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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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SBC has announced the launch of SBC Summit Americas, a reimagined show that combines the strengths of SBC Summit North America and SBC Summit Latinoamérica, creating a single platform for the entire Americas gaming community.
The new look event, scheduled for May 13-15, 2025, will bring together the North American and Latin American gaming markets under one roof for a comprehensive experience of education, networking, and exhibition, and eliminate the need to attend two separate regional shows.
SBC Summit Americas will take place in spectacular Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dubbed the ‘Venice of America’ and renowned for its Blue Wave-certified beaches, the city also offers the accessibility required with direct flights from crucial Latin American, US and European hubs.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC said: “This marks a significant moment for all of us at SBC. When the size of your current venues becomes limiting and cannot meet the demands of the industry, you know it’s time for a change.”
The Broward County Convention Center was selected as the venue for the event, boasting 250,000 square feet of space that enables SBC to accommodate over 8,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors and sponsors.
“Now, it’s Fort Lauderdale’s turn to experience what SBC has to offer. We’re launching a major event for the entire Americas region and transforming it into a key networking hub and a must-attend occasion for anyone who doesn’t want to be left behind,” Sojmark added.
With an emphasis on diverse representation, the event will see participation from over 3,200 operator and 1,000 affiliate representatives. Additionally, it will engage senior management from regulatory bodies, sports clubs, and suppliers in the payments, betting, and casino solutions sectors.
The exhibition and conference experience will also receive an extra boost with the inclusion of three specialized summits: SBC Leaders Summit, Affiliate Leaders Summit, and Payment Expert Summit. This aligns with the company’s focus on attracting senior decision-makers, who usually make up 40% of attendees at SBC’s events.
The conference component, led by 400 regional experts, will feature dedicated stages exploring the main markets of interest. Discussions will span topics in the sports betting and casino sectors, covering both online and land-based domains. Moreover, the event will provide insights into affiliation, emerging technologies and the regional startup scene.
“This also presents a prime opportunity for us to address the concerns of our exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates who struggle to commit to multiple industry events annually. As event organizers, we try to take such feedback on board and act upon it when possible. In this case, it perfectly aligns with our own ambition, which has always been to soar higher and think bigger. When it can be done with greater benefit for our industry friends, it just always feels much better,” Sojmark added.
For more information and to register your interest in the event, visit the official website.
This year’s SBC Summit Latinoamérica is proceeding as planned and will be held on October 29-31, 2024, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Latest News
Scientific Games Promotes Lottery Industry Expert Beth Bresnahan to Chief Communications and Brand Officer
Scientific Games has named Beth Bresnahan as the company’s Chief Communications and Brand Officer.
Bresnahan, a veteran lottery industry expert, spent nearly 10 years in leadership roles at the Massachusetts Lottery, including serving as its Executive Director, and headed the District of Columbia’s Office of Lottery & Gaming. With a background in public relations, brand management and product positioning, she joined Scientific Games in 2022 and most recently served as Vice President of Strategic Communications.
The Chief Communications and Brand Officer is a new senior executive role that elevates strategic oversight of Scientific Games’ global communications, ensuring a unified and consistent voice and a strong representation of the company’s brand across all platforms and mediums. In this role, Bresnahan will continue to lead external and internal communications and customer proposals while expanding her leadership to include advertising, trade shows and events.
Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, said, “This promotion will come as no surprise to those who know and have worked with Beth. Her strategic vision, extensive experience in brand communications and deep knowledge of Scientific Games and the lottery industry have earned her the respect and support of our entire company and leadership team.”
Bresnahan’s promotion is another example of the strategic alignment of Scientific Games’ organization with its business strategy to deliver exceptional value to its customers around the world. The company recently announced the expansion of its legal and public policy teams into a new unified global department, made several key hires in systems and technology, and increased focus and execution on products, technology, analytics and marketing across retail and digital to further accelerate customer growth and return to good causes.
Bresnahan has dedicated nearly 25 years to developing impactful communications, marketing and business strategies for several public and private sector organizations. In addition to her lottery industry experience, Bresnahan’s previous work spans serving as CEO of a regional print media outlet to providing strategic communications consultation to multiple top-tier national brands, including the Boston Red Sox, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Citizens Financial Group and Wynn Resorts. She also led public and legislative relations for several government agencies in her home state of Massachusetts.
Scientific Games is a trusted partner to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, providing games, technologies, analytics and services that responsibly drive maximum returns to their beneficiary programs.
Gambling in the USA
Jackpot.com Inducted as Associate Member in North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL)
Online lottery courier welcomed by the industry-leading group.
Leading online lottery courier, Jackpot.com, announced today that it has received approval to join NASPL as an Associate Member organization. NASPL represents 53 lottery organizations across North America, advocating on matters of general lottery policy and leveraging collaboration, communication, education, and information for the advancement of the industry. Jackpot.com is excited to join this dynamic community, bringing years of knowledge and experience to help impact and support its ongoing growth.
“It is an absolute honor to be joining the NASPL community,” said Akshay Khanna, CEO and Co-Founder of Jackpot.com. “As Jackpot.com continues to grow and expand its presence in additional member states, we could not be more excited to collaborate with regulators and other NASPL members to help sustain future opportunities for contributing to worthy causes and the drive towards responsible gaming.”
Since its inception, Jackpot.com has made responsible gaming a focal point in their operations and is the only lottery courier service to launch with iCap certification from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The company has set a new standard for responsible gaming and has significantly invested in integrating gaming protections that include allowing customers to set spend limits, setting default limits on daily deposits, providing access to local and national responsible gambling resources, self-exclusion, self-suspension and automated notifications that offer help should problematic behavior be detected.
“NASPL is pleased to have Jackpot.com as an associate member; and look forward to working with them throughout the year and beyond”, said Jake Coy, Director of Partner Relations at NASPL.
Jackpot.com currently operates in Massachusetts, Arkansas, New York, Ohio and Texas, and has received investments from major investors in sports, entertainment, and gaming, such as Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, San Francisco 49ers, the Tisch family (co-owners of the New York Giants), the Haslam Sports Group (owners of the Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew), Kraft Sports & Entertainment (owners of the New England Patriots), Michael Rubin (founder of Fanatics), and NBA stars James Harden and Joel Embiid.
For more information, please visit Jackpot.com.
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