The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced the appointment of Nick Rust as the chairman of its Industry Forum. According to the regulator, Rust will step into the office in November and will serve an initial two-year term.

The UKGC noted that its Industry Forum will be made up of members from the United Kingdom’s gambling sector. Its job will be to provide the gambling watchdog with insight into how the gambling industry feels about the Commission’s regulatory plans.

As announced by the UKGC, Rust has a significant track record in the gambling and sports sectors. His past experience includes a successful six-year tenure as the chief executive officer of the British Horseracing Authority. In addition to that, Rust currently serves as the chairman of the Starting Price Regulatory Commission. He is also a non-executive director of Redcar Racecourse.

The UKGC added that Rust is a founding partner of GVS EQ, a company that specializes in equine sports. He is also a trustee of the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Marcus Boyle, the UKGC’s chairman, welcomed Rust on board. He praised his knowledge of the gambling sector, saying that his input will be invaluable.

I am delighted that Nick has been appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Commission’s Industry Forum. Nick’s extensive knowledge of the gambling sector makes him a valuable asset, and I am confident he will work with us to create a productive and insightful Industry Forum.

Marcus Boyle, chair, UKGC

The UKGC Moves Toward Implementing the White Paper Measures

In the meantime, the UKGC continues to evaluate and move toward implementing the measures outlined in the Gambling Act white paper. However, its plans to introduce affordability checks continue to dismay both consumers and gambling companies.

A recent petition, for example, seeks to convince the government to abandon its affordability checks plans. The petition currently has almost 75,000 signatures. Gamblers argue that the measure would make their hobby unsustainable, despite the UKGC’s efforts to convince them that the checks would be seamless and non-intrusive.

Andrew Rhodes from the UKGC has been increasingly vocal about the alleged intentional efforts to misinform the British public about the true nature of the checks. During the recent IAGR conference, he reaffirmed his position, slamming the efforts to “muddy the waters of debate and to torpedo the implementation.”

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Global developer of lottery, betting and gaming products, Scientific Games, announced today the appointment of Nick Negro as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The appointment of highly-accomplished senior financial management executive Negro to the role of CFO puts an end to the extensive nationwide search initiated by Scientific Games after the retirement of long-serving former CFO James Bunitsky.

Bunitsky, who joined the company in 1981, played an instrumental role in the financial transformation of the business over four decades, as well as the sale of its lottery business, Scientific Lottery Games, to Brookfield Business Partners in April 2022.

Sound Financial Management Is Key

Grateful for the “outstanding financial leadership” displayed by Bunitsky and excited to announce the addition of Negro to the executive leadership team of the company, Pat McHugh, chief executive officer of Scientific Games, outlined the credentials of the company’s new CFO.

“He has a thorough understanding of the complexity of international operations in a service-based business and broad knowledge of corporate structure, compliance and strategy,” McHugh said, looking forward to writing Scientific Games’ “next chapter of sound financial management” under the guidance of Negro.

A results-driven financial professional, Negro is bringing over 20 years of progressive financial, strategic, and operational management and leadership experience to the company, gained at global organizations across technology, logistics and manufacturing. He will be based at the company’s global headquarters in metro Atlanta.

Holder of an MBA in Accounting and Finance from DePaul University and BS in Finance from the University of Illinois, Negro was highly successful in developing and executing financial strategies at companies such as Honeywell, Dover Corporation and Navistar, where he held positions as CFO.

Corporate Governance, Compliance, Innovation

Commenting further on the appointment, McHugh stressed the importance of the corporate governance and compliance functions, playing a vital role in helping Scientific Games’ objective of earning long-term contracts with state and government-regulated lotteries worldwide.

He also reaffirmed the company’s stance to continue innovating its games, products and services while continuing to set the global lottery industry’s gold standard for achieving and sustaining growth while maximizing gains for its customers and shareholders.

For five decades, Scientific Games has been providing games, technology, analytics and services to lotteries globally, and is currently boasting a portfolio of 130 customers in 50 countries. It also achieved numerous global certifications in corporate governance, quality, security, environmental and responsible gaming standards.

Among the latest development was the announcement of the launch of the company’s new instant games printing technology which is expected to become central in the lottery product supplier’s expansion plans in the vertical.

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