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IGT Announces Executive and Board Leadership Changes
International Game Technology PLC announced that on January 14, 2022 its board of directors implemented a number of changes to the Company’s executive team and board.
Lorenzo Pellicioli will retire as chairperson of the IGT Board of Directors and will remain a non-executive director. Marco Sala, currently CEO of IGT, will become executive chair of the board. Vincent Sadusky will become CEO and executive director of the board. These changes will be effective January 24, 2022.
In a separate release today, B&D Holding S.p.A., the controlling shareholder of De Agostini S.p.A., announced that Marco Sala will be proposed at the June 2022 meeting of the corporate bodies of De Agostini as the next CEO of De Agostini, succeeding Lorenzo Pellicioli, who is retiring from the position.
“The changes to the IGT executive team and board are an important step in positioning the Company for the next phase of its evolution. The actions further strengthen IGT’s capabilities to execute on its long-term strategy and the value creation initiatives identified in the Company’s recent investor day. It is a natural evolution for Marco to lead the IGT board. More importantly, during his 19-years at IGT and its predecessor companies, he has a proven track record of success and has earned the trust and respect of IGT’s customers, investors, business partners and regulators. As executive chair, Marco will focus on managing the board, corporate governance, including sustainability initiatives, and guiding the strategic direction of IGT.
“Likewise, we are delighted to announce that Vince Sadusky, a seasoned executive, long-time member of the current IGT board as well as that of its predecessor companies and the former chair of our audit committee will succeed Marco as CEO. Vince brings a unique set of skills to the role, where he combines his knowledge of IGT with his demonstrated ability to create shareholder value with decades in leadership roles in public and private companies in dynamic industries, including digital and media. His transition into the CEO role will be relatively seamless,” said Lorenzo Pellicioli, chairperson of IGT.
“I am looking forward to taking on the new role of executive chair at IGT and to partner with Vince, with whom I have worked extensively over the years, in leading IGT forward. I believe our skills and experiences are complementary and will serve our stakeholders well. In particular, Vince’s vast experience with portfolio companies and capital markets will be valuable as we look to execute on our strategy,” said Marco Sala, CEO of IGT.
“IGT is well-positioned for the future, and I am very excited to join the Company as its next CEO. With a seasoned executive team and very talented group of employees across the world, it represents a great opportunity for me to support an industry leader in the next phase of its growth,” said Vincent Sadusky.
The board of directors also appointed Maria Pinelli and Ashley Hunter as non-executive directors of the board. Ms. Hunter was also appointed to the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Ms. Pinelli was appointed chair of the Company’s Audit Committee, replacing Vincent Sadusky. These changes were effective January 14, 2022.
“We are delighted to have Maria and Ashley join our board. They both bring deep and diverse professional experiences to IGT to enhance our board composition. We are looking forward to their contributions,” said Lorenzo Pellicioli, chairperson of IGT.
Executive & Director Biographies
Lorenzo Pellicioli served as chairperson of the IGT Board of Directors from November, 2018 to January, 2022 after serving as vice-chairperson since April 2015. From August 2006 to April 2015, he was chairperson of the GTECH S.p.A. (formerly Lottomatica Group) Board of Directors. He has served as CEO of De Agostini S.p.A. since November 2005. He has also served as a director of IDeA Alternative Investments S.p.A. and as managing director of DeA Factor S.p.A. Mr. Pellicioli serves as chairman of the board of directors of DeA Capital, as a director of Banijay Group SAS and LDH SAS, and he is also a member of the compensation committee and of the appointments and corporate governance committee and director of the board of directors of Assicurazioni Generali.
Marco Sala was CEO of IGT from April, 2015 to January, 2022. In addition to serving on the board of directors for IGT in his role as CEO, in May 2020 he was appointed to the board of directors for De Agostini S.p.A. Prior to April 2015, he served as CEO of GTECH S.p.A. (formerly Lottomatica Group) since April 2009 and was responsible for overseeing all of the Company’s segments including the Americas, international, Italy, and products and services. He joined the Company as co-general manager in 2003 and has since served as a member of the board of directors. In August 2006, he was appointed managing director with responsibility for the Company’s Italian operations and other European activities. Previously, he was CEO of Buffetti, Italy’s leading office equipment and supply retail chain. Prior to Buffetti, Sala served as head of the business directories division for SEAT Pagine Gialle. Earlier in his career, he worked at Magneti Marelli (a Fiat Group company) and Kraft Foods.
Vincent Sadusky was CEO and board member of Univision Communications from 2018 to 2020, the largest Hispanic media company in the US, operating multiple broadcast and cable networks, local TV and radio stations, digital video and audio streaming. Prior to Univision, he was CEO and board member from 2014 to 2017 of Media General, a local TV station and digital media company with more than 50 TV stations and 5,000 employees. From 2006 to 2014, he was CEO and board member of LIN Media, a local TV station broadcaster and digital media company. He also served as CFO of LIN Media from 2004 to 2006 and was CFO of Telemundo Communications from 1999 to 2004. In addition to serving on the IGT board of directors since 2010 and most recently chairing its audit committee, Sadusky has served on the boards of the Paley Center for Media, the National Association of Broadcasters and was the treasurer for the NBC Affiliates Board. Earlier in his career, he worked at Ernst & Young, and co-founded JVB Financial Group and Zeus Financial, fixed-income securities trading firms.
Maria Pinelli is a global C-suite executive who currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Globant and board director and chair of the audit committee for Archer Aviation, Inc. and Clarim Acquisition Corp. She served in a variety of leadership roles at EY from October, 1986 to November, 2020, including consumer products and retail leader, global vice chair – strategic growth markets, global IPO leader, and Americas leader – strategic growth markets. In her role as an advisor at EY, she successfully led more than 20 IPOs in four different countries and more than 25 M&A transactions worldwide. Her experience includes strategic transactions and due diligence advice, Sarbanes-Oxley implementation and stakeholder management. She has served as an advisor to some of the world’s most iconic e-commerce, consumer products, and retail brands.
Ashley Hunter has been a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information since 2015, and is the founding partner of A. Hunter & Company, a leading risk management advisory firm. Previously she was managing director of HM Risk Group LLC where she assisted many startups and corporations with alternative risk transfer schemes and reinsurance placement, globally. Under her leadership, HM Risk Group became a leader in the development of niche insurance products for the sharing and assistive reproductive technology industry. Prior to founding HM Risk Group in 2006, she worked in various claims and underwriting management positions for State Farm Insurance Companies, The Hartford Insurance Company and AIG Insurance Company.
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El sector de iGaming de Brasil está entrando en una fase decisiva a medida que la creciente presión de los legisladores, el poder judicial y las autoridades de salud pública comienza a remodelar la trayectoria de la industria.
Con la aceleración del PL 4583/24, una creciente represión por parte del Tribunal Supremo Federal sobre la deuda relacionada con el juego y un mayor escrutinio sobre las prácticas de los operadores y los flujos de pago, el debate ha ido mucho más allá de la regulación hacia los ámbitos del impacto social y la estabilidad económica.
Al mismo tiempo, el creciente tráfico de usuarios destaca un mercado que continúa expandiéndose rápidamente, preparando el escenario para un complejo acto de equilibrio entre crecimiento, supervisión y responsabilidad en el cambiante panorama de las apuestas en Brasil.
Salud Pública en el Radar
El escenario legislativo brasileño en relación con el iGaming ha cambiado de nivel esta semana con la aprobación del régimen de urgencia para el PL 4583/24, de autoría del diputado Ruy Carneiro.
La decisión, tomada el miércoles (22), indica que el Congreso ya no ve la ludopatía simplemente como un efecto secundario, sino como una emergencia nacional que exige una estrategia de atención centrada en la adicción a los juegos y apuestas digitales.
El texto propone la creación del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Integral, que pretende movilizar las estructuras del SUS y del SUAS para ofrecer soporte médico, psicológico y social a los afectados.
La justificación de tal premura reside en cifras alarmantes que conectan la economía doméstica con la fiebre de las apuestas.
El autor del proyecto destacó un estudio del Banco Central que revela que, solo en agosto de 2024, los beneficiarios del programa Bolsa Família destinaron cerca de 3.000 millones de reales a plataformas de apuestas a través de PIX.
En la práctica, esto significa que 1 de cada 5 reales transferidos por el gobierno a estas familias termina en las “bets”.
Además del impacto financiero, el aumento en la demanda de atención de salud pública es evidente, con los casos de juego patológico atendidos por el SUS saltando de 108 a 1.200 entre 2018 y 2023.
El proyecto no se limita al tratamiento, sino que avanza sobre el monitoreo y la publicidad.
Se prevén directrices estrictas para proteger a los menores de edad y la creación de mecanismos técnicos para detectar comportamientos compulsivos directamente en las plataformas.
Para viabilizar estas acciones, las empresas de apuestas estarán obligadas a proporcionar datos anónimos para análisis epidemiológicos.
La financiación del programa provendrá de una combinación de impuestos sobre las propias plataformas, alianzas privadas y recursos del Fondo Nacional de Salud.
Con el régimen de urgencia, el texto puede ser incluido directamente en el orden del día del Pleno de la Cámara, ignorando plazos reglamentarios y el trámite demorado en diversas comisiones.
El STF y el “Mínimo Existencial”
Paralelamente al Legislativo, el Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) ha iniciado un debate profundo que sitúa a las apuestas online como un factor central en la crisis de endeudamiento de los brasileños.
Durante el análisis de la validez de los decretos que fijan en 600 reales el valor del “mínimo existencial” para consumidores sobreendeudados, los ministros elevaron el tono contra el mercado.
El ministro Flávio Dino fue categórico al afirmar que el dinero necesario para la subsistencia básica está siendo drenado por manipulaciones perversas que conducen a desastres familiares y vulneran la dignidad humana.
El ministro Luiz Fux, relator de acciones relacionadas, clasificó a las plataformas como uno de los motores del endeudamiento, vinculando la adicción a problemas psiquiátricos graves y casos extremos de suicidio.
Fux recordó su decisión previa de prohibir el uso de recursos del programa Bolsa Família en apuestas y señaló que la alta recaudación de estas empresas genera tensiones institucionales que dificultan el tratamiento adecuado del problema.
Por su parte, el decano Gilmar Mendes citó a Portugal como ejemplo de buenas prácticas, donde la dependencia del juego se trata como una adicción patológica con sectores de atención especializados, y prometió que el Supremo tendrá un “encuentro marcado” con este tema en un futuro próximo.
El juicio, que se reanudará tras la solicitud de vista y ajustes en los votos, se encamina hacia un consenso sobre la necesidad de revisiones técnicas periódicas del valor del mínimo existencial por parte del Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN).
Los ministros coinciden en que el escenario actual de los préstamos de nómina y la “maldición de los juegos” exige un análisis de impacto regulatorio constante para evitar que las deudas se vuelvan impagables y destruyan la red de protección social del país.
La Trinchera de la Integridad Sectorial
En el ámbito operativo, el papel de las empresas de pago se ha convertido en la pieza clave para garantizar que la regulación sea efectiva.
La empresa brasileña Pay4Fun, por ejemplo, ha reforzado su actuación internacional al participar en el Foro de Proveedores de Pago de la IBIA para mitigar riesgos y combatir operaciones ilegales.
La estrategia defendida es asfixiar financieramente a las plataformas no autorizadas, monitoreando las licencias de los operadores y fortaleciendo los procesos de verificación de usuarios, conocidos como KYC y KYB.
El CEO de Pay4Fun, Leonardo Baptista, sostiene que, al ser los canales por donde circula el dinero, los métodos de pago tienen la responsabilidad de identificar transacciones sospechosas y cuentas de fachada que alimentan fraudes y manipulaciones.
Con la vigencia de la Ley nº 14.790/2023, los proveedores tienen legalmente prohibido procesar transacciones para empresas sin licencia, lo que eleva la responsabilidad de estas instituciones en la protección del usuario y en la garantía de una competencia leal dentro del mercado regulado.
Brasil No Deja de Hacer Clic
Mientras Brasilia debate leyes y restricciones, el mercado de consumo muestra una vitalidad impresionante.
Datos recientes revelan que el tráfico en las diez principales plataformas de apuestas en Brasil superó los 1.340 millones de accesos mensuales entre 2024 y 2026.
Betano consolida su liderazgo absoluto con 426 millones de visitas mensuales, seguida de Superbet y 7Games. Estas tres empresas por sí solas concentran más de la mitad de toda la atención del público brasileño en el sector.
Se ha identificado un cambio de comportamiento notable: el usuario brasileño es más maduro en relación con las marcas.
En lugar de buscar términos genéricos como “apuestas deportivas”, el público realiza ahora búsquedas directas por los nombres de las operadoras, con Betano liderando también el volumen de búsquedas orgánicas.
El caso de Superbet también llama la atención por convertir altos volúmenes de accesos mediante estrategias agresivas de marketing y patrocinios, superando en tráfico a plataformas tradicionalmente fuertes en búsquedas, como bet365.
The post Bets bajo vigilancia: salud pública, el STF y el mercado en Brasil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil’s iGaming sector is entering a decisive phase as mounting pressure from lawmakers, the judiciary, and public health authorities begins to reshape the industry’s trajectory.
With the fast-tracking of PL 4583/24, a growing crackdown from the Supreme Federal Court on gambling-related debt, and increasing scrutiny over operator practices and payment flows, the debate has moved far beyond regulation into the realms of social impact and economic stability.
At the same time, surging user traffic highlights a market that continues to expand rapidly, setting the stage for a complex balancing act between growth, oversight, and responsibility in Brazil’s evolving betting landscape.
Public Health on the Radar
The Brazilian legislative landscape regarding iGaming reached a new level this week with the approval of urgency for PL 4583/24, authored by Congressman Ruy Carneiro.
The decision, made on Wednesday (22nd), signals that Congress no longer views ludopathy as a mere side effect, but as a national emergency requiring a focused care strategy for addiction to digital games and betting.
The text proposes the creation of the National Integral Assistance Program, which intends to mobilize SUS and SUAS structures to offer medical, psychological, and social support to those affected.
The justification for such haste lies in alarming figures connecting domestic finances to the betting fever.
The project’s author highlighted a Central Bank study revealing that, in August 2024 alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent approximately R$ 3 billion on betting platforms via PIX.
In practice, this means R$ 1 out of every R$ 5 transferred by the government to these families ends up in “bets”.
Beyond the financial impact, the increase in public health demand is evident, with pathological gambling cases treated by SUS jumping from 108 to 1,200 between 2018 and 2023.
The project is not limited to treatment but also addresses monitoring and advertising.
Strict guidelines are planned to protect minors and create technical mechanisms to detect compulsive behaviors directly on the platforms.
To facilitate these actions, betting companies will be required to provide anonymous data for epidemiological analysis.
Funding for the program will come from a combination of taxes on the platforms themselves, private partnerships, and resources from the National Health Fund.
With the urgency regime, the text can be scheduled directly for the House Floor, bypassing regulatory deadlines and lengthy committee processes.
The STF and the “Existential Minimum”
In parallel with the Legislature, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) began a profound debate placing online betting as a central factor in the Brazilian indebtedness crisis.
During the analysis of decrees fixing the “existential minimum” for over-indebted consumers at R$ 600, ministers sharpened their tone against the market.
Justice Flávio Dino stated that money needed for basic subsistence is being drained by perverse manipulations leading to family disasters and violating human dignity.
Justice Luiz Fux, rapporteur of related actions, classified platforms as a driver of debt, linking addiction to severe psychiatric problems and extreme cases of suicide.
Fux recalled his previous decision to ban Bolsa Família funds from betting and noted that the high revenue of these companies creates institutional tensions that hinder proper handling of the issue.
Justice Gilmar Mendes cited Portugal as an example of best practices, where gambling dependency is treated as a pathological addiction with specialized care sectors, and promised that the Supreme Court has a “tryst with this theme” in the near future.
The judgment, set to resume after a request for view and vote adjustments, moves toward a consensus on the need for periodic technical reviews of the existential minimum by the National Monetary Council (CMN).
Ministers agree the current landscape of payroll loans and the “curse of gambling” requires constant regulatory impact analysis to prevent debts from becoming unpayable and destroying the country’s social protection network.
The Trench of Sectoral Integrity
In the operational field, the role of payment companies has become key to ensuring regulations are effective.
The Brazilian company Pay4Fun, for instance, has strengthened its international presence by participating in the IBIA Payment Providers Forum to mitigate risks and combat illegal operations.
The strategy is to financially suffocate unlicensed platforms by monitoring operator licenses and strengthening user validation processes (KYC and KYB).
Pay4Fun CEO Leonardo Baptista argues that payment methods have a responsibility to identify suspicious transactions and front accounts that fuel fraud and match-fixing.
Under Law No. 14,790/2023, providers are legally prohibited from processing transactions for unlicensed companies, raising their responsibility within the state-regulated ecosystem to protect users and ensure fair competition.
Brazil Can’t Stop Clicking
While Brasília debates laws, the consumer market shows impressive vitality. Recent data shows traffic to Brazil’s top 10 betting platforms exceeded 1.34 billion monthly visits between 2024 and 2026.
Betano consolidates its absolute leadership with 426 million monthly visits, followed by Superbet and 7Games. Together, these three companies hold more than half of the sector’s traffic.
A notable behavioral change was identified: Brazilian users are more brand-aware. Instead of generic searches, the public now searches directly for operator names, with Betano also leading in organic search volume.
Superbet also draws attention for converting high traffic volumes through aggressive marketing and sponsorship strategies, surpassing search-heavy platforms like bet365.
The post Bets Under Scrutiny: Public Health, the Supreme Court, and Brazil’s Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
3et has launched in Ireland’s regulated betting market after securing an Irish betting licence, marking the operator’s first stated move into a locally regulated jurisdiction.
The company said the launch comes ahead of a planned wider roll-out into other regulated markets in 2027. 3et positions its sportsbook around odds and limits rather than entertainment features and cross-sell.
“We’re very excited to launch in Ireland,” said Micheál Deasy, Marketing Manager at 3et. “Irish bettors know sport, they understand value, and many of them are looking for a sportsbook that gives them sharp odds and proper limits without all the noise. That is where we believe 3et stands out.”
3et said it has operated for 14 years under an Alderney licence and opened its site to the public in 2023 after initially running an invite-only model. The company added that it began the process of acquiring an Irish licence in 2025.
In Ireland, 3et said it will concentrate on markets where its model is strongest, including major US sports and top soccer competitions. The operator highlighted core betting lines such as 1X2, Asian handicaps and totals as areas where it expects to compete on odds quality and staking flexibility.
The post 3et launches sportsbook in Ireland after securing local betting licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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