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PlayStar introduces its newly formed Advisory Board
PlayStar, one of the top 10 online casinos in New Jersey, has announced the creation of a new Advisory Board. The board will support the company’s efforts to sustain its growth in The Garden State while exploring further expansion opportunities.
Comprised of John Finamore, Jai Maw, Carl Sottosanti, Alison Digges, Richard J. St. Jean and Terrence Gray – six luminaries from within the iGaming and investor communities– the Advisory Board will look to pool its wealth of combined knowledge to build on PlayStar’s success and take the brand to even greater heights.
John Finamore is a former Penn National Gaming and Station Casinos Executive with over 40 years of experience in hospitality and casino gaming. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for more than $3bn in annual revenues, 15 distinct properties and 8,000+ employees.
Jai Maw is the Co-founder and President of Betting Hero – one of the industry’s leading customer acquisition and retention companies. Since 2018, the business has attracted more than 600,000 new customers for leading operators across North America and is trusted as a voice-of-customer expert. Maw has been recognized by Global Gaming Business and Gaming Intelligence respectively as a 40 Under 40 and Hot 50 recipient.
Alison Digges has held significant roles in the online gaming industry at the C-suite level, most recently as the Managing Director of UK & Ireland at Entain PLC, where she was also a member of the Digital Board. Before that, she worked at IGT as Vice President of Europe, overseeing the P&L for their high-growth gaming and lottery business. Over the past four years, she has served as an advisory board member for several start-ups and also been a board member for The Restaurant Group during its time as a publicly listed company, up until its acquisition by Apollo Global.
Carl Sottosanti started his legal career at a large Philadelphia law firm. Following several corporate positions, he joined Penn National Gaming in 2003, where he specialized in M&A, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and compliance, last serving as EVP and General Counsel. He has been retired since 2021and has provided advisory services to various gaming and technology companies, as well as companies looking to enter the industry.
Richard J. St. Jean brings over 35 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry. Most recently serving as COO of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, he has held senior executive roles at prominent companies such as Caesars Palace, Station Casino, and Penn Gaming. Richard is also the founder of Coastal Gaming, LLC.
Terrence Gray is a global investment management executive with over 30 years of experience leading strategy and driving growth for premier financial institutions, including Lazard, Global Thematic Partners, Deutsche Asset Management, Southern Bridge Capital, and Scudder Investments. Throughout his career, he has successfully raised over $5 billion across private and public markets.
Peter Ekmark, Chief Executive Officer at PlayStar, said: “At PlayStar, we’re incredibly proud of the significant strides our brand has made in the New Jersey market. Breaking into the state’s top 10 in 2024 is a true testament to how far we’ve come.
“That said, we’re not content to rest on our success – our goal is to continue building on this momentum and become a leading force in the industry, not only in New Jersey but across North America. The creation of our Advisory Board will help us achieve this by leveraging the collective expertise of five highly talented individuals from the casino and hospitality sectors.”
The post PlayStar introduces its newly formed Advisory Board appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
gaming
Take Aim at Mega Wins: ELA Games Unleashes Chaos With New Shooter Game “Shoot Happens”

A chaotic jungle journey with big, bad foes and insane riches.
Welcome to the jungle, where Shoot Happens! Face your opponent, take aim, and fire your way to riches.
ELA Games unveils its boldest title to date, a combination of decision-making and narrative progression where every shot counts.
In Shoot Happens, you’re not just a player. You’re the main character who has to fend off waves of increasingly dangerous (and valuable) monsters. Armed with 3 shots per round, you’ll need precision and calm nerves to take down the reward and add it to your Winpot. Hit the target for riches. Miss… and it’s back to the beginning.
The Choice Is Yours
Each round is in the hands of the player. Do you cash out now? Or keep slashing through the jungle for bigger and better rewards? Decision-making, timing, and a whole load of guts go a long way.
Expect the Unexpected
Random projectile bonuses can appear in any round, boosting your rewards massively. And just when you thought your journey through the treacherous jungle was over, the final boss appears. While the other monsters may have been a piece of cake, he doesn’t stay down. Each time you defeat him, he respawns for juicier and recurring payouts. Keep going as long as you can handle it, and you might walk out as the top dog of the jungle.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the game’s release, “With Shoot Happens, the team ventured outside of conventional game formats, and we wanted to give players a super engaging experience where they’re in control. This title is a bold approach to game design in this industry, as we’re empowering players with choice and enriching the gameplay experience with strong visuals, narratives, and plenty of replayability.”
Play how you want. The Winpot is yours
Shoot Happens is the perfect blend of fast-paced action, bold decision-making, and interactive gameplay. Whether you’re a cautious player or a complete daredevil, the game is an enticing experience for all.
How deep into the jungle are you willing to go?
The post Take Aim at Mega Wins: ELA Games Unleashes Chaos With New Shooter Game “Shoot Happens” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
American Gaming Association
AGA Research Reveals Consumers Know Sweepstakes Casinos are Gambling

As gaming regulators, state Attorneys General, and state legislatures continue to scrutinize the business practices of online “sweepstakes” casinos, new research shows that consumers overwhelmingly use these platforms to gamble – and that sweepstakes operators are heavily targeting players in key states. By exploiting loopholes in the law, these operations undermine the integrity of the legal, regulated gaming marketplace.
According to Sensor Tower data compiled by the American Gaming Association (AGA), half of all online, real-money casino advertisements seen by consumers in early 2025 promoted offshore “sweepstakes” casinos. The data shows these unregulated operators concentrate their advertising in populous states.
“These operators present themselves like legal, regulated platforms – but they operate outside the law and regulation. There are few if any responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections. It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk,” said AGA Vice President of Government Relations, Tres York.
Despite operating outside the regulated gaming market, “sweepstakes” casinos are widely perceived by players as gambling platforms, with 68% of users saying their primary reason for playing is to win real money. This confusion is no accident – many of these sites mimic the look, feel, and language of legal operators, blurring the line for consumers and reinforcing the need for clearer enforcement and public education.
Key findings include:
• 90% of sweepstakes casino users consider the activity to be gambling.
• 69% describe sweepstakes casinos as places to wager real money.
• 80% of sweepstakes players spend monthly, and nearly half spend weekly, without the safety nets offered by regulated operators.
The number of monthly sweepstakes casino players is twice as high in states lacking sweepstakes prohibitions.
“Sweepstakes” casinos aggressively market on popular digital platforms throughout the country. Legal, regulated gaming operators, by contrast, advertise responsibly in legal states where consumer protections and regulatory oversight are in place.
“The data is clear. Consumers see right through the ‘sweepstakes’ casino facade and they’re calling it what it is: gambling. We look forward to policymakers continuing to enforce their laws and create clarity through new policy measures to protect their residents,” added York.
The post AGA Research Reveals Consumers Know Sweepstakes Casinos are Gambling appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Compliance Updates
MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Orders to Six Illegal Gambling Sites Targeting Michigan Players

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued cease-and-desist letters to six unlicensed online gambling platforms attempting to target Michigan residents without state authorization. The action underscores the MGCB’s relentless, ongoing efforts to shut down illegal gambling operations and protect Michigan consumers from financial risk, identity theft, and unfair play.
The targeted sites—Crypto Slots, NitroBetting, NewVegas, Las Vegas USA Casino, Grand Rush Casino, and Slotgard Casino—were found to be operating in violation of Michigan laws that require licensure for internet gaming and sports betting.
“These sites were attempting to exploit Michigan players while operating outside the law. We take this seriously. When unauthorized operators offer games without regulation, Michigan players are left exposed—and we will not tolerate it,” said Henry Williams, MGCB Executive Director.
This enforcement action is part of the MGCB’s larger crackdown on illegal online gambling platforms. In recent months, the agency has issued numerous cease-and-desist letters, with additional investigations currently underway.
The MGCB continues to monitor online gaming activity and urges the public to be cautious when engaging with gambling content on social media or through digital advertisements.
The post MGCB Issues Cease-and-Desist Orders to Six Illegal Gambling Sites Targeting Michigan Players appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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