Gambling in the USA
Play Globally Inc. Welcomes Stephen Crystal to its Advisory Board and Partners with SCCG Management
Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today proudly announced the appointment of Stephen Crystal to its advisory board as well as a new partnership with Crystal’s firm, SCCG Management. This partnership brings additional expertise in sports betting, iGaming, sports team marketing, affiliate marketing, intellectual property protection, product commercialization, esports, capital formation, M&A, joint ventures, casino management and legal affairs in the casino and iGaming industry.
Crystal will join veteran Advisory Board members Susan Hensel and Victor Pronk, providing over 75 years of collective experience across the sports betting and iGaming space. These globally recognized leaders provide high-value strategic prowess to Play Globally’s seasoned executive team as the company prepares to launch its LuckyFans prototype. LuckyFans drives live and recorded in-play sports data into a poker engine to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game. LuckyFans is free-to-play and leverages advanced machine learning and GPS technology for contextual fan engagement, sweepstakes, and prizes.
SCCG was founded by Stephen Crystal who has served as President/CEO of multiple casino holding and public gaming companies. SCCG brings a vast international network of strategic client partners including top sportsbooks and racebooks, sports and racing leagues, fantasy sports and rewards entities, communications and marketing platforms, authentication technology and casino entities.
Crystal has worked as an investor and advisor on financial and M&A projects totaling over $4B and served as the President, owner and operator of four major Las Vegas casinos. In addition to Crystal, the SCCG team also includes David Hanlon who served as a C-level executive at gaming giants Caesars World, Inc., Harrah’s, the Rio, and IGT in addition to serving as an Advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program. Pierre Cadena also plays a key role on the SCCG team, having helped to position Playtika, Otter Media and Crunchyroll for acquisition, each totaling over $1B. During his tenure at Caesars Interactive Entertainment as the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, Pierre helped build Playtika, one of the world’s largest social mobile games.
“The addition of Stephen to the Play Globally Advisory Board and the addition of his SCCG team to Play Globally’s team provides our company with a wealth of expertise in our space,” says Play Globally’s President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “We’re excited to partner with such well-respected industry leaders and to join their global network of strategic partners.”
“Play Globally’s ingenuity and strategic role in the sports betting space presents a unique opportunity for leagues, teams, fans, and aligned entities worldwide,” says Stephen Crystal. “The combination of Play Globally’s existing intellectual property, their executive and advisory team, new upcoming technologies, and strategic positioning in the industry, particularly when combined with SCCG’s extensive network and capabilities, makes this opportunity particularly exciting.”
Gambling in the USA
Aristocrat Interactive™ to Showcase Innovative iLottery Solutions at NASPL 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show
Aristocrat Interactive™, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) division of Aristocrat, today announced its participation as a Level II Sponsor at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show.
NASPL, the leading trade association representing 53 lottery organizations across North America, serves as a platform for collaboration, research, standards, and best practices that drive the future of the industry. Taking place September 8–11, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Ontario, Canada, the event, themed “Here to Play”, will gather lottery leaders from across North America to explore the evolving future of the industry.
Aristocrat Interactive will be showcasing its latest innovations for the iLottery sector through an interactive booth setup, one-on-one director’s dialogue sessions, a product and services showcase, and more. Attendees will get a first look at new eInstant titles, featuring fresh game mechanics and the business’s first cross-over game with its iGaming & Sports division. Aristocrat Interactive will also highlight its successful omnichannel solutions, which connect retail and online play to enhance player engagement and experience.
Building on this momentum, Aristocrat Interactive recently launched the New Hampshire Lottery’s new digital platform, signed long-term contracts with the Michigan Lottery and the Massachusetts Lottery, and secured a two-year extension with its NeoPollard Joint Venture in North Carolina—where Aristocrat Interactive provides the iLottery platform. These partnerships underscore Aristocrat Interactive’s commitment to helping lotteries deliver engaging digital experiences and sustainable growth.
“NASPL always sets the table for engaging discussions that can advance our customer-driven strategies to drive real digital growth for lotteries,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director, iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive. “We’re looking forward to another opportunity to showcase Aristocrat Interactive as a solidified, future-ready unit with global gaming expertise.”
Attendees can connect with Aristocrat Interactive at Booth #209 and meet the team for one-on-one discussions in Room #205. Aristocrat Interactive will also hold a showcase on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. at its booth.
For more information about Aristocrat Interactive and its iLottery solutions, please visit aristocratinteractive.com.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Introduces Obsidian, All-Black Holographic Lottery Scratch Games
Premium Instant Scratch Game Innovation Adds Luxury and Uniqueness at Retail with Exclusive Play Experience
Scientific Games announces Obsidian, its latest breakthrough in instant scratch game innovation. A revolutionary addition to the global lottery company’s holographic product offerings, Obsidian will debut at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries 2025 Conference taking place September 8 to September 11 in Ontario, Canada.
With 18 unique design concepts, Obsidian games feature a dramatic combination of all-black tones and holographics to create a sleek, glasslike appearance. Named after naturally occurring volcanic rock, the Obsidian line offers a bold, ultra-premium look and scratch experience.
Obsidian is one of a number of new product designs from Scientific Games to be unveiled at NASPL 2025. The new products were developed by Scientific Games’ Innovation and Discovery teams at its metro Atlanta global headquarters, the largest lottery instant game production facility in the world. Obsidian games will also be produced at the company’s Canadian and UK facilities.
“Our game innovators have followed holographic trends on high-end luxury items and were inspired to create fresh, new games centered on value proposition design for our lottery partners,” said Danielle Hodges, Senior Director, Global Product Innovation & Development for Scientific Games. “At a time when the market basket average is increasing, holographic games allow lotteries to differentiate their games by adding a touch of luxury and uniqueness. In sneak previews of Obsidian with several lotteries, the response we’ve received is pure excitement.”
The company continues to lead the industry in scratch game innovation, using holographics to heighten retail appeal and create immersive player experiences.
Scientific Games, the world’s largest creator, producer and manager of lottery instant games, offers more than 100 strategic enhancements for its world-leading scratch products. The company’s products represent 70% of global instant game retail sales.
Innovating products and solutions that move the global lottery industry forward since 1973, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery.
Obsidian™ is a trademark of Scientific Games, LLC. © 2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gambling in the USA
ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY
The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-approved T20 league co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan and backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, has appointed Oakvale Capital as its exclusive investment banker.
“Oakvale’s deep expertise in sports finance will be a game-changer for ETPL’s long-term vision. We look forward to working closely with their expert team to help bring our event to fruition,” said Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland.
“Oakvale is one of the leading London-based investment banks in the sports and gaming ecosystem. Their sector depth, global network, and track record advising rights-holders, clubs, and technology platforms make them the right partner for ETPL as we scale,” said Saurav Banerjee, Co-owner and Director, ETPL.
“We’re excited to support ETPL’s bold and innovative approach to cricket. The vision to elevate the sport in Europe with a premium, differentiated offering aligns well with Oakvale’s strategic focus in global sports properties,” said Sandford Loudon, Partner, Oakvale Capital.
Blending world-class cricket with a distinctively European experience, ETPL aims to redefine the sport through elite talent, immersive fan experiences, and data-driven innovation. In addition, KPMG in India has been appointed as ETPL’s strategic advisor.
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