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Twitter UK’s Dara Nasr to support digital evolution of lotteries by joining Allwyn Advisory Board

Published

5 years ago

April 26, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Allwyn is pleased to announce Dara Nasr, Managing Director of Twitter UK, as the latest appointment to its high profile advisory board providing support to Sir Keith Mills and team. Allwyn is bidding for the Fourth National Lottery Licence to operate the UK National Lottery.

During a distinguished career working for some of the largest global technology companies, including Twitter and Google, Mr. Nasr has established himself as a leader in the world of digital communications. As Managing Director of Twitter UK, Dara has built one of the strongest sales teams in the UK media landscape. During the Coronavirus pandemic, he has placed Twitter UK at the centre of the future of work debate through the launch of its “New Business As Usual” framework, while also leading the UK’s internal work rules to protect the mental health of staff who have been working remotely.

By working closely with quality technology partners, SAZKA Group, Allwyn’s parent company, has invested in digital platforms to grow and scale at pace across Europe. By recognising trends towards online play early, SAKZA Group’s lotteries adapted their product offerings long before the pandemic disrupted the retail sector. Online sales of draw based games increased by 134% between 2015 and 2019, with sales continuing to grow during the pandemic and maintaining momentum as restrictions eased. This includes Austria, where a 42% rise in online draw based sales coincided with a 9% increase in funding for good causes between 2015 and 2019, while Sazka Czech’s ‘Digital Entertainment Hub’ boosted lottery sales via mobile phone by 820% during the same period.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Nasr said: “How companies communicate with customers is evolving thanks to the disruptive rise of social media platforms. Brand communications, advertising, and marketing has become more exciting due to the complementary and unique ability of digital to engage with the consumer. As I’ve seen during my time at Twitter, mobile means there is huge potential to establish a close 24/7 relationship between company and customer. I’ve teamed up with Allwyn and their parent company SAZKA Group because they understand the importance of digital to lotteries. I can’t wait to get started.”

Allwyn’s U.K. Bid Chair Sir Keith Mills added: “For many years, Allwyn’s parent company SAZKA Group have pursued a digital- approach to lotteries across Europe. Not only has this produced impressive online sales growth, making their lotteries resilient to the challenges of the pandemic, but it has also translated to consistently strong sales growth in the retail sector too. Regardless of whether a player purchases their lottery ticket online or in-store, we’ve seen overall player participation only increases if people feel more connected to their lottery. Allwyn’s sister companies are a testament to the powers of digital in the lottery world and I can’t wait to work with Dara and apply his knowledge of the digital and social media landscape.”

eyeDP

Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award

Published

47 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

promofy-wins-this-year’s-pitch-ice-award

AI-gamification specialist Promofy emerged victorious at this year’s Pitch ICE competition. The company’s CEO and founder Irakli Davarshvili fended off competition from 11 other companies bidding to win the prize money of €15,000 provided by the competition’s lead sponsor AWS.

In a pitch lasting three minutes followed by a three-minute Q&A, Davarshvili wooed the panel of judges, consisting of Adam Rosenberg, senior adviser, gaming & leisure, Blackstone; Meir Shachar, gaming advisor and CEO at Digicode and RUNWAI, respectively; igaming adviser and gaming industry expert Paris Smith; Maxime Sbeghen, head of investment at FDJ United Ventures; and Jeff Millar, managing partner at JJK Partners.

Davarshvili emphasised how “innovative, customisable and easy to use” Promofy’s gamification engine was, highlighting its AI flow and ability to rapidly build gamified campaigns.

He described 2025 as having been a “foundational year”, outlining how the company had achieved $800,000 in revenue, had more than 20 customers and was now looking to raise $2m to support Promofy’s further growth.

Other pitch participants included eyeDP, an AI-powered solution to help operators process and analyse unstructured data and documents; Whizdom AI, designed to personalise game recommendations for players; Swiss Shufflers with its patented card-shuffling deck; and fantasy sports platform Loserball which “makes losing as cool as winning”.

The post Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betsson Group

Betsson Group Wins Top Safer Gambling Recognition at IGA 2026

Published

47 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

betsson-group-wins-top-safer-gambling-recognition-at-iga-2026

Betsson Group has triumphed at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, winning the Safer Gambling Award, emphasizing that responsible gaming is crucial to the company’s operations. Responsible gaming is fundamental to Betsson Group’s sustainability approach and propels its goal of delivering entertainment in a responsible and sustainable way. The Group acknowledges that enduring success hinges on upholding the confidence of customers, employees, and regulators by guaranteeing that gaming stays secure, equitable, and pleasurable.

This marks the sixth consecutive year that Betsson Group has received the Safer Gambling Award at the International Gaming Awards. The recognition highlights the Group’s consistent efforts in this area, which are further strengthened through internationally recognised certifications and accreditations that externally validate its commitment to safer gambling.

Responsible gaming at Betsson Group begins internally, with mandatory training for all employees during induction, annual refresher courses for staff and contractors, and specialised training for customer-facing teams to support and protect at-risk players.

Hosted on the eve of ICE Barcelona 2026, the International Gaming Awards brought together iGaming industry leaders from across the globe. The event celebrated excellence across multiple categories, including online operators, land-based casinos, suppliers, and providers, making it a standout evening for the industry.

Betsson Group extends its heartfelt gratitude to its employees and partners who have played a pivotal role in this achievement.

The post Betsson Group Wins Top Safer Gambling Recognition at IGA 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea

BGC Enters Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Online Operators’ Group

Published

47 minutes ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

bgc-enters-cooperation-agreement-with-chile’s-online-operators’-group

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Agrupación de Plataformas de Apuesta en Línea (aPAL), as part of ongoing efforts to support the development of a sustainable and well-regulated online gambling market in Chile.

The agreement brings together the BGC, which represents around 90% of the UK’s regulated betting and gaming industry, and aPAL, a group of international online betting operators that have been working since 2022, to support the introduction of modern gambling regulation in Chile.

While online gambling is currently not prohibited but also unregulated, Chile already has a land-based casino sector, horseracing and a lottery duopoly, and a draft bill to regulate online operators has been under discussion for several years. Following recent elections, a new Chilean Government is now in a position to advance with the legislation, potentially introducing a licensing regime as early as 2027.

Under the Cooperation Agreement, the two organisations will work together to share international experience and evidence, strengthen the knowledge base around gambling regulation, and engage constructively with policymakers and stakeholders on the development of a sustainable licensing framework in Chile.

Carlos Baeza, Chilean lawyer and representative of aPAL, said: “Chile has a real opportunity to introduce a modern, robust regulatory framework for online gambling that protects consumers, tackles illegal activity and delivers meaningful public benefits. At present, online gambling operates entirely outside any regulatory oversight, leaving players without safeguards and the state without visibility or control.

“By working with the BGC, we can draw on international best practice and ensure policymakers have access to high-quality evidence and experience from well-regulated markets.”

Grainne Hurst, Chief Executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, added: “The BGC is pleased to be working with aPAL at a pivotal moment for gambling reform in Chile. Well-designed regulation is essential to protect players, raise standards and drive out the harmful black market.

“The UK’s regulated market shows how robust licensing, high standards and effective oversight can support safer gambling while allowing a well-regulated industry to thrive. This agreement reflects our commitment to sharing that experience and supporting evidence-based policymaking internationally.”

The Cooperation Agreement will initially run for one year and forms part of the BGC International Committee’s ongoing programme of engagement with global partners.

The post BGC Enters Cooperation Agreement with Chile’s Online Operators’ Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.