E: [emailprotected], Pavel Zuna Sazka's current Chief Executive Officer is Robert Chvatal. Organization of Football Prognostics S.A. Generali's No.3 investor Caltagirone withholds backing for 2022 accounts -sources, Musk says Tesla likely to launch full self-drive technology 'this year', Exclusive: JPMorgan employees gripe about Dimon's return-to-office edict, SpaceX rocket explosion illustrates Elon Musk's 'successful failure' formula, Cucinelli posts 33% rise in Q1 sales, confirms 2023 revenue growth forecast, Exclusive-Peter Thiel, Republican megadonor, won't fund candidates in 2024 - sources, Virginia Governor Youngkin 'humbled' by talk of possible presidential run, European Midday Briefing: Mood Brighter After -2-, Tim Cook unveils new Apple store in India, Morgan Stanley's dealmaking CEO Gorman signals more transactions to come. She was Director of Communications at the International Olympic Committee, for three Olympic Games and three Host City selection processes, and Chief Executive of a government related entity in the UAE which helped secure Expo 2020 for Dubai. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania. Furthermore, he is a member of the BoD of Greek Yellow Pages SA. from a search engine) and whether they have been here before helping us to put more money into developing our services for you instead of marketing spend. Born in Ceska Lipa in the Czech Republic. Responsible gambling is a critical aspect of the iGaming industry, and both Europe and Australia have a lot to learn in this regard. She holds a Doctorate from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Kassel, Germany. Steve leads Allwyns reporting, budgeting and other financial processes. Aligning ourselves to the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, we have signed the Planet Mark Zero Carbon Commitment to pledge to achieve net zero by 2030 or sooner. By establishing a centralized regulatory body to oversee the iGaming industry, Europe could streamline its regulatory processes and ensure more effective enforcement of gambling laws. Innovation has been a key factor in the European iGaming markets success. Apollo Global Management Inc., one of the world's leading investors in gaming and largest alternative investment managers, has entered into a deal to invest 500m (448.1m/$591.8m) in Sazka Group and KKCG. While some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have a single regulatory body overseeing the industry (the UK Gambling Commission), others have multiple regulators responsible for various aspects of gambling. The rise of online sports betting platforms has further fueled this passion, offering players a convenient way to place bets on their favorite sports and events. Lottery operator Sazka Entertainment has appointed Lord Sebastian Coe to the board as the companys first independent non-executive director. Completed his high school studies in 1974. Sign up for updates about our work to improve lotteries.. Reading Time: < 1 minute. Non-Executive Member. Born in 1968, Mr. Chvtal graduated from Prague School of Economics studying Business Administration. Mr. aroch graduated from the University of Economics, Prague. This appointment aligns with the Companys Board succession plan as well as good governance practice, with outgoing Chair Gary McGann stepping down on reaching his nine-year tenure as Non-Executive Director. Editorial / PR Submissions: [emailprotected], Copyright 2015 - 2022 European Gaming Media and Events. Additionally, European players tend to gravitate towards live dealer games, which offer an immersive and interactive experience that closely resembles playing in a brick-and-mortar casino. Conor Porter. Since 2019, Dr. Philip Ozuah has served as the President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the umbrella organization for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System's 13 member hospitals and 300 . Kamil Ziegler is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 5 different companies and currently holds the position of Executive Chairman for Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics SA and Chairman for OPAP (Cyprus) Ltd. (a subsidiary of Greek Organisation of Football Prognostics SA) and Chief Executive Officer & Director at Szkov kancelr as. Anna is in charge of Allwyns strategy for regulatory compliance and player protection. {long detailed version} To read this in full, click on the Privacy Policy button found in this window. In 1984 Mr. Ziegler graduated from the University of Economics, Faculty of Trade, in Prague. His experience will be invaluable as Flutter continues to execute its growth strategy., PHOENIX 7, the Japanese-themed Slot Developer, locks in a B2B licence with the Malta Gaming Authority, Macau Junket Boss Jailed for Illegal Gambling, Money Laundering. Vesel, who joined - Make our website work as youd expect You can read more about your. In addition, EMMA CAPITAL owns an 11.37% stake in the Home Credit Group, one of the largest providers of consumer loans in the world. The European Union has also played a significant role in shaping the iGaming landscape. Please note that SAZKA Group a.s. was renamed to Allwyn International a.s. and its parent company SAZKA Entertainment AG was renamed to Allwyn AG in May 2022. You must be at least 18 [eighteen] years of age to use our websites. The winner of the tournament was home-grown player Nicolas Jarry, who won his second ATP title this time, after having won the Swedish Open in Bstad in 2019. Author of many monographies and publications on energy, regulation, energy policy and public procurement. He graduated (summa cum laude) from the Athens University of Economics in 1981 and continued with his Masters degree and his PhD in Economics (1987) at the University of Rochester, New York. Product and Internal Communications Specialist. In partnership with a strong US investor, SAZKA Group is well positioned to expand in Europe, the US and other potential regions, continuing to focus on lottery and complementary gaming verticals. 1 min read . Betsson started 2023 with yet another strong quarter, again delivering record numbers for revenue and EBIT, even though the first quarter has historically often had less activity than other quarters. He began his professional career at the State Bank of Czechoslovakia where he served in different managerial positions: he worked as an Executive Director for Finance at Komercni banka, Prague, and then as a deputy CEO and Board member at Czech Savings Bank. Sazka CEO, Founder, Key Executive Team, Board of Directors & Employees She has strong business acumen and deep understanding of financial / accounting related issues, while her legal perspective is an added value resulting to a holistic approach of corporate governance aspects. For example, the increasing popularity of blockchain-based gaming platforms and the emergence of social gaming experiences demonstrate that the Australian iGaming industry is beginning to embrace innovation. I will use my remaining period as Chair to ensure a seamless transition to John., John Bryant, Chair Designate, commented: I am very excited to succeed Gary as Chair of Flutter. Paul is responsible for technology across Allwyn UKs operations. KODA AUTO a.s. 2007 - 20103 roky. With a wide variety of cultures and languages within the continent, players have unique preferences when it comes to game types, themes, and gameplay features. - Offer you free services/content (thanks to advertising) PhD in Public Law from the Law School of Demokrition University of Thrace. I am very much looking forward to working with John. Unless otherwise stated, European Gaming Media and Events and/or its licensors own the intellectual property rights published on our websites and materials used on the European Gaming Media and Evnts network. Please turn AdBlock off in order to see these areas. SAZKA Group . Fitch Ratings - Paris - 10 Jun 2020: Fitch Ratings has revised Sazka Group a.s.'s (Sazka Group) Outlook to Negative from Stable; and affirmed Sazka Group's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BB-'. Australian gambling culture has a strong focus on pokies, also known as slot machines, which are immensely popular across the country. My role will be to ensure that we develop our support of sport further and ensure that SAZKA Entertainment is a powerful driving force behind grassroots and elite sport funding across Europe and beyond.. I look forward to working with Peter and the management team to grow the business and to take advantage of the many exciting opportunities that lie ahead., Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: I would like to thank Gary for the contribution he has made to Flutter over his nine years as Non-Executive Director, eight of which were as Chair. The Shareholders' Meeting also reappointed Marco Lavazza as Vice Chairman (elected in 2011) and Antonella, Francesca and . Reading Time: < 1 minute Sazka Group has appointed Ale Vesel, currently its marketing director, as the new chief executive of its Czech business, replacing Robert Chvtal. Prior to joining Allwyn, Steve was at Three Telecom, where he revitalised and modernised the business technology and business readiness functions. Kamil Ziegler is also on the board of PPF Group NV and Opap Finance Plc and Member-Management Board at SAZKA as. John has had a stellar career in Kellogg Company, one of the most internationally renowned companies in the world. In accordance with the Greek Takeover Law, OPAP shall appoint a financial advisor and the board of directors of OPAP shall evaluate the tender offer and shall issue its opinion following the approval of the information memorandum by the HCMC," OPAP stated.----- Milbank LLP advised SAZKA Group on its all cash, unconditional offer to acquire . Lord Coe shot to prominence in the 1980'as an Olympic gold medal winner and has gone on to become a powerful voice in British sports, including chairing London's successful bid to host the 2012 . The lottery has gone from strength to strength in that time, now boasting over 34,000 points of sale. in Business Administration and Accountancy and qualified as a certified public accountant. While the Australian market has been somewhat slower to adopt new technologies and business models compared to Europe, there are signs that this is changing. Following the transaction, the SAZKA Group now controls the EMMA DELTA fund, and, consequently, holds an indirect 33% share in the Greek lottery company OPAP. Member of the Committee of the Open-Door Invitation for granting and using authorizations for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons (2012-13). On the other hand, Australias commitment to research and education around problem gambling can provide valuable insights for European countries. He started his career with Malaysian Army in January 1977 and received his military training as officer cadet . The tax domicile will also remain in Austria and OBAG will have the right to nominate Casinos Austria's chief executive and chairman of the supervisory board. The transaction implies an equity valuation of 4.2 billion for SAZKA Entertainment. The companies registered seats and other identification details remain unchanged. - Allowing you to add comments to our site One of the key traits of European players is their affinity for skill-based games, such as poker and sports betting. In that time, weve grown the lottery by 40% and seen the returns to government and societies increase by 475%. Robert brings a wealth of strategic, financial and operational leadership experience. Moreover, he has also been in charge of the operation and management of OPAPs gaming and nongaming commercial activities, across all retail and online channels, and contributed significantly to OPAPs initiatives and response to the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. The privacy implications on this will vary from social network to social network and will be dependent on the privacy settings you have chosen on these networks. Karen previously worked in brand marketing strategy for Camelot and has over 20 years experience in FMCG businesses such as Mars, Nestl and McVities. Katharine leads Allwyns engagement with its retail partners in the United Kingdom. Also qualified as a certified information systems auditor in New York, USA. The international and business know-how of the two groups is bundled in SAZKA Group: expertise in long-term strategic management, industry focus, successful consolidation and sustainable development of companies. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Europes focus on consumer protection, including the implementation of self-exclusion programs and stringent age verification processes, can serve as a model for Australia as it continues to develop its responsible gambling initiatives. Gary McGann, Chair, commented: We are delighted to announce Johns appointment as Chair. In the past years investments have been made to expand geographically to new markets and to strengthen the product offering and the competitive position. Cookies are set by: current Chief Executive Officer is Robert Chvatal, CBI websites generally use certain cookies to enable better interactions with. I have absolute confidence that with support from Apollo my team will take the business to the next level Karel Komrek, founder of KKCG and Chairman of the Board of SAZKA Group, said. John will assume the role of Chair from 1 September 2023. Weve been involved with LottoItalia since 2016. Lord Coe shot to prominence in the 1980as an Olympic gold medal winner and has gone on to become a powerful voice in British sports, including chairing Londons successful bid to host the 2012 Games. He is also a non-executive director of Macys Inc. with his tenure ending on 19 May 2023. We have signed the Mindful Business Charter, joining a wide range of businesses and professional service firms around the world in a collective commitment to address the avoidable stresses in our working practices, to promote healthier and more effective ways of working. The list of the websites owned and operated by European Gaming Media and Events can be found here. Meanwhile Dr Rusek is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and partner of ATAG Attorneys Ltd, a law firm which roots reach back to 1917 founded ATAG, a leading Swiss advisory company, whereas his responsibility for ATAG PCSs Audit and Tax Procedures remains unchanged. Our business is entering a new era and this investment and strategic partnership will support our long-term expansion plans. KKCG's long-term strategy targets oil and gas production, lotteries and entertainment, tourism, and new technologies via the Springtide Ventures fund. Sazka informed TK about it today. Steve leads Allwyns operations in the United Kingdom and is responsible for the integration of technologies. This diversity has led to the development of a vast array of games tailored to cater to the varied tastes of European players. Harriet has spent 18 years in the charity sector, including seven years coordinating humanitarian programmes in Africa and Asia, and with the last eight years at Comic Relief where she was responsible for the funding strategy. This growth has been supported by a strong domestic industry, with numerous homegrown operators and game developers enjoying considerable success. KKCG operates in 10 countries worldwide. In a global rebranding, Czech gambling group Sazka Entertainment will now conduct business under the corporate identity of Allwyn, the company name it has been using for its UK operations.. As the largest lottery operator in Europe, the group operates its flagship Sazka holding in its domestic Czech market in addition to Lotteries Austria, OPAP in Greece and Cyprus and Loto Gioco' Italia in . Following the transaction, the SAZKA Group now controls the EMMA DELTA fund, and, consequently, holds an indirect 33% share in the Greek lottery company OPAP. George Mantakas was born in 1959 in Athens. Sounds fair, doesnt it? Emerging Markets Capital, a.s. Managing Partner at THV Law (www. I am convinced that the gaming industry is one of the most promising sectors for the future and SAZKA Group aspires to be a global player in this sphere. Prior to OPAP he had 26 years of professional experience. Early in his professional career he has worked as an economist at the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. SAZKA a.s. ("the Company") is a member of the group with its managing entity SAZKA Group a.s., with its registered office at Vinohradsk 1511/230, Stranice, 100 00 Prague 10, Id. I am happy that, after a series of discussions with major investment funds from around the world, we came to an agreement to partner with Apollo. The investment will be effected through an investment into SAZKA Entertainment AG, a newly- established 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of KKCG, which upon closing of the investment, will be the 100% owner of SAZKA Group. The transfer necessitated the approval of the regulatory agencies of Greece and Cyprus. Weve operated the national lottery in the Czech Republic since 2012. EBITDA was EUR 54.3 (33.4) million, an increase of 62%. Im looking forward to joining a team with a proven track record of supporting sport at all levels in the countries where it operates, Lord Coe said of his appointment. Oops! Will Ronnie OSullivan Break Record Before Retirement? Additionally, the emergence of innovative business models, such as pay-per-play and social gaming, has helped to diversify the market and attract new customers. We are a team with considerable experience in the UKs retail, gaming, digital, entertainment and charity sectors. O SCRE International revealed its new board of directors for 2023, electing Mike Maxfield, Vice President Business Technology, Brookfield Properties to serve as chairperson, and Joseph Moscowitz, Senior Director of Business Development and Strategy, Dealpath to serve as Vice Chairperson. OSCRE's board includes eight new board members and three returning members. Prof. ConradForker is an Attorney at Law. It is also worth noting that opting out of advertising cookies will not mean you wont see adverts, just simply that they wont be tailored to you any longer. thvlaw.com). In 1996 he graduated from the Southern Graduate School of Banking at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. republish or reproduce any part of these websites through the use of iframes or screenscrapers. He joined OPAP in January 2014 and during his tenure with the company, he has led the operations, development and modernization of the companys retail and indirect sales networks, overseeing activities related to sales, retail marketing, customer and partner support. To increase transparency and raise awareness about risky gambling in Sweden and how proactive contacts can change player behaviour, in the first quarter Betsson started to report KPIs for risky gambling for the Swedish market. John is currently a non-executive director of Ball Corporation, Compass Group PLC and Coca-Cola European Partners plc. With a diverse range of countries and regulatory frameworks, the European market offers an excellent case study for understanding the intricacies of iGaming regulation and innovation. For SAZKA Group a.s. Pavel aroch Member of the Board of Directors Katarna Kohlmaye Member of the Bo rd of Directors . The players mentality is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the iGaming industries in Europe and Australia. Sazka has 5 executives. In addition to pokies, Australian players have a deep-rooted passion for sports betting. Subscribe to Our Newsletter: Organization of Football Prognostics S.A, 112 Athinon Ave., Athens, General Commercial Registry No 003823201000, graduate studies in international private law. In conclusion, the iGaming industries of Europe and Australia have much to learn from each other. Member of the Board at National Energy Council (2006-09). Allwyn UK is part of Allwyn, a leading global lottery operator. Operators have been quick to adopt new technologies, such as virtual reality and blockchain, to enhance the user experience and streamline operations. Kevin has extensive experience advising companies, financial sponsors and underwriters, and his experience extends to bridge financings, leveraged bank financings, liability management transactions, restructurings and merger & acquisition transactions. Creating press releases, PR articles and publications. The Negative Outlook reflects the uncertainty around the pace of recovery, mainly for sports-betting . So you can easily Like or share our content on the likes of Facebook and Twitter we have included sharing buttons on our site. Overall, Jan has a proven track record in delivering strong business results, as well as broad professional experience in developing solid commercial strategies and implementing successful retail and sales development programs. This transfer of the shares and voting rights in SAZKA Group a.s. did not result in a change to the total number of shares . -. He began his professional career in 1991 with Procter & Gamble and Benckiser before spending 15 years in mobile . Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. He brings with him an enormous wealth of leadership experience in strategic, financial, and operational matters. Ms. Chiomento has a dynamic leadership career combining astute strategic, corporate governance, financial, operational, and people skills with approximately three decades of international exposure in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The CB Insights tech market intelligence platform analyzes millions of data points on vendors, products, partnerships, and patents to help your team find their next technology solution. This website does not use cookies (except from those necessary to provide basic site functionality) or any other methods of user identification and recognition. He brings tremendous additional strength to our international perspective as we strive to maximise the raising of funds for good causes in all of the markets we serve., GI Games Round-Up: Relax Gaming, Playn GO and more, Allwyn reports strong Q2 growth as gross revenue tops 900m, Americas drive Genius Sports growth as Q2 revenue climbs to $71.1m, OpenBet powers Sazkabet sportsbook in the Czech Republic, SuperSport secures naming rights to Croatian Football League, Allwyn widens Q1 profit as revenue grows to 869.3m, OPAP to divest stake in online gaming operator Kaizen, Camelot loses out to Allwyn in UK National Lottery bid, Allwyn increases stake in Greek gaming operator OPAP, Allwyn Entertainment prepares New York listing with CRHC SPAC, Strong third quarter for SAZKA as GGR grows to record $876.2m, Holland Casino CEO set to join Casinos Austria, NeoGames benefits from NeoPollard Interactive growth in Q3, Gambling Commission confirms four final bids for UK National Lottery, KKCG and SAZKA Group bring in Pavel Turek to strengthen CSR, Sign up to our free newsletter on the newsletter sign-up page. Her professional experience includes being Board Member and Partner at ATAG Attorneys Ltd., Basel; Foreign Trade Advisor to the Kassel/Marburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Professor at Economic Faculty at Mainz University and ZHAW School of Management and Law in Zurich and Representative of the City of Zurich as majority shareholder on the Board of Directors of a Swiss energy supply company. By continuing to use this site you are consenting to these choices. Kamil Ziegler is also on the board of PPF Group NV and Opap Finance Plc and Member-Management Board at SAZKA as. We have signed up to the Purpose Goals along with a number of UK businesses, universities and public sector organisations to play our part in efforts to create a level playing field for equal opportunities across the UK. - Pay sales commissions. Vesel, who joined Sazka in 2013 as marketing director and also became deputy chief executive in 2018, will begin his new role on February 1. During the quarter, Betsson was the main sponsor of the tennis tournament ATP 250 Chile Open, which took place in February and March in Santiago, Chile. Mrs. Kohlmayer has masters degree from University of Economics in Bratislava and MBA from Harvard University. Fitch Ratings - Paris - 13 Jan 2021: Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on SAZKA Group a.s.'s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the IDR at 'BB-'. Member of the Board at Industrial Property Organization (2005-06). Both Europe and Australia can benefit from adopting a more harmonized regulatory approach. Subject to the license below, all these intellectual property rights are reserved. Email alerts This has led to the development of standardized licensing processes and requirements, which has helped to create a more level playing field for operators. The majority of Apollo Funds 500 million investment will be used to capitalise on acquisition and growth opportunities in Europe and North America, with a focus on lotteries.