CASINO FOCUS – METROPOLITAN GAMING
Matt: How was 2025 for the group? What were the key ‘moments’ for the group last year? Alex: 2025 was a significant year for the group, particularly in light of the Gambling Act reforms. The changes created an opportunity to modernise and expand our slots offering across the estate, and we moved decisively to invest in new machines in each of our venues. That investment wasn’t simply about increasing numbers, it was about enhancing the overall guest experience and ensuring our gaming floors remain contemporary and competitive. At Empire Casino, we also took the opportunity to deepen our partnership with Aristocrat Gaming, introducing the brand more prominently to the UK market. This culminated in the creation of the UK’s first dedicated Aristocrat space, Aristocrat on the Square, which officially launched in February 2026. It reflects our broader approach: using regulatory change as a catalyst for innovation rather than simply a compliance exercise.
Matt: Can you tell us a little more about Aristocrat on the Square at Empire Casino? What does this partnership mean for the casino? Alex: Our partnership with Aristocrat Gaming represents a strategic step forward in how we evolve our slots proposition at Empire Casino. Aristocrat is one of the most recognised and successful gaming brands globally, particularly in the US, and bringing that calibre of content into a dedicated space in the UK market is a significant milestone for us.
Aristocrat on the Square allows us to introduce titles that many UK players may not have previously experienced, while presenting them within a clearly branded, premium environment. It’s not simply about adding machines; it’s about creating a defined destination within the gaming floor. The partnership itself is highly collaborative, spanning operations, product innovation and marketing - that alignment has been
key to its early success. We’ve already seen strong engagement, with guests showing genuine curiosity and a willingness to explore the space. That response gives us valuable insight into player appetite and reinforces our belief that innovation, when executed thoughtfully, drives both excitement and long-term growth.
Matt: How will we see this space develop over the next few years? Alex: It’s still early days for Aristocrat on the Square, and our immediate focus is on performance and learnings throughout 2026. We’re encouraged by the early engagement we’ve seen, but our approach is always to evaluate carefully to understand what resonates with our guests.
What is clear is that the successful launch at Empire Casino demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Aristocrat Gaming and our ability to deliver branded gaming environments at scale. We’re always looking for ways to innovate across the estate, and if the concept continues to perform as we expect, it creates exciting opportunities for further development in the years ahead.
Matt: What other plans does Metropolitan Gaming have for 2026 and beyond? Alex: 2026 and beyond is about continued evolution for Metropolitan Gaming. We’ve built strong momentum over the past year, and our focus now is on deepening that progress by refining our venues,
strengthening key partnerships and enhancing the overall guest journey across the estate. We are a business that challenges itself. We look closely at where the market is heading, where expectations are shifting, and how we can stay ahead through thoughtful reinvention and disciplined investment. There are some exciting developments on the horizon, and the common thread is clear: raising standards, broadening appeal and ensuring that Metropolitan Gaming remains a dynamic force within the UK casino sector.
MARCH 2026 13
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