Groove, a leading iGaming platform and aggregator, proudly claimed the Women’s Empowerment Initiative of the Year at the SBC Awards Latinoamérica 2024, celebrating a strong commitment to championing female talent and leadership.

At SBC Awards Latinoamérica, Groove’s win shines as a testament to how empowerment and inclusion propel the iGaming industry forward.

The award was accepted by Carolina Diniz Flauzino, Groove’s Latin America Business Development Manager, acknowledging Groove’s impactful diversity-driven culture.

Over the years, Groove has spotlighted the exceptional women in roles spanning account management, legal, finance, project leadership, tech, and creative design. From Liz Cohen’s pivotal oversight in account management to Salome Janashvili’s transformative graphic contributions and Sapir Hen’s rise in technical management, Groove’s success story is one written in part by the remarkable women across its global team.

Groove’s progressive tech ecosystem with over 15,000 games from 100+ top providers continues driving innovation with new technology soon to be released including an AI-Assistant, gamification tools, and the immersive Smart Lobby. Each feature is crafted to enhance engagement, supporting Groove’s dedication to transforming iGaming while celebrating its talented team.

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As Groove innovates with new AI-driven tools and a suite of gamification features, the company reinforces its core belief: a diverse team, empowered and celebrated, drives real success in a competitive market.

Yahale Meltzer, COO and Co-founder, remarked, “This award showcases the impact of our talented team. From its inception in 2016, Groove has championed women’s leadership, featuring dynamic professionals across roles critical to the company’s growth. We’re proud to bring this recognition home, a tribute to the exceptional women who are instrumental in shaping Groove’s future.”

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Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is proud to announce that its Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Cardno, has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Gaming & Leisure, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the gaming and hospitality industries over the course of his career.

Andrew Cardno, a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience, has been at the forefront of driving technological advancements in gaming analytics, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence systems. His innovative work has transformed the way gaming operators leverage data to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance the customer experience.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from Gaming & Leisure. I have dedicated much of my career to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with data and technology in the gaming industry, and this award reflects the collective effort of my team at QCI and our partners across the sector,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence.

Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, praised Cardno’s impact across industries, stating, “Andrew is a rare and amazing human. The terms innovative and disruptive have been incredibly over-used, however, Andrew is the type of genius that actually brings innovative, disruptive and broad solutions to not only our industry, but many industries. He’s often sought after by vendors and properties alike for counsel on complex challenges they face. His passion extends beyond the walls of business to a role he’s devoted many years to as a Science Olympiad Coach to pass his incredible gift on to middle and high schoolers who compete in a broad range of science-related challenges. The world needs more Andrews, and it was my great honor to present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, while still knowing he’ll bring boundless innovation to us far past this award.”

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The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded annually by Gaming & Leisure to individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Cardno’s career is highlighted by a series of innovations, including the development of cutting-edge solutions that have enabled gaming operators to better understand their customers and optimize business strategies.

With this award, Andrew Cardno joins an elite group of industry pioneers whose work has had a profound and enduring impact on the gaming industry.

International Game Technology PLC announced that Jade Luchauer, IGT Senior Manager Global Sustainability, recently won the Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence at the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) 2024 National Awards. Held in conjunction with NCPG’s National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling, the National Awards honors individuals and organizations from across the world for their work on problem gambling and responsible gambling.

“Jade Luchauer is a respected responsible gaming expert who exhibits a thoughtful, forward-looking, strategic approach to responsible gaming within IGT, among gaming industry peers, and for our customers and their players. Jade has a profound ability to educate, guide awareness, drive change and take action to continuously raise the standard for responsible gaming best practices. IGT congratulations Jade on her well-deserved Don Feeney Award for Responsible Gambling Excellence,” said Wendy Montgomery, IGT SVP Marketing, Communications and Sustainability.

Throughout Luchauer’s 10-year career at IGT, she has made many significant contributions to the company within the areas of responsible gaming and community relations. She routinely partners with the NCPG on its educational campaigns and brainstorms new, creative ways to demonstrate IGT’s support, while encouraging conversations about responsible gaming. Earlier this year, Luchauer coordinated and hosted a roundtable discussion at ICE London that brought together relevant industry stakeholders to discuss issues related to responsible gaming and sustainability. It was under her guidance that IGT became accredited in responsible gaming across all business segments by both the World Lottery Association and the Global Gambling Guidance Group, which she now works to maintain through frequent assessments.

Additionally, Luchauer is routinely asked to speak at global industry events, works to uphold and gain new responsible gaming certifications for IGT, and creates awareness of the company’s Responsible Gaming Policy, Responsible Gaming Brochure and the Advertising and Marketing Code of Principles. Luchauer is also a charter member of the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG) Lottery Membership and board and multi-committee member of the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling. She also currently sits on American Gaming Equipment Manufacturer’s Responsible Gaming Committee, American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Committee, ICRG’s Conference Planning Committee and NCPG’s Nominations Committee.

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