Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has announced the release of its 2023 Sustainability Report. This inaugural report outlines the company’s Sustainability Strategy, progress, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments and goals for the year.

Building a Sustainable Industry and Planet

The report details Play’n GO’s efforts over recent months and years to contribute to a more sustainable industry and planet. Key areas covered include Responsible Gambling, Climate Commitments, and Inclusion and Diversity. The company has also embraced a pioneering Digital First culture, giving its employees the freedom to choose where and how they work.

Vanessa Arenram, Director of CSR at Play’n GO, expressed her excitement about the release: “Play’n GO has long made its commitment to sustainability and ESG very clear, and the release of our first-ever Sustainability Report is evidence of those words being put into action. We’re thrilled to finally share this report today, and it serves as a celebration of the dedication and progress made by our global team. From our commitment to player safety and collaborating with regulators to influence the development of sustainable regulation, to our Climate Pledge and how we are investing in our people and partnerships, we mean it when we say that the only viable future is a sustainable one. While much of the Report has already been actioned, we still have work to do, and this Report holds us to account as we continue leading the industry to a sustainable future of iGaming.”

Key Initiatives and Achievements

Responsible Gambling: Play’n GO’s groundbreaking Bonus Buy study is a highlight, showcasing the company’s dedication to player safety and responsible gaming practices. Collaborations with regulators have been pivotal in influencing the development of sustainable regulations.

Climate Commitments: The report outlines the company’s Climate Pledge, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint and implementing environmentally friendly practices across its operations.

Inclusion and Diversity: Play’n GO emphasizes its commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. The company’s Digital First culture supports this by providing employees with the flexibility to work in ways that best suit their needs.

The Sustainability Report also underscores the importance of regulatory clarity and the need for self-regulatory bodies designated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This framework can incorporate lessons from existing IT rules to create a comprehensive regulatory environment for online games.

Future Goals and Continuous Improvement

While the report highlights significant progress, Play’n GO acknowledges that there is still work to be done. The company is committed to continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that its strategies evolve to meet emerging challenges and opportunities in the industry.

Source: “Play’n GO Announces Release of Company Sustainability Report”, Play’n GO, May 28, 2024.

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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 proof of its unwavering devotion to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence, International Game Technology PLC (IGT) proudly announced that the company has achieved the highest possible MSCI ESG rating—AAA.

This stellar score from the global rating agency reflects IGT’s year-over-year progress in managing ESG-related risks and capitalizing on opportunities, positioning the company as a sustainability leader in its sector.

Navigating ESG Terrain – IGT’s Yearly Surge

IGT’s remarkable achievement in securing a AAA rating underscores its proactive approach to ESG considerations. The MSCI ESG Ratings, which evaluate a company’s resilience to long-term ESG risks, place IGT at the forefront of the industry, reflecting the company’s strategic alignment with sustainable practices.

Breaking down the AAA score, the company shines particularly bright in key categories. Governance, product safety and quality, carbon emissions management, and labor practices are standout areas where IGT has garnered high marks. This well-rounded performance underscores IGT’s holistic desire for sustainable practices, from governance excellence to reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring the highest standards in product safety.

MSCI ESG Research, the esteemed global authority on ESG evaluations, employs a meticulous process to assess and rate companies on a AAA-CCC scale relative to their industry peers. IGT’s top-tier rating speaks volumes about its conscientious business practices, with a focus on minimizing risks and capitalizing on opportunities in a rapidly evolving ESG landscape.

Insights for Investors, MSCI’s Critical Role

MSCI’s ESG Ratings offer investors invaluable insights into a company’s ESG-related practices. By providing a comprehensive analysis of thousands of companies globally, MSCI equips institutional investors with the tools to make informed decisions, identifying both risks and opportunities that might escape conventional investment research.

As IGT proudly displays its AAA ESG Rating, the company stands as a beacon of sustainable excellence in the gaming industry, reinforcing its loyalty to responsible business practices and resilience in the face of evolving ESG dynamics.

Wendy Montgomery, IGT SVP, Marketing, Communications and Sustainability said: “IGT achieving the MSCI AAA ESG rating demonstrates our strong commitment to enhancing our company-wide sustainability results through our ongoing Sustainable Play initiatives. Sustainability is embedded throughout our daily operations as we focus on creating long-term value for our key stakeholders.”

Source: ”IGT Achieves Highest-Possible MSCI ESG Rating of AAA”. European Gaming. January 26, 2024.

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ISS ESG, a sustainability rating agency, has updated NOVOMATIC’s sustainability rating to C, marking it as one of the best companies within the electronics industry.

ISS ESG, which is one of the best sustainability experts along with Sustainalytics and Moody’s ESG Solutions, assessed Novomatic’s business, examining its environmental, economic and social performance. As usual, ISS ESG formed its rating based on approximately 100 industry-specific markers.

In October, ISS ESG upgraded NOVOMATIC’s rating to C. This places NOVOMATIC among the top 30% of electronics companies, aligning it with the likes of Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard.

NOVOMATIC reported that its business made significant headways in a number of areas, including the following:

• Employees and suppliers
• Society and product responsibility
• Corporate governance and business ethics 

Sustainability Means a Lot to NOVOMATIC

NOVOMATIC addressed the matter, saying that ESG is an integral part of its corporate strategy. The company noted that it remains bullish on making continuous improvements as part of its comprehensive sustainability program.

NOVOMATIC board member Ryszard Presch echoed this sentiment, saying:

As an international gaming technology group, we have always assumed social responsibility and act conscientiously and transparently in all areas of our business.

Ryszard Presch, board member, NOVOMATIC

Johannes Gratzl, another board member, thanked ISS ESG for its recognition. He praised the top rating, highlighting its importance to the company.

With this rating, we have made a great leap forward, and our level of transparency is now at the highest level. We are also well above the industry average when it comes to the core issue of working conditions and standards.

Johannes Gratzl, board member, NOVOMATIC

This is not the first time NOVOMATIC’s sustainability efforts have been recognized. Previously, NOVOMATIC emerged as the industry winner of PwC’s ESG Ranking 2023.

In September, NOVOMATIC published its H1 results, reporting strong growth across multiple metrics. The company’s EBITDA increased in all markets where it operates, highlighting the strength of its business.

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In line with the industrial trends for an active engagement in addressing the current social and environmental issues, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has introduced the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Code of Good Practice for the remote gaming sector.

Self-Regulation Instrument

The ESG Code represents an instrument to help remote gaming companies opt for the best social and environmental practices through a self-regulation process. Albeit voluntary, the ESG process is highly recommended for the sector as the proposed adoption of the ESG practices will demonstrate the commitment of MGA licensees to sustainable operations across all the remote gaming sector stakeholders.

During the press conference, MGA CEO Carl Brincat reportedly said:“The MGA has always strived to be at the forefront of regulatory innovation and progress. We have been working not only to supervise the gaming industry, but also to nurture it, to foster a space where operators can thrive, while ensuring that the welfare of society remains paramount. Our ESG Code represents our commitment to this.”

Minister for the Economy, EU Funds and Lands Silvio Schembri reportedly commented: “All businesses should embrace tools to reduce risk and transform successfully, and when it comes to remote gaming, one of the tools is using ESG metrics.’’

Minister added: “The ESG code will serve as an instrument for self-regulation, helping remote gaming companies align with best practices and maintain a position that allows them to effectively meet the evolving expectations of key stakeholders in the sector.”

ESG Code Features

The ESG Code production has been carried out in several stages including the peer review and research stage, stakeholder interviews, and consultation with licensees to ensure that the ESG Code comprehensively addresses social and environmental concerns of the industry stakeholders.

The Code includes three categories, Environmental, Social and Governance, to identify a total of 19 ESG topics and provide the effective guideline for remote gaming companies to secure effective reporting practice.

The MGA will classify these reports into Tier 1 and Tier 2 reports depending on the extent of reporting exercised by the companies. For this purpose, the ESG Code offers a flexible approach for companies to meet the basic standard requirements and choose optional disclosures of their respective social and environmental practices.

No specific targets have been set by the ESG reporting but rather focused on the reporting process itself. The companies submitting reports under this code will be awarded the MGA ESG Code Approval Seal acknowledging that companies demonstrate the commitment to ESG. The seal will differentiate Tier 1 and Tier 2 reports.

ESG Reporting Process

The Code will be submitted on a voluntary basis and will be separated from other ESG disclosures to the regulatory bodies. Submissions will be confidential and available via an MGA online platform. The ESG reporting schedule will follow the financial year reporting and is expected to launch in 2023, with the deadline for submission set for the third quarter of 2024.

Source: “MGA Publishes Voluntary ESG Code of Good Practice”. European Gaming. November 13, 2023.

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The leading gaming, sports betting and interactive entertainment company, Entain, released its 2022-23 ESG report, outlining the progress on strategic ESG-related objectives and issues. The company reminded that its two prime ongoing goals include growth and sustainability.

Within its recent report, Entain confirmed the significant progress it made within different ESG objectives including safer betting and gaming and focusing on regulated markets. Additionally, the company focused on investing in people and communities, while at the same time pursuing the highest standards of corporate governance.

The release of the latest ESG report comes after in 2022, the company became the biggest operator in the world to secure Advanced Level 3 accreditation for its online activities, as well as Advanced Level 2 accreditation for its land-based operations from GamCare’s Safer Gambling Standard. Further recognizing the company’s efforts, SBC named Entain as the 2022 Socially Responsible Operator of the Year.

“Over the past year, we have continued to make great progress in setting the standards for our industry in all areas of ESG, across all of our operations.“

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO at Entain

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain’s CEO, commented on the topic explaining that in the last year, the company made significant progress within different ESG segments. She pointed out: “We are proud to lead the industry in providing the safest possible betting and gaming platform, taking a leading role in supporting the communities in which we operate, reducing or environmental impact and in doing so, making Entain the best place to work for all of our people.” Finally, Nygaard-Andersen spoke about the benefits those processes delivered for the company’s stakeholders.

The Company Highlights Multiple ESG Achievements

Highlighting the achievements within the ESG vertical, Entain said that 33% of its Board is female. Additionally, recently the company introduced its first-ever Board Diversity Policy. Entain added that it gained further progress on closing the gender gap pay, while at the same time delivering support and wellbeing programs for its employees, especially the ones impacted by COVID-19.

Within its new ESG report, the company reminded that it introduced its ARC player protection program to 22 international markets outside of the UK. Moreover, in the last year, the gaming and entertainment leader increased its contributions dedicated to Research Education and Treatment in 2023 to 1% of GGY.

Other highlights described by Entain reveal that 100% of the company’s revenue was derived from regulated or domestically regulated markets. To ensure sustainable growth, the company exited a number of markets that weren’t likely to be regulated. Last but not least, Entain confirmed that it has licenses for 26 North American markets and 30 countries around the globe.

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Developer and operator of casino resorts around the world, Las Vegas Sands (LVS), outlined what progress the business registered on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives set out for the 2021-2025 period in its 2022 (ESG) report.

The 2022 ESG report tracks the progress on the ambitious goals LVS has set out for its performance by 2025, striving to reach certain targets based on three pillars – People, Communities and Planet.

“We set targets that push the company to achieve tangible results, and the work we have outlined toward these ambitions has put us on a solid track to reach our goals,” commented Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer of LVS, pointing to a “full range of core priorities” under these three pillars “that have also produced significant impact” and are reflected in the report.

Workforce Development

Sands’ corporate responsibility program through 2025 seeks to invest $200 million in workforce development initiatives, and in 2022, the hospitality operator invested $56 million to reach a total of $113 million since the start of the program in 2021.

Money invested in People in 2022 supported core initiatives aimed at advancing team members and local talents such as the Sands Academy Team Member training and development program and the Sands China financial support, invitational matching, and training and development (F.I.T.) program for small and medium enterprises.

Volunteer Work for Communities

Under the Community pillar in 2022, Sands exceeded the target set out for 2025 by reaching 192,330 Team Member volunteer hours contribution to date. Contributions included extensive volunteer support for Macau initiatives related to the pandemic such as community testing and vaccinations.

The target set for the end of the five-year program is 150,000 volunteer hours in support of local communities and having reached it in 2022, the company plans to set a new 2025 target this year and will reveal the new target in its 2023 ESG report.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Energy Use Reduction

Using its 2018 greenhouse gas emissions reduction level of 17,5% as a baseline for its 2025 emissions reduction goal, Sands reported that its emissions remained significantly below the baseline in 2022, achieving a 50% reduction.

Sands implemented numerous emissions reduction projects while its property visitations were impacted by the pandemic to ensure the business remains on track to meet its 2025 target when visitations are expected to pick up and the business is expected to increase energy consumption.

In 2022, energy use was reduced via the installation of property controls across 3,300 hotel rooms which allowed the consumption to be reduced while guests are away, and the shift from hard-to-convert incandescent and fluorescent lighting to LED solutions.

In addition, the company purchased 151,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates and generated an additional 235 megawatt hours from solar panels, while Sands properties began transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles.

Sands’ ESG achievements in 2022 were recognized on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World for a third consecutive year and the DJSI North America for the seventh time, while Sands China appeared on the DJSI World for the first time and the DJSI Asia Pacific for the second.

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