The leading global company, providing analytics, technology, digital and retail games, Scientific Games (SG), announced an important promotion. The company confirmed it selected Andrew Jackson as its new vice president of environmental, social and governance (ESG). In his new role with SG, he will oversee the development of strategic ESG initiatives for the business across the globe.

As VP of ESG, Jackson will help strengthen different ESG projects and closely monitor those initiatives. Moreover, he will help streamline such projects with SG’s global pillars that focus on minimizing the impact of the environment, empowering employees and partners, expanding healthy play and lottery literacy, among others.

Back in 2022, SG became an independent company that focuses heavily on the lottery industry. This enabled it to grow significantly its efforts toward ESG and implement vital changes to its operations.

Currently, SG is renowned as the largest developer and manager of instant lottery games. The company is recognized for its leadership not only in the lottery sector but in the sports betting vertical as well, considering it offers technology, loyalty programs and solutions. Annually, SG’s partners generate billions of dollars through different charity programs while supporting responsible gambling.

The New VP of ESG Has Vast Expertise and a Wide Range of Skills

Jackson has extensive experience in ESG. Throughout his professional career, he accumulated knowledge and skills in different sectors, including engineering. He first joined SG back in 1999. Prior to his appointment as VP of ESG, he most recently held the role of director of quality, compliance and R&D. At the time, Jackson was based at the company’s instant game production and technology facility in the UK.

“Andrew’s wealth of experience and expertise in sustainability will lead us into the next era of responsible growth.“

Dena Rosenzweig, chief legal officer for Scientific Games

Dena Rosenzweig, SG’s chief legal officer, explained that the company’s ongoing focus for the last five decades has been the delivery of services that help positively impact communities. She praised Jackson’s comprehensive background, outlining his in-depth knowledge of sustainability.

Additionally, Rosenzweig predicted that the new VP of ESG will help SG reach a new level of responsible growth. Finally, she said that under his close guidance, the company’s ESG programs will successfully impact communities and industries across the globe.

Back in November, SG announced support for the National Council on Problem Gambling’s annual Gift Responsibly campaign. This marked the sixth time in a row the company vowed support for the initiative.

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As per the white paper, the United Kingdom is planning to proceed with its plans to introduce the statutory levy. The country’s current gambling minister, Stuart Andrew, believes that the UK will be able to deliver it for summer 2024.

For reference, the statutory levy is a measure that would force gambling operators to pay between 0.1% and 1% of their gross gaming revenue as a type of gambling tax that would fund gambling harm research, education and treatment. The levy would replace the existing voluntary system.

Andrew commented on the matter during the annual GambleAware conference, explaining the government’s progress when it comes to the implementation of the levy. He said that the government is focused on ensuring a seamless transition that would not hurt RET funding, allowing gambling harm charities to continue their work.

Andrew said that everything would come to “getting the timing right” and ensuring that all the necessary infrastructure, processes and relationships are in place. This means that the measure must be introduced in Parliament as quickly as possible, allowing his team to create the foundations for the levy.

The minister added that he hopes to create a clear roadmap that his team would follow when implementing the levy.

The Reforms May Take Years

In the meantime, Andrew is working with industry shareholders, consulting the upcoming measure. According to him, the industry will not cancel its voluntary funding until the levy has been officially introduced.

Unfortunately, the implementation of all the white paper measures is unlikely to happen anytime soon and certainly not before the next general election. According to Andrew Rhodes, CEO of the UK Gambling Commission, implementing so many measures is likely to keep his team occupied for the next few years.

Rhodes emphasized the need to approach the reforms with care rather than haste, ensuring that everything is well thought-out and functional. Despite that, critics have slammed the pace of the reforms, critiquing the government for its slow progress.

Rhodes, however, remains firm that progress is being made. He promised that the moderate pace would allow his team to create a UK gambling market that is safer and fairer.

Speaking of safe gambling, the UK government just outlined who may benefit from gambling addiction treatment.

In the meantime, the UK continues to discuss the controversial affordability checks, another measure outlined in the Gambling Act white paper.

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The 2012-founded leading iGaming technology company that supplies products, services, and solutions to iGaming operators, Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), has announced the appointment of ex-DraftKings and SBTech executive Andrew Cochrane as its new chief business officer for Platform & Sportsbook. 

The move, which will see the new CBO work together with Platform & Sportsbook’ recently appointed chief executive officer Richard Carter for a second time, represents an important milestone in the tech supplier’s plans for growth. Cochrane took it to his social media to announce his excitement about the appointment.

Cochrane, a “Prominent and Highly Respected” Industry Figure 

Described as a “prominent and highly respected figure within the industry” by GiG, the new CBO is expected to bring his rich experience and proven track record of driving revenue growth and shareholder value to the table and help support the company’s success. 

Further augmenting its choice, GiG mentioned the pivotal roles that Cochrane played in driving revenue growth for SBTech where he spent almost two years and occupied the chief commercial officer and chief business development officer positions. 

GiG’s new CBO was also part of the executive team that led the DraftKings business combination which eventually resulted in the NASDAQ listing of the combined business in the spring of 2020.

The customer relations expert who engages with tier-1 and lottery operators also spent close to four years with DraftKings Inc. as senior vice president commercial. 

There, he inked a series of strategic partnerships “with over $50-$100 million in annual partnerships” while busy guaranteeing the best-in-class commercial rates for services and products required by the company’s verticals including Sports Betting, Daily Fantasy Sports, and iGaming. 

Cochrane was also Sporting Solutions’ key account director and sales director between July 2015 and July 2017. He was also Inspired Gaming Group’s global account director with the key responsibility of delivering the agreed service-level agreements and key performance indicators of the contract with the company’s largest leveraged buyout customer, William Hill. 

Speaking about their previous collaborations, CEO Carter expressed his delight in having Cochrane “onboard to help propel our commercial efforts to unprecedented heights.”

What the New Position Brings 

Together with Carter, the new CBO will focus on powering growth for the company’s innovative product suite via fresh agreements in growth global markets while strengthening its position as a leading option for turnkey solutions.

Cochrane will implement GiG’s commercial strategies across its iGaming platform, as well as across its sportsbook and Artificial Intelligence-based solutions. The list will include business development, partnerships, corporate development, and marketing. 

His journey with GiG will begin with selecting and attracting some of the brightest industry pros who can help them unlock all the opportunities that await in GiG’s worldwide addressable markets.

At the start of October, GiG announced it would assist Goldenpark with making its entrance into Ontario’s online market. Earlier in the year, in May, the tech company extended its partnership with bet365.

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