Gambling in the USA

GAN Appoints Karen Flores as Chief Financial Officer, Continues to Progress Toward U.S. Listing

Published

6 years ago

January 14, 2020

GAN plc , an award-winning developer and supplier of enterprise-level B2B Internet gambling software, services and online gaming content in the United States, announced the appointment of Mrs. Karen Flores as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. In this role, Mrs. Flores will be responsible for finance, strategic planning, treasury, tax and accounting and will be based at the Company’s offices in Irvine, CA.

Mrs. Flores brings 20 years of financial management, capital markets and operational experience in both public and private technology companies. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis at Alorica, Inc., a provider of customer experience and call center outsourcing solutions, where she rebuilt the corporate financial planning & analysis function and managed the global capital planning process, establishing and leading the committee overseeing over $50 million in annual capital spending.

Prior to this, Mrs. Flores served as Senior Vice President of Finance at Maker Studios Inc., leading the company through a multi-year period of explosive growth with revenues increasing from $2 million to over $200 million. Mrs. Flores’ role at the company included acting as shareholder liaison with key institutional investors and managing its U.S. external audit. She was a primary member of the team that raised more than $70 million in equity funding and sold the company to The Walt Disney Company for $675 million in 2014.

Mrs. Flores has also held financial positions at MySpace Music, Napster, and Microsoft during her career and holds a Bachelor of Science, Finance (Cum Laude) from San Jose State University.

Management Commentary

Dermot Smurfit, CEO of GAN commented:

“We are pleased to welcome Karen to our leadership team as we continue working toward obtaining a U.S. listing as soon as reasonably practical. With two decades of financial management and operational experience at entertainment and technology companies, Karen has managed the Finance function of companies with substantial revenues and gained highly relevant corporate transactional experience. We believe Karen’s experience and skillset will prove invaluable to our financial and strategic planning as our business growth continues to accelerate. The entire leadership team at GAN looks forward to working closely with Karen who will be a critical part in helping us achieve both short- and long-term goals.”

About GAN Plc:
GAN is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) supplier of internet gambling software-as-a-service solutions (“SaaS”) to the US land-based casino industry. The Company has developed a proprietary internet gambling enterprise software system, GameSTACK™, which it licenses principally to land-based US casino operators as a turnkey technology solution for regulated real-money internet gambling, encompassing internet gaming, internet sports gaming and virtual Simulated Gaming.

GAN is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GAN).

For more information please visit www.GAN.com.

Arizona Benefits Fund

Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for Q2 FY 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

arizona-department-of-gaming-reports-$44.9-million-in-tribal-gaming-contributions-for-q2-fy-2026

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has officially announced a total of $44,891,270 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This performance marks an approximate 5.6 percent increase compared to the same period in FY 2025, signaling continued strength in the state’s tribal gaming sector.

These contributions are vital to the state’s infrastructure, supporting everything from classroom improvements to emergency medical services.

“The financial support that tribal gaming provides the state of Arizona continues to power local and statewide needs that are vital to healthy and safe communities,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “With nearly $45 million in tribal gaming contributions in the most recent period, the Department is proud to ensure the continuation of important revenue streams that positively impact Arizonans.”

Where the Money Goes: The Arizona Benefits Fund

Under the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, 88 percent of all tribal gaming contributions are directed into the Arizona Benefits Fund. This revenue is strictly allocated to high-priority state initiatives.

The Q2 FY 2026 distribution breakdown is as follows:

Fund Category	Contribution Amount
Instructional Improvement Fund (Education)	$22,373,810
Trauma and Emergency Services Fund	$11,186,905
ADG Operating Costs	$4,040,214
Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund	$3,196,258
State Tourism Fund	$3,196,258
Problem Gambling Education & Treatment	$897,825
Total to Arizona Benefits Fund	$44,891,270

Local Community Impact

Beyond the state-level funds, the remaining 12 percent of tribal contributions are distributed directly by the tribes to specific cities, towns, and counties. these funds are often used for local community services and public safety programs.

Since FY 2004, cumulative contributions from Arizona’s tribes have surpassed $2.5 billion, demonstrating the long-term economic impact of the partnership between the state and its 22 federally recognized tribes.

Regulatory Oversight and Growth

Currently, the ADG regulates 26 Class III casinos across the state in close partnership with tribal authorities. This regulatory framework ensures the integrity of the games while maximizing the benefits delivered to the public.

For those interested in exploring historical data, the ADG maintains a comprehensive archive of cumulative tribal gaming contributions by year.

To learn more about the current landscape of gaming in the state, visit the official Tribal Gaming webpage.

The post Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for Q2 FY 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Arizona

Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

arizona-department-of-gaming-reports-$44.9-million-in-tribal-gaming-contributions-for-the-second-quarter-of-fiscal-year-2026

The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) announced today $44,891,270 in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. This represents an approximate 5.6 percent increase when compared to the same quarter of FY 2025.

“The financial support that tribal gaming provides the state of Arizona continues to power local and statewide needs that are vital to healthy and safe communities,” said Jackie Johnson, Director of the ADG. “With nearly $45 million in tribal gaming contributions in the most recent period, the Department is proud to ensure the continuation of important revenue streams that positively impact Arizonans.”

The Arizona Benefits Fund receives 88 percent of tribal gaming contributions, providing significant dollars to support instructional improvement for schools, trauma and emergency care, tourism, and wildlife conservation throughout the state. If interested in viewing the cumulative tribal gaming contributions by year, please visit our reports webpage: gaming.az.gov/resources/reports.

Tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of the State’s FY 2026 are as follows:

Instructional Improvement Fund/Education………………………………………………..$22,373,810

Trauma and Emergency Services Fund………………………………………………………..$11,186,905

Arizona Department of Gaming Operating Costs………………………………………….$4,040,214

Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund……………………………………………………………$3,196,258

Tourism Fund…………………………………………………………………………………………..$3,196,258

Problem Gambling Education, Treatment and Prevention……………………………..$897,825

Total: Tribal Gaming Contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund……………………..$44,891,270

Per the Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact, the remaining 12 percent is distributed by the tribes to the cities, towns, and counties of their choosing for community services and public safety programs for local governments. Since FY 2004, cumulative contributions have totaled approximately $2.5 billion, benefitting both the state and its cities, towns, and counties.

Currently, there are 26 Class III casinos in Arizona, which ADG regulates in partnership with Arizona tribes. For more information, view our tribal gaming webpage: gaming.az.gov/tribal-gaming-page.

The post Arizona Department of Gaming Reports $44.9 Million in Tribal Gaming Contributions for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Activision Blizzard

BLAST Appoints Industry Veteran Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships

Published

2 days ago

January 8, 2026

Wladimir P.

BLAST, a global leader in competitive entertainment, has officially announced the appointment of Steve Rossi as Senior Vice President of Brand Partnerships. Rossi joins the team at a pivotal moment, following a record-breaking 2025 that saw the company expand its footprint into New York City, Malta, and Mumbai.

With over 20 years of experience in strategic partnerships across sports, media, and gaming, Rossi is set to lead BLAST’s next phase of commercial evolution.

A Proven Leader in Global Commercial Strategy

Rossi’s career is defined by his ability to bridge the gap between iconic intellectual properties and Fortune 100 brands. His previous roles include senior leadership positions at:

Activision Blizzard: Where he was instrumental in the commercialization and global expansion of Activision Blizzard Esports.
National Football League (NFL): Driving integrated sponsorships across the NFL Network and digital platforms.
Univision Communications: Designing and activating media partnerships across live and linear platforms.
PlayVS: Focusing on the intersection of youth esports and brand engagement.

Based in the newly established New York office, Rossi will oversee BLAST’s global Sponsorship Sales and Partner Management & Activation.

Building on a Record-Breaking 2025

The appointment comes as BLAST continues to scale at an unprecedented rate. In 2025, the company delivered:

15 Arena Events staged across eight different countries.
Broadcasts in 30+ Languages reaching fans in over 100 territories.
Expanded Portfolio: Continued investment in top-tier titles including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Rocket League, Fortnite, and Brawl Stars.

“BLAST has built a truly premium proposition at the intersection of entertainment, gaming, sport and culture,” said Steve Rossi. “I’m excited to work with the team to build long-term, high-impact partnerships that deliver real value for brands, publishers and fans alike.”

A Strategic Vision for 2026

Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST, emphasized that Rossi’s leadership will be instrumental as the company evolves its partnership offerings. “Steve brings deep experience across esports, sport, media and entertainment. His ability to scale global commercial partnerships makes him the perfect fit for BLAST at this incredibly exciting time.”

As BLAST enters 2026, the focus remains on delivering fan-first experiences and commercially impactful collaborations that maintain BLAST’s position as a pioneer in the competitive gaming space.