Gambling in the USA
Jackpocket Appoints Tony Vartanian as Chief Growth and Revenue Officer

Jackpocket, the leading third-party app in the US to provide a secure way to order official state lottery tickets, has announced that growth marketing and digital consumer products veteran Tony Vartanian has joined the company as Chief Growth and Revenue Officer.
In this newly-created leadership role, Vartanian will drive new product and revenue opportunities, including the launch of new gameplay formats, new interactive gaming content, partnerships across digital and retail verticals, and monetization strategies across both current and new product offerings.
Vartanian comes to Jackpocket from Jump Ramp Games, a top 10 app publisher and leading mobile-first performance advertising network. As founder and CEO, he scaled the growth and monetization for Jump Ramp’s owned apps as well as those of partners across mobile gaming, e-commerce, fintech and entertainment. In 2019, the company was acquired by mobile and casual gaming pioneer MobilityWare where he was a member of the leadership team focused on a forward-looking competitive strategy for the company. His responsibilities included rethinking product strategy, monetization and direct partnerships, alongside the integration of Jump Ramp’s Advertising & Monetization platforms, CDP, Customer and Marketing Automation platforms and Data/AI capabilities. Throughout his career, Tony has partnered with some of the fastest growing startups and recognizable brands to digitally transform their businesses through product innovation leveraging strong data and technology leadership.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to the team and bring his diverse expertise in growth marketing, product and monetization to our Jackpocket lottery world as we continue our rapid growth. I’ve long watched and admired what Tony has accomplished at Jump Ramp Games (Jackpocket was even a former client!), and I know he shares our vision to provide our players with the very best user experiences and products in gaming,” Jackpocket founder and CEO Pete Sullivan said.
Vartanian will play a key role in supporting Jackpocket’s rapid geographic expansion, including international markets, developing new gaming verticals and content, and launching Jackpocket’s first loyalty program alongside other programs that align players and brand partners.
“Jackpocket is the proven leader in the digital lottery space, and I couldn’t be more eager to join the leadership team at this time of exciting national growth and product expansion. Their drive to continually innovate and bring their customers new experiences at the intersection of gaming and entertainment is very much in step with where I believe the market is headed. With over 150 million U.S. consumers playing the lottery yearly, I look forward to building on the impressive momentum that the Jackpocket team has delivered and capture the interest of this massive consumer audience that we believe has much more room to grow through digital products,” Tony Vartanian said.
Gambling in the USA
Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel Unveils Expanded Non-Smoking Gaming Floor

Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel has officially opened its newly expanded non-smoking gaming floor, marking a significant milestone in the property’s continued commitment to exceptional guest experiences.
Located adjacent to the hotel lobby, the new, larger non-smoking slot floor will feature nearly 400 of today’s most popular slot machines in a fresh, modern environment designed exclusively for non-smoking guests. This addition enhances the casino’s dedication to providing smoke-free gaming options in a luxury setting. For convenience and ease of access, non-smoking guests can also take advantage of the smoke-free entrance via the hotel’s valet parking.
This new space complements Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel’s existing fully enclosed, non-smoking slot area near Falls Buffet and Snoqualmie Café & Deli, offering guests even more choice and accessibility when it comes to their preferred gaming environment.
In addition to these gaming enhancements, all restaurants on property are 100% non-smoking, making Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel a premier destination for guests seeking an elevated, smoke-free entertainment and dining experience.
“We’re thrilled to offer our guests even more smoke-free options. The expansion of our non-smoking gaming floor reflects our ongoing efforts to listen to our guests and create an atmosphere that’s both exciting and comfortable for everyone,” said Mary Lou Patterson, CEO of Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel.
Gambling in the USA
Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the company’s efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiati’s legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.
“This partnership is about more than market entry – it’s about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiati’s commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,” said Hawkins.
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: “We have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Roger’s knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.”
Gambling in the USA
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.
Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.
The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.
The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.
The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:
• 4300 slot machines
• 100 table games
• 11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, café, and grab-and-go outlet
• A players lounge
• 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar
• A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces
The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.
“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.
Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.
The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.
“Once again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nation’s efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,” Harris said.
Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.
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