Gambling in the USA
Accel Entertainment Announces Two Senior Executive Appointments
Accel Entertainment, Inc. announced two appointments to its executive management team, with Ryan Hammer named as President of Gaming Operations and Michael Marino named as Chief Commercial Officer. Both appointments are effective immediately and will report directly to Andy Rubenstein, Accel’s Chief Executive Officer.
As President of Gaming Operations, Mr. Hammer will lead the company’s video gaming business in Illinois and additional states. Initially he will be based out of Chicago but later this year he will build the Company’s presence in Southern Illinois and new opportunities in other states. As Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Marino will lead the company’s strategic development with a focus on incremental service offerings, partnerships, marketing, analytics and loyalty. Mr. Hammer and Mr. Marino will both be based in Illinois.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ryan and Michael to the Accel family and to our executive management team,” said Andy Rubenstein, CEO of Accel. “The opportunities for Accel to rapidly expand beyond our current footprint are steadily increasing, and with these two key hires we are now even better positioned to execute our vision of being a multi-state operator with a differentiated range of gaming-as-a-service solutions. Being able to recruit executives of their caliber speaks to the exciting opportunities in front of Accel and we look forward to their contributions.”
“In the past few years Accel has established itself as an absolute leader in the video gaming market and I could not be more honored to join the company,” said Ryan Hammer, President of Gaming Operations. “Accel represents the most exciting growth opportunity within the distributed gaming sector and is one of the best capitalized companies in the entire industry. I look forward to applying my operational and financial skills to build on Accel’s current momentum.”
“This is a truly exciting time in the history of Accel and I could not be more pleased to begin collaborating with this highly respected team,” said Michael Marino, Chief Commercial Officer. “I have long admired Accel’s entrepreneurial spirit and energy and its relentless focus on building and maintaining partnerships which has ultimately contributed to their success and reputation as a leader in the industry. I joined because of my conviction that Accel has an exciting growth agenda and I look forward to bringing my skills and expertise to help make that a reality.”
A native of Illinois, Mr. Hammer joins Accel with more than 16 years of gaming experience working in various roles at Caesars Entertainment Corporation, most recently serving as Senior Vice President & General Manager, where he oversaw operations at five Las Vegas resorts. Mr. Hammer began his career with the company in 2003 as an Analytics Manager and since that time has held a number of executive roles of increasing importance in finance, human resources and operations, and across five markets including Chicago, Louisville, Atlantic City, St. Louis and Las Vegas. Mr. Hammer holds a B.S. in Finance from Southern Illinois University, an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and a J.D. from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law. He is currently a board member for the Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada.
A resident of Chicago, Mr. Marino joins Accel after 8 years of experience in a variety of marketing, strategy and analytic roles at Caesars Entertainment. He most recently served the last three years as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Chief Experience Officer where he managed the end-to-end customer journey including oversight of Caesars Rewards, the gaming industry’s leading loyalty program, partnerships, advertising, brand, digital and online hotel distribution. He also helped expand Caesars’ efforts in sports inclusive of marketing, partnerships and betting. Mr. Marino’s earlier roles at Caesars included oversight of marketing analytics, Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO and Senior Vice President of loyalty and digital. Prior to Caesars, Mr. Marino worked four years as a management consultant at Bain & Company and five years in a variety of marketing, risk management, strategy and M&A roles at Capital One Financial. Mr. Marino holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.
Delaware North
Industry veteran joins North American operator as chief interactive gaming officer to drive growth in iCasino states and efficiencies in its online sportsbook
Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company with a significant gaming division, has named industry veteran Lee Terfloth as chief interactive gaming officer as it pushes ahead with ambitious plans for its digital offering.
Terfloth has an impeccable track record across some of the biggest land-based and online gaming operators in North America, including Borgata, Resorts Digital, Hard Rock and, most recently, Prime Sports, where he was chief executive officer.
As chief interactive gaming officer at Delaware North, Terfloth will be responsible for two core objectives: Expanding the operator’s Betly mobile sportsbook and casino brand into additional iGaming states while also reviewing its sportsbook business to improve operational efficiency.
The appointment of Terfloth comes hot on the heels of news that Delaware North has chosen to migrate to Playtech’s powerful online sportsbook and casino platform in the states of Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Jason Gregorec, president of Delaware North’s gaming division, said:
“Lee Terfloth is a high-caliber senior iGaming executive who has played a key role in launching and growing interactive gaming divisions at some of the most established and renowned gambling operators in North America.
“We are delighted to be able to leverage this experience and knowledge as we ramp up our own online gaming division via our Betly brand, which has already gained traction in key online sports betting and iGaming states such as Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia.
“I’d like to officially welcome Lee to the team and look forward to working with him as we deploy our ambitious plans for online gaming across regulated U.S. states,” Gregorec said.
Lee Terfloth, chief interactive gaming officer at Delaware North, added: “I’m thrilled to join Delaware North at a pivotal time for the business as it shifts up a gear with its activity in the online gaming space.
“Betly is an incredibly strong brand and now that we are migrating to the Playtech platform, we have the technological foundation to really level up our activity in terms of markets and the quality of the experience we offer to players.
“I have plenty of experience working with operators at this stage in their lifecycle and look forward to working with the incredible team we have in place to not only meet but exceed the goals the business has set for its interactive division,” Terfloth said.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 9-15
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, is spreading holiday cheer this season with the launch of an exciting new marketing campaign and the return of its popular Picksmas holiday promotional campaign. To kick things off, PrizePicks has unveiled a new commercial that features some of the internet’s biggest personalities, including Joe Budden, Druski, BigXThaPlug, Sketch and Spice Adams.
FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America, announced the South Jersey Transportation Authority’s Atlantic City Expressway Pleasantville Toll Plaza, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s PATH commuter rail systemwide and PA SEPTA will offer free tolls and rides on December 18, 2024. In New Jersey, free tolls and rides will be given out through the South Jersey Transportation Authority’s Atlantic City Expressway Pleasantville Toll Plaza and throughout the PATH system.
The American Gaming Association announced the expansion of its “Have A Game Plan. Bet Responsibly.” Public service campaign with the introduction of a fifth pillar: “Keep Your Cool”. This new pillar reinforces the campaign’s mission to promote responsible sports wagering by emphasising athlete harassment is never appropriate. The announcement comes as data highlights the growing effectiveness of responsible gaming programmes across the country.
Resorts World Las Vegas announced the formation of a Board of Directors, with industry veteran Jim Murren as the Chairman, and the appointment of Alex Dixon as its CEO as a key part of the Company’s plan to deepen and strengthen its leadership. The new team, with a combined 130 years of experience in the gaming industry, will accelerate the Company’s growth strategy and continue its mission to remain Las Vegas’ premier resort destination for unmatched luxury and entertainment experiences and unforgettable moments.
Betski is set to launch its online casino ownership platform in Q1 2025, enabling users to earn casino profits through digital tokens. The system will allow anyone to receive a share of casino earnings without managing casino operations, marking a new chapter in the multi-billion-dollar iGaming industry. Supported by a $345,000 pre-seed funding round, the platform aims to democratise access to casino earnings and reshape the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry.
Partnerships
Aquimo Inc., a leader in mobile gaming technology for sports broadcasts and live events, has partnered with Sportsnet, Canada’s #1 sports network, to bring hockey fans a one-of-a-kind, new interactive mobile gaming experience. Sportsnet Slap Shot Showdown – a brand-new, custom mobile game developed by Aquimo, launched on December 7 during Sportsnet’s live Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, giving fans across Canada a chance to compete in real-time multiplayer challenges and a month-long contest to win exclusive prizes, including a 2025 Hyundai Kona. This collaboration marks Aquimo’s first television broadcast partnership in Canada and a milestone in the company’s expansion into the market.
The pathways into Bucky’s Casino and Yavapai Casino in Prescott are brighter than ever now that JCM Global (JCM) has installed new outdoor LED marquee signs at each property. Bucky’s Casino guests are now greeted with a new single-sided Mitsubishi NXL 10mm stretching 14 feet wide by 7-and-a-half feet tall.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 9-15 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 2-8
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) has published a draft of its Model Internet Gaming Act. The proposal provides a model regulatory framework for US states considering the legalisation of online gaming. The document is open for public comment until December 31. The proposal suggests various policies for state legislators, regulators and other stakeholders to consider.
Bally’s Chicago Casino has won a 2024 Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. The award recognises Bally’s Chicago’s commitment to fair, honest and ethical business practices. The BBB’s Torch Award honours companies that demonstrate the highest level of ethical standards and trust with customers, business partners, shareholders and the communities in which they do business. This year, the award was presented to only seven businesses in the Chicago region. An independent panel of reviewers assessed applicants in four areas: character, culture, customer and community.
International Game Technology PLC announced that its new Powerbucks Blackjack game is now available to online players in multiple jurisdictions in Canada. The theme links to IGT’s Powerbucks omnichannel wide-area progressive jackpot prize pool, Canada’s largest jackpot connecting land-based, online and mobile games. Launched in 2016, IGT Powerbucks slots is the world’s first omnichannel WAP game that links the jackpot prize pool between gaming machines found in land-based casinos with digital-based games in Canada.
Partnerships
FanDuel announced a new partnership with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) becoming an Official Sportsbook Partner and exclusive In-app Streaming Partner in the US. This collaboration offers hockey fans unmatched access to the PWHL, with FanDuel streaming up to 90 regular season PWHL games and playoffs live on the FanDuel app.
NGX announced a strategic partnership with StarSport. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for NGX in its expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean. With over 200 physical points of sale in the Dominican Republic, StarSport is recognised for its robust operations and strict compliance with local regulations. StarSport’s selection of NGX as its platform provider highlights the company’s ability to offer certified and flexible technology tailored precisely to the dynamic needs of the Dominican market.
Scientific Games signed a new technology contract with the North Dakota Lottery to implement the company’s most advanced omnichannel system solutions. The Lottery selected Scientific Games’ integrated solution to power retail and digital sales following a competitive process, awarding the global lottery company a new six-year contract with a two-year extension option. As the industry’s fastest-growing systems provider, SG has successfully executed nearly 40 lottery systems implementations and conversions since 2016.
BetMGM announced a new partnership with Push Gaming. The first phase of the partnership brings some of Push Gaming’s top slot titles to BetMGM Casino in Ontario. In 2025, pending regulatory approval, BetMGM will be the exclusive partner for Push Gaming in the US. Some of Push Gaming’s most popular slots, including Retro Tapes, Big Bamboo, Razor Returns and Wild Swarm 2 are now available at BetMGM Casino and Wheel of Fortune Casino in Ontario, with more top titles arriving soon.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 2-8 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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