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