AGA

The American Gaming Association has added four new senior-level staff members, “furthering the association’s success in serving its members and the rapidly evolving gaming industry”.

As part of the recruitment drive Cait DeBaun becomes senior director of strategic communications, Jessica Feil joins as senior director of government relations, Meredith Pallante occupies the senior director of events role and Gabrielle Voorhees takes up the position of senior director of finance.

These additions are said to complement organisational changes announced earlier this summer, reflecting AGA’s enhanced focus on industry modernisation, communications and advocacy

“There’s never been a been a more exciting time to be a part of the gaming industry, and our ability to attract this level of talent reflects that,” noted Bill Miller, president and CEO.

“These four, high-calibre professionals represent a broad array of experience and talent that will be an asset to our industry and our members day in and day out.”

Tabcorp

David Gallop has joined the Tabcorp board as a non executive director, subject to the receipt of regulatory and ministerial approvals. 

Set to be formally presented following the necessary green-lights being issued, Gallop, who is to act as an observer of the board in the meantime, has been appointed as part of an ongoing process of renewal.

As part of this process, Tabcorp expects to make further announcements in FY20 regarding appointments of additional directors with skills and experience to complement the current board, and in anticipation of pending retirements.

Paula Dwyer, Tabcorp chairman, commented: “David has successfully led two of Australia’s highest profile sporting organisations in the NRL and FFA. He brings to our board a deep understanding of sports administration and the commercial drivers which underpin it. 

“David has extensive experience in media rights negotiations, delivering modern sporting content through digital channels, customer experience and in navigating complex stakeholder relationships at a domestic and international level. We look forward to the perspectives he will bring to the Tabcorp Board.” 

Svenska Spel

Petra Blixt has been appointed as the new head of sales and marketing at the Swedish state-owned gambling operator, after departing as CMO at LeoVegas.

In the new position Blixt is to be responsible for developing digital marketing and sales processes in line with the firm’s overall market strategies.

Fredrik Wastesson, CEO of Svenska Spel, said of the appointment: “ I am very happy to announce Petra Blixt as new sales and marketing manager for the Svenska Spel Sports and Casino. 

“Her knowledge and experience in data-driven marketing and sales will be extremely valuable to us in the work we are now pursuing. I would also like to point out her clear and goal-oriented leadership along with high energy and high implementation force will be important qualities in managing and developing our business.”

Novomatic

Robert van Roosendaal has been promoted into role of key account director for Germany, Iceland, Portugal, France and the Benelux countries at Novomatic.

Initially joining the firm three years ago, the new role comes in line with the internal restructuring process and the continued expansion of market leadership in key European casino markets. 

“With Robert van Roosendaal we have been able to assign this key position – especially in the German and French casino markets – to an expert with extensive sales experience as well as excellent market and product knowledge,” said Jens Einhaus, VP of international sales for Europe and the Americas.

Camelot

The operator of the UK National Lottery, Camelot UK Lotteries, has announced that chief financial officer Clare Swindell has been appointed to its board of directors.

Joining chief executive Nigel Railton as the second executive director to sit on the board, the appointment is lauded as an acknowledgement of the “vital role that she plays in governance arrangements”.

Sir Hugh Robertson, Camelot chairman, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Clare to the Camelot board. Since joining Camelot just over two years ago, Clare’s wide-ranging operational experience – as well as her extensive knowledge of strategic finance and internal control processes – has added great value to the business.

“This appointment recognises Clare’s seniority and contribution, and while her role and responsibilities as CFO will remain unchanged, she will be taking on additional and important statutory duties and obligations. The rest of the board and I very much look forward to working with Clare in this enhanced capacity.”

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The two have entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed, which will allow NOVOMATIC to acquire all of Ainsworth’s outstanding shares for a final cash consideration of $1 per share via a Scheme of Arrangement.

The Scheme of Arrangement will allow the gaming tech giant to become the sole owner of Ainsworth. NOVOMATIC already held a 52.9% stake, which it bought from Len Ainsworth, the firm’s founder, in 2016. 

Details of the Scheme of Arrangement

Ainsworth’s Independent Board Committee has unanimously advised the shareholders to vote in favor of the transaction. In addition to requiring shareholder approval, the transaction is also subject to customary closing conditions. It is scheduled to close in H2 2025. However, it is not conditional on due diligence or regulatory approvals.

NOVOMATIC AG Group’s Member of the Executive Board, Stefan Krenn, commented: “The acquisition of Ainsworth is consistent with our international growth strategy and the expansion of our presence across the Asia-Pacific and the US region.”. 

“As a long-term shareholder, we are familiar with the business and believe that integrating Ainsworth into our operations is in the best interest of this strategy. We look forward to welcoming the highly qualified and experienced Ainsworth employees into the NOVOMATIC family to become part of our international growth and success,” he added.

How Ainsworth Acquisition Enhances NOVOMATIC

NOVOMATIC is among the biggest gaming technology groups in the world. It is a full-service provider in all segments of the gaming industry. The company has around 300 international subsidiaries, is active in more than 130 countries worldwide, and has 26,200 employees. It boasts a broad portfolio of clients, including DAZN Bet, which penned a double partnership with NOVOMATIC studios, Greentube, and Capecod last year.

Ainsworth is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of superior gaming solutions in the Americas and Australasia. It is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and is based in Newington, Sydney. However, the company operates worldwide, including in North and South America.

The company’s Chairman, Daniel Gladstone, outlined that the proposal represents a significant premium to long-term trading value and is compelling for minority shareholders. Ainsworth said this places a total enterprise value of $336.5 million on the business.

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Revealed during the ECA Casino Industry Forum in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, the ECA has stated that the goal of the partnership is to “enhance industry cooperation and facilitate dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders on matters of mutual interest”.

The companies that are part of the inaugural Strategic Supplier Partnership include Aristocrat, IGT, Light & Wonder and Novomatic.

“We are pleased to welcome Aristocrat Gaming, IGT, Light & Wonder and Novomatic as the founding members of the ECA’s Strategic Supplier Partnership,” commented Erwin van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA.

“This collaboration allows us to share diverse perspectives and work towards solutions that benefit the entire gaming community, while respecting the distinct roles of operators and suppliers.”

The ECA noted that the partnership will aim to “advance responsible practices within the licensed gaming sector while fostering a collaborative environment for industry stakeholders”, in addition to conversations with European authorities “to address crucial issues and promote fair regulatory frameworks”.

“Aristocrat Gaming is pleased to be a part of the newly formed ECA partnership,” stated Marcel Heutmekers, VP of Sales and Operations EMEA for Aristocrat Gaming. 

“Our aim is to work alongside the ECA and other suppliers to expand our collective influence in the region when it comes to regulatory reform and the evolution of gaming in EMEA.”

David Flinn, IGT SVP EMEA, Canada and LatAm Gaming Sales, noted: “IGT is pleased to join the European Casino Association’s Strategic Partnership Alliance and collaborate with other global gaming suppliers to help drive growth opportunities for our customers and to shape a positive framework for the future of casino gaming across Europe.”

Contributing to the sustainable growth and integrity of Europe’s casino industry, the partnership will explore several areas including equipment standardisation, enhanced security measures, and strategies to combat illegal gambling. 

It will also be a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, connecting suppliers with operators, as well as promoting responsible gaming practices and compliance. 

“Light and Wonder are honoured to be collaborating with the ECA on this strategic partnership,” said Jon Lancaster, VP of Sales, EMEA at Light & Wonder.

“We have long considered that casino operators, trade bodies and suppliers need to work closely together on issues that impact the future of our industry and this partnership represents a great opportunity to actively address those challenges together.”

Stefan Krenn, Executive Board Member at NOVOMATIC AG, added: “As Europe´s largest gaming technology group, NOVOMATIC is pleased to join other major suppliers in laying the foundation for the ECA Strategic Supplier Partnership. 

“In this exclusive collaboration, we look forward to shaping the future of European gaming in a responsible and sustainable way, fostering collaboration across the industry and upholding the highest standards of compliance and player protection. 

“We are excited to partner with the European Casino Association and firmly believe that together we can promote the long-term success of the industry.”

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The deal will enhance the visibility of slot content provided by the Novomatic-owned studios by making each company’s titles available via DAZN Bet’s gaming platform. 

Greentube’s offering will see DAZN Bet host the supplier’s complete range of slot content, boasting 402 slots with series like Diamond Link and established titles such as Book of Ra Deluxe and Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe.

Meanwhile, Novomatic’s Capecod studio will also offer DAZN Bet its full roster of slot content, providing the sports broadcasting company’s casino offering with 134 proprietary titles, as well as gamification and marketing features from its Cupid Platform. 

Slot titles found within Capecod’s content offering include Klondike Fever, Stardust and Ulisse, among several recently released slot titles. 

Davide Comoretto, Business Development Manager of Capecod Solutions, stated: “We are happy to bring our content to DAZN Bet, an important reality in the Italian market today and certainly tomorrow as well.

“From today, DAZN Bet players will be able to both play our best titles and have fun thanks to the content offered by the marketing tools of the Cupid Platform.”

The move sees Novomatic continue to enhance Greentube’s presence across regulated markets, coming shortly after the supplier group reached a deal with Sunbet to bring the studio’s titles to South Africa.  

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Under the terms of the agreement, Sunbet will utilise the slot developer’s Greentube Mynt RGS service to integrate its complete collection of igaming titles into its South Africa-facing casino lobby. 

Markus Antl, Director Global Sales and Key Account Management at Greentube, stated: “Launching in South Africa is a milestone for Greentube and we couldn’t have picked a more prestigious partner than Sunbet. Our content will benefit from the experience and local knowledge of such an established operator with a wide customer base.

“We’re looking forward to introducing our games to a new audience in another territory and are especially thrilled to do so via our Greentube Mynt platform.”

Sunbet will leverage Greentube’s RGS technology which allows partnered operators to integrate the studio’s slots alongside a set of player retention tools, such as promotional campaigns and tracking, that hope to drive “next-level engagement”. 

As a result of the partnership Sunbet players based in South Africa will gain access to Greentube’s portfolio of slot releases, including Thunder Cash, Dolphin’s Pearl, Diamond Cash Mighty Buffalo and Charming Lady’s Boom. 

Simon Gregory, CEO at Sunbet, added: “Greentube’s reputation precedes it and so we’re extremely confident of the content we’ll be able to debut to our players.

“We pride ourselves on the premium products we make available and Greentube’s slots will go a long way to maintaining that pursuit of excellence.”

On the other side of the equator, Greentube recently deepened its influence in the North American market by offering slots in Ontario via Caesars Digital. 

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Through the move, the NOVOMATIC digital division has integrated its proprietary slot releases into ‘a range of the country’s leading online casino brands’, although these brands remain undisclosed. 

Opher Ben Zvi, Deputy Head of Global Sales at Greentube, commented: “Slovakia is another step forward in our roadmap for 2024. It’s a country with great potential and one where we expect big things from our proven content.”

Slovakian online casino players can now access Greentube slots such as Book of Ra, Sizzling Hot and Ultrahot Deluxe, in addition to the studio’s upcoming releases Book of Ra Deluxe 10: Win Ways, Sizzling Hot Deluxe 10 Win Ways and Top o’ the Money – Pots of Wealth.

Ben Zvi continued: “Our range of games is set to provide a diverse choice for players, beginning with our successful WinWays titles. These will soon be joined by the global hits from our Diamond Mystery, Diamond Link and Cash Connection game series.

“We’re proud to see them on offer to an even larger demographic via our partners in the country.”

Enhancing its position in Eastern Europe follows Greentube’s recent expansion in Latin America, where it partnered with Superbet to prepare for Brazil’s igaming market launch.

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AGS

Robert Blair has been confirmed as Deputy General Counsel at gaming products and services provider AGS, joining the company on an immediate basis. 

He arrives at the group from Aruze Gaming, where he occupied the positions of Global General Counsel, Global Deputy General Counsel, and Global Senior IP Counsel across a near six year period.

Prior experience comes as Counsel and US Patent Attorney for EIP, in addition to Associate General Counsel of Intellectual Property at International Game Technology for over seven years.

“Bob is an exceptional legal mind who is a valuable addition to the AGS leadership team,” said Rob Ziems, AGS Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. 

“With his extensive knowledge and experience on corporate legal affairs and patent matters, Bob will be a key player in protecting and advancing our business and our brand as AGS continues to capitalize on many growth opportunities ahead.”

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has named Dr. Karin Schnarr as the successor to Tom Mungham ahead of the CEO & Registrar’s impending exit.

Mungham joined the Crown agency in 2006 as Director of Licensing and Registration before later becoming CEO & Registrar, but he will soon relinquish those duties as a result of his retirement which was announced in March.

The AGCO subsequently confirmed it had enlisted an executive search firm to support its search for Mungham’s replacement, and it has taken the best part of six months to publicly name one.

This becomes the latest key personnel change rolled-out by the AGCO after Dave Forestell was named as Chair of its board of directors, replacing Lalit Aggarwal.

Novomatic

Novomatic has debuted a fresh management structure for the group’s Dutch division, with Karin den Dunnen set to replace Jos van den Borne as Chief Financial Officer. The latter signalled an intention to depart to pursue new challenges.

The fresh appointee boasts experience as VP Finance and Control at Holland Casino, as well as similar such positions at a range of companies spanning numerous industries.

She will be charged with playing a “key role” in driving the group forward in “an emerging and important core market”, where she will be responsible for the finance team, human resources, corporate IT and compliance, legal as well as internal audit.

Peter Eder, Novomatic Netherlands Supervisory Board Member, noted: “Novomatic is known for first class technology products and leading innovation. 

“With Karin den Dunnen we have gained a first class financial expert with years of experience in the gaming industry. I am sure that by having Karin den Dunnen on board our company will be able to successfully further expand its position and we wish her a successful start at Novomatic.“

Quick Custom Intelligence

Brandon Lenssen, hailed as a “twenty-seven-year stalwart of the casino industry”, has joined Quick Custom Intelligence as Vice President & General Manager.

Across an almost three decade career, Lenssen has occupied roles such as Operator, Operational Intelligence Partner and Regulator within the casino gaming sector in the USA and Canada. 

Most recently as her served as the Vice President & General Manager for the three Bally’s Corporation casinos that are located in Black Hawk, Colorado.

“We are honoured to have Brandon join the QCI family. His unparalleled experience and insights will undoubtedly amplify our capabilities and the value we deliver to our partners,” commented Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI.

“With Brandon Lenssen joining our ranks, we’re not just adding a member to our team; we’re integrating a wealth of experience, knowledge, and innovative thinking. We’re embracing a vision that believes in the power of data, the potential of technology, and the promise of the future. 

“Together, as we chart new territories and create transformative experiences, we’re more equipped than ever. The casino industry is on the brink of evolution, and with strategic leaders like Brandon steering the ship, QCI is poised to lead the way.”

IMG

Sally Brown and Steve Rudge have been appointed as Vice Presidents and Co-Heads of Multisport Content for IMG’s production business.

In the newly created positions, the pair will oversee the company’s production relationships with the likes of UFC, EuroLeague, Super League Rugby, World’s Strongest Man, World Championship Snooker and Grand Slam Tennis.

Furthermore, the pair will also be responsible for driving business development and new commercial opportunities leveraging other key strategic areas within IMG across digital, sales, data and technology.

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In signing the partnership, Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, will provide its complete product portfolio to Jokerstar’s online casino lobby, operated by Kling Automaten.  

Julia Schagerl, Regional Manager at Greentube, commented: “Jokerstar is one of Germany’s most recognisable land-based operators and has built a strong reputation over the years.

“We are delighted to have further enhanced our premium portfolio of games on the site and look forward to growing alongside the brand in the region for years to come.”

Tapping into another corner of the German igaming sector, Greentube will supply Jokerstar’s player base with slots such as Lucky Lady’s Charm, Sizzling Hot and Cash Connection Book of Ra. 

While Jokerstar lauds an established presence in the nation’s land-based industry, the company entered the online casino space in 2022 after receiving approval from German regulator Glücksspielbehörde der Länder. 

Reacting to the Greentube deal, Jürgen Kling, Owner and CEO of Jokerstar, added: “Greentube needs no introduction. As one of the world’s leading slot developers, their games are steeped in the company’s land-based heritage, while also providing important innovative elements.

“We could not be happier to be able to offer our players their first-class portfolio of games.”

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The deal will allow Novomatic to grow further in the region, providing electronic table games installations, video slots and casino management solutions.

As Novomatic’s official gaming technologies distributor in the Philippines, Tecnet Asia will support gaming technology products in the market with “first-class sales and after-sales service” and “top expertise and an excellent service infrastructure”.

“The partnership with Tecnet Asia is another milestone for our strategy to bringing Novomatic gaming equipment back on the map in the Philippine casino market,” commented Christoph Jeitler, Head of Direct Sales at Novomatic.

“Tecnet’s proven network, along with its technical support capacities and in-depth expertise of the local requirements, are the perfect fit to achieve our ambitious targets in the region.”

Launched in 2015, Tecnet Asia is a Philippine-based firm which delivers “niche high-end innovative solutions” to SMEs and the casino industry in the Asia-Pacific region with over 40 years of experience in the IT industry, sales casino management, consulting, and technical support services. 

“With this new distribution agreement with Novomatic, one of the gaming industry’s most iconic and globally successful brands, Tecnet looks forward to providing these exciting new products to our present and new customers throughout the Philippines,” noted Suat Sirin, CEO and Owner of Tecnet Asia.

Thomas Schmalzer, VP of Global Sales and VP Product Management at Novomatic, added: “Novomatic gaming technology products already have an excellent history of success in the Philippine market, and I am convinced that our portfolio for 2023 and beyond contains many further player favourites and top-performing solutions for the region.”

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Through the collaboration, Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, will host games on bet365’s Netherlands-facing online casino platform as the supplier looks to enhance its European footing. 

David Bolas, Commercial Director at Greentube, noted: “We are delighted to take our games live in the Netherlands with one of the biggest operator names in the industry. 

“We have a deep understanding of the market and what players want from their games content and we look forward to further enhancing what is already a great alliance with bet365.”

Part of Greentube’s online casino offering, bet365’s Dutch player base will gain access to ‘casino classic’ slot releases such as Book of Ra deluxe, Sizzling Hot deluxe and Always Hot, alongside games that offer ‘new experiences’ with titles like Random Runner 15, Simply Wilder and Super Random Flashback.

Commenting on the partnership, a bet365 spokesperson stated: “We’re excited to welcome Greentube into our portfolio of innovative and cutting-edge gaming content partners in the Netherlands. 

“With a premium offering of new and classic titles, we feel that the partnership is a great fit into our Games product.”

Meanwhile, across the pond, Greentube has recently focused its expansion efforts on the US market having received permission from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to begin supplying content to the Keystone State’s operators. 

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