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Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
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Industry Awards

IGT CEO Global Lottery Renato Ascoli Inducted into Lottery Industry Hall of Fame

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International Game Technology PLC announced that Renato Ascoli, IGT CEO Global Lottery, will be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024. Ascoli will be honored later this year at an event hosted by the Public Gaming Research Institute (PGRI) in conjunction with the World Lottery Summit in Paris.

“With nearly 20 years of experience serving in high-level positions in the lottery and gaming industries, Renato Ascoli is an accomplished senior executive whose leadership has been paramount in driving new business and innovation. Renato has a keen ability to identify and realize business growth opportunities, and his contributions will benefit the lottery industry for years to come. IGT congratulates Renato on his well-deserved induction into this year’s Lottery Industry Hall of Fame,” Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT, said.

“I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. Working in the lottery industry with many great leaders and innovators has been an absolute privilege. The future of the lottery industry is bright, and I look forward to helping our customers propel the modernization of lottery worldwide while continuing to generate funds for philanthropic causes,” said Ascoli.

In his current role, Ascoli is responsible for global lottery and iLottery sales and operations, product and sales development, and technology and support for IGT’s 90-plus lottery customers worldwide. Since the merger of GTECH and IGT in 2015, Ascoli has successfully led both the Global Lottery and Global Gaming business units for the Company. Some of the key achievements within his tenure have been launching sports betting with the Rhode Island Lottery, partnering with the Mississippi Lottery to initiate operations, deploying lottery terminals in Walmart retail stores, and rolling out IGT’s proprietary Cash Pop draw game, which is now live in over 15 jurisdictions.

Ascoli previously served as General Manager of GTECH S.p.A. (formerly known as Lottomatica Group S.p.A. and Lottomatica S.p.A.) and President of GTECH Products and Services, where he was responsible for overseeing the design, development, and delivery of state-of-the-art platforms, products, and services. Renato had also served as Head of Italian Operations in which he was responsible for the strategic direction and operations of the Company’s Italian businesses.

During his tenure leading Lottomatica, one of the largest lotteries in the world, Ascoli sustained the launch of the Gratta e Vinci (Scratch & Win) instant ticket brand in Italy. Additionally, he was instrumental in gaining the exclusive Lotto concession in Italy with a consortium led by IGT, Lottoitalia S.r.l. The Italian Lotto, and its associated games 10eLotto and MillionDAY, which are among the most popular and successful games in Italy.

The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame was founded by PGRI in 2005 as a means of honoring those who have done the most to make the lottery industry the great success that it is today. Membership is reserved for lottery professionals who have promoted excellence and integrity throughout their careers. Each year, former inductees nominate and vote on the final recipients.

The post IGT CEO Global Lottery Renato Ascoli Inducted into Lottery Industry Hall of Fame appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Industry Awards

ZettaOnline Wins “Best Payment Service Provider in CEE” at GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025

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ZettaOnline is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious title of Best Payment Service Provider in Central and Eastern Europe at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025, held on March 26 in Prague during the opening day of the Prague Gaming & Tech Summit, organized by Hipther.

The award marks a significant milestone for the company, which received its first official recognition in the gaming industry. Competing alongside leading fintech and gaming providers across the region, ZettaOnline advanced from nomination to finalist, before being named winner in one of the event’s most competitive categories.

“This award is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our team’s hard work, vision, and relentless drive to provide outstanding fintech solutions tailored to the gaming industry,” said Milena Tsankarska, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at ZettaOnline, who accepted the award on behalf of the company. “We’re especially proud that this is our first award in the gaming sector—it inspires us to aim even higher.”

In addition to the awards ceremony, ZettaOnline participated in the Prague Gaming & Tech Summit, engaging in strategic discussions with industry leaders and forging new partnerships

“Events like these are essential for innovation and growth,” Tsankarska added. “We’d like to thank the Hipther team for the outstanding organization and continued support throughout the journey.

ZettaOnline remains committed to delivering top-tier, secure, and scalable payment solutions to its partners and clients, and this recognition only strengthens the company’s resolve to lead in the fintech and gaming technology space.

The post ZettaOnline Wins “Best Payment Service Provider in CEE” at GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Conferences in Europe

Amusnet Wins Best Online Casino Provider in CEE at the GamingTECH Awards 2025

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Amusnet has been named Best Online Casino Provider in CEE at the prestigious GamingTECH Awards 2025, solidifying its leadership position in the gaming industry across Central and Eastern Europe.

The award was announced on March 25, 2025, during the official GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony, part of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit. Since its launch in 2017, the Summit has evolved into  a boutique-style event that champions innovation and facilitates valuable connections among industry leaders. Amusnet representatives from the Compliance, Legal, and Account Management teams attended the event, joining discussions on some of the most relevant topics shaping the industry today. The conference focused on key themes such as artificial intelligence innovation, blockchain integration, regulatory updates, fintech evolution, and sustainability practices within the gaming ecosystem.

Celebrating excellence and forward-thinking developments, the GamingTECH Awards recognize outstanding achievements of companies operating on a global scale. Amusnet’s recognition highlights the company’s commitment to delivering top-notch casino products, expanding its diverse portfolio of slot games and live casino offerings.

“We are truly honored to receive the Best Online Casino Provider in CEE award,” commented Irina Rusimova, Chief Commercial Officer at Amusnet. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and our ongoing drive to deliver exceptional gaming experiences for players while empowering our partners to succeed. It inspires us to keep pushing boundaries and setting new benchmarks in the industry.”

This award highlights Amusnet’s ongoing commitment to excellence and its role in shaping the future of the online gaming landscape in CEE and beyond.

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Industry Awards

GR8 Tech Named Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE at GamingTECH Awards 2025

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GR8 Tech has been named Best Sports Betting Provider in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) at the GamingTECH Awards 2025. The recognition, delivered at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, is a testament to GR8 Tech’s high-performance sportsbook solutions, client-centric approach, and commitment to AI-driven innovation.

Winning this award is a stepping stone toward our larger vision to become the #1 sportsbook-driven platform by 2028,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “This achievement proves we are on the right track. By combining top-tier technology with business-first thinking, we help our clients in CEE and beyond grow revenue, improve operational efficiency, and deliver betting experiences that drive long-term success.”

This win follows another recent major recognition from International Investor Magazine, which awarded GR8 Tech the Best iGaming Platform Europe 2025, highlighting the company’s growing leadership in the iGaming space.

Pushing Boundaries with AI-Driven Innovation

A key differentiator for GR8 Tech is its fast and scalable, AI-powered sportsbook, built to maximize operator revenue through advanced margin management, personalization, and region-specific optimizations. Operators benefit from automated odds engines, predictive retention models, and AI-driven CRM automation, cutting process times from 2 days to 15 minutes. With AI driving up to 30% revenue growth and 75-80% higher retention when paired with an expert team, GR8 Tech delivers a smarter, more efficient, and highly engaging sportsbook experience.

The company’s thought leadership in AI was also showcased at the summit, where GR8 Tech’s Head of AI, Raid Arfua, hosted a hands-on workshop on AI applications in iGaming CRM, and discussed the rise of AI-based recommendation engines in sports betting, strategies for managing AI-associated risks, and the challenge of distinguishing true innovation from hype in a panel discussion “The Rise of AI in Gaming: Friend, Foe, or Industry Game-Changer?”

As GR8 Tech advances toward becoming the top global sportsbook platform, it continues to elevate industry standards with advanced AI and operator-focused innovation. The company invites iGaming leaders to explore its next-generation solutions and be part of the transformation shaping the future of sports betting.

 

The post GR8 Tech Named Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE at GamingTECH Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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