Industry Awards
IGT CEO Global Lottery Renato Ascoli Inducted into Lottery Industry Hall of Fame

International Game Technology PLC announced that Renato Ascoli, IGT CEO Global Lottery, will be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2024. Ascoli will be honored later this year at an event hosted by the Public Gaming Research Institute (PGRI) in conjunction with the World Lottery Summit in Paris.
“With nearly 20 years of experience serving in high-level positions in the lottery and gaming industries, Renato Ascoli is an accomplished senior executive whose leadership has been paramount in driving new business and innovation. Renato has a keen ability to identify and realize business growth opportunities, and his contributions will benefit the lottery industry for years to come. IGT congratulates Renato on his well-deserved induction into this year’s Lottery Industry Hall of Fame,” Vince Sadusky, CEO of IGT, said.
“I am incredibly honored to be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. Working in the lottery industry with many great leaders and innovators has been an absolute privilege. The future of the lottery industry is bright, and I look forward to helping our customers propel the modernization of lottery worldwide while continuing to generate funds for philanthropic causes,” said Ascoli.
In his current role, Ascoli is responsible for global lottery and iLottery sales and operations, product and sales development, and technology and support for IGT’s 90-plus lottery customers worldwide. Since the merger of GTECH and IGT in 2015, Ascoli has successfully led both the Global Lottery and Global Gaming business units for the Company. Some of the key achievements within his tenure have been launching sports betting with the Rhode Island Lottery, partnering with the Mississippi Lottery to initiate operations, deploying lottery terminals in Walmart retail stores, and rolling out IGT’s proprietary Cash Pop draw game, which is now live in over 15 jurisdictions.
Ascoli previously served as General Manager of GTECH S.p.A. (formerly known as Lottomatica Group S.p.A. and Lottomatica S.p.A.) and President of GTECH Products and Services, where he was responsible for overseeing the design, development, and delivery of state-of-the-art platforms, products, and services. Renato had also served as Head of Italian Operations in which he was responsible for the strategic direction and operations of the Company’s Italian businesses.
During his tenure leading Lottomatica, one of the largest lotteries in the world, Ascoli sustained the launch of the Gratta e Vinci (Scratch & Win) instant ticket brand in Italy. Additionally, he was instrumental in gaining the exclusive Lotto concession in Italy with a consortium led by IGT, Lottoitalia S.r.l. The Italian Lotto, and its associated games 10eLotto and MillionDAY, which are among the most popular and successful games in Italy.
The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame was founded by PGRI in 2005 as a means of honoring those who have done the most to make the lottery industry the great success that it is today. Membership is reserved for lottery professionals who have promoted excellence and integrity throughout their careers. Each year, former inductees nominate and vote on the final recipients.
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Industry Awards
Million Games and Partners Shortlisted for MiGEA 2025 Awards

Million Games has been shortlisted in the Best Crash Game category at the Malta Gaming Excellence Awards (MiGEA) 2025 for its popular title Chicken X, launched earlier this year. The announcement marks a major milestone for the studio, known for its bold, player-first approach to game development.
Hosted on 19 June at the InterContinental in St. Julian, the MiGEA Awards celebrate the most impactful and original contributions to the gaming industry, spotlighting excellence in game development, technology, and innovation.
Chicken X, developed in-house by Million Games, invites players to guide a fearless chicken across a fast-moving highway in a high-volatility crash format. With its vibrant design, suspenseful pacing and sharp risk-reward balance, the game has quickly become a favourite among crash game enthusiasts.
In addition to its own nomination, Million Games is also celebrating two of its Million Stars partner studios,
both shortlisted in the Best Slot Game category:
Thorfinn’s Journey by Yugo Workshop – a visually rich, Norse-inspired slot featuring dynamic mechanics and narrative-driven gameplay.
Captain’s Curse by Black Cat Games – aa dark maritime adventure where a cursed fisherman transforms into a werewolf under the full moon, with free spins and collect features.
Notably, both studios have been shortlisted for their debut releases developed on the Million Games platform, making the recognition all the more significant.
“We launched the Million Stars programme to help brilliant developers bring bold ideas to life,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO for Million Games. “Seeing Yugo Workshop and Black Cat Games earn nominations for their very first games is a proud moment for us — and a strong endorsement of the creative talent driving the Million Stars partners.”
Million Games will attend the MiGEA Awards ceremony on 19 June, joining a field of industry leaders and rising stars.
The post Million Games and Partners Shortlisted for MiGEA 2025 Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry Awards
Betsson Group Nominated in 14 Categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2025

Betsson Group has been nominated in 14 categories at the Women in Gaming Diversity & Employee Wellbeing Awards 2025, hosted by Clever Duck Media. These include five company-wide nominations and nine individual nominations for eight of its employees.
These annual awards celebrate excellence in equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing across the global gaming industry. Since its launch in 2010, the event has solidified its position as one of the global gaming industry’s most respected diversity accolades.
The categories in which Betsson Group and its employees have been shortlisted include:
Company Category Nominations:
Best Diverse Place to Work
Community Engagement
Company of the Year (Operator)
Diversity & Inclusion
Great Place to Work Award
Individual Category Nominations:
Affiliate Leader – Shakyra Jonsson
Employee of the Year (Operator) – Lisa Mifsud
Excellence in Customer Service – Gabriella Larsson
HR Champion (Operator) – Tamara Klibadze
Innovator – Lena Nordin
Inspiration of the Year (Operator) – Lena Nordin
Positive Role Model of the Year (Operator) – Lara Lombardi
Star of the Future (Operator) – Jessica Carrillo Miranda
Young Leader of the Year (Operator) – Chellyanne Cassar
These nominations reflect the company’s ongoing dedication to creating a workplace where employees feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed. At Betsson Group, diversity, equity and inclusion are more than buzzwords; they are embedded in the company’s culture, values and daily actions. In previous years, Betsson has been recognised at the WiG Diversity Awards for Best Diverse Place to Work (2022 and 2024), Company of the Year (2019 and 2022) and for Diversity & Inclusion (2021). For the individual categories, Betsson employees have previously won Excellence in Customer Service, Star of the Future and Young Leader of the Year.
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Industry Awards
Reelsoft Recognised as Industry Innovator with Dual Award Nominations

Reelsoft, the iGaming technology company behind the Vision platform, has been nominated for two prestigious awards:
Best iGaming Technology Company at the MiGEA Awards and Rising Star in Casino – Supplier at the SBC Europe Awards. Both nominations celebrate the innovation, scalability, and comprehensive capabilities of the company’s proprietary Vision platform.
At the heart of Reelsoft’s offering is a unique combination: Vision RGS (Remote Gaming Server) and Vision Link, a game aggregation platform. Reelsoft is currently the only company in the market delivering both technologies under a single ecosystem. This dual-platform synergy offers partners unrivalled flexibility, speed-to-market, and control—whether they are launching their own titles or aggregating content from third-party studios.
The Vision platform is further enhanced by powerful modular features. Vision RGS supports slots, crash games, RNG table games, and multiplayer experiences, while Vision Link seamlessly connects game providers to operators across global markets. Embedded within both is Vision Promotions, a full suite of engagement tools including tournaments, feature bets, and the distinctive Vision Mega Jackpot, which can be deployed across both proprietary and aggregated content on Vision Link—a rare capability in the industry.
Reelsoft’s proprietary multiplayer engine, jackpot engine, and real-time back office provide a full-service infrastructure for studios and operators looking to grow with confidence. The platform has demonstrated its scalability with over 3.4 billion transactions processed to date and strong expansion into regulated and emerging markets, including Europe, Africa and North America.
“Being recognised in both categories is a clear signal that the market values the depth and ambition of what we’re building,” said Thomas Nimstad, CEO of Reelsoft.
“Vision is more than a platform—it’s an engine for sustainable, partner-led growth. These nominations are a credit to our team’s dedication and to our partners who choose flexibility and innovation to grow their business.”
As Reelsoft continues to push the boundaries of platform ownership, game distribution, and player engagement, these shortlistings reaffirm the company’s position as a driving force within the iGaming landscape.
The post Reelsoft Recognised as Industry Innovator with Dual Award Nominations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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