Latest News
Veteran Marketer Charles Kaplan Takes on CMO Role at Stats Perform
Stats Perform, the sports industry’s leading provider of AI technology, live data and insights, announced that tech marketing veteran Charles Kaplan has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective April 21, 2025. In this role, Mr. Kaplan will lead the Company’s marketing capabilities, in addition to its Opta data insights and editorial services. He will also manage Stats Perform’s sports news teams and the Opta Content Agency, which provides data-led features, compelling storytelling and creative campaign support to help sports organizations, brands and media outlets engage fans and grow their audiences.
Mr. Kaplan brings nearly 25 years of marketing, product management, and revenue growth expertise to Stats Perform, with a strong track record of driving business expansion and market leadership on a global scale. He most recently served as Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Wynshop, where he helped launch the company on a path to becoming the leading provider of digital commerce and fulfillment solutions for local store-based retailers. Previously, Mr. Kaplan held leadership roles at Mi9 Retail, including Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, where he directed go-to-market strategy, revenue generation, and business growth. Earlier in his career, he gained extensive experience in international marketing, business development and product management through leadership roles at MicroStrategy, Lexmark Enterprise Software, and Brainware. Mr. Kaplan received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Carl Mergele, Chief Executive Officer, said, “A dynamic company like Stats Perform requires equally dynamic and forward-looking thinking with its marketing, and Charles is the ideal fit to lead our marketing function. His unique skillset makes him a valuable overall addition to the Stats Perform management team as we continue to execute on our growth strategy and revolutionize the way sports are viewed. Coming off our most successful year yet, we are excited to benefit from Charles’ leadership and marketing prowess and build on the momentum generated in the first quarter of 2025.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the Stats Perform team at such a critical time in the company’s history,” said Mr. Kaplan. “I have long admired Stats Perform for its unmatched depth and breadth of data, AI, sports research, news and video content capabilities that have effectively shaped – and transformed – the sports technology and data industry. I look forward to working closely with the executive team as we meet the rapidly growing demand for in-depth sports insights and data-driven content, delivering comprehensive and real-time AI-powered solutions and performance analytics to enhance understanding, prediction, and fan engagement in sports.”
The post Veteran Marketer Charles Kaplan Takes on CMO Role at Stats Perform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Celestial Dragon
CT Interactive Launches Festive Slot Collection for Chinese New Year
To celebrate Chinese New Year, CT Interactive has introduced a festive slot collection inspired by symbols of luck, prosperity and celebration.
The lineup includes Celestial Dragon, Dancing Dragons, Fire Egg, Celestial Rules, Fortune Fish, Fire Lord, Kingdom Treasures, Mighty Moon, More Dragons and Lord of Fortune, each designed to immerse players in the spirit of the holiday.
The celebration is highlighted by the debut of Red Bird and Golden Dragon, featuring Wild and Scatter symbols, Free Games and Extra Wins. With medium volatility and a max multiplier of 2000x, the title is well suited for casual players.
“Our Chinese New Year collection blends traditional Chinese symbols with attractive mechanics. Built on our proven math models, the games deliver rewarding play and a festive atmosphere with every spin,” said Dimitar Nikolov.
The post CT Interactive Launches Festive Slot Collection for Chinese New Year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Cliff Baty
The Rank Group Appoints Cliff Baty as Interim Chief Financial Officer
The Rank Group has appointed Cliff Baty as its interim Chief Financial Officer, effective February 23, 2026.
Cliff is a highly experienced CFO with deep expertise in strategic and financial planning, investor relations, financial controls, international business operations and stakeholder management, built across listed leisure and gaming businesses.
Cliff was appointed CFO of Manchester United plc in 2016, a position which he held for over 8 years, until 2024. Prior to that he was CFO of Sportech plc from 2013 to 2016, an appointment which followed an 8 year period as Financial Director of Ladbrokes plc.
The post The Rank Group Appoints Cliff Baty as Interim Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026
Liquor & Gaming NSW has published the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28, setting a clear path for reducing harm, supporting responsible industry growth and meeting evolving community expectations. The Strategy outlines Hospitality and Racing’s vision, regulatory posture and strategic objectives.
It outlines three strategic objectives which will guide the work to support communities, individuals and the industry. The first is targeted harm reduction, using better data, education and engagement to focus on the areas where we can make the biggest difference.
The second is outcome‑focused, responsive regulation, by making use of streamlined, place‑based and community‑informed approaches that deliver meaningful, real-world outcomes.
Third is promoting modern tools, skilled teams and smart decisions, investing in its capability, improving how it uses data and supporting consistent decision making across hospitality and racing.
Regulatory Priorities 2026
Alongside the new strategy, Liquor & Gaming NSW has also issued its Regulatory Priorities 2026. This sets out where the department will be focusing its regulatory attention over course of the year. It provides transparency on Liquor & Gaming’s forward regulatory agenda and gives the industry the opportunity to proactively engage about the issues they are concerned about.
The post NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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