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SAZKA Group teams up with Sir Keith Mills in bid for Fourth UK National Lottery Licence

Published

5 years ago

November 3, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

SAZKA Group, Europe’s largest lottery operator, today announced it has appointed Sir Keith Mills as Bid Chair of the UK team for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. Sir Keith, a successful entrepreneur whose creative talent conceived the loyalty programmes so ubiquitous today, brings a wealth of experience from his roles across sport, charities, and business. He played a pivotal role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and subsequently, their successful staging. For the past six years he has chaired the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a role he hands over to Lord William Hague next month. He is also Chairman of the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Commenting on the announcement, Sir Keith said, “I am driven by organisations that make a real contribution to society. I chose to team up with Sazka for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition because I believe the UK National Lottery needs to grow and be engaging if it is to continue to fund the thousands of good causes every year. Our lottery is a national treasure with nearly 26 years of history; however, the landscape has changed immeasurably since it was first launched back in 1994. The challenge now is to ensure the lottery connects with people right across the country, making it fresh and exciting as it once was, bringing new ways that are relevant for today and tomorrow’s generation. I feel passionately that it needs to be restored to the nation’s hearts, especially in these difficult times. I teamed up with Sazka because they have a proven record of taking established lotteries, growing them and evolving them to be relevant for the future. I am cognisant that much has to be done for us to make a winning case in this competition, but I believe that over the course of this process we will be able to demonstrate how Sazka’s expertise coupled with the experienced British team that we are building in the UK will offer the right stewardship for the UKNL for 2023 and beyond.”

As Bid Chairman, Sir Keith will lead a team with world-class bidding and delivery experience, including for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Comic Relief. Sazka has appointed former London 2012 employee, Alastair Ruxton, as the Bid Director, together with British experts in key areas such as Player Protection, Good Causes, Innovation, Digital, Retail and Customer Experience.

Commenting on the agreement, SAZKA Group CEO Robert Chvátal said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sir Keith Mills and have him lead our entry in the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. We are hugely excited to be participating in this competition and for the chance to take stewardship of the National Lottery, helping the UK to fall back in love with this vital institution. Operating in five different national markets (Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus) has given us an unprecedented level of insight and experience in running lotteries. In addition, we have consistently increased participation and revenues for the lotteries we operate. We want to bring this deep knowledge and customer insight to revitalise the UK National Lottery increasing sales and money raised for good causes, thereby providing a much-needed long-term boost to community, arts, sports and heritage institutions across the UK.”

After submitting the Selection Questionnaire earlier this month, SAZKA Group has been accepted into the competition by the Gambling Commission, the body running the Competition. The team will now review the final bid application documents and continue to assemble a strong consortium capable of submitting a winning bid in 2021.

About Sir Keith Mills
Sir Keith Mills GBE DL is a British business entrepreneur who founded the Air Miles and Nectar customer loyalty programmes and has established numerous businesses, both in the UK and internationally. In September 2003, Sir Keith was appointed International President and CEO of London 2012 established to bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Having won the bid, he established LOCOG to organise the Games, where he was Deputy Chairman alongside Lord Sebastian Coe. In 2007 Sir Keith established an Olympic related charity, International Inspiration, which he chaired, and in 2008 he established a UK charity, Sported, which he funded and chaired for 10 years. In 2014 Sir Keith established, and was Chairman of, the Invictus Games, working with Prince Harry to deliver a new major international sport event for wounded servicemen and women. Sir Keith Chairs the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Invictus Games Foundation. Sir Keith is also a Director and an investor in a number of private companies.
Sir Keith has received numerous awards including: Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Chief Executive of the Year, and the Sports Industry Businessman of the Year, and was knighted by The Queen in 2006 and again in 2013 when he received the Grand Knight Cross for his services to sport.

About SAZKA Group
The SAZKA Group is a national lottery, instant lottery and digital gaming operator, with our trusted brands and industry-leading technology delivering over €17bn in annual sales. Established in 2012, SAZKA Group is already one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing lottery companies and our strong performance across our markets is helping to fund good causes in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, and Italy.
Since entering the lottery market in 2012, SAZKA Group has quickly expanded from the Czech Republic into four other European markets. SAZKA Group has consistently taken on established lotteries and made them better, while also expanding into new market segments through market-leading technology platforms. The Group’s unique experience of operating in different jurisdictions enables it to adopt a tailored approach to customer experience in each market, helping to increase sales and returns to good causes.
Responsible gaming and funding good causes are at the heart of SAZKA Group’s business and culture. it promotes responsible gaming in all of its markets and is committed to having a positive impact where it operates. From building children’s hospitals in Greece to support for the Czech Olympic Foundation, SAZKA Group has put its business skills to the benefit of the local community.

ELA Games

ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book

Published

7 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

ela-games-casts-its-latest-spell-with-witches’-book

Reading Time: 2 minutes

ELA Games beckons players to step into a shadowy realm of sorcery and mystery with its newest release: Witches’ Book

Bathe in the magic as a powerful coven of three witches conjures their spells across the reels, revealing mysterious rewards and surprises. Each spin is a step toward ultimate strength, where massive riches and bubbling magic await.

The Power of the Book

In the Witches’ Book, magic shimmers in every spin. Players aim to collect enchanted pages and experience the power of each witch’s most mythical spells.

Once players gather enough enchanted pages, they complete the spellbook and choose their witch and symbol to unlock the magical Free Spins. As the witches’ power grows, every symbol has the chance to transform into a Jackpot, turning ordinary spins into powerful, enriching moments.

A medium volatility level and 94.9% RTP ensure that wins are frequent even on the base game. Additionally, multiple surprise features can arise and spread across the 5×3 reel format, making each spin a potion of excitement.

ELA Games’ Magical Touch

Witches’ Book is an enchanting embodiment of ELA Games’ philosophy regarding creative innovation and a focus on engaging gaming experiences. The games’ animations, sound design, and dynamic mechanics blend to create an atmospheric game that will have players a part of the incantation.

Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the release, “With Witches’ Book, our goal was to create a title that emphasises the visually-rich aesthetics that embody the atmosphere of the brooding festive season. Every feature and design element was meticulously crafted to keep players engaged and deliver value for our partners. Witches’ Book is an example of our development approach: leverage creativity to entertain players while driving meaningful performance results for operators.”

Discover Enchanting Riches Now

Players can dive into the mysterious world of magic and spells today, with powerful gameplay and immersive experiences.

Finish your incantation and cast a powerful, lucrative spell today.

The post ELA Games Casts Its Latest Spell with Witches’ Book appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Bet It Drives

GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt

Published

7 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

gr8-tech’s-bet-it-drives-hits-the-portuguese-fast-lane-with-tiago-pereira-of-lebull.pt

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Lisbon’s streets set the pace for Season 2 of GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives — the drive-time podcast where iGaming’s most interesting voices speak freely, in motion. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech, each episode captures raw insight, candid stories, and the kind of energy you can only find on the road.

Episode 2 puts the spotlight on Tiago Pereira, Head of Portugal at LeBull.pt, the executive who helped turn a logo and a bull into one of the fastest-growing brands in Portugal’s regulated iGaming market. With more than 20 years in sports betting, affiliates, and casino operations at Placard.pt, Betano.pt, bet.pt, and Sportingbet, Tiago has led market entries, compliance frameworks, sponsorships, and full-funnel digital growth.

During the ride, Tiago opens up about:

How he found his path and his journey from architecture and computer science to marketing.
The history of LeBull.
Portugal vs. Brazil: same language, different mindset: why copy-paste doesn’t work and true localization is key.
The idea behind the LeBull Night Show, a weekly late-night comedy event.
His failed marketing project.
Trusting younger generations.
His previous approach to marketing when he joined Betano in 2017.
Why the Portuguese sports betting market relies on the casino vertical.
The next chapter for affiliation.
Network or Not Work: mascots, localization, and keeping support teams local.
A small personal detail that’s still quietly visible online for those who know where to look.
His Champion Rule: move forward with an “I need to get this done” mindset. Whatever happens, don’t stop. Stay consistent, keep moving forward, and the results will follow.

“Tiago showed us how to win a new market with discipline, curiosity, and the courage to keep moving forward,” said Krazhan.

Watch or listen to Season 2, Episode 2 with Tiago Pereira on:

Bet It Drives Season 2 kicked off with Rasmus Sojmark and keeps the pace with upcoming episodes featuring Kyrylo Korobka and Kelly Kehn. Buckle up. Lisbon’s just getting started.

The next chapter of iGaming belongs to those who play smart and play bold. Meet GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2 during SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6, and discover the Heavyweight Rulebook built for operators ready to scale, localize, and win.

The post GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Hits the Portuguese Fast Lane with Tiago Pereira of LeBull.pt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

FashionTV Casino

FashionTV Gaming Group Rolls Out the Red Carpet for a Royal Night in Rome

Published

8 hours ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

fashiontv-gaming-group-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-a-royal-night-in-rome

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The “Royal Night in a Roman Palace” at Palazzo Brancaccio will mark a decade of success for the megabrand and honour its licensees and partners that together have revolutionised the online gaming industry by setting a new standard for branded luxury in iGaming.

FashionTV Gaming Group, the exclusive licensor of the FashionTV megabrand for the online gaming industry, will celebrate a defining moment in iGaming history with an unforgettable Royal Gala and the prestigious Royal Salute Ceremony at the historic Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome.

This exclusive, invitation-only extravaganza will welcome the global iGaming elite, from CEOs and founders of the world’s leading gaming companies to innovators, celebrities, and visionaries, uniting to celebrate ten years of success in bringing fashion, glamour, and luxury style to the online gaming world.

The event will honour Fashion TV Gaming Group’s global network of licensees, the industry titans and future pillars who have reshaped and infused branded gaming with luxury through the creation of FashionTV branded games across all iGaming verticals, as well as standalone FashionTV Casino and Sports Brands.

The evening will begin with a royal reception in the palace’s grand entrance hall, where guests will be filmed by the FashionTV crew and photographed alongside the iconic FashionTV Wall of Fame, joined by top FashionTV models and international celebrities.

The programme will continue with the Royal Salute Ceremony, followed by an exquisite gala dinner prepared by Palazzo Brancaccio’s Executive Chef, Francesco Paolo Baretta. The celebration will reach its peak with a spectacular FashionTV Party, featuring world-class DJs, live performances, and the unmistakable glamour of the FashionTV experience.

This milestone year of remarkable achievements crowns a decade of success for FashionTV Gaming Group and its partners, including a new strategic business roadmap, landmark collaborations with global gaming powerhouses, and the launch of standalone FashionTV Casino and Sports Brands across Asia and the GCC, with more industry giants soon to be announced.

Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, said: “The Royal Salute Ceremony is more than a celebration; it’s a statement. In Rome, we honour our licensees, the pioneers who believed in our vision, joined our journey, and turned a dream into reality, alongside the current industry titans and the future pillars of our world.”

The post FashionTV Gaming Group Rolls Out the Red Carpet for a Royal Night in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.