Connecticut Lottery Corporation
Appointment of Frank Suarez as President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation
CT Lottery Corporation Board of Directors voted to appoint Frank Suarez, Executive Director of the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming, as the new permanent President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC). The appointment of Mr. Suarez will be effective as of August 1, 2024.
The appointment is the culmination of a nationwide search that began eleven months ago, with nearly 300 candidates from across the country having applied for the position. Mr. Suarez was selected for the position, as his strategic vision, dedication to customer-centric solutions, and commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment best aligned with CLC’s core values and vision for the future.
Mr. Suarez brings with him a wealth of experience and a strong track record of success in the lottery and gaming industry. With over 10 years of progressive lottery leadership roles, including seven years with the North Carolina Education Lottery as Deputy Executive Director of Brand Management and Communications and, most recently, as Executive Director of the DC Lottery for the past 3 years, he is uniquely qualified to lead CLC into its next phase of growth and innovation.
“I am honored and excited to join the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and to work with the talented team here to drive continued growth and success,” said Suarez. “Our focus will be on maximizing revenue for the state while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and responsible gaming.”
Since 2014, Mr. Suarez has served in leadership roles at two state lotteries, the North Carolina Education Lottery and the DC Lottery. Under his leadership, the DC Lottery saw significant increases in revenue and profitability through innovative strategies and effective management. During his tenure, Mr. Suarez directed a remarkable turnaround in sports betting operations, transforming a loss into profitability in less than a year and establishing the DC Lottery sportsbook as the largest in the District. He also successfully negotiated and led the conversion to a new mobile and online sports betting platform, resulting in an astounding 887% growth in gross gaming revenue within the first 30 days of operation. Mr. Suarez also helped to revitalize iLottery marketing strategies, launch a new mobile app and expand the DC Lottery’s game portfolio. These efforts led to a 168% increase in gross gaming revenue, ensuring long-term growth and profitability for the iLottery segment. Mr. Suarez also currently serves as Vice Chair of Multi-State Lottery Association’s (MUSL) Product Development Committee and Chairman of the MUSL Fast Play Product Group.
In addition to his lottery experience, Mr. Suarez also possesses extensive private sector experience in Brand Marketing and Management, which includes strategy, planning, product innovation, and promotion, for several national and global brands. He holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) degree from Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A) degree from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.
“We are thrilled to welcome Frank Suarez as our new President and CEO,” said Robert T. Simmelkjaer, Board Chair of CLC. “His exceptional leadership skills, extensive industry experience, and visionary approach make him the perfect choice to guide our company into the next phase of growth and innovation. We are confident that, under his stewardship, we will continue to achieve remarkable success and continue to deliver value to our players and revenue to the State of Connecticut.”
As CLC welcomes Mr. Suarez to Connecticut, the Board of Directors would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to Greg Smith for his leadership and dedication over the past 6 years. He has been instrumental in steering the Connecticut Lottery to its current position as one of the highest performing lotteries in the country. Effective August 1, 2024, Mr. Smith will assume the position of Special Consultant to assist with the transition of leadership. He plans to officially retire at the end of September.
Fanatics Betting and Gaming, a subsidiary of Fanatics Holdings Inc., a global digital sports platform, soft launched retail and online sports betting today in Connecticut. The Fanatics Sportsbook now serves as the Connecticut Lottery Corporation’s (CLC) exclusive sports betting partner for mobile and retail channels. For the week, the Fanatics Sportsbook will accept 2,000 online customers with the full launch coming on Monday, December 18. Sports fans in Connecticut will be able to download the Fanatics Sportsbook on iOS and Android or visit any of ten retail sports betting locations to begin their Fanatics experience. Connecticut marks the ninth state for the Fanatics Sportsbook.
The Fanatics Sportsbook offers customers the ability to earn FanCash on bets and is disrupting the sports betting industry by offering the following exciting new features to online customers in Connecticut:
- Building a better sportsbook: The Fanatics Sportsbook app was built natively on iOS and Android. The design, speed and quality of the navigation experience rival the sports betting apps in the market today that were not built specifically for iOS and Android.
- The most rewarding online sportsbook: It’s all thanks to FanCash – The Currency of Sport
. FanCash, the backbone of the Fanatics loyalty program, can be converted dollar-for-dollar into Bonus Bets and can also be used to purchase your favorite team merchandise at Fanatics .com. - From curated to a more personalized experience: Customers know what they want to bet on, and a sportsbook should know it too. Introducing the Fanatics Sportsbook Discover page with marquee games, trending bets, promos and the rewards you want most. In the near future, the Discover page will be personalized to the customer’s favorite teams, sports and markets.
- Search: Search easily for the bet you want and bet directly from the results. The Fanatics Sportsbook offers industry-leading search functionality, including a search bar, recent searches, autocomplete, synonym/alias and deep linking to leagues, events, and markets.
- Live streaming: The Fanatics Sportsbook, in partnership with Genius Sports Limited, was one of the first legal sportsbooks to launch BetVision, a first-of-its-kind live sports betting product that enables customers to place bets while live streaming select professional football games in the sportsbook app.
. FanCash, the backbone of the Fanatics loyalty program, can be converted dollar-for-dollar into Bonus Bets and can also be used to purchase your favorite team merchandise at Fanatics .com.Fanatics Betting and Gaming will upgrade the ten CT Lottery run retail locations in Connecticut with new signage, enhanced odds screens and brand-new self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp. Fanatics Sportsbook will be the official odds provider for all CT Lottery retail sports betting locations and offer legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, alongside tennis, soccer, golf, MMA and boxing. The development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house at Fanatics Betting and Gaming and supported by a number of world-class trading suppliers. Sports fans will start seeing the Fanatics Sportsbook change over this week at the following locations across Connecticut:
- Bobby V’s in Stamford and Windsor Locks
- Sports Haven in New Haven
- Winners in Hartford, Manchester, Milford, New Britain and Waterbury
- The XL Center in Hartford
- Aroogas in Shelton
Fanatics Betting and Gaming and the Connecticut Lottery believe that responsible gaming is a core tenet and a part of each organization’s DNA. Online customers will have access to Responsible Gaming tools to manage their time and money and on-site retail staff have received responsible wagering training and can offer support services to customers when needed. The Fanatics Sportsbook will also offer online customers in Connecticut a best in class Help Center, chat experience and knowledgeable agents with 24/7 coverage.
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) today announced Fanatics Betting and Gaming, a subsidiary of Fanatics Holdings Incorporated, a global digital sports platform, as its new sports betting partner in the state of Connecticut. The Fanatics Sportsbook will serve as the CLC’s exclusive sports betting provider for mobile and retail channels. The expected transition date is mid-December.
“Fanatics is the only true sports brand in the gaming space and has established itself as an innovator in the industry,” the President and Chief Executive Officer for the CLC, Greg Smith, said. “We have been impressed with the Fanatics team, its aggressive entry into the United States sports betting market and we are excited to see how it redefines the sports betting customer experience here in Connecticut. The CLC anticipates notable market share growth as a result of this partnership.”
Sports fans living in and visiting Connecticut will soon be able to download the Fanatics Sportsbook on iOS and Android and begin their Fanatics experience. With this new partnership, Connecticut sports bettors will enjoy an online sportsbook that makes being a fan easy with fast signup, easy betting, transparent withdrawals, live streaming, industry-leading search functionality, the ability to earn FanCash on their bets and a curated discover page with the sports and bets that matter most to a customer.
“We are excited to be working with the CLC to bring the Fanatics Sportsbook to customers in Connecticut,” the Chief Business Officer for Fanatics Holdings Incorporated, Ari Borod, said. “We are looking forward to bringing the Fanatics experience to the ten retail locations throughout Connecticut and, more importantly, adding our innovative mobile app to the online choices available in Connecticut.”
To download images and videos of the Fanatics Sportsbook, visit the Fanatics Media Center and for more news and information follow the Fanatics Sportsbook social channels on X @FanaticsBook_PB and on Instagram @FanaticsBook_PB.
Connecticut Lottery Corporation
Connecticut Lottery Corporation to Open Retail Sports Betting Facility at Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation has announced it will open a new retail sports betting facility at the City of Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena, the home of the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. The sports bar and sportsbook will be open daily, regardless of whether the arena is holding an event.
“The City of Bridgeport has been a focus for the Connecticut Lottery since Day 1, and we thank local officials and Bridgeport’s state delegation for their support in this endeavor. Total Mortgage Arena provides us with a unique space that is already known as an entertainment hub for sports, music performances, and events. The addition of the sportsbook will help make Total Mortgage Arena an entertainment and sports destination every day with ample and easy parking access,” Greg Smith, President and CEO of Connecticut Lottery Corporation, said.
“Working with the Connecticut Lottery and the City of Bridgeport to bring such an exciting element to our venue has been a priority for everyone involved. We look forward to bringing the sports betting market to our fans and community,” Zachary Klein, New York Islanders Executive Vice President and General Counsel, said.
“I applaud the efforts of the CT Lottery Corporation to establish a sportsbook location in Bridgeport. The location at Total Mortgage Arena will complement the current Entertainment District attractions and will continue to attract Bridgeport residents and visitors to our Downtown,” Mayor Joe Ganim said.
“The sportsbook will be a great addition that will expand entertainment and dining options for the greater Bridgeport area and tourists alike. I am proud to have spearheaded with my colleagues the legislation that made this possible. I thank the CT Lottery Corporation and the Bridgeport Islanders for this collaboration that will provide continuous opportunities to spur economic activity,” State Rep. Christopher Rosario said.
“Bridgeport is increasingly home to a lot of entertainment in recent years and the opening of this sportsbook diversifies and provides opportunities to build off of moving forward. I am proud to have pushed the gaming legislation that made this all possible on the Public Safety Committee. Many thanks to CT Lottery for recognizing Bridgeport as the best place for this opportunity,” State Rep. Antonio Felipe said.
A new 2500-square-foot sportsbook space on the venue’s ground floor will be constructed in the coming months. The sportsbook will include a state-of-the-art sports experience with full food and drink service, more than 10 TVs, plus an exterior patio, and bar seating. Bettors will be able to place their wagers on one of a dozen kiosks or at teller windows.
Total Mortgage Arena is a sports and entertainment venue that hosts a diverse set of over 100 events a year featuring some of the biggest music and entertainment acts in the world, championship MMA and wrestling matches, Monster Jam motorsports experiences, and other large-scale sporting events, including the 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball East Regionals and the 2023 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Regional. The site will be one of 15 of the CLC’s authorized retail sportsbook locations, which includes the newly opened sportsbooks at Arooga’s in Shelton and the XL Center in Hartford.
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