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SAZKA Group teams up with Sir Keith Mills in bid for Fourth UK National Lottery Licence
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.
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The Greek casino industry is undergoing a major transformation, with high-profile investments and relocations redefining the market.
While casinos now account for a smaller share of the broader gambling industry, with the total Greek gambling market reaching $31.5 billion in wagers in 2023 and gross gaming revenue of $2.8 billion, the flurry of new licenses, relocations and integrated resort projects is reshaping the sector and attracting international attention.
Following global trends, Greek casinos are evolving into integrated resorts, where gambling is just one part of a broader entertainment and hospitality experience.
These resorts aim to attract high-end tourists, generate consistent visitor flows, boost tax revenue and enhance Greece’s international brand in luxury tourism. The next five years will be critical in establishing Greece as a leading Mediterranean destination for integrated resorts.
Leading the wave is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens at the former Ellinikon site, a project valued at $1.6 billion. The venture is a partnership between Hard Rock International (51%) and GEK TERNA (49%), a major Greek construction and energy company, set to create one of Europe’s largest integrated resorts.
Standing 646 feet (197 meters) tall with 42 floors, the resort will include a five-star hotel, a conference center, event spaces and a casino built to international standards. Completion is expected within three years, creating three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions once operational.
Another key development is the relocation of Parnitha Casino to Marousi. The plan, initially proposed thirteen years ago, overcame legal hurdles after the Council of State approved Presidential Decree No. 36 (FEK 79/A/30-3-2023), which permits the transfer and modernisation of the casino into a multifunctional complex.
This Voria complex will occupy 52 acres near Golden Hall—an upscale shopping mall in Marousi—with 27 acres allocated for public spaces and 25 acres housing the casino, a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, a 1400-seat auditorium, dining, entertainment areas and a 636-space underground parking garage.
The $270 million investment is projected to create three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions, with completion expected three years after the building permit, anticipated in September 2025.
Three other casinos—in Rio, Alexandroupolis and Corfu—are undergoing financial restructuring.
Saint George Participations, linked to the Arfani and Chioni families, secured operational approval from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and plans to acquire licenses and control by purchasing existing loans and shares.
Although legally and financially complex, investors have already committed $13 million, signaling long-term involvement even before taking equity stakes.
The EEEP is also preparing to award a new casino license in Gournes, Heraklion, Crete, independent of the broader redevelopment of the former US base managed by Dimand.
Crete’s strategic location, strong tourism and new infrastructure make it highly attractive. The license is expected to be offered via tender by early 2026, drawing international interest.
The post Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC) has called for a united, tech-based plan to tackle the worldwide increase in illegal online betting.
Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, UGC’s Deputy Chair, said the quick growth of digital platforms has led to more unlicensed operators. These operators often use cryptocurrencies and social media to avoid getting caught and to attract users.
Illegal operators now make up a big part of the $618.7 billion global iGaming market expected by the end of 2025. These platforms often register offshore, use anonymous payments and market online, making it harder to enforce laws against them.
Zakrevskaya pointed out that nations across the globe are trying out solutions that mix rules, tech and people’s involvement. Argentina, for example, has put in place tough age-checking systems and stops blacklisted websites on public Wi-Fi networks. This method, she explained, has made illegal sites harder to reach for at-risk groups such as kids.
In Indonesia, where betting is outlawed, officials have started watching money flows to cut off unlawful activity. Just last year, they froze 26,000 bank and e-wallet accounts tied to illegal betting operations, showing how focused money controls can limit unregulated gambling.
The US struggles with a unique problem because of its scattered rules. Unlawful betting websites are growing almost twice as fast as legal ones in the US. Over 80% of users see ads for unlicensed sites. People are now trying to tighten control on digital money and push big tech companies to better manage gambling content.
Ukraine has stepped up its crackdown. The country’s new watchdog PlayCity, which started after KRAIL was shut down, is teaming up with global tech firms like Meta to take down social media accounts that promote illegal casinos. The government has also blocked more than a hundred unlicensed sites thought to be sending money to Russia. Kyiv thinks Moscow uses the underground gambling world to fund its ongoing war.
A crucial element of Ukraine’s long-term plan involves creating a system to monitor bets and tax income in real time with transparency. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working with tech experts to construct the platform, which should enhance supervision and boost public confidence in the regulated market.
The post UGC Calls for Global Teamwork to Stop Illegal Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Escape to Paradise: “Tropical Temptation” Slot Launches at Slotland, CryptoSlots, and CryptoWins
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The post Escape to Paradise: “Tropical Temptation” Slot Launches at Slotland, CryptoSlots, and CryptoWins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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