Connect with us

Latest News

SAZKA Group teams up with Sir Keith Mills in bid for Fourth UK National Lottery Licence

Published

on

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

SAZKA Group, Europe’s largest lottery operator, today announced it has appointed Sir Keith Mills as Bid Chair of the UK team for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. Sir Keith, a successful entrepreneur whose creative talent conceived the loyalty programmes so ubiquitous today, brings a wealth of experience from his roles across sport, charities, and business. He played a pivotal role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and subsequently, their successful staging. For the past six years he has chaired the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a role he hands over to Lord William Hague next month. He is also Chairman of the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Commenting on the announcement, Sir Keith said, “I am driven by organisations that make a real contribution to society. I chose to team up with Sazka for the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition because I believe the UK National Lottery needs to grow and be engaging if it is to continue to fund the thousands of good causes every year. Our lottery is a national treasure with nearly 26 years of history; however, the landscape has changed immeasurably since it was first launched back in 1994. The challenge now is to ensure the lottery connects with people right across the country, making it fresh and exciting as it once was, bringing new ways that are relevant for today and tomorrow’s generation. I feel passionately that it needs to be restored to the nation’s hearts, especially in these difficult times. I teamed up with Sazka because they have a proven record of taking established lotteries, growing them and evolving them to be relevant for the future. I am cognisant that much has to be done for us to make a winning case in this competition, but I believe that over the course of this process we will be able to demonstrate how Sazka’s expertise coupled with the experienced British team that we are building in the UK will offer the right stewardship for the UKNL for 2023 and beyond.”

As Bid Chairman, Sir Keith will lead a team with world-class bidding and delivery experience, including for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Comic Relief. Sazka has appointed former London 2012 employee, Alastair Ruxton, as the Bid Director, together with British experts in key areas such as Player Protection, Good Causes, Innovation, Digital, Retail and Customer Experience.

Commenting on the agreement, SAZKA Group CEO Robert Chvátal said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sir Keith Mills and have him lead our entry in the Fourth National Lottery Licence Competition. We are hugely excited to be participating in this competition and for the chance to take stewardship of the National Lottery, helping the UK to fall back in love with this vital institution. Operating in five different national markets (Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus) has given us an unprecedented level of insight and experience in running lotteries. In addition, we have consistently increased participation and revenues for the lotteries we operate. We want to bring this deep knowledge and customer insight to revitalise the UK National Lottery increasing sales and money raised for good causes, thereby providing a much-needed long-term boost to community, arts, sports and heritage institutions across the UK.”

After submitting the Selection Questionnaire earlier this month, SAZKA Group has been accepted into the competition by the Gambling Commission, the body running the Competition. The team will now review the final bid application documents and continue to assemble a strong consortium capable of submitting a winning bid in 2021.

About Sir Keith Mills
Sir Keith Mills GBE DL is a British business entrepreneur who founded the Air Miles and Nectar customer loyalty programmes and has established numerous businesses, both in the UK and internationally.  In September 2003, Sir Keith was appointed International President and CEO of London 2012 established to bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Having won the bid, he established LOCOG to organise the Games, where he was Deputy Chairman alongside Lord Sebastian Coe.  In 2007 Sir Keith established an Olympic related charity, International Inspiration, which he chaired, and in 2008 he established a UK charity, Sported, which he funded and chaired for 10 years. In 2014 Sir Keith established, and was Chairman of, the Invictus Games, working with Prince Harry to deliver a new major international sport event for wounded servicemen and women.  Sir Keith Chairs the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Invictus Games Foundation.  Sir Keith is also a Director and an investor in a number of private companies.
Sir Keith has received numerous awards including: Master Entrepreneur of the Year, Chief Executive of the Year, and the Sports Industry Businessman of the Year, and was knighted by The Queen in 2006 and again in 2013 when he received the Grand Knight Cross for his services to sport.

About SAZKA Group
The SAZKA Group is a national lottery, instant lottery and digital gaming operator, with our trusted brands and industry-leading technology delivering over €17bn in annual sales. Established in 2012, SAZKA Group is already one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing lottery companies and our strong performance across our markets is helping to fund good causes in the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, and Italy.
Since entering the lottery market in 2012, SAZKA Group has quickly expanded from the Czech Republic into four other European markets. SAZKA Group has consistently taken on established lotteries and made them better, while also expanding into new market segments through market-leading technology platforms. The Group’s unique experience of operating in different jurisdictions enables it to adopt a tailored approach to customer experience in each market, helping to increase sales and returns to good causes.
Responsible gaming and funding good causes are at the heart of SAZKA Group’s business and culture. it promotes responsible gaming in all of its markets and is committed to having a positive impact where it operates. From building children’s hospitals in Greece to support for the Czech Olympic Foundation, SAZKA Group has put its business skills to the benefit of the local community.

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Gambling in the USA

BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS THE WORLD TOUR TO SBC SUMMIT AMERICAS JUNE 9-11 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

Published

on

bmm-innovation-group-brings-the-world-tour-to-sbc-summit-americas-june-9-11-in-fort-lauderdale,-florida

BMM Innovation Group (“BMM”, “BIG Group”, or “BIG”), a global technology company providing compliance testing, cybersecurity, and training solutions for the regulated global gaming industry, today announced its participation in the SBC Summit Americas 2026 June 9-11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

BIG will exhibit in Booth No. 730, where the Company will showcase its leading testing, certification, cybersecurity, and training solutions for North America and Latin America.

In Latin America, BMM plays a leading role in gaming testing and certification, with offices in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. In North America, the Company supports the growing iGaming and sports betting market with its full portfolio of testing, certification, cybersecurity, and compliance-grade training solutions.

Representing BIG’s global brands, BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, the team will feature multilingual business development experts speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese to support suppliers, operators, and regulators across the Americas.

Attendees visiting the Company’s Booth No. 730 can learn more about BMM’s expert testing and certification services, cybersecurity solutions, and compliance-grade virtual training designed to help gaming companies launch faster, stay secure, and meet regulatory requirements across global markets.

BMM’s International iGaming Leader, María Romero de Alba, said, “SBC Summit Americas is one of the most important gatherings for the gaming industry across North and Latin America, and we’re excited to bring the BMM World Tour to Fort Lauderdale. As iGaming continues to grow across the region, BMM is helping suppliers expand into new markets with trusted compliance, cybersecurity, and training solutions.”

BMM Innovation Group has also been shortlisted for “Compliance Solution of the Year” at the SBC Awards Americas 2026, which will be held June 10 in conjunction with the conference.

To book a meeting with the BIG team at SBC Summit Americas 2026, visit BMM World Tour.

 

The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS THE WORLD TOUR TO SBC SUMMIT AMERICAS JUNE 9-11 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Brazil

Vitor Paulin ends cycle at Luck.bet with data-driven transformation, new website, and new campaign featuring Caio Castro as legacy

Published

on

vitor-paulin-ends-cycle-at-luck.bet-with-data-driven-transformation,-new-website,-and-new-campaign-featuring-caio-castro-as-legacy

Vitor Paulin ends cycle at Luck.bet with data-driven transformation, new website, and new campaign featuring Caio Castro as legacy.

The executive leaves the operator as of June 1 after leading the structuring of a team of more than 40 professionals and delivering the company’s highest results in Turnover and GGR.

Vitor Paulin, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer (CMGO) at Luck.bet, is ending his cycle at the operator as of June 1, 2026. During his tenure leading the company’s marketing operations, the executive drove a complete transformation that integrated Brand, Performance and Media, Affiliates, Influencers, CRM, PR, Product, and BI/Analytics into a single customer journey — Acquisition, Retention, Monetization, and Recovery.

The results were significant throughout his entire period at the company, with a marked acceleration in the second half of 2025 when he implemented the data-driven methodology: +54% Turnover, +49% GGR, +26% monthly active users, +22% average ticket size, +22% First Time Deposit (FTD), and +16% conversion rate from Registration to FTD.

Vitor leaves Luck.bet with three structural deliverables to the company: the completion of a data-driven culture implementation, a new operator website, the new brand campaign featuring Caio Castro — produced under his leadership and scheduled to launch in the coming weeks — and a new multidisciplinary team of more than 40 professionals structured in squads and operating under a data-driven culture focused on performance and customer-centricity.

“Throughout my time at Luck.bet, we led a complete marketing transformation. In the second half of 2025, with the data-driven methodology fully in place, we achieved +54% Turnover, +49% GGR, +26% monthly active users, and +22% average ticket size. It was a collective effort supported by a multidisciplinary team of more than 40 professionals, including new hires.

I thank Ivan Dutra and the entire Luck.bet team for the partnership and trust throughout this cycle,” said Vitor Paulin, former CMGO of Luck.bet.

Reflecting on his legacy at the operator, the executive highlights the integration between departments:

“The biggest legacy is structural: we transformed the operation into a data-driven marketing machine focused on results, integrating Brand, Performance, Affiliates, Influencers, CRM, PR, Product, and BI/Analytics into a single journey — Acquisition, Retention, Monetization, and Recovery.

I leave with the migration to the new Luck.bet website completed, the upcoming campaign featuring Caio Castro ready to go live in the coming weeks, and a team of more than 40 professionals consolidated and operating. The house is organized for the next cycles,” he added.

Regarding next steps, the executive plans a short break for strategic reflection before starting a new cycle: “I will take a short window for perspective before the next executive cycle.

In the coming weeks I will be open to conversations with market leaders — my main focus remains iGaming, with a natural extension into companies born digital such as fintechs, retail-techs, e-commerce, and the new economy in regulated markets in Brazil, Latin America, and Europe.

And who knows, I may also venture into entrepreneurship — I have no shortage of ideas for new products!” he concluded.

The post Vitor Paulin ends cycle at Luck.bet with data-driven transformation, new website, and new campaign featuring Caio Castro as legacy appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

AGS

AGS celebrates 10 straight years as a best and brightest company to work for in the nation

Published

on

ags-celebrates-10-straight-years-as-a-best-and-brightest-company-to-work-for-in-the-nation

For the 10th consecutive year, global gaming supplier AGS announced it has been named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.

Presented by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For awards are not pay-to-play. Instead they are based on an independent, research-driven assessment of company practices and employee survey results.

Ten straight years places AGS in rare company by any measure; in gaming, it’s unprecedented.

No other gaming manufacturer has been recognized in the program or been awarded this designation, making this recognition a standout achievement for the team and the industry.

“Ten years of this honor is a testament not to us as a company, but to the remarkable individuals who power everything we do,” said David Lopez, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGS.

“We’ve built something truly special here – a people-first culture of long-term excellence that I’m incredibly proud of and that continues to propel us forward.”

Companies are evaluated across a comprehensive set of criteria that reflect the employee experience.

These include compensation and benefits, engagement and retention, education and development, achievement and recognition, civility and inclusion, leadership, communication, community initiates and corporate responsibility, and overall workplace well-being.

AGS earned high marks for its focus on key areas such as benefits, communications and shared vision, civility and inclusion, and employee enrichment, engagement and retention – surpassing the Best and Brightest benchmark, which reflects the median score of other participating companies.

In 2026, only 19 other companies in the country reached the 10-year mark, and just 46 organizations in total have been recognized for more than 10 years.

“What makes this recognition meaningful is that it’s based on how our employees truly feel,” said Kim Nasuta, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at AGS.

“Ten years in a row speaks to the consistency of our values and how deeply embedded they are in how we hire, support, and grow our people.”

This milestone reflects a decade of AGS’ consistent, employee-first culture – an accomplishment that is difficult to sustain year after year.

Ten years through real change is even harder. In that stretch, AGS doubled its employee count and office footprint, tripled its game studios, and expanded from two countries to ten.

The company looked different almost every year. The culture didn’t.

AGS was also awarded the same honor in the Atlanta market, which reflects the local impact, while the national honor acknowledges AGS’ broader commitment to culture across its U.S. footprint, which includes offices and game studios in Las Vegas, Reno, Scottsdale, Austin, and Oklahoma City.

The Metro Atlanta offices – home to many of the company’s R&D, engineering, and operations teams – continues to be a foundation of the Company’s innovation and culture.

Additionally, AGS supports a vast network of remote sales and field service employees located near customer operations throughout the country – extending the Company’s culture of connection and performance beyond physical offices. AGS also has a strong global presence with teams located in eight countries outside of the U.S.

This latest recognition follows AGS also being named to the 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA list for a second year in a row, solidifying its position as a standout employer in the gaming industry and beyond.

The post AGS celebrates 10 straight years as a best and brightest company to work for in the nation appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania