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AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2025

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the 2025 inductees into the Gaming Hall of Fame, recognizing three individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the legal gaming industry:

• David Berman, Co-Head of Macquarie Capital, Americas and Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & Leisure

• Ann Simmons Nicholson, Founder and CEO, Simmons Group

• Charles Lombardo, Former Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations at Seminole Hard Rock Gaming, and former Senior Vice President of Slot Operations for Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas.

“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors the visionaries who’ve shaped today’s gaming industry. David, Ann, and Charlie have each made lasting contributions to the growth, integrity, and leadership of legal gaming, and we’re proud to recognize their impact,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

“This year’s inductees reflect the strength, diversity, and expertise that define our industry. The Gaming Hall of Fame honors leaders whose careers exemplify excellence and enduring influence – and these three couldn’t be more deserving of this recognition,” said AGA Chairman Mike Rumbolz (Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2022).

Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has celebrated the achievements of industry legends who have driven the commercial and tribal gaming industry forward. The Class of 2025 will be formally inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this October.

This year’s selection committee members include:

• Mike Palm, VP, Operations, Circa Resorts

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• Anika Howard, CEO, Wondr Nation

• Ryan Comstock, COO, Ainsworth and Chair, AGEM

• Debi Nutton, Industry Consultant and Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024

• Mark Lipparelli, Chairman Emeritus, International Center for Responsible Gaming

• Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, IAGA

• Lauren Bates, VP, Sales, Light & Wonder and Chair, Global Gaming Women

• Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute

• Mike Rumbolz, Chairman, AGA

About the 2025 Inductees

David Berman, Co-Head of Macquarie Capital, Americas and Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & Leisure

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David Berman has more than three decades of experience in gaming mergers & acquisitions and capital markets, having led more than 100 mergers & acquisitions worth more than $125 billion and helped clients raise more than $215 billion in debt and equity. He founded REGAL Capital Advisors, a gaming-focused advisory firm acquired by Macquarie in 2011, and previously held senior roles at Credit Suisse, CIBC World Markets, and Oppenheimer & Co. Berman currently serves on the Board of Leaders at USC’s Marshall School of Business and is Treasurer of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.

Ann Simmons Nicholson, CEO and founder of Simmons Group

Ann Simmons Nicholson is an expert in strategic planning and organizational consulting. Over her 40-year career, she has worked with nearly every major gaming company, supporting more than 60 property openings, expansions, and acquisitions. Her expertise spans human capital strategy, leadership development, organizational culture, and executive coaching, and her firm has provided training to more than 27,000 gaming professionals globally. A dedicated community leader and advocate, she has served on board including United Way of Southern Nevada, Global Gaming Women, and Noah’s Animal House.

Charles Lombardo, Former Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations at Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, and former Senior Vice President of Slot Operations for Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas

With more than 50 years of experience in slot operations and game innovation, Charles Lombardo has helped define the modern casino experience. He has held senior leadership roles at Caesars Palace, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, and Seminole Gaming, where he led the development of Class II and III gaming standards, pioneered groundbreaking slot technologies, and helped shape state and tribal regulatory frameworks. Today, he continues to consult on game development and casino openings and serves as a special gaming advisor to Seminole Gaming. Lombardo was the first-ever inductee into the Eilers Hall of Fame for Slot Operations.

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Andres Troelsen has been appointed EGT Digital’s Regional Sales Director iGaming for LATAM

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Andres Troelsen has been appointed EGT Digital's Regional Sales Director iGaming for LATAM

 

EGT Digital is pleased to announce that Andres Troelsen has joined the company’s team. Effective from 01 August, he takes on the position of Regional Sales Director iGaming for the LATAM region.

Mr. Troelsen holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the prestigious Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires. He brings business experience with a strong focus on the gaming sector, most recently serving as Commercial Director LATAM at Belatra. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles across diverse sectors, including winemaking, shipbuilding, legal services, media, and entertainment. Throughout his career, he has consistently delivered strong results, significantly enhancing company performance and helping position those organizations among the leaders in their respective industries.

“I am happy that EGT Digital is giving me this opportunity,” said Mr. Troelsen. “It will be a challenge for me to further increase the brand’s presence in a highly competitive region such as Latin America. I believe that I will successfully cope with the task thanks to my extensive experience in the gaming industry and deep relationships with key operators throughout the local markets. Adding to this the fact that the company’s innovative developments already have an excellent reputation as high-quality solutions able to satisfy the tastes of every type of player, I am confident that we will very quickly position EGT Digital as a top-tier player in LATAM.

Nadia Popova, Chief Revenue Officer and Vice President Sales & Marketing at EGT, also expressed her positive expectations regarding the appointment: “Latin America holds enormous potential for our products, which makes it a region of strategic importance for EGT Digital. Andres Troelsen is the ideal choice, with the skills and leadership needed to achieve our ambitious goals.”

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ACR POKER INJECTS DAILY DOSE OF THRILL INTO TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE WITH LAUNCH OF DAILY MYSTERY BOUNTY EVENTS

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Monster top bounty of 10% of the total prize pool up for grabs starting this weekend

ACR Poker today announced the addition of Daily Mystery Bounty events to its tournament lineup starting this Sunday, August 3rd, delivering unmatched entertainment, thrilling action, and big wins to the tables.

Daily Mystery Bounty tournaments turn traditional bounty formats on their head. Once players are in the money, instead of receiving a fixed reward for eliminating an opponent, players receive a Mystery Bounty Chest revealing a mystery reward, with the top bounty prize being 10% of the total prize pool.

“Mystery Bounties are just pure fun,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “You never know what you’re going to get when you knock someone out, it could be some random treasure or a monster bounty that flips your whole tournament. With same-day events, fast action and bounty madness on your daily calendar, it keeps the adrenaline going and makes every hand way more exciting.”

The Daily Mystery Bounty schedule features a range of tourneys and buy-ins, with highlights including the $250K GTD Sunday Funday ($215 buy-in), the $150K GTD Major Mash Up ($66 buy-in), and the $100K GTD Moorman’s Mayhem ($630 buy-in). Starting this Sunday, players can log into the ACR Poker client, open the Tournaments tab, and find the full lineup of Daily Mystery Bounty events in the regular schedule under upcoming events.

And don’t forget, the Mystery Bounty madness continues in ACR Poker’s massive Dual Venom tournaments taking place from Sunday, August 10th to Tuesday, August 26th. Not only are the $2,650 buy-in tourneys offering huge guarantees of $8 million in the NHL event and $2 million in the PLO event, but there are massive bounties on the table for those who knock out their competitors.

In the Venom NLH, eliminating just one opponent could earn a player the top bounty prize of $500,000. While in the Venom PLO, which ties ACR Poker’s biggest Omaha tourney ever, there’s a juicy $200,000 bounty for the taking. And that’s not all, every knockout in both tourneys earns players a minimum bounty of at least $5,000.

For full details about the Daily Mystery Bounty tournaments or to find out more about the Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms, visit ACRPoker.eu.

 

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AGA Research Reveals Consumers Know Sweepstakes Casinos are Gambling

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As gaming regulators, state Attorneys General, and state legislatures continue to scrutinize the business practices of online “sweepstakes” casinos, new research shows that consumers overwhelmingly use these platforms to gamble – and that sweepstakes operators are heavily targeting players in key states. By exploiting loopholes in the law, these operations undermine the integrity of the legal, regulated gaming marketplace.

According to Sensor Tower data compiled by the American Gaming Association (AGA), half of all online, real-money casino advertisements seen by consumers in early 2025 promoted offshore “sweepstakes” casinos. The data shows these unregulated operators concentrate their advertising in populous states.

“These operators present themselves like legal, regulated platforms – but they operate outside the law and regulation. There are few if any responsible gaming tools, no regulatory oversight, and no consumer protections. It’s a dangerous subterfuge that puts players at real risk,” said AGA Vice President of Government Relations, Tres York.

Despite operating outside the regulated gaming market, “sweepstakes” casinos are widely perceived by players as gambling platforms, with 68% of users saying their primary reason for playing is to win real money. This confusion is no accident – many of these sites mimic the look, feel, and language of legal operators, blurring the line for consumers and reinforcing the need for clearer enforcement and public education.

Key findings include:

• 90% of sweepstakes casino users consider the activity to be gambling.

• 69% describe sweepstakes casinos as places to wager real money.

• 80% of sweepstakes players spend monthly, and nearly half spend weekly, without the safety nets offered by regulated operators.

The number of monthly sweepstakes casino players is twice as high in states lacking sweepstakes prohibitions.

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“Sweepstakes” casinos aggressively market on popular digital platforms throughout the country. Legal, regulated gaming operators, by contrast, advertise responsibly in legal states where consumer protections and regulatory oversight are in place.

“The data is clear. Consumers see right through the ‘sweepstakes’ casino facade and they’re calling it what it is: gambling. We look forward to policymakers continuing to enforce their laws and create clarity through new policy measures to protect their residents,” added York.

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