Gambling in the USA
GAME PLAY NETWORK EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH FOUR INDUSTRY INNOVATORS
Game Play Network, Inc. – which offers iGaming to 40% more of the population than any other provider – announced four additions to its leadership team: Aaron Fischer, CFO and Chief Strategy Officer; Sam Kiki, Chief Commercial Officer; Bryan Lindsey, SVP of Gaming Operations; and Tod Lower, Chief Operating Officer. This seasoned team of gambling industry veterans will help take GPN’s first-of-its-kind iGaming platform into its next stage of growth and accelerate the company’s footprint as it opens up unrivaled access to iGaming beyond the 22 states in which it operates today.
“We’re committed to investing in great talent to continue our long history of pioneering the iGaming marketplace,” said David Marshall, co-founder, and CEO of Game Play Network. “The additional expertise Aaron, Sam, Bryan, and Tod add to our team is second to none. Bryan has a long history of building and running entertainment and gambling venues. And the reunion of the Aaron and Sam duo, who together took MGM Resorts to the leading edge of digital wagering with BetMGM, will undoubtedly be a rocket booster to the company.”
Added Russell Fine, President and Chief Technology Officer, “Tod is a proven change management leader, with a track record of driving operational excellence and high growth on both the top and bottom lines.”
“I am excited to join a leading innovator in the gaming industry,” shared Aaron Fischer. “We are accelerating the strategic execution and implementation of our iGaming B2B business model, which expands the TAM and profitability for our strategic partners, while building substantial enterprise value for GPN stakeholders.”
Aaron Fischer joins Game Play Network as its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. He will be responsible for GPN’s corporate strategy, business development, investor relations and capital markets strategies. Before joining GPN, Aaron served as the Chief Strategy Officer for MGM Resorts International, where he led corporate strategy across the brand’s global portfolio, including online sports betting and iGaming. Previously, he spent twelve years at CLSA as the Head of Consumer and Gaming Research. Aaron also worked for five years at Goldman Sachs as an equity research analyst specializing in luxury goods. He started his career as an accountant at Arthur Andersen in Australia.
As the company’s new Chief Commercial Officer, Sam Kiki will be instrumental in driving the B2B growth engine and further commercializing the company’s unique platform. In his new role, Sam will oversee all B2B partnerships with online gaming companies, game developers, technology providers and social game companies. He will also co-direct capital market activities with Aaron Fischer. Sam currently sits on the Board of SuperDraft, Inc., Caesars Entertainments’ daily fantasy platform. Previously, he was the Head of Strategy at Caesars Entertainment where he orchestrated the brand’s online sportsbook and iGaming strategy, which led to the $4B acquisition of William Hill as well as the strategic investment into SuperDraft. Sam also co-led many other social gaming, live dealer and business development projects at Caesars including its unified wallet project. He was also instrumental in Caesars PR and media presence in the online wagering industry and assisted in separate transactions with ESPN and the NFL, deepening both partnerships in the process. Before Caesars, Sam advised a U.S.-based private equity firm and was responsible for due diligence on interactive investments for one of its publicly listed vehicles. He also held an operational role at MGM focusing on interactive gaming, sports betting, corporate strategy and investor relations. Sam graduated with a B.A. in neuroscience from Amherst.
Bryan Lindsey joins GPN as its Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations. With more than 25 years of experience building successful companies both domestically and internationally, Bryan will leverage his expertise in gaming operations, integrated resort strategy and casino marketing. With his depth of knowledge in brick and mortar gaming operations, he will lead GPN”s expansion into retail deployments nationwide. He began his career in food & beverage operations, joining Robert Earl running many of his international-themed restaurant brands. Bryan then joined Las Vegas-based billionaire brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta at the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, which grew to become the largest brewery restaurant group in the U.S. He continued his successful run with the Fertitta brothers, making his way to Station Casinos in the early stages and was instrumental in their explosive local and national growth. Station Casinos / Red Rock Resorts, the publicly traded casino empire that dominates the Las Vegas locals market, is where he cut his teeth in gaming and resort operations. Bryan was President and General Manager of Red Rock Resort before he joined Wynn
Resorts as a Senior Level Consultant. He worked closely with CEO Matt Maddox and President & CFO Craig Billings on operations, gaming strategy, loyalty programs, marketing and data science.
As GPN’s new Chief Operating Officer, Tod Lower is responsible for its day-to-day business operations, such as supporting strategic initiatives and accelerating revenue growth and profitability. He brings over twenty years of operational experience across complex, competitive business environments. Early in his career, Tod served as a Vice President at Bank of America with responsibility for creating innovative analyses of business strategies, models and performance metrics. This led to Tod becoming the Chief Operating Officer of GC Aesthetics, an emerging company in the global medical industry, where he was responsible for building the operations of the company which led to its growth and success. Most recently, Tod spent seven years leading the LVNV Group, a highly specialized boutique firm focused on the strategic transformation of global organizations seeking demonstrative change and transformative results. While there, he worked with MGM Resorts to implement development, collaboration and cultural changes to increase synergies across a number of departments. As the company’s COO, Tod will leverage his extensive experience in the global gaming, entertainment, hospitality and banking industries.
Selected research projects will generate new insights into how responsible gambling messages are delivered and perceived in the rapidly evolving sports media landscape
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute (IGI) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. This year’s cohort features a group of scholars whose proposals will advance understanding of responsible gambling messaging in sports media and its implications for consumer well-being.
Fellowships recipients include:
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Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, Director of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming and Assistant Professor of Experiential Marketing at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, San Diego State University. Dr. Mastromartino’s project will evaluate two of the NFL’s responsible gambling PSAs using a fan-centered marketing framework.
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Dr. Chris R. Noland, Assistant Professor of Advertising at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. Dr. Noland will examine the influence of celebrity endorsements and promotional inducements in Instagram advertisements on online sports betting behavior.
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Dr. Ramon Silva Leite, Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Management at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dr. Silva’s project will investigate how responsible gambling messages are constructed and delivered through sports media, and how young sports bettors perceive and respond to them.
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Dr. Sarah Stokowski, Associate Professor of Athletic Leadership at Clemson University’s Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development. Dr. Stokowski will investigate how college student-athletes perceive and interact with sports betting content on social media.
These projects will provide important insights into practical strategies that policymakers and the industry can adopt to help safeguard the wellbeing of sports enthusiasts and the public at large.
“IGI is tremendously proud of the work our previous Fellowships produced. A key goal of this initiative is to support innovative and impactful research to better understand the rapidly changing global sports and betting environment,” said Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. “This research represents critical perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”
“Responsible gaming continues to be a priority for ESPN, and we are proud to continue our collaboration with IGI to support research that delivers real-world impact,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “These new projects will provide valuable insights into how responsible gaming messages can be delivered effectively across sports media and help strengthen standards that protect fans everywhere.”
Each research fellowship lasts six months. Research results will be featured in an IGI webinar in 2026.
Gambling in the USA
Iconic Online Games Set for Land-Based Debut Through Collaboration of Gaming Arts and Evolution
Gaming Arts, LLC and Evolution, through its dedicated land-based slot games partner Bluhare Studios, announced a landmark collaboration to adapt a select group of Evolution’s most celebrated online slot titles for the land-based Class III gaming market. This partnership combines proven game mechanics, strong brand recognition, innovative features, and Gaming Arts’ suite of high-performance MOD EX cabinets to deliver products designed to meet the expectations of today’s land-based casino players.
The first wave of releases is scheduled for Q4 2025 in North America and will be available across Gaming Arts’ latest cabinet line-up: the MOD EX J55, MOD EX 227, and MOD EX 337. Four titles will lead the launch, each carrying a strong legacy in online gaming along with exciting new enhancements for the casino floor.
Divine Fortune has been a global standout since its debut, ranking as the number one title for Evolution in the United States. Performing well in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in all states it can be found online. It’s no surprise it has inspired successful online sequels such as Divine Fortune Megaways and Divine Fortune Black. Now, this player favorite will make its long-awaited land-based debut. Developed in collaboration with Gaming Arts, Divine Fortune Ascensionbuilds on the success of the original with a fresh twist, introducing an all-new three-pot perceived persistence feature designed to heighten engagement.
Starburst, released in 2012, is one of the most recognizable slot titles in online gaming history and Evolution’s top performer globally. With its simple yet captivating gameplay, it has remained a staple for over a decade, inspiring sequels such as Starburst XXXtreme and Starburst Galaxy. Starburst Supernovareimagines this classic with a multiplayer-enabled format, launching as part of a two-game multi-pack. Both titles will feature a new perceived persistent bonus mechanic that culminates in a hold-and-spin feature, adding a fresh layer of excitement to an already proven brand.
This collaboration also creates new opportunities for integrated marketing campaigns across both online and land-based platforms, reinforcing brand engagement and building stronger connections with players.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Evolution team, which has long been an industry leader in creating compelling content for online gambling markets. This partnership allows us to work with two of Evolution’s most celebrated titles and bring them to a brand new player base”, said Greg Colella, Chief Product Officer, Gaming Arts.
“Bringing these iconic titles to land-based casinos represents a major step forward for Gaming Arts,” said Rob Ziems, CEO of Gaming Arts. “This collaboration goes beyond simply combining Evolution’s exceptional game brands with our latest MOD EX hardware. We are working closely with Evolution to effectively adapt these classics for land-based play while also innovating and modernizing them to create fresh, engaging experiences that will truly resonate with today’s casino players.”
Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, said: “Since the beginning of online gaming, content has traditionally flowed in one direction; from land-based casinos to online. That approach made sense, as it brought proven experiences to digital audiences. What excites us now is reversing that trend by taking some of the most successful games in the history of online gaming and bringing them to land-based casinos. Evolution is thrilled to be at the forefront of this shift. This collaboration allows us to bring our world-class IP to the incredibly talented team at Gaming Arts, and watching them work their land-based magic to adapt and reimagine our games has been truly inspiring.”
G2E Las Vegas 2025 is set to host the first-ever US Dealer Championship, and TCSJOHNHUXLEY is delighted to announce its sponsorship of this landmark event. The championship, which celebrates the skill and professionalism of casino dealers, will take place at The Venetian Expo from October 7-9, 2025.
The G2E Dealer Championship will bring together the nation’s top casino dealers to compete for the title of “Best Dealer.” Contestants will be judged on their technical precision, game knowledge, and ability to provide a superior player experience.
As a proud sponsor TCSJOHNHUXLEY will be supplying all the Roulette tables for the competition, ensuring the highest standard of equipment for the championship. This not only highlights the company’s commitment to the dealers but also provides the perfect platform to showcase its renowned manufacturing expertise. TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s world-class Roulette tables are testament to the precision engineering and superior craftsmanship that has set the industry standard for decades.
Phil Lee, TCSJOHNHUXLEY Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director Americas comments, “We are delighted to be a part of the first G2E Dealer Championship, an event that truly celebrates the invaluable role of casino dealers. Dealers are the heart of the live gaming experience, and we are committed to supporting their success. Our outstanding Roulette tables will provide the perfect platform for these talented professionals to showcase their artistry and skill.”
The G2E Dealer Championship will take place at Booth #5225, located in The Strip at G2E.
The sponsorship underscores TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s unwavering commitment to the live gaming sector and the professionals who drive its success. The company invites all attendees to witness the championship and visit its stand at Booth #4439 during the expo to see its full range of innovative solutions.
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