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YGAM founders say the Experts By Experience strategy could achieve more with a diverse spread of perspectives

Lee Willows, Chief Executive and co-founder of YGAM, the charity which works to inform, educate and safeguard young people against gaming and gambling-related harm, has proposed that Experts by Experience initiatives might warrant a range of different voices that are representative of the totality of the gambling experience in order to be fully-inclusive in their insight and decision making.
Acknowledging the important role that initiatives based on personal insight, knowledge and understanding can play, he said: “It is pleasing to see more contributions made from people with direct experience of the tragic harm that gambling can cause some individuals, such as the YGAM Founders. Lived Experience or what the Commission is terming ‘Experts by Experience’ is a really important part of the conversation. My position is that Lived Experience must include a chorus of different voices and not just those who have experienced gambling disorder, but who represent the wider player spectrum. Personally, as someone who lost everything to a gambling addiction, I am always grateful for the opportunity to contribute my insight and experiences as such a level of inclusion would have been unheard of five-years ago.”
He continued: “Surely it’s important to understand how and why the vast majority of people who gamble can do so without experiencing a problem, as well as the reasons why some will develop significant and profound gambling related problems? If we accept the vast majority of people gamble within their means and with no adverse consequences, then understanding why this happens is just as useful as understanding why people like I cannot. By taking this much broader approach it would be amazing if different people within the debate can find some common themes to focus on and move forward in a progressive and non-judgemental way.”
Anne Evans, YGAM founder said recently: “I believe we are moving in the right direction and there are some extremely talented people working hard to make a difference. There will always be a wide spectrum of opinions on what needs to be done to reduce gambling harms and all these views should be welcomed. There is no perfect solution. We need a diverse spread of perspectives to engage in the debate. We must respect all the different views and always be kind.”
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Bill Hornbuckle
MGM Resorts Announces New Employment Agreement with CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle

MGM Resorts announced that it has reached a new employment agreement with CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle through December 31, 2028. As part of his new employment contract, the Company has also agreed to offer Hornbuckle an advisory agreement at the end of the term to assist with its integrated resort project in Osaka, Japan until its opening.
“Bill is an exceptional, visionary leader who successfully guided the company through the COVID-19 pandemic while also positioning the business for long-term growth through new digital ventures, strategic M&A opportunities, and expansion into new international markets. Bill has earned the trust, respect and admiration of his employees, peers, shareholders and this Board. We’re thrilled that he has agreed to remain in his role for the foreseeable future,” said Paul Salem, Chairman of the MGM Resorts Board of Directors.
“I am honored to continue leading this company at an exciting time of both digital growth and resort expansion in places like New York, Japan, Brazil and the Middle East. Our best days remain in front of us, and I’m thankful to our Board for their continued trust and support. The success we’ve enjoyed over the last five years is a testament to our leadership team and our employees who have embraced our culture of guest-centricity and continuous improvement. Together, we will continue to pursue our vision to be the world’s premiere gaming entertainment company,” said Hornbuckle.
As CEO, Hornbuckle oversees all aspects of MGM Resorts’ strategy, operations and hospitality and gaming development projects. He leads the company’s global development efforts and its digital gaming strategy. He is a member of MGM Resorts’ Board of Directors and serves as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of MGM China Holdings, which operates resorts in Macau. He is also Chair of the U.S. Travel Association, a non-profit organization focused on growing travel and tourism to the United States, and he previously served as Chairman of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on policy, regulation, programs and issues that impact the travel and tourism industry in the US.
The post MGM Resorts Announces New Employment Agreement with CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Annual American Business Awards
Scientific Games Wins Three 2025 American Business Awards for Lottery Retail Technology Innovation and Instant Scratch Game Achievement

Scientific Games was recognized with three prestigious honors in the 23rd Annual American Business Awards. The global lottery company won two Gold ABA awards for its retail technology, SCiQ and PlayCentral Powered by SCiQ, in the Operations Management Solutions and Emerging Technology categories, respectively. Scientific Games’ recently retired VP, Instant Game Production, Joe Bennett, earned a Silver ABA Award for Achievement in Management—Manufacturing, recognizing his career contributions in secure lottery instant game production.
Scientific Games President, Americas & Global Instant Products, John Schulz, said: “It’s an incredible honor to have SCiQ and PlayCentral Powered by SCiQ recognized with 2025 Gold American Business Awards. These awards reflect the strength of our innovation and the dedication of our teams to modernizing the retail lottery experience. We’re also deeply proud of Joe Bennett’s Silver Award. Joe’s leadership across three decades has helped define secure instant game manufacturing for Scientific Games and the industry during his tenure.”
This year, more than 3700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and industries were submitted to the ABAs. Winners were scored by more than 300 professionals worldwide during a rigorous judging process evaluating innovation, integrity, effectiveness, creativity, and growth. The Gold Award represents the highest honor in each category, reserved for the top-scoring entry, with the Silver Award representing the second-highest honor. The ABAs are nicknamed “Stevies” for the Greek word meaning “crowned”.
SCiQ is Scientific Games’ groundbreaking ecosystem designed to transform lottery instant game retailing. It brings advanced inventory management, security, and real-time sales tracking to retail locations, providing retailers, lotteries, and players with a smarter, more secure way to sell and purchase instant games. PlayCentral Powered by SCiQ extends the SCiQ ecosystem to lottery self-service retail environments. Integrating SCiQ technology into PlayCentral HD self-service vending machines allows for unprecedented inventory control, improved game security, and seamless retail operations, enhancing the player experience while optimizing lottery revenues.
Over his 34-year career at Scientific Games, Joe Bennett has driven significant advancements in digital transformation, manufacturing efficiency, and security innovation. He led the transition to a fully integrated digital production ecosystem and introduced patented encryption technologies that protect the integrity of instant lottery games. Under his leadership, Scientific Games now produces more than 53 billion secure, high-quality instant games annually. Bennett retired from the company in April 2025.
The post Scientific Games Wins Three 2025 American Business Awards for Lottery Retail Technology Innovation and Instant Scratch Game Achievement appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Greece
Playzia Strengthens Presence in Regulated Markets Through Strategic Partnership with Novibet

Playzia, a rapidly growing force in the iGaming industry, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Novibet, a leading international operator. This collaboration significantly extends Playzia’s footprint in the regulated Greek market and other key regions where Novibet operates.
The expansion marks another milestone in Playzia’s commitment to regulated markets, as it continues to broaden its reach while reinforcing its position as an innovator in the iGaming sector.
As part of this agreement, Novibet players will now have access to Playzia’s extensive and engaging catalog of in-house developed games. The lineup includes fan-favorites such as Billionaire Rhino and Cosmos Cash, as well as recent top-performing releases Medusa Mystic Reels Megaways™, Zeus’s Thunderstrike, and T-Rex Treasure Hunt Megaways™. With focus on innovation, Playzia continues to introduce groundbreaking game mechanics such as Hold and Win & Hold and Win Jackpot, Retrigger & Stacked Wilds in Free Spins, Bonus Hold and Win, Persistent Collection & 50 Symbols, and its highly anticipated Love Island content.
Vlad Modorcea, CPO at Playzia, shared his thoughts on the partnership: “Teaming up with Novibet is a significant milestone for Playzia as we continue to grow our presence in regulated markets. Novibet has a stellar reputation for delivering top-tier gaming experiences, making them an ideal partner for us. We are eager to see players engaging with our games and experiencing the unique entertainment Playzia brings to the table.”
Foteini Matthaiou, Casino Product & CRM Director at Novibet commented: “At Novibet, we are committed to elevating the player experience through strategic alliances. Welcoming Playzia’s dynamic game portfolio is a natural next step in delivering innovative, high-quality content that resonates with our players in Greece and beyond.”
This latest agreement further strengthens Playzia’s standing as a premier game supplier, offering a diverse mix of game formats, including crash, table, instant, and probability-based games. With an exciting roadmap ahead, players can look forward to innovative features, engaging gameplay, and thrilling jackpot opportunities.
The announcement follows Playzia’s recent nomination in two key categories at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025: Slot Supplier (Under 5 Years) and Software Rising Star, further underscoring the company’s momentum and industry recognition.
Playzia is also making waves in the branded content space. The company has secured an exclusive content partnership with ITV, the UK’s leading commercial broadcaster, to develop online games inspired by the global phenomenon Love Island. This upcoming series will blend the excitement of reality TV with Playzia’s signature gaming innovations.
The post Playzia Strengthens Presence in Regulated Markets Through Strategic Partnership with Novibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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