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PrizePicks Appoints Marcus Sanford as Chief Financial Officer, Ari Koteles as Chief Business Officer
PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced the appointment of Marcus Sanford, former Chief Financial Officer of Blizzard Entertainment, as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ari Koteles, who has served as PrizePicks’ CFO since 2021, has been named to the newly created role of Chief Business Officer.
“Since joining PrizePicks, I have been impressed by the exceptional talent and capabilities of our team. As we continue to scale our business, we see an opportunity to better harness our strengths and exceed player expectations with continued innovation and a renewed focus. Prior to joining PrizePicks, I worked closely with Marcus over the last 6 years scaling a multibillion-dollar gaming business, and I know that he will accelerate our growth ambitions,” said PrizePicks CEO Mike Ybarra.
Sanford said: “I am thrilled to join Mike and the talented team at PrizePicks. The company’s relentless commitment to innovation and focus on delivering the best, most differentiated products to players uniquely positions PrizePicks for accelerated growth.”
Sanford is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of strategic planning, accounting, treasury, financial management, and operational experience. Most recently, he was CFO of Blizzard Entertainment, where he oversaw both finance and operations teams while continuing to serve as Deputy CFO to the parent company Activision Blizzard. Prior to Blizzard, he spent over a decade as a senior finance leader at Activision Blizzard leading corporate finance teams and playing a key role in transformational projects including the record setting sale of Activision Blizzard to Microsoft. Prior to his tenure at Activision Blizzard, Sanford held roles at Vivendi Universal Games.
“There are exponentially more growth opportunities ahead of us and I’m thrilled to have Ari Koteles transition from CFO into the newly formed role of Chief Business Officer. The creation of this role will ensure that we are exceeding player expectations with differentiated and unique product offerings,” Ybarra added.
As Chief Business Officer (CBO), Koteles will be responsible for aligning business strategies with market opportunities, overseeing business development, managing partnerships, and ensuring the integration of business functions to drive growth and profitability. Koteles will report to CEO Mike Ybarra.
“Over the last 4 years, I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most dedicated and passionate people in the industry. PrizePicks has a long history of leading product innovation in the DFS space and I look forward to further accelerating our growth as we explore new ways to expand our reach and engage with sports fans across the country,” Koteles said.
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1/ST and Goodwood Racecourse announce Group 1 pathways between the United Kingdom and North America
1/ST, North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company, and Goodwood Racecourse, one of the United Kingdom’s leading racecourses, today announce a new initiative that will see a reciprocal partnership between 1/ST-owned racecourses in North America and Goodwood Racecourse in the United Kingdom.
This exciting new partnership will see horses gain automatic entry following success at the Pegasus World Cup meeting at Gulfstream Park on January 25, and at Goodwood Racecourse’s world-famous five-day festival, the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf winner in 2025 will be granted automatic entry to the 2025 running of the Qatar Sussex Stakes. Likewise, the victor of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf will gain automatic entry to the Qatar Nassau Stakes in 2025.
Additionally, the winner of this year’s £1m, Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes will gain automatic entry to the Pegasus World Cup Turf in 2026 and the winner of the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes will gain automatic entry to the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2026.
This new partnership will create an easily accessible pathway for horses to compete both in North America and the United Kingdom and help to encourage top-tier racehorses to travel and increase international participation at both fixtures – while also bolstering elite fields for global audiences and deeper fan engagement.
Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, said: “Thanks again to our friends at Goodwood Racecourse as our partnership enters its second year. We can’t wait to see how our Pegasus World Cup Turf winners fare on the other side of the pond and look forward to welcoming the victors of the Qatar Sussex Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes back to Gulfstream Park in late January 2026 for one of the most lucrative racedays on the East Coast.
“These reciprocal pathways mark the latest strides in 1/ST’s bid to broaden the appeal and international participation in the world’s major races. We’ve already seen such incentives reap immediate rewards when Crimson Advocate won at Royal Ascot in 2023, having punched her automatic spot via our Royal Palm juvenile series at Gulfstream Park. Now, Miami can hopefully work its magic again with the Qatar Goodwood Festival!”
Edward Arkell, Director of Racing at Goodwood Racecourse, added: “We are thrilled to announce this fantastic new initiative, and I would like to thank 1/ST for their enthusiasm and support. By pairing two of our most prestigious races with a pair of turf races at the Pegasus World Cup meeting, we are confident that we have unlocked a well-scheduled gateway.
“This partnership also highlights the importance of collaborating with the best horseracing in the World and allows us the opportunity to showcase the obvious benefits of working alongside the North American horseracing circuit.”
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Salsa Technology’s FORMULA-BET: Take the Pole Position in Brazil’s Regulated Market
Salsa Technology, a leader in iGaming market solutions, introduces FORMULA-BET, a revolutionary ecosystem designed to put operators in the pole position of Brazil’s regulated market. Inspired by the dynamism and precision of the Formula 1 universe, FORMULA-BET ensures lightning-fast delivery, offering the robust Salsa Omni PAM platform, along with secure, agile and certified integrations with aggregators, payment methods and sports betting.
With a solid track record of innovation and excellence, Salsa Technology ensures full compliance with the Betting Management System (Sigap) and holds GLI certifications for its PAM platform and integrations with the Salsa Gator content aggregator, payment solutions, and the First sports betting platform, all aligned with the requirements of SIGAP, Brazil’s Central Bank, and the Federal Revenue Service.
FORMULA-BET was designed to operate as a true cutting-edge racing team, focusing on three main pillars: speed of implementation with optimized technology for fast delivery and integration, meeting the demands of the regulated market in record time; high-performance team with specialized local support and proven expertise to drive results; compliance and security with full adherence to regulations, ensuring trust at every turn of the market.
At ICE Barcelona, Salsa’s commercial team will be ready to accelerate negotiations and present opportunities in Brazil, positioning itself as a strategic partner for companies aiming to lead in the country’s regulated market.
“Just like a Formula 1 car combines precision and innovation to cross the finish line first, FORMULA-BET provides operators with all the necessary tools to accelerate their business and dominate the regulated market with speed and accuracy”, says Eliane Nunes, CGO of Salsa Technology.
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ALT Sports Data and X Games Announce Global Partnership Ahead of X Games Aspen 2025
ALT Sports Data Inc., the San Diego-based leader in trading and consumer data for action, motor, alternative, and emerging sports, announced a landmark partnership with X Games, the leading action sports competition for 30 years. This collaboration will enable regulated sports betting on X Games tentpole events.
For the first time in X Games history, fans around the world can engage with their favorite athletes and competitions by having a stake in the outcome through regulated sports wagering. Leveraging exclusive access to official X Games data, ALT Sports Data will provide a diverse range of traditional bets and prop wagers, designed to deepen fan engagement and extend the global appeal of the world’s most iconic action sports platform.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to redefine fan engagement in some of the world’s most engaging and exciting sports. X Games is the most iconic brand within the action sports community, and we are excited to bring innovative betting markets to their passionate fan base. By integrating sports betting, we aim to create deeper connections, attract new audiences, and drive the continued growth,” said Todd Ballard, Co-Founder and CMO of ALT Sports Data.
X Games has seen significant audience growth in the past 12 months, including 113% growth in streaming audiences and 2.4 million new social followers showcasing the continued fan interest and engagement in X Games.
In 2026, X Games will introduce an innovative global, team-based format and additional events around the globe. Backed by MSP Sports Capital (MSP), a Najafi Cos. portfolio company, the X Games League (XGL) will provide a year-round international competition calendar for X Games that will enable athletes to earn compensation beyond the $2.4 million already awarded through existing prize purses.
“The passion fans have for their favorite action sports stars rivals that of any other sport. At X Games, we’re committed to creating innovative ways for fans to express and deepen that passion. Our partnership with ALT Sports marks an exciting step forward, giving the action sports community a new way to engage with their favorite athletes and events through sports betting—a feature that has been integral to other professional sports,” said Jeremy Bloom, CEO of X Games.
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