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IGT Streamlines Business and Leadership Under New Organizational Structure
International Game Technology PLC today announced a new organizational structure focused primarily on two business segments: Global Gaming and Global Lottery. This new structure is designed to:
- provide greater responsiveness to customers and players;
- increase IGT’s effectiveness and competitiveness in providing products and solutions that address the opportunities of each market segment;
- harmonize best practices across both B2B and B2C channels in each product category; and
- reduce complexity and increase organizational efficiency to support IGT’s intrinsic value.
“A simplified organizational structure grounded in our core competencies creates a stronger, more focused IGT,” said Marco Sala, CEO of IGT. “We have always maintained a customer-first mentality and are positioning ourselves to meet ever-evolving needs in a dynamic, global marketplace. Global product segments enable us to leverage our extraordinary talent, unique insights as both an operator and service provider, and economies of scale to continue delivering unrivalled gaming experiences and create value for all stakeholders.”
Reporting to Marco Sala, Renato Ascoli will serve as CEO, Global Gaming; Fabio Cairoli will serve as CEO, Global Lottery. This new structure is effective from July 1, 2020, and IGT will start reporting its financial results under these two business segments starting with the third quarter of 2020. Financial results for the second quarter of 2020 will be reported in line with the legacy organizational structure.
The Global Gaming and Global Lottery segments will have all of the key operating capabilities and autonomy necessary to manage the business, including product management, sales, technology and research and development. The business segments will be supported by central corporate support functions that remain largely unchanged from a leadership standpoint, with the addition of a New Business and Strategic Initiatives function. The new structure addresses key synergy and development areas, while continuing to ensure appropriate governance.
Global Gaming will have full responsibility for the IGT Gaming business, consolidating North America, International and Italy B2C Gaming responsibilities. This includes PlayDigital, Sports and Italy Gaming — led by Enrico Drago — as well as Global Gaming Sales, Global Gaming Product Management, Global Gaming Studios, Global Manufacturing, Operations and Services including Global Gaming Technology.
Global Lottery will have full responsibility for the IGT Lottery business, consolidating North America, International and Italy. This includes Global Lottery Sales and Operations, Global Lottery Product and Sales Development, and Global Lottery Technology and Support. This structure enhances global strategic vision and framework, leveraging proven customer focus and execution while positioning the organization for improved collaboration and best practices sharing.
Reporting to Marco Sala, Walter Bugno will lead a New Business and Strategic Initiatives corporate function. In line with the strategic objective of having a clear focus on our business’ priorities within IGT’s portfolio, this group is responsible for leading business development in jurisdictions where IGT is not present, and where — while there may be a company presence — there is no defined product segment presence.
Additionally, the New Business and Strategic Initiatives group is responsible for managing new in-country initiatives during the start-up phase and offering on-demand commercial support globally for key accounts with multiple product requirements. It will also be responsible for managing key strategic initiatives within existing jurisdictions as needed and as determined by company leadership. The group will work in unison with the two new global business units in delivery of all initiatives, with financials rolling up to Global Gaming and Global Lottery.
Executive Biographies
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Global Gaming, Renato Ascoli served as CEO, North America of IGT PLC. In this capacity, other than serving all North America Customers, he held global responsibility for product development, manufacturing, product management, technology and delivery of all the Company’s portfolio outside of Italy.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Global Lottery, Fabio Cairoli served as CEO Italy of IGT PLC, where he was responsible for managing all business lines, marketing services, and sales for the Company’s Italian operations. Through his leadership of the largest lottery operator in the world, Mr. Cairoli shares insights and best practices with other organizations in the Company.
Prior to his role as leader of IGT New Business and Strategic Initiatives, Walter Bugno served as CEO, International of IGT PLC, where he was responsible for the management and strategic development of the International region. He led the Company’s lottery, gaming, and interactive businesses throughout Europe (except Italy), as well as in the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information about IGT, visit IGT.com, go to Facebook at facebook.com/IGT, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/IGTnews, or watch IGT videos on YouTube at youtube.com/igt.
About IGT :
IGT (NYSE:IGT) is the global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Gaming Machines and Lotteries to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivaled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 12,000 employees. For more information, please visit www.igt.com.
SOURCE International Game Technology PLC
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Sponsorship covers the Premiership, Championship and Women’s Premiership and is NIFL’s first deal valued above £1m, per the league.
BOYLE Sports has signed a three-year agreement to become Title Partner of the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL), expanding its existing relationship with the competition. The sponsorship spans the BOYLE Sports Premiership, BOYLE Sports Championship and BOYLE Sports Women’s Premiership.
The operator had been the League’s Official Betting Partner since December 2025. Under the expanded deal, BOYLE Sports retains existing rights including title sponsorship of the BOYLE Sports Women’s Cup.
NIFL said the agreement is its first partnership valued at more than £1 million. The league also pointed to what it described as a record-breaking season, citing over 100 million digital views last season alongside its strongest performance for viewership and commercial revenue.
Activation will include branding across clubs’ playing kit, matchday environments, broadcast highlights, scoreboards, player of the match activations and league content across social channels. BOYLE Sports will also launch a responsible gambling awareness initiative across NIFL clubs, using matchday and digital platforms to promote safer betting information and conversations.
Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO of BOYLE Sports, said: “Football in Northern Ireland has real momentum and we’re proud to deepen our partnership with the Northern Ireland Football League at such an important time for the League.
“Becoming Title Partner across the Premiership, Championship and Women’s Premiership reflects our belief in the clubs, supporters and communities that make the game so strong. This partnership gives us the opportunity to support that growth, enhance fan experience and use our platform to positively engage with fans and the wider football community.”
Gerard Lawlor, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Ireland Football League, added: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with BOYLE Sports through this landmark title partnership. This is a major commercial moment for NIFL and reflects the growing strength and ambition of our competitions. BOYLE Sports has already shown real commitment to football in Northern Ireland, and this agreement will deliver meaningful value across our clubs, competitions and communities.”
The post BOYLE Sports signs as Northern Ireland Football League title partner in three-year deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Poker formats share a surface: private cards, community cards, betting rounds, and a final five-card hand. The difference between variants, however, is not cosmetic. Texas Hold’em gives players 2 private cards, so the first decision is narrow and readable. Omaha gives 4, then forces exactly 2 of them into the final hand. That single rule changes the way every board is read.
Adding variety to your poker playing routine can be great fun, but it’s crucial to understand the formats before you do – or you may find yourself struggling at the table!
The Format Is the First Practical Filter
Once the basic rules are familiar, format choice becomes easier to understand when the games are seen side by side. A player comparing Hold’em with Omaha is not only comparing two sets of rules. They are comparing the amount of private information available before the flop, how many possible hand combinations need to be tracked, and how quickly each decision starts to feel comfortable.
That is where an Australian online poker setting gives the comparison more practical shape. A page focused on online poker Australia places Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Zone Poker in the same playing context, which makes the differences clearer without treating poker as one generic format.
Hold’em starts with 2 hole cards and 5 community cards, giving players a cleaner starting point. Omaha starts with 4 hole cards but still requires exactly 2 private cards and 3 community cards for the final hand. Omaha Hi-Lo keeps that same construction while asking players to think about high and qualifying low hands. Zone Poker changes the rhythm by moving a folded player to a new table and a fresh deal. Seen together, these formats show that poker choice is not only about hand rankings. It is about the kind of attention each version asks from the player.
A recent Ignition Australia post makes the same point in cultural terms, noting that poker in Australia has changed over the years while the heart of the game has stayed intact. The format conversation is not only technical. The same game can move from a physical room to a phone screen, from Hold’em to Omaha, or from a standard table to a faster online format, while still centering on timing, reading, and the next card.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVM_bPlErLf/
Hold’em Gives Cleaner Reading
Texas Hold’em is often easier to explain because the relationship between private cards and the board is direct. A pair in the hand, a suited ace, or two connected cards creates a clear starting point. After the flop, the player can ask a simple question: did the community cards improve the hand, threaten it, or create a draw worth following?
That clarity does not make Hold’em shallow. It makes the decision tree easier to see. Position, bet size, board texture, and opponent behavior still matter, but the player is not juggling as many private-card combinations. This is why Hold’em has become the main reference point for casual poker viewers and newer online players. The game gives them enough structure to follow the action, while leaving room for deeper judgment as experience grows.
Omaha Creates More Temptation
Omaha can look generous at first because 4 private cards seem to create more routes to a strong hand. That impression is where many Hold’em habits become unreliable. More starting combinations also mean opponents can connect with the board in stronger ways. A hand that feels powerful in Hold’em may be ordinary in Omaha if the board is coordinated.
The exact 2-card rule is the point beginners must absorb early. If the board shows 4 hearts and a player holds only 1 heart, that player does not have a flush. If the board shows pairs, a full house still depends on the required combination of private and community cards. Omaha asks players to slow down the first instinct and rebuild the hand under the format’s rule.
Omaha Hi-Lo adds another reading layer. A player may be looking for a strong high hand while also watching whether a qualifying low hand is available. The board can divide attention, and the clearest decision may depend on whether the hand has a path to one side of the pot or both.
Pace Changes the Same Cards
Zone Poker shows that format choice can also be about rhythm. In a standard table format, folded hands create waiting time. That delay lets players watch other hands finish, notice tendencies, and settle into the table’s pace, but it can feel slow and under-engaging. In a fast-fold format, folding moves the player quickly into a new hand, which makes the session feel sharper and less observational. The cards stay familiar, but the table observation window changes.
Poker formats are easiest to understand when the reader stops treating them as labels and starts treating them as different ways of processing incomplete information. Two private cards, four private cards, a split-pot rule, or a faster table rhythm can all change how a hand feels before the river arrives. The social layer also remains part of online play, as described in 2025 open-access work on multiplayer online games and social connection.
The post Texas Hold’em vs Omaha for Players Comparing Poker Formats appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Lottomart has launched Dragon’s Rage, a new S Gaming slot available as a permanent exclusive to Lottomart players in the UK.
The release follows the partnership’s previous exclusive title, Fisherman’s Fortune, and adds another game to Lottomart’s exclusive-content portfolio.
Set in a dragon’s treasure lair, Dragon’s Rage uses a 1,024-ways-to-win format. Features include the Coil Collect mechanic, choice-led Free Spins, and Rage Spins. The game also includes three fixed-level jackpots: Inferno, Flame and Ember.
Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart, commented: “We’re delighted to launch Dragon’s Rage as a permanent UK exclusive. Developed in close collaboration with S Gaming, the game combines a strong fantasy theme with engaging features designed with our players in mind. We’re looking forward to seeing how our customers respond to the launch.”
Charles Mott, CEO of S Gaming, added: “Dragon’s Rage is the latest title developed through our close collaboration with Lottomart. It has been a pleasure working together on the concept and development of the game, and we’re proud to bring this new fantasy adventure exclusively to Lottomart players in the UK.”
The post Lottomart launches S Gaming slot Dragon’s Rage as permanent UK exclusive appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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