently, revenues and operating results can vary substantially from period to period as a result of the timing of equipment sales and software licensing. In addition, revenues may vary depending on the timing of contract awards and renewals, changes in customer budgets and general economic conditions. However, our revenues are not subject to regular seasonal variations of the sort often related to seasonal consumer behavior, such as increased spending during holiday periods or changes related to vacations or school calendars. 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

Our business is subject to a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and assess our discussion of the risk factors facing our business, below. Any of these risks could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects, and cause the value of our common stock to decline, which could cause investors in our common stock to lose all or part of their investments.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

We operate in a highly competitive industry and our success depends upon our ability to effectively compete with numerous worldwide businesses.

We face competition from a number of businesses, including worldwide businesses, many of which have substantially greater financial resources and operating scale than we do. Such competition could adversely affect our ability to win new contracts and sales and renew existing contracts. We operate in a period of intense price-based competition in some key markets, which could affect the profitability of the contracts and sales we do win.

In certain markets, our businesses also face competition from suppliers, operators or licensees who offer products for internet gaming in illegal or unregulated markets, but are still able or permitted to supply products and compete with us in regulated markets. These competitors often have substantially greater financial resources and operating scale than we do.

If we cannot successfully compete in our industry and business segments, our business, results, financial condition and prospects could suffer.

We are heavily dependent on our ability to renew our long-term contracts with our customers and we could lose substantial revenue if we are unable to renew certain of these contracts.

Generally, our Virtual Sports contracts are for initial terms of three to five years, with renewals at the customer’s option. Generally, our SBG terminal contracts are for terms of four to six years, but certain customers have options for early termination under certain circumstances, and we may face pressure to renew or upgrade terminals during the lives of these contracts, which could adversely affect revenues or our return on capital and leave us with surplus terminals. At any given time, we have multiple substantial customer contracts that have years to run and others that may be nearing expiration or renewal, which we may lose if we cannot compete effectively to retain their business.

There can be no assurance that our current contracts will be extended or that we will be awarded contract extensions or new contracts as a result of competitive bidding processes or otherwise. The termination, expiration or failure to renew one or more of our contracts could cause us to lose substantial revenue.

Changes in applicable gambling regulations or taxation regimes may affect the revenues or profits generated by the contracts we enter into with our customers. Many of the contracts have with our customers are on revenue-sharing terms, and therefore changes which adversely affect our customers may also adversely affect us. In addition, such changes may cause our customers to seek to renegotiate their contracts, may alter the terms on which such customers are prepared to renew their contracts and may affect their ability or willingness to renew their contracts.

We rely on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our sales, and the loss of, or material reduction in, sales to any of our top customers could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Certain key customers, including certain UK, Italian and Greek SBG terminal customers and certain Virtual Sports customers, make a significant contribution to our revenues and profitability. Our top ten customers generated 70% of total revenues in the year ended September 30, 2017. During the year ended September 30, 2017, there were two customers that represented at least 10% of our revenues, accounting for 26% and 10% of the Company’s revenues, respectively. We expect that these customers will continue to represent a significant portion of our sales in the future. However, the loss of any of our top customers, whether through contract expiry and non-renewal, breach of contract or other adverse factors could materially adversely affect our revenues or return on capital and leave us with surplus terminals. Moreover, if any of these customers experience reduced revenue, such reduction could adversely affect any revenue-sharing arrangements we have with those customers, reduce our own revenues and adversely affect our financial results.

We are dependent on our relationships with key suppliers to obtain equipment and other supplies for our business on acceptable terms.

We have achieved significant cost savings through our centralization of equipment and non-equipment purchases. However, as a result, we are exposed to the credit and other risks of a group of key suppliers. While we make every effort to evaluate our counterparties prior to entering into long-term and other significant procurement contracts, we cannot predict the impact on our suppliers of the current economic environment and other developments in their respective businesses. Insolvency, financial difficulties or other factors may result in our suppliers not being able to fulfill the terms of their agreements with us. Further, such factors may render suppliers unwilling to extend contracts that provide favorable terms to us, or may force them to seek to renegotiate existing contracts with us. In addition, our business has signed a number of significant contracts whose performance depends upon third party suppliers delivering equipment on schedule for us to meet its contract commitments. Failure of the suppliers to meet their delivery commitments could result in us being in breach of and subsequently losing those contracts. Although we believe we have alternative sources of supply for the equipment and other supplies used in our business, concentration in the number of our suppliers could lead to delays in the delivery of products or components, and possible resultant breaches of contracts that we have entered into with our customers; increases in the prices we must pay for products or components; problems with product quality; and other concerns.

Our ability to bid on new contracts is dependent upon our ability to fund any required up-front capital expenditures through our cash from operations, the incurrence of indebtedness or the raising of additional equity capital.

Our SBG terminal contracts in the UK, Italy and Greece often require significant up-front capital expenditures for terminal assembly, software customization and implementation, systems and equipment installation and telecommunications configuration. Historically, we have funded these up-front costs through cash flows generated from operations and borrowings under our credit facilities. Our ability to continue to procure new contracts, including in new jurisdictions, will depend upon, among other things, our liquidity levels at the time or our ability to obtain additional debt or equity funding at commercially acceptable terms to finance the initial up-front costs. If we do not have adequate liquidity or are unable to obtain other funding for these up-front costs on favorable terms or at all, we may not be able to bid on certain contracts, which could restrict our ability to grow and have an adverse effect on our ability to retain existing contracts and therefore on future profitability.

Our business depends upon the protection of our intellectual property and proprietary information.

We believe that our success depends, in part, on protecting our intellectual property in the UK and in other countries. Our intellectual property includes certain patents and trademarks relating to our systems, as well as proprietary or confidential information that is not subject to patent or similar protection. Our intellectual property protects the integrity of our games, systems, products and services, which is a core value of the industries in which we operate. Protecting our intellectual property can be expensive and time-consuming, may not always be successful depending on local laws or other circumstances, and we also may choose not to pursue registrations in certain countries. Competitors may independently develop similar or superior products, software, systems or business models. In cases where our intellectual property is not protected by an enforceable patent, or other intellectual property protection, such independent development may result in a significant diminution in the value of its intellectual property.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to protect our intellectual property. We enter into confidentiality or license agreements with our employees, vendors, consultants and, to the extent legally permissible, our customers, and generally control access to, and the distribution of, our game designs, systems and other software documentation and other proprietary information, as well as the designs, systems and other software documentation and other information we license from others. Despite our effort to protect these proprietary rights, parties may try to copy our gaming products, business models or systems, use certain of our confidential information to develop competing products, or independently develop or otherwise obtain and use our gaming products or technology, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business. Policing unauthorized use of our technology is difficult and expensive, particularly because of the global nature of our operations. The laws of some countries may not adequately protect our intellectual property.

There can be no assurance that our business activities, games, products and systems will not infringe upon, misappropriate of otherwise violate the proprietary rights of others, or that other parties will not assert infringement or misappropriation claims against us. Any such claim and any resulting litigation, should it occur, could subject us to significant liability for costs and damages and could result in invalidation of our proprietary rights, distract management, and/or require us to enter into costly and burdensome royalty and licensing agreements. Such royalty and licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or may not be available at all. In the future, we may also need to file lawsuits to defend the validity of our intellectual property rights and trade secrets, or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Such litigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources.

We also rely on certain products and technologies that we license from third parties. Proprietary licenses typically limit our use of intellectual property to specific uses and for specific time periods. There can be no assurance that these third-party licenses, or the support for such licenses, will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms. In the event that we cannot renew and/or expand existing licenses, we may be required to discontinue or limit our use of the products that include, incorporate, or rely on licensed intellectual property.

Our industry is subject to strict government regulations that could limit our existing operations and have a negative impact on our ability to grow.

In certain jurisdictions, forms of wagering, betting and lottery may be expressly authorized and governed by law and in other jurisdictions forms of wagering, betting and lottery may be expressly prohibited by law. If expressly authorized, such activities are typically subject to extensive and evolving governmental regulation. Gaming regulatory requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Therefore, we are subject to a wide range of complex gaming laws, rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we are licensed or may seek to be licensed. Most jurisdictions require that we are licensed or authorized, that our key personnel and certain of our security holders are found to be suitable or are licensed, and that our products are reviewed, tested and certified or approved before placement. If a license, approval, certification or finding of suitability is required by a regulatory or national authority and we fail to seek or do not receive the necessary approval, license, certification or finding of suitability, or if it is revoked, then we may be prohibited from distributing our products for use in the respective jurisdiction. Additionally, such prohibition could trigger reviews of our Company by regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions and adversely affect our ability to obtain or retain the required licenses and approvals in those jurisdictions.

The regulatory environment in any particular jurisdiction may change in the future, and any such change could have an adverse effect on our results of operations or business in general. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the operation of Server Based Gaming terminals, Video Lottery Terminals, Virtual Sports betting, lottery or other forms of wagering systems will be approved, certified or found suitable by additional jurisdictions or that those jurisdictions in which these activities are currently permitted will continue to permit such activities in their existing forms or at all. While we believe that we have the means to continue to develop procedures and policies designed to comply with and monitor the requirements of evolving laws, there can be no assurance that law enforcement agencies, governmental agencies or gaming regulatory authorities, whether in existing or new jurisdictions, will not seek to restrict our business or otherwise institute enforcement proceedings or other legal claims against the Company. Moreover, in addition to the risk of such enforcement actions or claims, we are also at risk from loss of business reputation in the event of any potential legal or regulatory investigation whether or not we are ultimately accused of or found to have committed any violations.

We supply our products to operators of gaming venues, platforms and websites who typically must themselves be licensed by gaming regulators. If any one of these operators fails to maintain its gaming licenses, or violates gaming laws or regulations, our business may suffer, due to our loss of a viable customer and, in instances where we have a revenue-sharing arrangement with the operator, due to our loss of our shares of the revenue generated by that operator’s business.

We supply certain of our products to operators who operate gaming websites. Some of those operators may take bets from customers in markets where no gaming laws or regulations exist and where the provision of online gaming is effectively unregulated. Although the Company seeks to ensure that its customers only take bets in markets where online gaming is legal, if any of those operators is subjected to investigatory or enforcement action for acting otherwise, this could result in the operator suffering interventions ranging from special conditions being applied to its licenses, license suspension or license loss, or the operator otherwise withdrawing from or curtailing its activities in its market. Any such developments could adversely affect such operator’s revenues and in turn adversely affect our earnings from such operator. The Company may itself be subject to investigatory or enforcement action (if and to the extent that local laws or the laws of other jurisdictions in which the Company operates impose liability on suppliers for the activities of the customers that they supply or for receiving funds that are deemed to be illegal because of such activities). We seek to protect ourselves against any such liability for the activities of the operators that we supply, including by contractually requiring those operators not to operate in certain territories and only supplying operators who we have reviewed to determine whether they uphold the requisite standards of regulatory and legal compliance. Nonetheless, there is a risk that we may fail to undertake sufficient due diligence, fail to receive accurate information on which to conduct due diligence, or become subject to investigatory or enforcement action should we or any of our customers be accused of breaching any regulations or laws. Any such action may adversely affect our standing with gaming regulators and our ability to obtain and retain required licenses and other approvals in other jurisdictions.

We may be required to obtain and maintain licenses and certifications from various state and local jurisdictions in order to operate certain aspects of our business and we and our key personnel and certain security holders may be subject to extensive background investigations and suitability standards. We may also become subject to regulation in any other jurisdiction where our customers are permitted to operate in the future. Licenses and ongoing regulatory compliance can be costly. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain new licenses or renew any of our existing licenses, and the loss, denial or non-renewal of any of our licenses could have an adverse effect on our business. Generally, regulatory authorities have broad discretion when granting, renewing or revoking approvals and licenses. Our failure, or the failure of any of our key personnel, systems or machines, in obtaining or retaining a required license or approval in one jurisdiction could have a negative impact on our ability (or the ability of any of our key personnel, systems or gaming machines) to obtain or retain required licenses and approvals in other jurisdictions. The failure to obtain or retain a required license or approval in any jurisdiction would decrease the geographic area where we may operate and generate revenues, decrease our share in the gaming marketplace and put us at a disadvantage compared with our competitors. In addition, the levy of substantial fines or forfeiture of assets could significantly harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Some jurisdictions also require extensive personal and financial disclosure and background checks from persons and entities beneficially owning a specified percentage of equity securities of licensed or regulated businesses. The failure of beneficial owners of our common stock to submit to such background checks and provide required disclosure could jeopardize our business. In light of these regulations and the potential impact on our business, our second restated certificate of incorporation provides for the prohibition of stock ownership by persons or entities who fail to comply with informational or other regulatory requirements under applicable gaming law, who are found unsuitable to hold our stock by gaming authorities or whose stock ownership adversely affects our ability to obtain, maintain, renew or qualify for a license, contract, franchise or other regulatory approval from a gaming authority. The licensing procedures and background investigations of the authorities that regulate our businesses and the proposed amendment may inhibit potential investors from becoming significant stockholders or inhibit existing stockholders from retaining or increasing their ownership.

Our businesses are subject to a number of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing data privacy and security, including with respect to the collection, storage, use, transmission and protection of personal information and other consumer data. In particular, the EU has adopted strict data privacy regulations. Following recent developments such as the European Court of Justice’s 2015 ruling that the transfer of personal data from the EU to the U.S. under the EU/U.S. Safe Harbor was an invalid mechanism of personal data transfer, the adoption of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield as a replacement for the Safe Harbor, and the upcoming effective date of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, data privacy and security compliance in the EU are increasingly complex and challenging. The scope of data privacy and security regulations continues to evolve, and we believe that the adoption of increasingly restrictive regulations in this area is likely within the U.S. and other jurisdictions. Compliance with data privacy and security restrictions could increase the cost of our operations and failure to comply with such restrictions could subject us to criminal and civil sanctions as well as other penalties.

We are subject to the provisions of the UK Bribery Act 2010, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws. The UK Bribery Act generally prohibits giving a financial or other advantage to another person with the intention of inducing that person to improperly perform a relevant function or activity. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act generally prohibits U.S. persons and companies and their agents from offering, promising, authorizing or making improper payments to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Certain of these anti-corruption laws also contain provisions that require accurate record keeping and further require companies to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. Although we have policies and controls in place that are designed to ensure compliance with these laws, if those controls are ineffective or an employee or intermediary fails to comply with the applicable regulations, we may be subject to criminal and civil sanctions as well as other penalties. Any such violation could disrupt our business and adversely affect our reputation, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We review and develop our internal compliance programs in an effort to ensure that we comply with legal requirements imposed in connection with our business activities. The compliance program is run on a day-to-day basis by our in-house legal department with compliance and technical advice provided by our compliance manager and outside professionals. There can be no assurance that such steps will prevent the violation of one or more laws or regulations, or that a violation by us or an employee will not result in the imposition of administrative, civil and even criminal sanctions, monetary fines or suspension or revocation of one or more of our licenses.

Our industry is subject to regulations that set parameters for levels of gaming or wagering duty, tax, stake, prize and return to player.

In most jurisdictions in which we operate or expect to seek to operate, the level of duty or taxation, the stake, prize and return to player of wagering, betting and lottery games and the speed at which players can participate in gaming are defined in government regulations which are subject to change. Those regulations may also affect the premises in which gaming activities may take place (i.e., by limiting the number of gaming machines which may be housed in a licensed gaming location, or by restricting the locations in which licensed gaming premises may be situated). Once authorized, such parameters are subject to extensive and evolving governmental regulation. Moreover, such gaming regulatory requirements vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Therefore, we are subject to a wide range of complex gaming parameters in the jurisdictions in which we are licensed. If a key parameter is changed, such as the level of taxation or duty or the maximum stake or prize or return to player of a game, then it may be to the detriment of our business, financial condition, results and prospects or we may be unable to distribute our products profitably.

A determination by the UK Government to substantially reduce maximum permitted bets on certain gaming machines in the UK could have a material negative impact on our business.

On October 31, 2017, the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport released a written consultation document, seeking written public responses to proposals it set forth in the document for changes to gaming machine regulations and other related regulatory matters. Responses are due by January 23, 2018, after which the UK Government is expected to take action with respect to some or all of the proposals raised in the consultation document or in the responses it receives to the document. The consultation and any UK Government action that follows represent the expected culmination of the triennial review of gaming regulation commenced by the UK Government in October 2016.

The UK Government’s principal proposal in the consultation document is to reduce the maximum permitted betting stake for players of B2 gaming machines (also known as Fixed-Odd Betting Terminals, or FOBTs) from the current £100 to either £50, £30, £20 or £2. A reduction of the maximum permitted B2 betting stake could adversely affect players’ interest in and use of B2 gaming machines; the total stakes wagered on such machines; the earnings made by operators who offer such machines at their betting locations; the portion of operators’ revenues that we receive under total revenue-sharing contracts and SBG revenue-sharing contracts we have with such operators; and demand for the supply of such machines in the future. A significant portion of our SBG revenue is derived from our revenue-sharing arrangements with customers who operate our SBG terminals as B2 gaming machines. Therefore, if the maximum permitted B2 betting stake is reduced, and any of the foregoing potential adverse consequences were to result, there could be a material adverse effect on our SBG revenues and consequently on our overall business.

Because it is unknown when, after the end of the consultation response period on January 23, 2018, the UK Government may take action to reduce the maximum permitted B2 betting stake; what reduced level of maximum permitted betting stake may be imposed; and when such reduction would come into force, there can be no assurance as to the extent to which any such reduction would affect our earnings or our business generally. Although a reduction of the maximum permitted betting stake to £50 might not have a substantial adverse effect on our earnings, a reduction to £30 could reduce our earnings by a substantial fraction and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and a reduction to £2 would reduce our earnings significantly and would likely have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. In all events, we currently expect that we might not experience material effects to our operations from any betting stake reduction until our 2019 fiscal year, and that there would be a period of time between the UK Government’s announcement of a reduction and its imposition, during which we could begin taking measures intended to mitigate the effects of the reduction. For the foregoing reasons, although we currently expect that a reduction in the maximum B2 betting stake may have at least some degree of adverse effect on our business, there can be no assurance as to when any reduction of the maximum permitted betting stake will be imposed, how steep a reduction it may be, or when, how and to what extent such a reduction would affect our business.

Our business is subject to evolving technology.

The markets for our products are affected by changing technology, new regulations and evolving industry standards. Our ability to anticipate or respond to such changes and to develop and introduce new and enhanced products and services on a timely basis will be a significant factor in our ability to expand, remain competitive, attract new customers and retain existing contracts. For example, some of our contracts with customers require that the technology being licensed by the customer remain compliant with applicable regulations. Because regulatory changes cannot always be foreseen, such contractual requirements can from time-to-time result in us having to incur unforeseen costs to adapt our technology to changes in regulation.

Generally, there can be no assurance that we will achieve the necessary technological advances, have the financial resources, introduce new products or services on a timely basis or otherwise have the ability to compete effectively on a technological basis in the markets we serve.

Our business competes on the basis of the stability, security and integrity of our software, networks, systems, games and products.

We believe that our success depends, in significant part, on providing secure products and systems to our vendors and customers with high levels of uptime, quality and availability. Attempts to penetrate security measures may come from various combinations of customers, retailers, vendors, players, employees and others. Our ability to monitor and ensure quality of our products is periodically reviewed and enhanced. There can be no assurance that our business might not be affected by a security breach, virus, Denial of Service attack, or technical error, failure or lapse which could have an adverse impact on our business.

Additionally, we maintain a large number of games and terminals and jackpot systems, which rely on algorithms and software designed to pay out winnings to players at certain ratios. Our systems, testing and processes to monitor and ensure the payout of games are periodically reviewed and enhanced, and are additionally reviewed and tested by third-party expert test houses. There can be no assurance that our business might not be affected by a malicious or unintentional breach or technical error, failure or lapse which could have an adverse impact on payout ratios which would consequently have an adverse effect on our business in the form of lost revenues or penalty payments to players or customers. Gaming regulators may take enforcement action against us (including the imposition of significant fines) where the payout ratios fall below the ratios advertised to customers, or our software, networks, systems, games and/or products otherwise suffer from technical error, failure or lapse.

We may be adversely affected by disruptions to our transaction gaming and lottery systems, as well as disruptions to our internal enterprise and information technology systems.

Our operations are dependent upon our transactional gaming, lottery and information technology systems. We rely upon such systems to manage customer systems on a timely basis, to coordinate our sales and installation activities across all of our locations and to manage invoicing. A substantial disruption in our transactional gaming, lottery and information technology systems for any prolonged time period (arising from, for example, system capacity limits from unexpected increases in our volume of business, outages, computer viruses, unauthorized access or delays in its service) could result in delays in serving our customers, which could adversely affect our reputation and customer relationships and could result in monetary penalties pursuant to the terms of customer contracts. Our systems might be damaged or interrupted by natural or man-made events or by computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, or similar disruptions affecting the Internet and our disaster recovery plan may be ineffective at mitigating the effects of these risks. Such delays, problems or costs could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Gaming opponents persist in their efforts to curtail legalized gaming, which, if successful, could limit our existing operations.

Legalized gaming is subject to opposition from gaming opponents, including in the UK, Italy and other markets where we are active. There can be no assurance that this opposition will not succeed in preventing the legalization of gaming in jurisdictions where these activities are presently prohibited or prohibiting or limiting the expansion or continuance of gaming where it is currently permitted, in either case to the detriment of our business, financial condition, results and prospects.

Our directors and key personnel are subject to the approval of certain regulatory authorities, which, if withheld, will require us to sever our relationship with non-approved individuals, which could adversely impact our operations.

Our members, managers, directors, officers and key employees must also be approved by certain government and state regulatory authorities. If such regulatory authorities were to find a person occupying any such position unsuitable, we would be required to sever our relationship with that person. We may thereby lose key personnel which would have a negative effect on our operations. Certain public and private issuances of securities and certain other transactions by us also require the approval of certain state regulatory authorities. Further, our gaming regulators can require us to disassociate ourselves from suppliers or business partners found unsuitable by the regulators. For a summary of some of the significant gaming regulations that affect our business, see “Regulatory Framework” in Item 1 above. The regulatory environment in any particular jurisdiction may change in the future and any such change could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, we are subject to various gaming taxes, which are subject to increase at any time.

Licensing and gaming authorities have significant control over our operations and ownership, and could cause us to redeem certain stockholders on potentially disadvantageous terms.

Regulatory authorities have broad powers to request detailed financial and other information, to limit, condition, suspend or revoke a registration, gaming license or related approval and to approve changes in our operations. Some jurisdictions also require extensive personal and financial disclosure and background checks from persons and entities beneficially owning a specified percentage of equity securities of licensed or regulated businesses. For example, in the UK, an entity holding a gambling license must notify the Gambling Commission of the identity of any shareholder holding, directly or indirectly, 3% or more of its equity or voting rights, and must apply for permission to continue to rely on its operating license whenever a new person acquires, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of its equity or voting rights. The failure of beneficial owners of our common stock to submit to such background checks and provide required disclosure could jeopardize our business. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the extent required by the gaming authority making the determination of unsuitability or to the extent the board of directors determines, in its sole discretion, that a person is likely to jeopardize the Company’s or any affiliate’s application for, receipt of, approval for, right to the use of, or entitlement to, any gaming license, shares of our capital stock that are owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or its affiliates are subject to mandatory redemption by us. The redemption price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both, as required, and pursuant to the terms established by, the applicable gaming authority and, if not, as we elect. Such a redemption could occur on terms or at a time that a stockholder believes to be disadvantageous.

Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with, or liabilities under, any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.

We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional, state and local governments, including non-U.S. governments. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have an adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, or liabilities thereunder, could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Certain of our executive officers and directors are affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business opportunity should be presented to us or to another entity.

Certain of our executive officers and directors are affiliated with entities that are engaged in businesses similar to the ones we operate. As a result, any of them may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and to other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented — to us or to another entity. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential business opportunity may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our Company and such opportunity is one that we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.

We are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries.

We are a holding company and derive all of our operating income from our subsidiaries. Other than any cash we retain, all of our assets are held by our direct and indirect subsidiaries. We rely on the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries, which are paid to us by our subsidiaries, if and only to the extent available, in the form of dividends and other payments or distributions, to meet our debt service obligations. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or distributions to us will depend upon their respective operating results and may be restricted by, among other things, the laws of their jurisdiction of organization (which may limit the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends and other distributions to us), the terms of existing and future indebtedness and other agreements of our subsidiaries and the covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.

Our inability to complete future acquisitions of gaming and related businesses and integrate those businesses successfully could limit our future growth, if any.

We continue to pursue expansion and acquisition opportunities in gaming and related businesses and we could face significant challenges in managing and integrating the expanded or combined operations including acquired assets, operations and personnel. There can be no assurance that acquisition opportunities will be available on acceptable terms or at all or that we will be able to obtain necessary financing or regulatory approvals to complete potential acquisitions. Our ability to succeed in implementing our strategy will depend upon the ability of our management to identify, complete and successfully integrate commercially viable acquisitions. Acquisition transactions may disrupt our ongoing business and distract management from other responsibilities. Any future acquisition transactions involving the use of company stock would dilute our existing stockholders and earnings per share.

Our business may be affected by changes in general and local economic and political conditions.

The demand for our services is sensitive to general and local economic conditions over which we have no control, including changes in the levels of consumer disposable income and geographical exposure to macro-economic trends and taxation. In addition, the economic stability of certain Eurozone countries where we conduct or intend to conduct business may become affected by sovereign debt crises or other general and local economic and political conditions. Adverse changes in economic conditions may affect our business generally or may be more prevalent or concentrated in particular markets in which we operate. Any deterioration in economic conditions or the continuation of uncertain economic conditions could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Other economic risks which may adversely affect our performance include high interest rates, inflation and volatile foreign exchange markets, and effects arising from Great Britain’s exit from the European Union (“Brexit”).

The performance of our business may also be subject to political risks in certain jurisdictions where we operate, including change of government, political unrest, war or terrorism.

Our revenues can vary substantially from period to period and you should not rely upon our periodic operating results as indications of future performance.

Our revenues are subject to variations. Wagering equipment sales and software license revenues usually reflect a limited number of large transactions, which may not recur on an annual basis. Consequently, revenues and operating results can vary substantially from period to period as a result of the timing of major equipment sales and software license revenue. In addition, revenues may vary depending on the timing of contract awards and renewals, changes in customer budgets and general economic conditions. Revenues may also vary based on adverse sequences of payouts of prizes, unusual jackpot wins, and other variations in game margin.

Our business could also be affected by natural or man-made disasters such as floods, storms or terrorist attacks. We have taken steps to have disaster recovery plans in place but there can be no assurance that such an event would not have a significant adverse impact on our business.

We have operations in a variety of countries, which subjects us to additional risks.

We are a global business and derived substantially all of our revenue outside the United States during the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 24, 2016, respectively. In the year ended September 30, 2017, we earned approximately 65% of our revenue in the UK, 13.5% in Italy, 10% in Greece and the remaining 11.5% across the rest of the world. Our business in foreign markets subject us to risks customarily associated with such operations, including:

Our consolidated financial results are significantly affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency exchange rate exposures arise from current transactions and anticipated transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. Dollars, and from the translation of foreign currency balance sheet accounts into GBP-denominated or U.S. Dollar-denominated balance sheet accounts. Exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations exists and will continue because a significant portion of our revenues are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, particularly GBP and the Euro. Exchange rate fluctuations have in the past adversely affected operating results and cash flows and may continue to adversely affect results of operations and cash flows and the value of assets.

As a result of the geographic concentration of our operations in the UK, Italy and Greece, our operating results and cash flow depend significantly on economic conditions and the other factors listed above in these market areas. There can be no assurance that we will be able to operate on a continuing successful basis in these markets or in any other foreign market.

Our business could be negatively affected by ownership changes and consolidation in the gaming industry.

Because a substantial part of our revenue is recurring in nature, our medium to long term results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be negatively affected if any of our customers were sold to or merged with other customers, or if consolidation in the gaming industry were otherwise effected. Consolidation among gaming operators could result in our customers using more products and services of our competitors or reducing their spending on our products, or could otherwise cause downward pricing pressures, any of which outcomes could negatively affect our business.

We may not be able to capitalize on the expansion of interactive gaming or other trends and changes in the gaming and lottery industries, including due to laws and regulations governing these industries, and other factors.

We participate in new and evolving aspects of the interactive gaming and lottery industries. Part of our strategy is to take advantage of the liberalization of regulations covering these industries on a global basis. These industries involve significant risks and uncertainties, including legal, business and financial risks. The success of these industries and of our interactive gaming and lottery products and services may be affected by future developments in social networks (including Facebook) mobile platforms, gaming regulations, data privacy laws and other matters which we are unable to predict or control. The fast-changing environment in these industries can make it difficult to plan strategically and can provide opportunities for competitors to grow their businesses at our expense. Consequently, our future results of operations, cash flows and financial condition are difficult to predict and may not grow at the rates we expect.

Laws relating to internet gaming are evolving. To varying degrees, governments have taken steps to change the regulation of internet wagering through the implementation of new or revised licensing and taxation regimes, including the possible imposition of sanctions on unlicensed providers. We cannot predict the timing, scope or terms of the implementation or revision of any such state, federal or foreign laws or regulations, or the extent to which any such laws and regulations may facilitate or hinder our strategy.

In jurisdictions that authorize internet gaming, we cannot assure that we will be successful in offering our technology, content and services to internet gaming operators, because we expect to face intense competition from our traditional competitors in the gaming and lottery industries as well as a number of other domestic and foreign competitors (and, in some cases, the operators themselves), many of which have substantially greater financial resources or experience in this area than we do.

Know-your-customer and geo-location programs and technologies supplied by third parties are an important aspect of certain internet and mobile gaming products and services, because they can confirm certain information with respect to players and prospective players, such as age, identity and location. Payment processing programs and technologies, typically provided by third parties, are also a necessary feature of interactive wagering products and services. These programs and technologies are costly, and our use of them may have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Additionally, we cannot assure that products or services containing these programs and technologies will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, or that they will perform accurately or otherwise in accordance with required specifications.

Our business is capital intensive and our ability to retain customers may be influenced by our ability to deploy additional capital.

Customers of our server based gaming products frequently request us to incur capital expenditures to provide gaming terminals to support their land-based operations. While we seek to obtain what we believe to be satisfactory rates of return on such investments, these capital expenditures can be meaningful and may be concentrated within short periods of time. To the extent that we have insufficient access to capital or liquidity at the time that a customer, or prospective customer, makes such a request, we may be at a competitive disadvantage in retaining or attracting such customer. Such a circumstance could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

We may be subject to claims arising from the operations of our various businesses for periods prior to the dates we acquired them.

On December 23, 2016, the business combination that created the current Inspired Entertainment, Inc. was consummated (the “Business Combination” or the “Merger”). For a further description of the Business Combination, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Business Combination”. Since 2010 and prior to the Business Combination, we have consummated two acquisitions. We may be subject to claims or liabilities arising from the ownership or operation of acquired businesses for the periods prior to our acquisition of them, including environmental, employee-related and other liabilities and claims not covered by insurance.

Our success depends upon our key personnel.

Our business results depend largely upon the continued contributions of our Executive Chairman, our President and Chief Executive Officer and other members of our management team, as well as certain key technical specialists, game designers, operational experts and other developers and operators of key intellectual property and processes. If we lose the services of one or more members of our management team or key employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as the market price of our securities, could be adversely affected. Furthermore, some of our key employees do not have prior experience operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources training them and helping them become familiar with such requirements.

The long-term performance of our business relies on our ability to attract, develop and retain talented personnel and our labor force while controlling our labor costs.

To be successful, we must attract, develop and retain highly qualified and talented personnel who have the experience, knowledge and expertise to successfully implement our key business strategies. We also must attract, develop and retain our labor force while maintaining labor costs. We compete for employees, including sales people, regional management, executive officers and others, with a broad range of employers in many different industries, including large multinational firms, and we invest significant resources in recruiting, developing, motivating and retaining them. The failure to attract and retain key employees, or to develop effective succession planning to assure smooth transitions of those employees and the knowledge, customer relationships and expertise they possess, could negatively affect our competitive position and our operating results. Further, if we are unable to cost-effectively recruit, train and retain sufficient skilled personnel, we may not be able to adequately satisfy increased demand for our products and services, which could adversely affect our operating results.

Restrictions in our existing credit agreement, or any other indebtedness we may incur in the future, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations, and our ability to make distributions to stockholders and the value of our common stock.

Our existing credit agreement, or any future credit facility or other indebtedness we enter into, may limit our ability to, among other things:

The provisions of our existing credit agreement or other debt instruments may affect our ability to obtain future financing and pursue attractive business opportunities and our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business conditions. In addition, a failure to comply with the provisions of our credit agreement, any future credit facility or other debt instruments could result in a default or an event of default that could enable our lenders or other debt holders to declare the outstanding principal of that debt, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If the payment of our debt is accelerated, our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full, and you could experience a partial or total loss of your investment.

We may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.

Economic and credit market conditions, the performance of the gaming industry and our financial performance, as well as other factors, may constrain our financing abilities. Our ability to secure additional financing, if available, and to satisfy our financial obligations under indebtedness outstanding from time to time will depend upon our future operating performance, the availability of credit, economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

We may require additional financing to fund our operations and growth. The failure to secure additional financing could have an adverse effect on our continued development or growth. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us.

We may be unable to develop sufficient new products and product lines and integrate them into our existing business, which may adversely affect our ability to compete; our expansion into new markets may present competitive and regulatory challenges that differ from current ones.

Our business depends in part on our ability to identify future products and product lines that complement existing products and product lines and that respond to our customers’ needs. We may not be able to compete effectively unless our product selection keeps up with trends in the markets in which it competes or trends in new products. In addition, our ability to integrate new products and product lines into our existing business could affect our ability to compete. Furthermore, the success of new products and product lines will depend upon market demand and there is a risk that new products and product lines will not deliver expected results, which could adversely affect our future sales and results of operations. Our expansion into new markets may present competitive, distribution and regulatory challenges that differ from current ones. We may be less familiar with new product categories and may face different or additional risks, as well as increased or unexpected costs, compared to existing operations.

Risks Relating to Our Status as a Public Company

We may not be able to effectively implement, on a continuing basis, controls and procedures required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Prior to the Business Combination, we were not subject to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Following the Business Combination, we are required to provide management’s attestation on internal controls, commencing with our annual report for the year ended September 30, 2017. The standards required for a public company under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are significantly more stringent than those previously required of Inspired Gaming Group when it was a privately held company. If we are not able to implement, on a continuing basis, the additional requirements of Section 404 with adequate compliance, we may not be able accurately to assess whether our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, which may subject us to adverse regulatory consequences and could harm investor confidence and the market price of our common stock.

The obligations associated with being a public company require significant resources and management attention.

We currently face legal, accounting, administrative and other costs and expenses applicable to a U.S. public company that Inspired Gaming Group did not incur as a private company. In addition, Inspired Gaming Group had been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other related resources and will need to add personnel in areas such as accounting, financial reporting, investor relations and legal that are needed in connection with our operations as a public company. We incurred incremental costs related to operations as a public company of approximately $4.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2017 (excluding stock-based compensation). We expect to incur incremental costs related to operating as a public company of approximately $5.0 million annually, excluding stock based compensation cost, although there can be no assurance that these costs will not be higher, particularly when we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. Our company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which requires us to file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition and proxy and other information statements, and the rules and regulations implemented by the SEC, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and Nasdaq, each of which imposes additional reporting and other obligations on public companies. Our senior management may not be able to maintain programs and policies in an effective and timely manner that adequately respond to such increased legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements, including maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting. Our compliance with existing and evolving regulatory requirements results in increased administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could result in a failure to prevent, or to detect or correct on a timely basis, material misstatements in the financial statements of the Company, and could have an adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

Certain material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting were identified in connection with the preparation of the audits of the consolidated financial statements of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), for the periods ended September 24, 2016, September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014. These weaknesses have been remediated. Nevertheless, we enter into transactions that are complex and whose accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP requires extensive knowledge of U.S. GAAP and financial reporting disclosure requirements. No assurance can be given that our internal control over financial reporting will be sufficient to prevent recurring or additional material weaknesses in future periods. If material weaknesses are discovered in the future, we may fail to meet our future reporting obligations in a timely and reliable manner and our financial statements could contain material misstatements. Any such failure could adversely affect business and the price of our common stock.

We may be required to recognize impairment charges related to goodwill, identified intangible assets and property and equipment or to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and stock price, which could have an adverse effect on your investment.

We are required to test goodwill and any other intangible asset with an indefinite life for possible impairment on the same date each year and on an interim basis if there are indicators of a possible impairment. We are also required to evaluate amortizable intangible assets and property and equipment for impairment if there are indicators of a possible impairment. There is significant judgment required in the analysis of a potential impairment of goodwill, identified intangible assets and property and equipment. If, as a result of a general economic slowdown, deterioration in one or more of the markets in which we operate or impairment in our financial performance and/or future outlook, the estimated fair value of our long-lived assets decreases, we may determine that one or more of our long-lived assets is impaired. An impairment charge would be determined based on the estimated fair value of the assets and any such impairment charge could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Even though these charges may be non-cash items and would not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about the Company or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to be unable to obtain future financing on favorable terms or at all.

An active trading market for our securities may never develop, or if developed, may not continue, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.

An active trading market for our securities may never develop, or if developed, it may not be sustained. In addition, the price of our securities can vary due to general economic conditions and forecasts, our general business condition and the release of our financial reports. Depending on the number of shares you hold and other factors, you may not be able to sell your shares at the times you prefer at desirable market prices.

Our warrants transitioned from NASDAQ to the over-the-counter markets operated by OTC Markets Group in April 2017, as a result of the Company having less than 400 round-lot warrant holders. The lack of a stock exchange listing may limit investors’ ability to effect transactions in our public warrants.

In September 2017, we received confirmation from NASDAQ that we were in compliance as to the minimum 300 round-lot shareholder requirement for our common stock. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain compliance with this or any other listing qualifications in the future.

Our warrants could expire worthless, the terms could be amended and we may redeem our warrants at a time that is disadvantageous to you.

The exercise price for our warrants is $5.75 per one-half of one share ($11.50 per whole share), subject to adjustment. Warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of shares of our common stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. There is no guarantee that the warrants will be in the money when warrant holders choose to exercise their warrants and they may expire worthless.

In addition, the warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding warrants approve of such amendment. Examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.

We have the ability to redeem the warrants any time prior to their expiration at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that (i) the last reported sale price of our common stock equals or exceeds $24.00 per share for any 20 trading days within the 30 trading-day period ending on the third business day before we send the notice of such redemption and (ii) on the date we give notice of redemption and during the entire period thereafter until the time the warrants are redeemed, there is an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the public warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available unless warrants are exercised on a cashless basis. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force holders:

The private placement warrants are not redeemable by us so long as they are held by their initial purchasers or their permitted transferees.

Concentration of ownership of the Company may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control.

Our largest stockholder, Landgame S.à.r.l, holds approximately 45% of the outstanding common stock of the Company, and as a result has the ability to strongly influence the outcome of corporate actions of the Company requiring stockholder approval. In addition, Landgame S.à.r.l. is party to a stockholders agreement that provides it with the right to nominate up to three of the seven members of our board of directors. As a result, this stockholder has the ability to exert influence over our business and may make decisions with which other stockholders may disagree. In addition, under the same stockholders agreement, another one of our stockholders, Hydra Industries Sponsor LLC (the “Hydra Sponsor”), has the right to nominate one director, and affiliates of Macquarie Group Limited have the right, jointly with the Hydra Sponsor, to nominate two directors. Each of the foregoing stockholders also have rights to appoint more directors if the size of our board of directors is increased. As a result, each of these stockholders has the ability to exert influence over our business and may support or make decisions with which other stockholders may disagree. Moreover, the concentrations of ownership described above may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

Pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we are an “emerging growth company.”

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, and generally requires in the same report a report by our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The Company will be required to provide management’s attestation on internal controls effectiveness with respect to the year ended September 30, 2017. However, under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We could be an “emerging growth company” until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following October 29, 2019, the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering (“IPO”), (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. An “emerging growth company” can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have chosen not to “opt out” of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend upon appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We do not currently expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future dividend payments are within the absolute discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, our results of operations, working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements, financial condition, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions with respect to payment of dividends, business opportunities, anticipated cash needs, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. Consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend upon appreciation in the price of our common stock.

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

The price of our securities may fluctuate significantly due to general market and economic conditions. In addition, the price of our securities can vary due to general economic conditions and forecasts, our general business condition and the release of our financial reports. If our results do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of our securities may decline. In addition, fluctuations in the price of our securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment. Any of the factors listed below could have an adverse effect on your investment in our securities and our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline.

Factors affecting the trading price of the Company’s securities may include:

Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our securities irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general, and NASDAQ in particular, have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to the Company could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. 

Our business and stock price may suffer as a result of our lack of public company operating experience and if securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about the Company, our business, or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our common stock adversely, the price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.

The Company’s lack of public company operating experience may make it difficult to forecast and evaluate our future prospects. If the Company is unable to execute its business strategy, either as a result of its inability to manage effectively its business in a public company environment or for any other reason, the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and operating results may be harmed.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of the Company, our stock price and trading volume would likely be negatively affected. If any of the analysts who may cover the Company change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, the price of our common stock would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover the Company were to cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on the Company, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

If substantial numbers of shares of our common stock are sold by our stockholders in a short period of time, the market price of our common stock may decline.

If our existing stockholders sell substantial amounts of their shares of our common stock in the public market, the market price of our common stock could decrease significantly. The perception in the public market that our existing stockholders might sell shares of common stock could also depress our market price. We filed a registration statement that became effective in July 2017 covering the resale of 16,686,335 shares of our outstanding common stock held by certain stockholders and the shares underlying our warrants and, as a result, such shares may be sold in the public market, subject to applicable securities laws. A decline in the price of shares of our common stock might impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional shares or other equity securities. In addition, up to 2,500,000 additional shares of our common stock may be issued as earnout consideration pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

We may issue a significant number of shares of our common stock or other securities from time to time.

We may issue shares of our common stock or other securities from time to time as consideration for, or to finance, future acquisitions and investments or for other capital needs. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our shares or the effect, if any, that future sales and issuances of shares would have on the market price of our common stock. If any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares of common stock or the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of other securities that we may issue may in turn be substantial and may result in additional dilution to our stockholders. We may also grant registration rights covering shares of our common stock or other securities that we may issue in connection with any such acquisitions and investments.

Anti-takeover provisions contained in our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.

The Company’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions include:

These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in our board of directors and management.

As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which prevents some stockholders holding more than 15% of our outstanding common stock from engaging in certain business combinations without approval of the holders of substantially all of our outstanding common stock. In addition, effective August 13, 2017, we have adopted a shareholder rights plan in the form of a Rights Agreement, which could have the effect of making it uneconomical for a third party to acquire us on a hostile basis. If the Rights Agreement is not approved at the Company’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, the Rights will expire at the close of business on August 12, 2018. Any provision of our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, the Stockholders’ Rights Agreement or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.

Risks Relating to Global Economic and Political Conditions

Volatility or disruption in the financial markets could materially adversely affect our business and the trading price of our common stock.

Our business relies on stable and efficient financial markets. Any disruption in the credit and capital markets could adversely impact our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms. Volatility in the financial markets could also result in difficulties for financial institutions and other parties that we do business with, which could potentially affect the ability to access financing under existing arrangements. We are exposed to the impact of any global or domestic economic disruption, including any potential impact of the decision by the United Kingdom to exit the European Union and the sovereign debt crises in certain Eurozone countries where we do business. Our ability to continue to fund operating expenses, capital expenditures and other cash requirements over the long term may require access to additional sources of funds, including equity and debt capital markets, and market volatility and general economic conditions may adversely affect our ability to access capital markets. In addition, the inability of our vendors to access capital and liquidity with which to maintain their inventory, production levels and product quality and to operate their businesses, or the insolvency of our vendors, could lead to their failure to deliver merchandise. If we are unable to purchase products when needed, our sales could be materially adversely affected. Accordingly, volatility or disruption in the financial markets could impair our ability to execute our growth strategy and could have an adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

Currency exchange rate fluctuations could result in lower revenues, higher costs and decreased margins and earnings.

We conduct purchase and sale transactions in various currencies, which increases our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates globally. Additionally, there has been, and may continue to be, volatility in currency exchange rates as a result of the United Kingdom’s June 23, 2016 referendum in which voters approved the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union ( “Brexit”). It is possible that sovereign debt crises in certain Eurozone countries could lead to the abandonment of the Euro and the reintroduction of national currencies in those countries. International revenues and expenses generally are derived from sales and operations in various foreign currencies, and these revenues and expenses could be affected by currency fluctuations, specifically amounts recorded in foreign currencies and translated into U.S. Dollars for consolidated financial reporting, as weakening of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar will adversely affect the U.S. Dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings. Currency exchange rate fluctuations could also disrupt the business of the independent manufacturers that produce our products by making their purchases of raw materials more expensive and more difficult to finance. Foreign currency fluctuations could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may hedge certain foreign currency exposures to lessen and delay, but not to completely eliminate, the effects of foreign currency fluctuations on our financial results. Since the hedging activities are designed to lessen volatility, they not only reduce the negative impact of a stronger U.S. Dollar or other trading currency, but they also reduce the positive impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar or other trading currency. Our future financial results could be significantly affected by the value of the U.S. Dollar in relation to the foreign currencies in which we conduct business. The degree to which our financial results are affected for any given time period will depend in part upon our hedging activities, and there can be no assurance that our hedging activities will be effective.

Global economic conditions could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

The uncertain state of the global economy continues to affect businesses around the world, most acutely in emerging markets and developing economies. If global economic and financial market conditions do not improve or deteriorate, the following factors could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition:

International hostilities, terrorist or cyber-terrorist activities, natural disasters, pandemics, and infrastructure disruptions could prevent us from effectively serving our customers and thus adversely affect our results of operations.

Acts of terrorist violence, cyber-terrorism, political unrest, armed regional and international hostilities and international responses to these hostilities, natural disasters, including hurricanes or floods, global health risks or pandemics or the threat of or perceived potential for these events could have a negative impact on us. These events could adversely affect our customers’ levels of business activity and precipitate sudden significant changes in regional and global economic conditions and cycles. These events also pose significant risks to our employees and our physical facilities and operations around the world, whether the facilities are ours or those of our third-party service providers or customers. By disrupting communications and travel and increasing the difficulty of obtaining and retaining highly skilled and qualified personnel, these events could make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver products and services to our customers. Extended disruptions of electricity, other public utilities or network services at our facilities, as well as system failures at our facilities or otherwise, could also adversely affect our ability to serve our customers. We may be unable to protect our employees, facilities and systems against all such occurrences. We generally do not have insurance for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist attacks, conflicts and wars. If these disruptions prevent us from effectively serving our customers, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

We face risks arising from the results of the public referendum held in United Kingdom and its membership in the European Union.

The ongoing developments following from the United Kingdom’s public referendum vote to exit from the European Union (“Brexit”) could cause disruptions to and create uncertainty surrounding our business, including affecting our relationships with existing and potential customers, suppliers and employees. Negotiations have commenced to determine the terms of the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the European Union, including the terms of trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The effects of Brexit will depend upon any agreements the United Kingdom makes to retain access to European Union markets either during a transitional period or more permanently. The measures could potentially disrupt some of our markets and jurisdictions in which we operate, and adversely change tax benefits or liabilities in these or other jurisdictions. In addition, Brexit could lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which European Union laws to replace or replicate. In addition, the announcement of Brexit has caused significant volatility in global stock markets and currency exchange rate fluctuations, including the strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against some foreign currencies, and the Brexit negotiations may continue to cause significant volatility. The progress and outcomes of Brexit negotiations also may create global economic uncertainty, which may cause customers and potential customers to monitor their costs and reduce their budgets for products and services. Any of these effects of Brexit, among others, could materially adversely affect the business, business opportunities, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of our Company.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

The Company occupies approximately 90,500 square feet of leased space in the United Kingdom, 11,900 square feet of leased space elsewhere in Europe and a small office in New York:

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

From time to time, the Company is involved in legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. While the Company believes that such matters are currently not material, there can be no assurance that matters arising in the ordinary course of business for which the Company is, or could be, involved in litigation, will not have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.

In June 2017, we settled a claim which had been filed in the High Court in London, on December 22, 2015, by the Performing Rights Society relating to the alleged infringement of copyrighted material of the Performing Rights Society’s members in certain games on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in UK Licensed Betting Offices. In June, the Performing Rights Society and the UK bookmaker defendants (who had formed a joint defense group) reached a settlement of these claims; the cost to the Company in excess of the insured amount was £250 ($321).

On June 30, 2017, Martin E. Schloss, the former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, naming as defendants the Company and A. Lorne Weil, alleging a breach by Mr. Weil of a purported oral contract to name Mr. Schloss as general counsel of the entity surviving any initial business combination effected by the Company, and asserting unjust enrichment claims against Mr. Weil and the Company and quantum meruit claims against the Company to receive additional compensation for Mr. Schloss’s past services to the Company prior to its initial business combination, seeking unspecified damages in an amount allegedly expected by the plaintiff to be no less than $1 million. The Company believes that any damages if Mr. Schloss were to prevail would not be material to the Company, and is contesting the matter vigorously.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market Information

Our common stock is listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “INSE”. Until December 2016, our common stock, warrants and units were traded under the symbols “HDRA,” “HDRAW,” and “HDRAU,” respectively. Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, we separated our units into their component securities and the units ceased public trading. In April 2017, our public warrants transitioned from NASDAQ to the over-the-counter markets operated by OTC Markets Group, where they trade under the symbol “INSEW”.

The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock and warrants for the fiscal periods indicated as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market and over-the-counter markets, as applicable.

On November 29, 2017, the reported closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $9.65, and the reported closing price of our public warrants on the over-the-counter markets was $0.50.

Holders

As of November 29, 2017, there were approximately 90 holders of record of our common stock and approximately 11 holders of record of our public warrants.

Dividends

We have not declared any cash dividends on our common stock to date and we do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

None.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

The following selected historical consolidated financial data as of and for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and September 24, 2016 have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this report. The following selected historical consolidated financial data as of and for the twelve months ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 have been derived from audited financial statements of the Company not included in this report but previously publicly disclosed. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected in the future. You should read the following selected historical consolidated financial data in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in report.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Item 6, “Selected Financial Data”, and the financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results could differ materially from the historical results discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this report.

OVERVIEW

We are a global business-to-business gaming technology company, supplying Virtual Sports and Server Based Gaming (“SBG”) products to regulated lottery, betting and gaming operators worldwide through an “omni-channel” distribution strategy. Our strategic priorities are to:

Business Segments

We report our operations in two business segments, Virtual Sports and SBG, representing our different products and services. We evaluate our business performance, resource allocation and capital spending on an operating segment level, where possible. We use our operating results and identified assets of each of our operating segments in order to make prospective operating decisions. Although our revenues and cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) are reported exclusively by segment, we do include unallocated items in our financial statements for certain expenses including depreciation and amortization as well as selling, general and administrative expenses. Unallocated balance sheet line items include items that are a shared resource and therefore not allocated between operating segments.

Our Virtual Sports business segment designs, develops, markets and distributes ultra-high-definition games that create an always-on sports wagering experience. Our Virtual Sports customers include virtual sports retail and digital operators.

Our SBG business segment designs, develops, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of games through our digital network architecture. Our SBG customers include UK licensed betting offices (“LBOs”), casinos, gaming hall operators, bingo operators and regulated operators of lotteries, as well as government-affiliated operators.

Geographic Range

Geographically, more than half of our revenues are derived from, and more than half of our non-current assets are attributed to, our UK operations, with the remainder of our revenues derived from, and non-current assets attributed to, Italy, Greece and the rest of the world. In the year ended September 30, 2017, we earned approximately 65% of our revenue in the UK, 13.5% in Italy, 10% in Greece and the remaining 11.5% across the rest of the world. In the year ended September 24, 2016, we earned approximately 73% of our revenue in the UK, 18% in Italy and the remaining 9% across the rest of the world.

Foreign Exchange

Our results are affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of the translation of foreign functional currencies into our reporting currency and the re-measurement of foreign currency transactions and balances. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations represents the difference between current rates and prior-period rates applied to current activity. The largest geographic region in which we operate is the United Kingdom, and the British pound (“GBP”) is considered to be our functional currency. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar (“USD”). Our results are translated from our functional currency of GBP into the reporting currency of USD using average rates for profit and loss transactions and applicable spot rates for period-end balances. The effect of translating our functional currency into our reporting currency, as well as translating the results of foreign subsidiaries that have a different functional currency into our functional currency, is reported separately in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.

In the twelve months ending September 30, 2017, we derived approximately 35% of our revenue from sales to customers outside of the UK, compared to 27% in the twelve months ending September 24, 2016 and 25% in the twelve months ending September 26, 2015.

In the section “Results of Operations” below, currency impacts shown have been calculated as the current-period average GBP: USD rate less the equivalent average rate in the prior period, multiplied by the current period amount in our functional currency (GBP). The remaining difference, referred to as constant currency, is calculated as the difference in our functional currency, multiplied by the prior-period average GBP: USD rate, as a proxy for constant currency movement. This is not a U.S. GAAP measure, but is one which management believes gives a clearer indication of results. In the tables below, variances in particular line items from period to period exclude currency translation movements, and currency translation impacts are shown independently.

Business Combination

We were formed in Delaware on May 30, 2014 under the name Hydra Industries Acquisition Corp. (“Hydra”) as a “blank check company” for the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar business transaction, one or more operating businesses or assets. On December 23, 2016, we consummated our business combination by acquiring Inspired Gaming Group, pursuant to the share sale agreement, dated as of July 13, 2016 (the “Sale Agreement”), by and among Hydra Industries Acquisition Corp. and those persons identified on Schedule 1 thereto (the “Vendors”), including DMWSL 633 Limited, the parent of Inspired Gaming Group. Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, we acquired all of the outstanding equity and shareholder loan notes of the Inspired Gaming Group. We refer to such acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by the Sale Agreement collectively as the “Business Combination” or the “Merger”. We changed our name from Hydra Industries Acquisition Corp. to Inspired Entertainment, Inc. upon consummation of the Business Combination and changed our fiscal-year end to September 30.

The Business Combination has been accounted for as a “reverse merger” in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Hydra was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was principally based on Inspired Gaming Group comprising the ongoing operations of the combined entity, Inspired Gaming Group’s senior management comprising the majority of the senior management of the combined entity and former shareholders of Inspired Gaming Group having a majority of the voting power of the combined entity. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Inspired Gaming Group issuing stock for the net assets of Hydra, accompanied by a recapitalization. Operations prior to the Business Combination that are reflected in the historical financial information presented are those of Inspired Gaming Group. The net assets of Hydra are stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use certain financial measures that are not compliant with U.S. GAAP (“non-GAAP financial measures”), including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, to analyze our operating performance. In this discussion and analysis, we present certain non-GAAP financial measures, define and explain these measures and provide reconciliations to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measures. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures” later in this Item 7.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations is divided into separate sections, addressing, in the following order:

The twelve-month financial periods presented consist of a 371-day period for 2017, 364-day periods for each of 2016 and 2015. Each of these periods is intended to approximate a twelve-month period, and they are often referred to twelve-month periods or years. The balance sheet date for fiscal year 2017 is September 30, for fiscal year 2016 is September 24 and for fiscal year 2015 is September 26.

Our results are affected by changes in exchange rates over the three years, primarily between our functional currency (GBP) and our reporting currency (USD). In the years ending September 30, 2017, September 24, 2016 and September 26, 2015 the average rate was 1.28, 1.44 and 1.55 respectively.

In the discussion below, certain data may vary from the amounts presented in our consolidated financial statements due to rounding.

Twelve Months ended September 30, 2017 compared to Twelve Months ended September 24, 2016

Revenue

From 2016 to 2017, total revenue increased by $2.8 million, or 2.3%, to $122.5 million. Adverse currency movements reduced the variance by $16.6 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $19.4 million, or 16.2%.

SBG revenue, which is included in total revenue, above, increased by $14.6 million, or 16.9%, comprised mostly of growth in hardware sales of $9.4 million and service revenue of $5.3 million.

Hardware revenue growth was driven by SBG terminal sales in the Greek, UK and Colombian markets of $6.1 million, $2.5 million and $3.7 million, respectively. This was offset by reductions in Italy of $1.7 million and reductions in sales of Electronic Table Games (“ETG”) of $1.2 million.

SBG service revenue increased by $5.3 million, or 6.7%, as a result of the roll out of terminals in Greece, growth in Gross Win per unit per day incomes for UK LBOs, increased volume for non-UK LBOs and a software license sale into the Greek market. (“Gross Win per unit per day” is defined as stake less amounts returned to the player in prize, before gaming tax deductions.) These increases were partially offset by changes in contract terms for two key UK customers in conjunction with extensions to the end dates of those contracts without the need to make further capital investments.

Virtual Sports revenue increased by $4.7 million, or 14.2%, driven mainly by a new customer in Greece, along with new customers in Italy, Poland and the UK, and an increase in revenue from existing customers.

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, which includes machine cost of sales, consumables, content royalties and connectivity costs, increased by $6.3 million, to $26.7 million. Favorable currency movements reduced the variance by $3.6 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $9.9 million.

Cost of hardware increased by $8.5m due to a number of nil margin sales in the year. See “Non GAAP Measures” below for further details. These were at a lower gross margin percentage than the prior year as a result of nil margin sales (see non-GAAP measures below). Cost of service increased by $1.4 million due to higher content and machine consumable costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses include staff compensation costs (including outsourced costs), travel, professional services fees and technology expenses (including hosting fees, data centers and similar charges).

Constant currency SG&A expenses were offset by a favorable currency impact of $8.0 million. This resulted in a decrease in reported SG&A expenses of $2.4 million, from $60.7 million to $58.3 million.

On a constant currency basis, SG&A expenses increased by $5.6 million, driven by:

Stock-based compensation

In connection with the Business Combination, on December 22, 2016, the Company’s stockholders approved the Inspired Entertainment, Inc. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2016 Incentive Plan”).

As of September 30, 2017, there were 2,778,818 shares authorized for issuance under the 2016 Incentive Plan and 10,042 shares not yet subject to outstanding awards. Awards are fair-valued at the time of issuance, with the value being spread over the vesting period. In the current period, the Company recorded an expense of $4.1 million in respect of outstanding awards. There was no corresponding charge in the prior year.

The Company established an Employee Share Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) during the year and the charge in the year in respect of the ESPP amounted to $0.1 million. There was no corresponding charge in the prior year.

Acquisition related transaction expenses

Acquisition related transaction expenses increased by $6.5 million in the current year, to $11.4 million. Favorable currency movements reduced the variance by $1.8 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $8.3 million.

All but $0.1 million of the current year expenses related to the Business Combination, with the balance relating to ongoing work in respect of potential acquisitions. All costs in the prior year related to the Business Combination. We believe that all Business Combination-related transaction expenses have now been incurred.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization decreased by $1.2 million to $33.8 million on a reported basis. Favorable currency movements increased the variance by $4.6 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $3.4 million. The change from year to year was driven by a $3.2 million increase in 2017 in intangible amortization due to new projects going live, and increased SBG machine depreciation in 2017 of $0.8 million, relating to the rollout of SBG products and services in Greece.

Impairments in the year amounted to $1.3 million. These were partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in machine-related depreciation due to certain terminals in the UK and Italy becoming fully depreciated.

Net Operating loss

Reported net operating loss declined from a loss of $1.3 million to a loss of $11.9 million, due primarily to increases in stock-based compensation and transaction expenses related to the Business Combination.

Interest expense

Interest expense decreased by $29.0 million, or 49.7%, to $29.4 million. Favorable currency movements increased the variance by $4.3 million, leaving a constant currency decrease of $24.7 million. The decrease was primarily due to a $28.0 million reduction in PIK loan note interest, as a result of the outstanding amount of PIK loan notes being reduced in connection with the closing of the Business Combination on December 23, 2016. The decrease was partially offset by $2.5 million in increased PIK loan note interest due to rate margin increases and by a $0.9 million increase in senior debt cash interest due to compounding.

Change in fair value of earnout liability

Change in fair value of earnout liability relates to the potential earnout payment that may be made to the former owners of DMWSL 633 Limited, which is dependent upon the financial performance of Inspired’s businesses in six specific countries (China, Colombia, Greece, Norway, Spain and Ukraine) (collectively, the “Earnout Jurisdictions”), as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the twelve months ending September 30, 2018 (the “Earnout Period”). As a result of changes in expectations of the Earnout Jurisdictions and share-price movements, the expense that accrued in the period from change in fair value of earnout liability was $7.1 million. There was no corresponding figure in the prior period.

Net Loss from Operations

Net loss for the year from continuing operations improved from $59.9 million to $49.1 million, principally reflecting a reduction in interest expense and an offsetting increase in earnout liability pursuant to the Merger.

Income tax expense

We recorded a $0.2 million income tax expense for the period ended September 30, 2017 and a $0.3 million expense for the period ended September 24, 2016. Our effective tax rate for the period ending September 30, 2017 was (0.4)%, and our effective tax rate for the period ending September 24, 2016 was (0.5)%.

Twelve Months ended September 24, 2016 compared to Twelve Months ended September 26, 2015

Revenue

From 2015 to 2016, total revenue decreased by $7.8 million to $119.8 million. Adverse currency movements reduced the variance by $8.8 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $1.0 million, or 0.8%. 

Virtual Sports revenue increased $8.5 million, driven by growth from both existing customers and new customers and increased activity in respect of Virgo, our remote gaming server (“RGS”). The Virtual Sports increase was in part offset by declines in SBG revenue of $7.6 million. The main contributor to the SBG decrease was a fall in hardware sales of $4.1 million, including ETG $2.1 million, UK $1.9 million and Greece $1.9 million, offset by an increase in Italy of $1.8 million. In addition, our final analogue contract ended early in the year resulting in a reduction of $3.9 million.

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization

Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, decreased by $3.8 million to $20.4 million. Favorable currency movements increased the variance by $1.5 million, leaving a constant currency decrease of $2.3 million.

Cost of hardware decreased by $3.7 million, with cost of service increasing by $1.4 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

SG&A expenses decreased $4.0 million to $60.7 million. Favorable currency movements increased the variance by $3.0 million, leaving a constant currency decrease of $1.0 million. 

The decrease was driven by cost items that increased by $2.4 million (excluding currency impacts) for the period, including increased labor costs resulting from a higher staff headcount and higher London facility costs.

Acquisition related transaction expenses 

Acquisition related transaction expenses increased by $4.4 million to $5.0 million. Favorable currency movements reduced the variance by $1.8 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $6.3 million, all of which related to the Business Combination.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization decreased by $4.4 million, or 11.1%, to $35.0 million. Favorable currency movements increased the variance by $2.6 million, leaving a constant currency decrease of $1.8 million. The change was driven by reduced depreciation from Italian assets that had reached residual value, as well as goodwill impairment of $1.0 million. 

Interest expense  

Interest expense increased by $0.2 million to $58.3 million. Favorable currency movements reduced the variance by $4.3 million, leaving a constant currency increase of $4.5 million. This was primarily due to an increase in PIK loan note interest, due to compounding. 

Income tax expense

We recorded an income tax expense of $0.3 million for the period ending September 24, 2016, compared to $0.6 million for the period ending September 26, 2015. Our effective tax rates for the periods were (0.5%) and (1%), respectively, including reductions in UK and mainland European tax payable. 

Server Based Gaming Segment 

We generate revenue from our SBG business segment through product sales (both hardware and software) and long-term participation agreements, which include access to our SBG platform and the selection of game titles over a term of, usually, three to five years. Our participation contracts are typically structured to pay us a percentage of net win (defined as net revenue to our operator customers, after deducting player winnings and any relevant regulatory levies) from SBG terminals placed in our customers’ facilities, which include retail outlets, casinos and other gaming operations, or from SBG gaming software used by customers’ players through mobile or online devices. Typically, we recognize revenue from these arrangements on a daily basis over the term of the contract. 

Revenue growth for our SBG business is principally driven by the number of operator customers we have, the number of SBG machines in operation, the net win performance of the machines and the net win percentage that we receive pursuant to our contracts with our customers. 

SBG segment, Key Performance Indicators