Industry News
OKTO strengthens commercial team with two new management appointments

Ignacio García del Frade named as Country Manager Spain and Dimitar Shopov as Business Development Manager
OKTO Group, the financial technology provider specialising in digital payment and player engagement applications, has expanded its commercial talent with the recruitment of Ignacio García del Frade and Dimitar Shopov in key company roles.
García del Frade has come on board as Country Manager Spain to lead the company’s Spanish operations and help build its client portfolio in the local market. Shopov, OKTO’s new Business Development Manager, will be responsible for driving the commercial strategy and securing key partnerships in the gaming, retail and financial industries.
Frade joins OKTO from Win Systems, where he successfully accomplished the first installation of Wigos casino management system at several Spanish operators as Business Development Manager. His broad experience and network of contacts in the local gaming industry will be instrumental to accelerating OKTO’s growth in the country.
Shopov also brings a broad range of experience to the new role, having proved his project management skills as Partner Manager at Edentix, as well as serving as Sales Director for specialist payment and technology companies including Cashflows, Skrill and IBM.
Simon Dorsen, Director of Gaming at OKTO, said: “The talent we have in our company continues to grow and it is fantastic to see our team expand internationally with individuals that we know will play a major part in OKTO’s journey.
“Ignacio and Dimitar both bring valuable knowledge, skills and expertise to their respective roles and we are positive they will continue to drive our commercial success and business growth.”
Ignacio García del Frade, Country Manager Spain, said: “I am delighted to be joining the OKTO team at such a pivotal point in its journey and am looking forward to delivering results in the Spanish market.
“OKTO’s suite of payment applications for the betting and gaming sector will deliver real value for operators in terms of building customer acquisition and retention, and I believe its business in Spain will go from strength to strength.
Dimitar Shopov, Business Development Manager, said: “I have been incredibly impressed not only with OKTO’s fast and seamless mobile payment technology but also with its value-added services that will significantly enhance the customer experience both in online and retail environments.
“I’m excited to be working with my new talent colleagues to help drive the business forward and cement its position as the go-to mobile payment provider for gaming.”
OKTO is currently attending ICE London 2020 to showcase its industry-leading payment solutions for gaming.
Carlo Santarelli
Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. announced that Carlo Santarelli has been appointed Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, a new position at the Company. Mr. Santarelli will begin his new position on August 18, 2025 and will report to GLPI President and Chief Operating Officer, Brandon Moore.
Mr. Santarelli brings over 25 years of Wall Street experience in Equity Research and Investment Banking to his new role and joins the Company from Deutsche Bank where he was Managing Director of Gaming & Lodging Equity Research. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Santarelli held similar positions at Bear Stearns, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo. He consistently ranked highly in Institutional Investor and other sell-side analyst research polls as a thought leader in the space, providing unique perspectives on industry events and trends with his data-driven approach and stock picking talent. Carlo Santarelli graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Economics in 2000.
Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI, said: “We’ve known and respected Carlo’s research work on the gaming, lodging and gaming REIT sectors for many years. Carlo brings to GLPI an in-depth knowledge of the industry and its participants, having experienced GLPI’s original formation of the gaming triple-net-REIT structure from a research analyst and capital markets perspective. We value his deep network of contacts among institutional investors, sell-side analysts and a wide range of gaming industry operators and we look forward to the value of his contributions.”
In his new role, Mr. Santarelli will work with Mr. Carlino and GLPI’s senior management to develop and evaluate growth opportunities and strategic relationships, and will oversee investor relations interactions.
The post Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. Names Carlo Santarelli Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Industry News
VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer

VIP Play, a technology-driven leader in interactive consumer engagement, announced that Jim Mackey, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, will step down from his role, effective August 8, 2025.
The Company has initiated a transition process and is in the process of identifying a successor. Mackey will assist in an orderly transition over the coming weeks.
“We thank Jim for his contributions to the Company, particularly during a transformative period for our business. We remain focused on executing our strategic priorities, including financial visibility, operating efficiency, and delivering value to our stakeholders,” said Les Ottolenghi, CEO of VIP Play.
The post VIP Play Announces Departure of Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
DotCom Ventures
IBN Initiates Coverage of SEGG Media Corporation

SEGG Media Corporation, a leading technology company transforming the global intersection of sports, entertainment, and gaming, has selected IBN, a multifaceted financial news and publishing company serving private and public entities, to spearhead its corporate communications efforts.
SEGG Media aims to deliver immersive, real-time experiences through next-generation technology that redefines how audiences interact with their favorite content and communities. Following a full-scale corporate transformation and rebrand, the company now operates across three high-growth verticals: Sports.com, Entertainment, and Lottery.com.
Sports.com serves as a global hub for sports content with a focus on soccer, sim racing, motorsports, and athlete-led media, with the upcoming Sports.com Super App poised to evolve fan engagement by integrating streaming, e-commerce, fantasy gaming, and sports news. The Entertainment division builds on AI-powered live events and direct-to-fan platforms, while Lottery.com delivers compliant, ethical gaming solutions including iGaming and charitable lottery access to global audiences.
With a $100 million financing facility and strategic acquisitions underway, including proposed deals with GXR World and DotCom Ventures, SEGG Media is executing a multi-vertical expansion strategy designed to unify fragmented fan experiences across live content, gaming, and digital commerce.
As part of the client-partner relationship, IBN will leverage its investor-focused distribution network, which includes over 5000 key syndication outlets, various newsletters, social media channels, and wire services via InvestorWire, along with blogs and other outreach tools, to generate greater awareness for SEGG Media.
The post IBN Initiates Coverage of SEGG Media Corporation appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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