GVC Holdings

Tessa Curtis has been appointed to the newly created role of head of media relations at GVC Holdings, ahead of officially joining the firm on September 1.

In the role, Curtis will be responsible for all corporate communications for the group across the UK and international markets, and will report to both Grainne Hurst, group corporate affairs director, and David Lloyd-Seed, director of investor relations and external communications.

Hurst commented: “Tessa’s appointment will help GVC to amplify its ambitions, values and unique competitive advantages as the company continues to strengthen and build its core team.

“She will join both the expanding corporate affairs and investor relations teams at GVC, and will work closely with Jay Dossetter, who has recently been promoted to head of ESG and press office.”

Golden Matrix

Golden Matrix, a developer and licenser of social gaming platforms, systems and content, has appointed Aaron Richard Johnston to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately.

Lauded as bringing “vast commercial and operational experience,” Johnston currently holds remote gaming licenses for the UK and Ireland, and has a personal management licence with the UK Gambling Commission.

“We are thrilled to expand the board of directors with Aaron’s appointment,” stated Golden Matrix CEO Brian Goodman. “As a result of his extensive experience and success with some of the world’s most successful gaming enterprises, Aaron will be instrumental in helping Golden Matrix grow and evolve into a major gaming company operating in multiple vertical markets.

“Aaron’s addition to the board is also another important step in preparing the company for its uplisting to NASDAQ.”

Gaming Laboratories International

Gaming industry testing house Gaming Laboratories International has promoted Karen Sierra-Hughes to vice president of Latin America and Caribbean.

Sierra-Hughes has been with GLI since 2004, driving the firm’s strategy for both regulatory and business development throughout the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Prior to joining GLI she practised law in the Republic of Panama and was later appointed legal director of the Panama Gaming Control Board.

“We are thrilled to announce Karen’s promotion and signalling our absolute commitment to the gaming industry’s success throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in all its forms – land-based, lottery, and online,” said GLI President and CEO James Maida.

“Karen has been an integral part of GLI’s mission in Latin America and the Caribbean. She and her team work in close collaboration with government officials – as well as gaming and lottery suppliers and operators – helping them navigate the future of gaming.

“Their expertise supports these stakeholders’ efforts in establishing well-regulated environments and a successful and sustainable industry. Karen’s leadership, knowledge and passion for her client’s success translates into the appreciation that the industry and her team have for what she does.”

Flutter Entertainment

Flutter Entertainment has announced that Rafi Ashkenazi has stepped down as a non-executive director of the group with immediate effect.

Ashkenazi initially joined The Stars Group in January 2013 and served as the CEO from March 2016 up until the completion of the combination of TSG and Flutter on 5 May 2020, after which he continued on the board of the latter as a non-executive director.

Gary McGann, chair of Flutter, said: “I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the major contribution of Rafi in creating the exceptional business that is TSG.

“Rafi has made a significant impact on TSG during his seven-year tenure and was instrumental in transforming TSG from a single product operator to a diverse global leader with multiple product offerings. We wish him well for the future”.

The post Part 38 | On the move: Recruitment round-up appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Ahead of the nation launching a regulated sports betting and gaming market next year, Delasport’s team of over 400 employees have been advancing the supplier’s products to ensure they comply with the local regulations. 

By working with GLI, the certification lab that has been approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, Delasport will aim to meet required measures to comply in terms of certifications, data vault integrations, payment providers, KYC and AML procedures. 

The supplier confirmed that it is fully-certified against GLI-33 and GLI-19, two standards that have been demanded by Latin American regulators and are likely to be required in Brazil once its regulated market launches. 

Delasport CCO Filippo Ferri commented: “Delasport stands on a solid foundation of experience, supplying tier one, tier two, and tier three operators in highly regulated markets globally.” 

“This makes Delasport fully equipped to assist operators navigating complex platforms or adapting to modern jurisdictional requirements, such as Brazil’s.”

Additionally, Delasport is currently in the process of submitting its platform for certification against Brazilian technical standards, while also claiming to be “advancing rapidly” through data quality testing of its integration with the SIGAP Datavault system. 

Once Delasport has met the requirements to enter the nation, and once the market has been launched, operators in Brazil will be able to benefit from its platform’s range of personalisation features such as My Sportsbook, My Event Builder, My Combo and My Casino. 

The supplier has revealed partnerships with numerous PIX payment system operators and lauded its real-time AI-powered RG system, which it suggested ‘can easily adapt to local regulations’.

In addition to Delasport, other online casino suppliers will also benefit from the company entering Brazil, as its network of supplier partners will gain increased exposure throughout the nation via its aggregation service. 

Rosaire Galea Cavallaro, VP of Business Development at Delasport, added: “It’s a great privilege to enter such a vast and exciting market with the confidence that we’ve gained at Delasport throughout the years. 

“We’re looking forward to seeing our product in action in a new territory, achieving and maintaining solid margins for our partners, keeping the record of having double digit margins in sports betting and helping them scale with ease in both verticals to generate maximum revenue for their brands.”

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The igaming provider’s productivity and player account management platforms, CasinoEngine and GamMatrix have been awarded the GLI-19 standard by GLI’s team, which is related to interactive gaming systems.

Meanwhile, EveryMatrix’s sportsbook platform, OddsMatrix, has been certified to the GLI-33 standard, which is related to event wagering systems.

“Customers across the world today look to work with providers that have software certified according to these two standards which represent the highest mark of quality and compliance in our industry,” commented Jake Cachia, Head of Compliance, EveryMatrix.

“We are already seen as one of the most trusted partners in the market, however, both GLI-19 and GLI-33 will help us build on this even more within regulated jurisdictions and we’re grateful to GLI for conducting such a thorough and efficient process.”

With the certifications, EveryMatrix’s products have been recognised to be meeting the GLI standards’ compliance requirements and best practices in jurisdictions that base their regulations on the GLI-19 and GLI-33 standards.

The provider added that the certifications allow EveryMatrix to “accelerate its technology deployment in each existing or new jurisdiction with the testing lab only needing to perform a reduced set of tests in each case”.

Chris Davies, Vice President of Sales, GLI Europe, added: “It has been a privilege for GLI to support the EveryMatrix Team in going live in North America and LatAm markets based on GLI standards. 

“It has, and it continues to be, a true collaboration, engaging with such an innovative team. We are excited to see the significant progress they make and wish them and everyone a successful G2E.”

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Gaming Laboratories International

Gaming Laboratories International has disclosed a pair of promotions for “two key leaders” that are intended to further guide the company’s clients in tribal government, state government and regulatory agencies.

This has seen Joseph Bunevith, who joined the group in 2021, become Vice President, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, while Kelly Myers has been named Director of Government Affairs.

These moves form part of an enhanced government and regulatory affairs team that is designed to give the land-based, lottery, and igaming testing and assessment services group “even more ability” to partner and interact with tribal and government agencies, as well as adopt a great focus on technology and regulatory advice.

“At GLI, we are continually planning for the future of this exciting and dynamic industry,” noted James Maida, GLI President and CEO.

“These proven leaders in their new positions enable us to serve our clients even better in both technology and regulatory advice, empowering our clients to face the future armed with the best possible information and insights.”

Codere

Codere has announced the appointment of Gonzaga Higuero as Chief Executive Officer.

The Spanish and Latin American gambling outfit has been leaderless since February following the resignations of joint CEOs Alberto González del Solar and Alejandro Rodino.

Fresh to the gambling sector, Higuero joins the company from the Health Transportation Group, which is recognised as the “second largest health transport service provider in Europe”.

“It is a great challenge and responsibility to lead this organization, with the aim of improving our competitiveness and profitability to address a new phase of growth after the pandemic,” Higuero said of the appointment.

“We have new projects ahead of us to continue being a world benchmark and provide the best entertainment and gaming experience to our customers.”

Jumbo Interactive

Jumbo Interactive has advised that Chief Financial Officer David Todd has signalled an intention to depart the role due to “unforeseen personal health reasons”.

Following a 16 year stint, Todd will remain in the position until a suitable replacement is found. A “comprehensive” recruitment process has subsequently commenced that will consider both internal and external candidates.

Todd will remain in employment in advisory capacity “for as long as required” to ensure a smooth transition. A replacement is expected to to be named in the second quarter of 2024, 

“David has made an enormous contribution to Jumbo’s success over the past 16 years,” commented Mike Veverka, Jumbo CEO and Founder. 

“He has played an integral role not only as CFO, but also as a valued member of the KMP, and the Jumbo family. His invaluable insights, incomparable work ethic, and unwavering commitment to the team are an inspiration to all of us. The board, management team and all our people within Australia, Canada and the UK wish him and his family the very best for the future.

“Dave continues to be supported by a high performing and experienced team, with key members of the finance leadership team having been in their roles for over 15 years. In true Dave – fashion, he has agreed to assist us to make sure the transition to the new CFO is as seamless as possible.”

Massachusetts Gaming Commission

The changes at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission haven’t ended with Executive Director Karen Wells stepping down at the end of this week, as Investigation and Enforcement Bureau Director, Loretta Lillios, has signalled an intention to retire at the end of the summer.

However, commissioners have this week taken steps to fill the gap to be left by the former, with candidates being interviewed for the Interim Executive Director position. Per state public meeting laws, the commissioners interviewed two candidates in a public meeting, MGC General Counsel Todd Grossman and MGC Director of Racing and Chief Veterinarian Dr Alexandra Lightbown.

Betknowmore

Betknowmore has made moves to strengthen its ranks, with a pair of appointments having been disclosed by the UK charity.

The first has seen Kev Clelland join as Senior Engagement and Communications Lead, with a focus on our work within the National Gambling Support Network.

Past experience includes an over five year stay at YGAM, where he progressed from Education Manager for the north of England to Director of Insight and Engagement, before his departure this month.

In addition, Ricky Gane has been named as an in-house Graphic Designer, with a portfolio counting work having been undertaken alongside brands such as Dyson and Starbucks.

Call to Action

Matej Tomic has disclosed an exit from Sliema, Malta-based marketing performance agency Call to Action.

In a statement on social media, Tomic reflected on an “incredible journey with joy, successful partnerships, and inspiring encounters”, in addition to praising the industry as teaching resilience and opening the doors to “countless opportunities”.

He continued: “As I take this step, I plan to reflect and recharge this summer before venturing into a new career path. However, if the right opportunity arises, I am ready to dive into work immediately.

“I would like to express a big THANK YOU to my colleagues who stood by me as the only international in the Dutch office. I am grateful for the incredible times we shared together, and these memories won’t be forgotten.”

The post Codere, Betknowmore and GLI: on the move appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This deal will allow online casino brands operating under the MGA licence to integrate PopOK’s catalogue of igaming titles in order to enhance their offerings to Maltese users. 

“It’s an exciting time for PopOK Gaming,” commented Tsovinar Elchyan, Product Manager at PopOK Gaming. “Having a special focus on the regulated markets, we are passionate about exploring new market possibilities and providing a thrilling gaming experience to a new audience.”

Under the terms of the agreement, PopOK will see 18 titles, including Yummy, Diamond Flash and Lost Treasure, available to all online casino operators and distributors licensed in the jurisdiction, as well as the studio’s four-level progressive jackpot. 

“The future looks bright for PopOK Gaming with new partnership opportunities that will further our growth in the online gaming market,” Elchyan added.

The expansion of the studio’s catalogue continues a busy summer period for PopOK, following on from its expansions across the Baltic and European regions. The firm achieved Latvian certification last month, in a move hailed by Elchyan as an “important step forward”.

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The provider’s latest casino titles have become available to the company’s Colombia and Uruguay studios, which will include live baccarat, roulette and blackjack games.

“We’re constantly evolving at Vivo Gaming and receiving our GLI certification for these key games in our Colombian studios is a huge step in the right direction,” stated Ivan Livov, Chief Operations Officer at Vivo Gaming.  

“We’re widely regarded as a major player in this part of the world and this news only cements this further.”

GLI, which provides testing and certification to over 480 jurisdictions around the globe, recently awarded certification to a number of studios for its GLI-19, IOM and select LatAm standards. 

Antonino Santangelo, Account Manager for GLI EMEA, added: “It’s great to see Vivo Gaming continue to expand their business with the support of GLI. 

“Our global team of experts have been on hand throughout to advise the Vivo team and work with them to deliver the project on time and within budget.”

Vivo recently upgraded its LatAm content, making English-speaking dealers available to its operators within the continent through its Uruguayan tables, which were previously only available in Spanish and Portuguese.

Furthermore, the studio enhanced its igaming offerings throughout LatAm after securing a partnership with Argentina-based End 2 End, to gain the group’s bingo titles and Chroma Key specifications.

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Bragg Gaming

Bragg Gaming has appointed Mark Clayton to its board of directors following the resignation of Cristina Romero, who is leaving to focus on other business commitments and activities, effective immediately. 

Clayton brings 32 years of gaming industry legal and compliance experience, and previously served as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

“Mark is recognized as one of the most accomplished attorneys in the gaming industry, with a career that spans decades of providing legal and strategic counsel to clients that are among the industry’s leaders,” commented Paul Godfrey, Chair of Bragg Gaming.

“Mark’s wealth of expertise and experience will serve us well as we continue to execute on our global B2B igaming expansion initiatives. We are very pleased to welcome Mark to the Board.”

Gaming Laboratories International

Gaming Laboratories International has maintained the growth of its Australian team after naming Barrie Wilson as Manager of Client Services.

In the position, he will be charged with working with land-based, igaming, and lottery clients in the Asia-Pacific region. He will be based in the company’s Sydney lab.

He most recently served as a Professional Year instructor at Performance Education in Sydney, training students on strategies for successfully integrating into the Australian business workforce

Samantha Powell, APAC General Manager, noted: “We are thrilled to welcome Barrie to the GLI team. His diverse background of leadership and business will be extremely beneficial to GLI’s clients.

“In particular, his abilities to help people grow beyond their current borders and to explore new territories will be very helpful to clients who want to expand their footprint.”

Flutter Entertainment

Flutter Entertainment has announced the appointment of Steve Hawkes, former senior reporter covering business and political affairs for The Sun, The Times and The Daily Telegraph, as Director of Reputational and Public Affairs.

Hawkes joins the group from public affairs agency BCW Global, where he served as a Senior Director of strategic media comms since 2019.

In the role, he will lead external communications for the business’ UK and Ireland divisions that oversee the home market brands of Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet and the newly acquired Tombola bingo brand.  

Commenting on his new appointment on Linkedin, Hawkes said: “Delighted to say that next month I will be joining Flutter, the FTSE30 global sports betting and gaming business, as director of reputational and public affairs in the UK and Ireland.

“Flutter operates some of the world’s most popular sports betting and gaming brands, including Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Bet, and is committed to leading the way in player protection and safer gambling. I can’t wait to get started,”

UK Tote Group

UK Tote Group, the operating company of UK racing’s Tote pool betting services, has announced the appointment of Lord Michael Spencer of Alresford and Mark Holt as corporate advisors.

The duo will join the Tote Group’s corporate governance as non-executive directors, where they will advise leadership on the firm’s next phase of growth focused on product innovation, commercial partnership and improved customer experience.

John Williamson, Tote Group Chair, remarked: “During an exciting time of growth for the Tote we are delighted to appoint Lord Spencer and Mark to the UK Tote Group board.

“Michael has been an investor in the Tote from the outset, and continuing to share his unrivalled experience across the business world as a board member will be an incredibly valuable support to our team.

“Mark’s technological expertise will be of significant benefit as we continue to develop and improve the Tote’s pool betting engine.”

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Gaming Laboratories International

Ginnie Hollis has been named as the Director of Engineering at Gaming Laboratories International, which will see her streamline igaming processes for the firm’s client. 

Her role at GLI will see her work closely with igaming clients and test services to ensure the highest level of value and quality, while also onboarding new clients, facilitating the firm’s success in current and emerging markets. 

“Ginnie is an unbelievable role model, relentlessly ensuring both her teams and her customers receive a world class experience,” commented GLI Vice President of Engineering Mackenzie Haugh. 

“In her new position, she will bring that same passion to an even larger audience, driving more success for her customers and teams.”

Additionally, as part of her role, she will coordinate communication between igaming operators, regulators, and suppliers surrounding regulatory and operational needs.

Hollis has been with GLI since 2005, starting as a Test Engineer Level 1. Since that time, she has risen to Senior Engineer, Technical Engineering Manager and Senior Manager of Engineering.

Betcris

Betcris has strengthened its expansion and refinement of its igaming operations via the hiring of Lucas Lebleu as the company’s Casino Director. 

In his new role, Lebleu will be responsible for implementing the operator’s casino strategy, including operational and promotional activities, whilst also directing tactical changes in operations and promotions to hit casino revenue targets.

The new Casino Director will also be accountable for the operational integrity of Betcris’s casino activity, which includes enforcing and optimising processes to test game content and core casino app functions, the optimisation of content, and making sure the operator’s core values are present in its creative design messages and promotions.

On his appointment, Lebleu stated: “I’m very excited about this opportunity; I’ve known Betcris since I started to work in Costa Rica a quarter of a century ago, and I’m pleased to have reached an agreement with Betcris.

“In my opinion, it is one of the most respected brands in Latin America, with a retail and online presence in the majority of the LatAm countries. I want to thank specifically JD Duarte, Fernando Garita, Gabriel Nuñez, and Carlos Soto, but also Mauricio Delgado and the HR team who have been extra helpful to get me up to speed.”

FanDuel

FanDuel has filled two new positions this week as Christian Genetski takes over the role of President, while the newly created position of Chief Commercial Officer will be occupied by Mike Raddensperger. 

Effectively immediately, both Genetski and Raffensperger continue their tenures with FanDuel, with their promotions providing the company with leadership continuity as they look to keep growing.

As President, Genetski will oversee FanDuel’s business development, partnership, corporate strategy, and government affairs units. He will also be responsible for driving the firm’s vision and execution of strategic partnerships and new business initiatives to extend the company’s leadership position.

In the newly created position of CCO, Raffensperger will oversee revenue generation across FanDuel’s sportsbook, casino, racing, daily fantasy, and free-to-play platforms. His new duties include commercial leadership and oversight of the operator’s content and programming assets, including the company’s cable network TVG.

Pollard Banknote

Pollard Banknote has filled its Vice President of Government Relations role through the appointment of Hall of Fame inductee May Scheve Reardon. 

“After working closely with Pollard Banknote for many years in various roles throughout the lottery industry, I am excited to be joining their organisation,” said Reardon. 

“Pollard Banknote has always proven to be a forward-thinking company that continuously provides outstanding products and services to lotteries around the world, and I look forward to being a part of that.”

Over the last 13-years, Reardon held the role of Director of the Missouri Lottery where, during her reign, she increased the annual contribution to good causes from $250m to over $400m per year. 

In addition, she started initiatives including cashless sales, the implementation of the Million Dollar Retailer Club and put in place measures to combat unlicensed black market operators.

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The approval for its sports, casino and PAM offerings in the Dutch market sees the company secure permission to supply its products and services to operators in the region. 

“The Dutch market is poised to become one of the most competitive in Europe, and we are excited to be part of the pioneering wave of sports, casino and PAM suppliers,” commented Delasport’s CEO, Oren Cohen Shwartz. 

“We are keen to play a major role in the shaping of the Dutch igaming landscape and look forward to partnering with new operators, and helping our existing partners grow.”

By entering the regulated Dutch igaming market, Delsport has stated that it will aim to deliver its casino products and sportsbook to partnership operators, which includes its complete games catalogue, personalisation features – such as geolocation and personal favourites – and gamification tools, including multiplayer tournaments, missions and badges. 

This latest entry follows a number of new entries by Delasport, who in the past year alone has entered the US market with GLI 19 and 33, and the Danish, Swedish, Maltese and Romanian markets.

Delasport’s entry into the Dutch region comes off the back of a recent report the company published in May that detailed the current state of the German gambling market. 

The report stated that, in recent months, the largest country in the European Union has taken “significant strides” to open the online gambling market to its population of more than 83 million.

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The games referred to include Lucky Fruits, Make a Wish, Codex, Piggy Cash, and Quake, with Vibra noting that the approval shows the titles have “met the highest quality standards”.

“We have worked for many months to make this happen,” stated Ramiro Atucha, CEO at Vibra Gaming. “Behind each game, there is a talented team of designers, striving to make each title original and innovative, and a team of developers making sure that each piece of the game is flawless and complies with the requirements established by the most important international organisations. 

“We’ve already got thirteen games approved by GLI, and we’ll keep on adding many more.”

The recent five approvals now brings Vibra’s tally to 13 certified titles overall, which include Spin Jones, Wild Gems, Clover Fantasy, Mystic Joker, Patagonia Wild and Spin Island, which are all original Vibra games, together with Popeye Slots, a licence of Popeye the Sailor, and The Phantom, a game developed based on the classic American comic. 

The certification of Vibra’s titles comes after the company strengthened its position in Latin America as it partnered with Betcris earlier this year. 

The launch took place simultaneously on the official Betcris website in several LatAm countries where online casinos are not prohibited and licensed to offer online games and casino options.

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