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

Published

5 years ago

November 3, 2020

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.

Latest News

N1 SEO Traffic Cup: One Month to Unlock Rewards

Published

8 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Master Editor

N1 SEO Traffic Cup — the first tournament for SEO teams in the global N1 Traffic Cups series by N1 Partners — is entering its final stage. Halfway through the competition, this is now the key period that will ultimately determine which teams secure positions in the prize levels.

At the same time, it’s still not too late to enter the race and compete for rewards. The tournament is not only about FTD volume — the number of active brands also plays a crucial role. Thanks to the built-in multipliers, teams can significantly accelerate their N1 Cup Score and quickly strengthen their position on the leaderboard.

Results depend entirely on each team’s performance: prize levels are not limited by the number of participants, and any team that reaches the required number of points secures its place. This means you’re not competing for fixed spots but focusing on scaling your own result and hitting the next level.

Progress of the race

More than 250 teams continue to actively drive FTDs to N1 Partners brands, striving to earn points and moving up through the levels.

Working across multiple products gives teams a clear scaling advantage, especially in the final stage. At the same time, the level-based structure allows both large and smaller teams to compete and earn rewards based on their performance — with 5 teams already reaching prize tiers and continuing to push for higher levels, where rewards become even more valuable. Current interim results are published weekly in a private channel available exclusively to tournament participants.

As Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners, notes:

“We’re seeing strong engagement from partners — more teams are reaching out, exploring new brands from our portfolio, and actively looking for ways to strengthen their results. If you’re working with SEO traffic, now is the right time to connect with your affiliate manager, discuss your strategy, and explore how to scale and get the most out of the tournament.”

Prize tiers and rewards

The prize pool of N1 SEO Traffic Cup is one of the most extensive and flexible on the market. Teams are distributed across tiers based on their score and can choose either a specific reward or its cash equivalent.

Level 1 (7,000+ points) – €25,000 per team

VIP experience at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix
Trip to a FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA
7 nights in the Maldives with business class flights
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
BMW S 1000 XR motorbike
Hublot Unico Titanium

Level 2 (3,500–6,999 points) – €15,000 per team

One week of golf at Monte Rei with a private villa stay
Private island getaway in the Seychelles (Four Seasons Desroches Island)
Ducati Monster motorbike
Bottega Veneta travel kit

Level 3 (1,500–3,499 points) – €7,000 per team

Zero-gravity flight (90 minutes)
Custom Luxury ski or snowboard gear set of your choice
Balenciaga Snowboard
Cartier Juste un Clou bracelet
Kronos Massage Chair

Level 4 (500–1,499 points) – €5,000 per team

Apple Vision Pro
MacBook Pro M4
Cartier LOVE ring
Pioneer OPUS-QUAD DJ system
Sonos Arc Ultra home audio system
Dior beauty set

Extra rewards for participants

Even without reaching the prize tiers, teams still have a chance to win. Bringing just 20 FTD per brand is enough to qualify as a participant and enter additional prize draws. These include PlayStation 5 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and exclusive N1 Partners merch.

Brand Index: a mechanic built for scaling results

One of the key features of N1 SEO Traffic Cup is the “Brand Index” mechanic. It rewards not only FTD volume, but also traffic diversification. The more brands a partner works with, the higher the multiplier applied to their results.

The core metric — N1 Cup Score — is calculated as: FTD × brand multiplier

The multiplier depends on the number of active brands:

1 brand — x1
2–3 brands — x2
4+ brands — x5

Join the N1 SEO Traffic Cup

Period: March 1 – April 30, 2026
Results announcement: by May 10
Entry: from 20 FTD per brand

N1 Partners means:

14+ casino and sportsbook brands with up to 70% Reg2Dep
10+ Tier-1 GEOs
CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1.

Diego Van Meerbeke

Diego Van Meerbeke Named Commercial Director at InsightPlay.ai

Published

53 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

diego-van-meerbeke-named-commercial-director-at-insightplay.ai

InsightPlay.ai has named Diego Van Meerbeke as Commercial Director as the firm speeds up its growth in Latin America and important regulated markets.

InsightPlay.ai is an AI-driven engagement platform that assists businesses in handling real-time customer interactions on a large scale, with significant momentum in the iGaming sector.

Van Meerbeke arrives from Better Collective, where he spearheaded commercial initiatives in Spanish-speaking LATAM, collaborating closely with operators and boosting revenue in a highly competitive affiliate landscape. He has held positions at The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, developing a solid foundation in media sales and collaborations.

His appointment coincides with InsightPlay’s transition from initial traction to commercial scale after its recent seed funding and implementation of AI-powered engagement solutions in various markets.

“Diego understands how this industry actually works, from both the media and operator side,” said Javier Troncoso, CEO of InsightPlay.ai. “We’re building the layer that manages real-time interaction between brands and their customers.”

InsightPlay’s platform allows operators to connect with users through voice, messaging, and digital channels, managing thousands of interactions each day and creating significant effects in reactivation, onboarding, and retention.

Although the company’s early expansion has been fueled by iGaming, the existing framework is currently being investigated in various sectors where immediate customer engagement directly influences earnings.

Most of the industry is still focused on acquisition,” said Diego Van Meerbeke. “The real opportunity is what happens after that.”

The post Diego Van Meerbeke Named Commercial Director at InsightPlay.ai appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alea

Alea Returns to SiGMA South America as Brazil’s iGaming Market Enters a More Demanding Stage

Published

53 minutes ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

alea-returns-to-sigma-south-america-as-brazil’s-igaming-market-enters-a-more-demanding-stage

Alea, the leading aggregator with the largest portfolio of certified games in Brazil, is returning to SiGMA South America 2026, held from April 7–10 in São Paulo, as the country’s regulated landscape continues to settle into a more structured and competitive phase.

After the initial excitement of market entry, operators are now focusing on the everyday realities of running in a formalized environment: keeping systems stable, ensuring games and platforms are certified, and meeting the expectations of a maturing player base. The conversation has shifted from launch milestones toward long-term growth and sustainable operations.

Alea CEO Jordi Sendra is attending the event alongside teams from partnerships, account management, business development, and marketing. The group will be based at Booth N145 throughout the week, meeting with operators and studios to discuss ongoing projects and the practical challenges they are facing in Brazil.

Bridging the Gap: The Future of Land-Based and Digital Gaming

On Wednesday, 8 April at 12:45, Jordi Sendra will join the panel “Physical or Digital? Between Boundaries and Convergences in the Casino Industry.” Alongside representatives from ANCASSINOS, Sportradar, Zitro Digital, Amusnet, and Maia Yoshiyasu Advogados, the session explores how operators can stay competitive as the lines between land-based and online gaming continue to blur.

Oxygen Bar and Award Recognition

Alea will once again host its signature oxygen bar on the exhibition floor, offering a space to recharge and have focused conversations. The event also marks a milestone for the company, as Alea is shortlisted for Best Aggregator at the SiGMA South America Awards on 6 April.

“Being nominated in Brazil this year carries a lot of weight for us,” says Jordi Sendra. “The market has raised the bar for everyone. It’s pushed us to be more disciplined, more present, and more focused on what the local player actually needs. For our team, this is a great recognition of the miles we’ve put in on the ground and the relationships we’ve built with our partners across the region.”

Supporting Growth in a Maturing Landscape

Between the panel session and the meetings at the booth, the week is centered on providing the practical guidance and technical support that operators now need to grow with confidence. As the aggregator with the largest portfolio of certified games and game providers in the territory, Alea’s focus remains on helping its partners navigate the complexities of a more structured environment, ensuring both studios and operators stay competitive as the landscape continues to mature.

The post Alea Returns to SiGMA South America as Brazil’s iGaming Market Enters a More Demanding Stage appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.