Rush Street Gaming announced that casino and hospitality veteran Cliff Ehrlich has joined the company as chief operating officer.

Ehrlich assumes the role of Rush Street COO from Bill Keena, a longtime company and industry leader, who plans to retire later this year.

“I’ve admired Rush Street’s strong leadership and steady expansion over the past two decades. I’m thrilled to join this dynamic organization and look forward to contributing to the company’s ongoing success,” said Ehrlich.

Ehrlich’s career began in marketing at the Catskills’ Pines Resort Hotel in the 80s and transitioned in the 90s to casino development and operations. In 1996, he became co-owner of the Monticello Raceway and helped recruit the Oneida Indian Nation to build a casino on the property. Following an initial public offering, Ehrlich led Monticello Casino & Raceway as president, chief operating officer and general manager until 2013.

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After consulting with Mohegan Sun regarding Upstate New York development opportunities, in 2015, Ehrlich joined The Downs Racetrack & Casino in Albuquerque, serving as general manager and chief operating officer. He later ran two casinos for The Navajo Nation — Northern Edge and Flowing Water. Since 2022, Ehrlich has been Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s chief operating officer, with oversight of four casinos, a resort destination hotel, travel plaza and food & beverage manufacturing.

“Cliff’s ground-up casino development experience, deep operations background and team leadership ensure that all five Rivers Casino properties remain in great hands. He will continue the strong forward momentum established by Bill Keena, for whom we wish the very best in retirement,” said Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming.

Wanna.com, the innovative daily fantasy sports gaming platform set to launch across the US, in August, announced the appointment of Chuck Bowling, former President and COO at MGM Resorts International, to its Board of Directors. With an impressive career overseeing prestigious properties such as the Mandalay Bay, Delano, Four Seasons Las Vegas and Luxor, Mr. Bowling brings a wealth of experience and strategic insight to the burgeoning enterprise.

As Wanna.com prepares for its initial launch in approximately 25 to 30 states, Mr. Bowling’s extensive expertise in hospitality and gaming will be instrumental in guiding Wanna.com and Wanna Parlay, through this exciting phase of growth and development. His leadership at MGM, where he was pivotal in enhancing guest experiences and driving operational excellence, aligns perfectly with Wanna.com’s vision of delivering unparalleled daily fantasy sports entertainment to users nationwide and internationally.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chuck Bowling to the Wanna.com Board of Directors. Chuck’s remarkable track record in the gaming and hospitality industry will be invaluable as we navigate the complexities of our launch and beyond. His strategic acumen and commitment to excellence resonate deeply with our mission to revolutionize the daily fantasy sports landscape,” said CEO/Founder of Wanna.com Jim Bob Morris.

Mr. Bowling expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Board, stating, “I am honored to be part of Wanna.com at such a pivotal moment in its journey. The company’s innovative approach to fantasy sports gaming with concepts such as Wanna Parlay, holds great promise, and I am excited to contribute to its success and growth.”

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Scientific Games’ Instant Products Account Director Jeff Fain received a 2024 Powers Award from the North American State and Provincial Lotteries Association, honoring those in the lottery industry with the highest achievement, drive and integrity. Fain was nominated by the New Mexico Lottery.

Recognizing professionals who have made outstanding contributions to lotteries and the North American lottery industry, Powers Awards are named in honor of the late Edward J. Powers, the ‘Father of U.S. Lotteries’, and are regarded as one of the highest honors in the industry.

Fain joined Scientific Games in 2012, bringing his finance background and printed product experience to the world’s largest lottery games company. He has worked closely with several U.S. lotteries including the New Mexico Lottery to help responsibly grow their instant game portfolios.

“We’re extremely proud of Jeff’s work with our U.S. customers and appreciate the New Mexico Lottery for recognizing his contributions to the success of its instant game portfolio. He has approached his work with the Lottery as 100% collaborative and cultivated a fantastic customer relationship with its team,” said John Schulz, President, Americas and Global Instant Products for Scientific Games

The company’s business intelligence and insights have driven industry-leading lottery performance, including 18 of the Top 20 performing instant game lotteries in the world (La Fleur’s 2024 World Almanac, based on per capita sales).

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Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe.