Xace has appointed Lahcene Merzoug as the first member of its newly formed advisory board, as the firm targets further growth in the regulated iGaming sector.

Merzoug is a multi-entrepreneur and investor in iGaming, including holdings in operators and affiliate businesses. He is also a co-owner of iGaming NEXT and is known as Owner and Chairman of PressEnter Group, a Malta-based casino operator. Xace said he will support the company as it sharpens strategic priorities and expands into key gaming markets.

“Many of the businesses I’m a shareholder in are actually clients of Xace, and I was, and still am, a huge fan of the product long before being asked to join the advisory board,” commented Merzoug. “In a market full of providers trying to force generic financial services onto gaming businesses, Xace stood out as having a roadmap that fits the enterprises I’m involved with and a proposition genuinely built around the realities of this industry.

“The invitation to join the advisory board was an incredibly easy decision to make because I believe in where the brand is going and in the strength of what it offers operators today. Xace is solving real problems for the sector with the right blend of industry understanding, operational practicality and ambition. It’s exactly the kind of company that is shaking up the sector and proving there is a better way to serve it.”

Xace CEO, Megan Easey, said the appointment supports the company’s focus on financial solutions for gaming operators. “Lahcene accepting our offer to join us is a strong endorsement of our approach,” commented Easey. “Xace was created for the gaming industry from day one, not adapted to it, and that really matters when operators need a partner that understands their structure, pace and the realities of operating across multiple jurisdictions.

“As we continue to grow, we’re focusing on making life easier for gaming businesses through strong infrastructure, practical integration capabilities and high-quality support. Bringing in experienced industry leaders like Lahcene is a vital part of that journey and aligns perfectly with the authority, voice, and character we’re delivering to the space.”

Xace said it expects to announce further advisory board appointments “in due course.”

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Anderson has served as interim CFO since May 4 as Scientific Games begins a search for a permanent finance chief.

Scientific Games said May 12 that Chief Financial Officer Nick Negro will leave the company on May 15, ending a three-year tenure. The company said Negro is departing for an opportunity based in Chicago to be closer to family.

Scientific Games has appointed Ray Anderson as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective May 4, while it searches for a permanent CFO.

“Nick has been a strong member of our leadership team and an advocate for the potential of Scientific Games,” said Pat McHugh, Chief Executive Officer for Scientific Games. “During his time with the company, he significantly strengthened our financial and procurement organizations and helped position Scientific Games for continued growth. We thank Nick for his contributions and wish him all the best.”

Anderson is a CPA with more than 30 years of global experience, including senior roles at KPMG across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Most recently, he served as a Global Lead Partner advising Fortune 500 companies on audit, capital markets and regulatory strategy, and previously led KPMG’s Pacific Southwest audit practice for six years.

“Ray is a highly respected finance leader with extensive global experience advising large, complex organizations,” said McHugh. “We are confident in his ability to support the business and our Finance organization during this transition.”

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ReferOn has completed a management buyout, with former General Manager Alex Bukin acquiring the iGaming affiliate management platform and taking over as Chief Executive Officer.

Bukin said the deal is intended to support longer-term product and market plans: “This is an important moment for ReferOn and the beginning of a new chapter for the business. The management buyout provides us with the long-term focus required to continually advance the platform. We remain committed to product development, strengthening our offerings for partners, and supporting ReferOn’s continued growth across key markets.”

ReferOn reported that in its first 12 months post-launch it recorded 35.7 million clicks, 2.4 million registrations, 18,000 affiliates, and 136,000 active trackers. The company also said it was named “Best Affiliate Platform” in 2025 and 2026 by industry stakeholders.

The company said the ownership change will not affect day-to-day operations and that existing support and partnerships will continue. It also pointed to recent product updates including Refie, described as a built-in interface layer, alongside features such as dynamic reporting, Company Grouping, Sub-Affiliation, Independent Deal Calculation (IDC), two-factor authentication (2FA), and mobile optimization.

As part of the transition, ReferOn said its leadership team remains in place, with Vlad Bondarenko moving from Head of Product to Chief Product Officer and David Harris moving from Operations Lead to Chief Operations Officer.

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