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Marc Etches to step down as CEO of GambleAware

Published

6 years ago

August 14, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

After almost a decade as Chief Executive, Marc Etches has announced he will step down from his role as Chief Executive of GambleAware at the end of March 2021.

Under Marc Etches’ leadership, GambleAware has evolved to become the primary commissioner and convenor of services dedicated to reducing and preventing gambling harms in Great Britain. Formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, the charity is now guided by a public health approach, overseen by a wholly independent and expert Board of Trustees, and works collaboratively with those in the public health sector, including the NHS, public health agencies, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

Marc Etches has led a substantial increase in funding and donations during his time as CEO and leading members of the Betting and Gaming Council have recently committed further funding of £100 million for the next four years. The charity now has £40m of grant funding under active management and the additional pledged funding will help GambleAware to continue to develop the National Gambling Treatment Service with its partners across England, Scotland and Wales.

The process to select a new Chief Executive will be led and overseen by GambleAware’s Board of Trustees. As GambleAware enters into the next stage of its evolution, the independent Board will look to appoint someone with appropriate expertise, including in commissioning healthcare services, who will be able to continue to ensure gambling harms are understood and tackled as a matter of public and individual health and wellbeing.

Commenting on Marc Etches’ departure, Kate Lampard CBE, Chair of GambleAware said:

“It has been a pleasure working with Marc over the past four years and he has taken the charity from strength to strength. As a result of his hard work, GambleAware has developed the expertise and sustainability to continue to deliver and work with partners across the healthcare spectrum to prevent and protect against gambling harms. I look forward to continuing this important work with a new Chief Executive next year.”

Marc Etches also commented: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as CEO for nearly a decade and I am enormously proud of the charity’s development and the contribution it makes, in partnerships with others, to keeping people safe from gambling harms.

With the prospect of a new era of increased funding and wider commissioning responsibilities, it is the right time for the charity to find someone with the skills and expertise necessary to take it into the next stage of its evolution.

I want to thank the Board of trustees and the entire staff team at GambleAware for their hard work and commitment to the charity’s purpose as well as for their magnificent personal support of me.”

instant games

Scientific Games completes systems conversion for New Mexico Lottery

Published

56 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Modernization adds Momentum ecosystem tools and rolls out new terminals and self-service machines to 1,000+ retailers statewide.

Scientific Games has completed a technology systems conversion for the New Mexico Lottery, modernizing lottery operations with a new gaming system and rolling out retail technology to more than 1,000 locations across the state. The update went live May 11, 2026, according to the company.

Scientific Games said the new system now powers the Lottery’s draw-based and Scratchers’ sales and is designed to simplify product management for retailers. The conversion also includes the launch of the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership (SGEP) instant game management program, which the company said combines analytics, logistics, retail optimization and product strategy.

“The New Mexico Lottery is officially live with new, modern technology systems that work together to enhance all aspects of our operations and ensure we are well-positioned for our next era of growth,” said David Barden, CEO of the New Mexico Lottery. “We’ve strategically planned every step of this holistic modernization effort with Scientific Games to intelligently operate our retail network, making our Scratchers games easier for retailers to manage in their stores and easily accessible to our valued players.”

Scientific Games said the conversion was developed over the past year and is built on its Momentum ecosystem. Components cited include an advanced central gaming system, the SciTrak instant game distribution system, the gem | intelligence retailer licensing and management portal and the INFUSE business intelligence platform. The company said WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines will be deployed to retailers in planned phases.

“Congratulations to the New Mexico Lottery for building upon our long-standing instant scratch game partnership, embracing innovation for the future,” said John Schulz, President of Americas & Global Instant Products for Scientific Games. “We are proud to serve as the Lottery’s full-line partner and help drive maximum proceeds for New Mexico college students.”

The post Scientific Games completes systems conversion for New Mexico Lottery appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Plaza Hotel & Casino brings back free Friday fireworks June 5 to Sept. 4

Published

56 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Downtown Las Vegas show runs weekly at 9:10 p.m., with rooftop viewing options and planned Main Street traffic closures during launches.

Plaza Hotel & Casino will again stage its “Welcome to the Weekend” fireworks series in downtown Las Vegas every Friday night from June 5 to Sept. 4, launching at 9:10 p.m., according to the property.

The hotel said the free show is returning for a third consecutive year, with fireworks shot from the Plaza’s towers and visible across downtown and beyond. The Plaza also plans to close a portion of Main Street in front of the property to vehicle traffic during the shows to create pedestrian-only viewing access.

The Plaza will pair the fireworks with a rooftop pool party starting at 7 p.m., featuring food from the Plaza’s food truck and drinks from the rooftop pool bar. “Each year, the crowds only grow bigger for our free Welcome to the Weekend Summer Friday Fireworks Shows,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “Our Friday fireworks have become an iconic part of summertime in Las Vegas that people look forward to. So, we are excited to bring the summer fireworks shows back again, for the third year, as a free and memorable experience for the whole community – visitors and residents alike.”

Each show will be initiated by a designated “TNT Ignitor,” which the Plaza said may include “a community leader, hotel guest, local hero, or social influencer.” The property is also selling a “TNT Ignitor VIP Experience” and a “Welcome to the Weekend VIP hotel package,” which include access and hospitality components tied to the rooftop viewing party.

The Plaza said the fireworks are weather-dependent and may be changed or cancelled, with updates posted to its social media channels including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino brings back free Friday fireworks June 5 to Sept. 4 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Scientific Games’ Systems Technology Creates Momentum for New Mexico Lottery’s Next Era of Growth

Published

56 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

scientific-games’-systems-technology-creates-momentum-for-new-mexico-lottery’s-next-era-of-growth

Company Delivers Successful Systems Conversion Featuring Instant Game Management Program and Advanced Retail Technology

Scientific Games and the New Mexico Lottery have modernized the Lottery’s operations, setting the stage for future growth with a new, advanced gaming system and a comprehensive suite of innovative technologies rolling out at 1,000+ retailers across the state. The integrated tech conversion also includes the launch of the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership instant game management program—bringing together analytics, logistics, retail optimization and product strategy to drive game performance and maximize proceeds to education in the state.

The company’s new gaming system is now powering the New Mexico Lottery’s draw-based and Scratchers’ sales, simplifying lottery product management for retailers and enhancing convenience to players. The full-line technology solution also delivers precision analytics to help optimize sales performance and generate maximum revenues to benefit college scholarship funding for students in-state.

In development over the past year, the successful conversion features Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, anchored by an advanced central gaming system, patented SciTrak instant game distribution system, gem | intelligence retailer licensing and management portal and INFUSE business intelligence platform. Scientific Games’ WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines are being deployed in planned phases at New Mexico Lottery retailers.

“Congratulations to the New Mexico Lottery for building upon our long-standing instant scratch game partnership, embracing innovation for the future,” said John Schulz, President of Americas & Global Instant Products for Scientific Games. “We are proud to serve as the Lottery’s full-line partner and help drive maximum proceeds for New Mexico college students.”

The company provides services and expertise from its location in Albuquerque, including the SGEP instant game portfolio management program featuring game planning services, data analytics, advanced logistics, licensed brand services, and retail sales and marketing support.

Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, fastest growing lottery systems provider and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.

Scratchers is a trademark of the New Mexico Lottery Authority.