Latest News
Lottery.com Names Katie Lever, an Expert Legal Counsel in Gaming, as Chief Legal Officer
Lottery.com, a leading platform that allows its users to play the lottery online, announced that Katie Lever has been appointed the Company’s first chief legal officer, who will be further supported by gaming compliance experts on the board of advisors, Mark Lipparelli and Ron Hopkinson. The Company is seeking to continue its expansion efforts and will leverage the combined legal and compliance expertise of these industry professionals to build the future of digital gaming.
Lever previously served as General Counsel to some of the gaming industry’s largest global suppliers, including through the mergers of SHFL entertainment, Inc., Bally Technologies, Inc., Scientific Games Corp. and, most recently, as Chief Legal Counsel to Drew Las Vegas, a planned $4 billion integrated resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. She is a recognized gaming law specialist and an expert in compliance and government relations. Lever is a board member of Global Gaming Women and a Director and Audit Chair of Bank of George. Her track record also includes serving as the first Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Everi Holdings Inc.
“Katie is a seasoned expert in our highly regulated field and brings broad strategic leadership and experience to our team,” said Lottery.com CEO Tony DiMatteo. “We look forward to Katie’s guidance as we begin a new chapter as a public company and expand both domestically and internationally. I speak for the whole team when I say that we are thrilled to have her setting the course for the regulatory future of our industry.”
Through her 25 years of legal experience and demonstrated successes, Lever has been recognized as one of the “Great Women of Gaming, Proven Leader,” by Casino Enterprise Magazine, listed on the “25 People to Watch” and “Top Ten Women in Gaming” by Global Gaming Business Magazine, a “Woman to Watch,” by Vegas, Inc., and inducted into the Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame.
As CLO, Lever will navigate Lottery.com’s expansion as a public company in the gaming industry, leading the charge on the Company’s legal, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
“I am very excited to join the Lottery.com team at this exciting phase of the Company’s growth,” said Lever. “I am looking forward to leading our legal and compliance efforts as the Company continues to build on its success in a variety of new and innovative ways.”
Alongside Katie, Lottery.com has a deep bench of legal acumen and advisory board members, including Ron Hopkinson and Sen. Mark Lipparelli.
Prior to joining Cooley LLP as a senior partner in the Private Equity group, Hopkinson was Global Head of Private Equity for both Latham & Watkins and Cadwalader. He has played a significant role in some of the largest leveraged buyouts and high-profile private equity transactions consummated in the marketplace on behalf of some of the world’s largest private equity firms and private equity consortiums.
Ron earned his JD from Harvard Law School (Cum Laude) and BA in Economics from Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude). He was selected by The American Lawyer as “Dealmaker of the Year” (2003).
Lipparelli is the founder of Gioco Ventures, LLC, a strategic advisor to clients worldwide in the gaming, entertainment, investment and sports industries. With over 25 years of gaming and entertainment industry experience in various senior level capacities, he is frequently engaged in projects and advocacy on a wide range of gaming, technology, and public policy.
Lipparelli currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Galaxy Gaming, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors of Golden Entertainment, in addition to serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, a Co-Moderator of the Executive Development Program and is a co-founder of the International Center for Gaming Regulation at UNLV. He has also completed a four-year term on the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, including his final two years as Chairman, and was named as Regulator of the Year for the Americas by the International Masters of Gaming Law.
Lipparelli graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with an undergraduate degree in Finance, Master of Science degree in Economics, and is a graduate of the Executive Development Program sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming.
On February 22, 2021, the Company entered into a definitive agreement with Trident Acquisitions Corp. (Nasdaq: TDACU, TDAC, TDACW) to become a publicly-traded company on The Nasdaq Stock Market. Trident and the Company intend to publish an investor presentation relating to the proposed business combination in the coming weeks.
Compliance Updates
Tennessee Sports Wagering Council Takes Action Against Illegal Sportsbook
The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council through its executive director issued $50,000 in fines to Bovada.lv, an unlicensed and therefore illegal sportsbook operating in Tennessee.
Bovada failed to comply with cease and desist letters delivered to addresses in Curaçao, and Council investigators placed wagers through Bovada’s platform on three separate occasions, including as recently as October 16, 2024.
The Sports Gaming Act authorizes the Council to impose a $10,000 fine for the first offense of accepting wagers without a license, which rises to $15,000 for the second offense, and $25,000 for the third offense. Subsequent offenses may lead to the imposition of a $25,000 fine for each occurrence, an occurrence being a single wager accepted in Tennessee.
In the cease and desist letters, the Council ordered Bovada to allow all Tennessee users to withdraw any funds currently held by the unlicensed sportsbook.
“The Sports Wagering Council recommends that Tennessee users of Bovada withdraw their funds immediately. Our primary role is the protection of the public interest through a safe, regulated environment, and Tennessee sports bettors need to know that just because they can access a sports betting website or app inside Tennessee’s borders does not mean it is licensed to do business here,” Mary Beth Thomas, Executive Director of Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, said.
Legal sportsbook operators provide important bettor protections not found in the illegal market. If an individual wagers with unlicensed sportsbooks, their sensitive financial and personal information may not be protected and could even be shared with criminal enterprises. The bettor’s money could be withheld or disappear without a way to recover it.
The SWC is working closely with its network of law enforcement at the state and federal level to eradicate illegal sportsbooks such as Bovada and others.
Tennessee is the largest “online-only” sports betting market in the US, with more than $4.7 billion wagered in Tennessee last fiscal year through online sportsbooks licensed by the Council.
Gambling in the USA
Phoenix Link by Aristocrat Gaming Now Lighting Up Casino Floors
The hottest new game from Aristocrat Gaming, Phoenix Link, is now live on casino floors, with Yaamava’ Resort & Casino being the first in North America to offer the highly-anticipated game. As the next evolution of the international hit game, Dragon Link, Phoenix Link features player-favorite mechanics from top games with all-new themes, features, and bonuses.
“We have been humbled by the incredible global fanfare Dragon Link has received over the years but are never ones to rest on our laurels. The teams have been working tirelessly on a follow-up that brings together all the player-favorite elements in a new and exciting way with Phoenix Link as the proud result. We were thrilled to partner with Yaamava’ to premiere Phoenix Link with flair, excitement, and celebration,” said Victor Duarte, executive vice president of product for Aristocrat Gaming.
Phoenix Link players will enjoy the game’s additional denominations, configurations, and jackpots on each of the launch game theme titles. Gameplay features include Hold & Spin, Free Games with multiplier wilds or twin spin reels, Phoenix Mystery trigger, and more new bonus twists. Phoenix Link is available on the Neptune Single cabinet.
“Yaamava’ is thrilled to host yet another world premiere in gaming with the launch of Phoenix Link by Aristocrat Gaming. Our Club Serrano members are already raving about this captivating extension of the player-favorite Dragon Link. It’s a great addition to the Yaamava’ gaming floor,” said Kenji Hall, General Manager of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, said.
Latest News
Panel on the benefits of regulation in the Mexican iGaming market
On November 6, the iGaming industry in Mexico is preparing for a key event in which the benefits and challenges that regulation has brought to the Mexican market will be discussed. Under the title “Benefits of Regulation in the Mexican Market”, this panel will offer an in-depth look at the impact of regulation on transparency, competition and consumer protection, critical issues in the new digital era of iGaming.
The event, moderated by Geraldine Alexandra García Torres, Media Manager of Digital Gaming News, will feature the participation of recognized figures in the sector such as Daniel Magariños, representative of BMM Testlabs, and Hermilo Peregrina Cabrera of Prometeo IT Solutions. Both panelists will contribute their extensive knowledge and experience in regulation and certification in the Mexican market, and will analyze with the public the challenges and opportunities that companies face in an increasingly competitive and regulated context.
BMM Testlabs, who will participate as a Gold Sponsor, underlines with its sponsorship the importance of regulation to strengthen the iGaming sector in Mexico and demonstrates its commitment to progress and transparency in the Mexican market. For its part, Kushki joins as a Silver Sponsor, promoting the dialogue and analysis necessary for the industry.
Daniel Magariños, from BMM Testlabs, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in this digital webinar: “It has been a pleasure to be able to share our comments as a Laboratory on a market like the Mexican one and exchange opinions with a reference like Hermilo and the company Prometeo IT Solutions, with its excellent track record in this market. A relaxed talk with a lot of learning that I hope will be interesting for the attendees.”
For his part, Hermilo Peregrina, from Prometeo IT Solutions, highlighted the relevance of these spaces for dialogue: “Thank you to Conferencias iGaming for the invitation to participate in this panel. Thanks to Geraldine for coordinating us, and it was a pleasure to share ideas and opinions with my friend Daniel from BMM Testlabs, who has extensive experience in international regulations and certifications.”
Sponsor Support
The panel has the support of important sponsors who recognize the relevance of regulation in the development of the iGaming market in Mexico. Among them, BMM Testlabs as Gold Sponsor, and Kushki as Silver Sponsor.
Event Details:
Date: November 6
Time: 10:00 a.m. (Mexico)
Registration: Register here
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this essential conversation for the future of the industry. Secure your place and access a key analysis on the dynamic iGaming market in Mexico!
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