Casino Direct Marketing Association (Casino DMA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing casino marketing through education and connection, is proud to announce that Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has signed on as a Silver Sponsor of the upcoming Theo Awards. This new sponsorship marks an exciting expansion of QCI’s support for Casino DMA’s mission and programs.

“Marketing for casinos is a unique challenge, blending creative artistry with data science,” said Dr. Ralph Thomas, Chief Executive Officer at QCI. “We’re grateful to Casino DMA for the opportunity to sponsor this event and eager to hear the stories that emerge. It’s this kind of sharing that makes our industry stronger.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome QCI as a sponsor,” said Steven Paci, president of Casino DMA. “Their commitment to innovation and excellence in casino marketing perfectly aligns with our goal of elevating and celebrating the work of our industry’s brightest minds.”

Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International (HRI) and Hard Rock Digital and Chief Executive Officer of Seminole Gaming, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28^th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC). Allen accepted the award in a ceremony at ECGC, the longest-running gaming conference in the United States, in his hometown, held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Allen is the seventh person to receive this award in the nearly 30-year ECGC history. ECGC honored Allen for his nearly 45-year career which has made him one of the most influential leaders in the global gaming and hospitality industry. During Allen’s tenure, Seminole Hard Rock and HRI have demonstrated exceptional hospitality and financial performance, setting industry benchmarks with their success.

Responsible for all gaming, hospitality and entertainment operations at the Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) since 2001, Allen has guided the development of Seminole Gaming into one of the world’s most successful casino and integrated resort operators, with seven casino locations throughout Florida, including the world’s first Guitar Hotel, which opened in October 2019.

Allen led STOF’s 2007 acquisition of HRI, the first of a major international company by a North American Indian Tribe, which has expanded its global presence from 46 to nearly 80 countries and over 300 locations including Hard Rock cafes, hotels, casinos, Rock Shops and live music venues.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard-working team at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, whose dedication and passion have driven our success. I extend my deepest gratitude to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their continued leadership and am proud of what we have accomplished – from expanding our global footprint, to innovating in the gaming and hospitality industries, and forming incredible alliances with icons in entertainment and sports. This award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries and setting new standards of excellence. Thank you to the East Coast Gaming Congress for this incredible honor,” said Allen.

Allen has led the evolution of the hospitality company that is synonymous with music entertainment to also include sports entertainment, while maintaining its deep-rooted music history. Over the last few years, Hard Rock has established strategic partnerships among the greats of Formula 1, Oracle Red Bull Racing, Lionel Messi, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and local sports teams. In addition, Allen was instrumental in ushering in a new era of gaming in Florida with the introduction of craps, roulette and sports betting to Seminole Hard Rock hotels and casinos.

For the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, Allen is serving on the Miami Host Committee Board of Directors alongside a diverse group of leaders in business development, sports management, event planning and community engagement. In 2020, Allen launched the joint venture Hard Rock Digital, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Additionally, Hard Rock partnered with the Miami Dolphins ownership to brand Hard Rock Stadium and become the first casino brand to achieve NFL stadium naming rights based on Hard Rock’s perception as a hospitality and entertainment company versus just a casino company.

The American Gaming Association inducted Allen into the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024 for making significant contributions to the industry. The National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) recognized Allen as a 2023 Unity Gala Honoree for his exceptional service to MWBE contractors. In 2020, Allen was inducted into the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Fame at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla. Junior Achievement of South Florida named Allen a Business Hall of Fame Laureate in 2019.

BETBY, the cutting-edge sportsbook provider, has further cemented its position as one of the most innovative suppliers in the sports betting landscape following a standout appearance at SiGMA Americas, the leading event for the iGaming industry in Latin America.

Hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, SiGMA Americas brought together the industry’s most influential stakeholders, with a spotlight on the dynamic and fast-growing Latin American market. BETBY stood out at the event by showcasing the full strength of its flexible sportsbook solution, designed to empower operators with complete control over the betting experience.

A major highlight of the exhibition was BETBY’s showcase of its hyper-localised content capabilities, which empower operators to engage regional audiences with culturally relevant offerings. This strategic focus was exemplified by the industry’s most comprehensive Vaquejada betting solution, a rodeo-style sport particularly popular in northeast Brazil. BETBY’s unique content portfolio, which includes both pre-live markets and an immersive e-sim version of the sport, resonated strongly with operators and attendees. It demonstrated not only a deep understanding of regional preferences, but also the supplier’s ability to create tailored content for any market.

Alongside this, BETBY exhibited continued innovation through its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and its comprehensive suite of AI tools AI Labs, which leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalisation, real-time recommendations, and enhanced operational efficiency.

As further recognition of its ongoing innovation in the iGaming industry, BETBY was honoured with the Best Esports Product award during the SiGMA Americas Awards ceremony. This win underscores BETBY’s vision to redefine the esports betting experience through its BETBY Games solution, which is designed to deliver unmatched flexibility, customisation, and engagement for operators and players.

“This recognition at SiGMA Americas is a proud milestone for our entire team, even though our presence in Brazil this week was about much more than awards,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, BETBY’s Chief Executive Officer. “It was about connecting with the region, understanding what local players truly value, and showing that we have the technology and vision to meet those needs. We’re building products that scale globally but connect locally, and that’s what sets BETBY apart.”