Canada
OpenBet Appoints DAZN and American Gaming Association Execs To Reimagine Sports Betting Entertainment
Florian Diederichsen and Jessica Feil join leading sports betting provider ahead of exciting period of change for company
OpenBet, the world leader in sports betting entertainment and the sports betting business of Scientific Games Corporation, has appointed two highly-experienced executives to its senior management team in a move that reinforces the quality of opportunity and exciting future that lies ahead for the company.
Florian Diederichsen joins OpenBet from DAZN as Chief Technology Officer, tasked with evolving OpenBet’s modular sports product offering and accelerating the next generation of sports betting entertainment through the use of cutting edge technologies. Diederichsen has a wealth of experience having held CTO roles at several major sports organizations, including DAZN where he oversaw the development of the company’s OTT sports service, as well as Perform, where he was responsible for technical operations of its global sports content and video services.
Jessica Feil joins OpenBet from the American Gaming Association (AGA) to become OpenBet’s VP, Regulatory Affairs and Compliance as the business prepares for exponential US and international expansion in 2022 and beyond. Jessica most recently held the position of Vice President, Government Relations & Gaming Policy Counsel at the AGA, where she was one of North America’s leading legal and regulatory experts. Jessica started her career at Ifrah Law, where she advised clients on a variety of areas including regulation, compliance and licensing.
These two senior appointments form part of OpenBet’s ongoing strategy of investing in people to create value for its customers. The leading provider of sports betting technology, content and services is doubling down on operational excellence to create competitive advantage and mastermind thrilling betting experiences for billions of fans that will drive the next wave of industry innovation.
Jordan Levin, CEO of OpenBet, said: “Bringing Florian and Jessica to the OpenBet team changes the game and is testament to the vision we have here at OpenBet. The appointment of two highly-skilled and respected individuals demonstrates the ambition we have to deliver the next generation of sports betting entertainment to operators and bettors worldwide. As we drive for hyper-differentiation, and with legislation moving at a pace, we can entrust both Florian and Jessica to help take OpenBet forward in their respective fields that will add significant value for our global customer base.”
Florian Diederichsen, Chief Technology Officer of OpenBet, said: “I’m delighted to have joined OpenBet and thoroughly looking forward to the next chapter of my career. The ambition shown by the OpenBet team, the quality of the management team truly excites me and I’m ready to raise my game to implement the vision required to take sports betting to a new level. Development work is already underway behind the scenes that will revolutionise the future of sports betting entertainment and I cannot wait to share our innovative concepts with the marketplace.”
Jessica Feil, VP, Regulatory Affairs & Compliance at OpenBet, said: “OpenBet’s determination to expand across the globe and deliver sports betting entertainment to billions of players worldwide is unrivalled. With legislation moving quickly within the U.S. and globally, I’m looking forward to providing valuable support and expertise to aid the company’s aggressive growth strategy. Compliance and regulatory affairs are incredibly important aspects of sports betting and OpenBet continues to set the standard of delivering the safest and most reliable experiences for players to enjoy cutting-edge entertainment.”
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Berkley Egenes
Xsolla Brings Creator Strategy and Game Commerce Expertise to Toronto’s Leading Industry Events
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, is participating in two leading co-located industry events, XP Game Summit Toronto and Xsolla Connect Toronto, on May 21-22, in Toronto. Xsolla will engage with partners, creators, and industry leaders across both events, focusing on the evolving gaming ecosystem.
At XP Game Summit Toronto, Xsolla will showcase its Web Shop solution, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that helps developers build and scale their own storefronts outside traditional app stores. The Web Shop ecosystem integrates storefronts, LiveOps tools, and player engagement features, enabling studios to strengthen player relationships while increasing revenue and operational control.
Xsolla will also highlight its global payments infrastructure, which supports more than 1000+ payment methods across 200+ geographies. Designed to optimize conversion and deliver localized checkout experiences, Xsolla Payments enables developers to reach players worldwide while adapting to regional preferences and regulatory environments.
Additionally, Xsolla will showcase how they are connecting developers with premium entertainment-based intellectual property (IP). By simplifying licensing and partnership opportunities, Xsolla Agency helps studios enhance player acquisition, drive engagement through LiveOps, and unlock new monetization pathways.
In addition to showcasing its product offerings and solutions, Xsolla will also present a featured panel session titled “Building the Creator Pipeline: How Smart Partnerships Are Scaling Influencer Marketing”. The panel will include John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada, at Xsolla; Scott Christian, Studio Director & Founder of Hilltop Games; Gem Johnson, CEO at Corvian Marketing; and Corina (Newby) Diaz, Marketing and Social Media Director at Mighty Yell. They will share practical insights on building sustainable creator ecosystems, leveraging strategic partnerships, and driving measurable impact through influencer marketing initiatives.
In addition to the company’s participation in XP Game Summit Toronto, Xsolla will host Xsolla Connect Toronto, further expanding opportunities for meaningful engagement between developers and publishers through curated programming and networking experiences. Xsolla Connects are designed to give local communities the opportunity to engage, collaborate, and integrate with Xsolla’s industry leaders in an open and transparent environment and through conversations.
“Toronto continues to emerge as a key hub for gaming innovation and collaboration in North America. We’re excited to participate in XP Game Summit and host the Xsolla Connect to connect with the community while sharing insights on how creators and partnerships are helping to build the future of game growth,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla.
“Toronto has built itself into a major Canadian video game hub. We are glad to contribute to the continued growth of the local industry as well as Ontario’s Game Industry as a whole. What makes it special is the combination of deep technical talent, global creative diversity, and a production ecosystem that truly scales. That’s why gatherings like XP Game Summit and Xsolla Connect matter so much: they bring that energy together, and we’re excited to be part of it and help showcase what this community can do,” said John Nguyen, Regional Vice President, Canada at Xsolla.
The post Xsolla Brings Creator Strategy and Game Commerce Expertise to Toronto’s Leading Industry Events appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
St8 extends Wazdan content distribution into Ontario
St8 has extended its partnership with slot supplier Wazdan into Ontario, adding the supplier’s content to St8’s aggregation platform for operators in the Canadian province.
Under the agreement, St8 has integrated a selection of Wazdan slot titles for Ontario operators, including Mighty Fish
: Blue Marlin, 36 Coins
, Mighty Wild
: Panther Grand Diamond Edition and Mighty Wild
: Gorilla. The roll-out also includes Wazdan mechanics such as Cash to Infinity
, Sticky to Infinity
and Hold the Jackpot
.
David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Our partnership with Wazdan has already delivered impressive results, and extending the collaboration into Ontario is an exciting next step for both companies.
“Wazdan consistently develops high-performing content backed by innovative engagement features, and we are pleased to further strengthen our offering for operators in one of North America’s most important regulated regions.”
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “This collaboration into Ontario with St8 is another milestone for Wazdan as we continue to build our presence across regulated North American markets.
“Wazdan goes above and beyond for our partners by delivering intuitive products that focus on the quality of the user’s experience, and St8’s platform provides an excellent route for our content to reach more operators and players. It has been a very rewarding process so far, and we look forward to building on this momentum together.”
The post St8 extends Wazdan content distribution into Ontario appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrzej Hyla Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan
St8 extends Wazdan partnership into Ontario
Casino games aggregator and full-service technology provider St8 has expanded its partnership with Wazdan into Ontario, further strengthening its premium content offering in one of North America’s leading regulated markets.
Through the extended agreement, St8 has integrated a selection of Wazdan’s top-performing slot titles for operators in Ontario, including Mighty Fish
: Blue Marlin, 36 Coins
, Mighty Wild
: Panther Grand Diamond Edition and Mighty Wild
: Gorilla. The partnership also brings Wazdan’s renowned engagement-driven mechanics to the market, including Cash to Infinity
, Sticky to Infinity
and Hold the Jackpot
.
Wazdan has built a strong reputation through its combination of high-performing games, innovative mechanics and player engagement features. Its focus on creating memorable gameplay experiences aligns closely with St8’s approach to delivering premium content through a seamless aggregation platform.
The Ontario expansion marks the latest step in the ongoing collaboration between the two companies as St8 continues to evolve its content portfolio and support operators with games that deliver strong performance across competitive markets.
David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8, said: “Our partnership with Wazdan has already delivered impressive results, and extending the collaboration into Ontario is an exciting next step for both companies.
“Wazdan consistently develops high-performing content backed by innovative engagement features, and we are pleased to further strengthen our offering for operators in one of North America’s most important regulated regions.”
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “This collaboration into Ontario with St8 is another milestone for Wazdan as we continue to build our presence across regulated North American markets.
“Wazdan goes above and beyond for our partners by delivering intuitive products that focus on the quality of the user’s experience, and St8’s platform provides an excellent route for our content to reach more operators and players. It has been a very rewarding process so far, and we look forward to building on this momentum together.”
The post St8 extends Wazdan partnership into Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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