8 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JULY/AUGUST 2025 From the Publisher Our Pulse of the Industry section offers a very brief digest of the key developments shaping the world of lottery and games of chance over the past six weeks. For the full roster of original articles and unedited news items, visit our news site at PublicGaming.com. There’s no shortage of big stories in this issue. First up, IGT is now Brightstar. We spoke with Brightstar CEO of Global Lottery, Renato Ascoli, about what this means for Brightstar customers and the industry at large. The rebranding signals a renewed focus on the future—on innovation, on digital transformation, and on what’s possible when an enterprise commits fully to the lottery space. It’s an exciting time for the company and its partners. Onward and upward. Another major move: Intralot S.A. has acquired Bally’s Global Interactive division, gaining a world-class digital platform and strengthening its position as a global leader in both lottery and iGaming. The implications of this deal reach far beyond the expansion of technical capabilities—it represents a bold step forward in Intralot’s transformation into a fully integrated, futureready technology and services provider. We’re also proud to feature interviews with the directors of three of the most forwardleaning lotteries in the U.S. In Kentucky, CEO Mary Harville joined us to talk about how the role of the Chief Financial Officer has evolved into one of strategic leadership. She brought KLC CFO Maggie Garrison into the conversation to explore how financial expertise is informing enterprise-wide vision, and being applied to drive innovation, support long-term planning, and help lottery organizations adapt to rapidly changing business landscapes. In California, Director Harjinder Shergill Chima is bringing fresh energy and inventive mindset to a lottery ready for change. What’s remarkable is not just the internal transformation, but the way she built broad public support—from education advocates, legislators, and community leaders—to amplify the lottery’s mission and impact. It’s a case study in how ingenuity and bold leadership re-energize a team and reinvigorate a brand. And in Florida, Secretary John Davis leads the nation’s top-selling lottery with a vision that extends far beyond the bottom line. His 2030 Plan is about setting stretch goals, yes—but the real success driver is cultural. Team Florida Lottery embraces the mission of public service, the support of education, and the belief that investing in people unlocks performance. It’s a powerful formula. We’ve also included an edited transcript of a panel discussion moderated by Georgia Lottery CEO Gretchen Corbin, featuring leaders from the major tech providers. The focus is on how digital platforms are evolving—not the games, but the infrastructure, systems, and tools that support them. It’s a fascinating look into the technology stack behind the player experience. Thanks to Scientific Games for sharing their research into player motivations and behavior. Instant games remain a rich canvas for innovation, and the data generated by Scientific’s ongoing activity is yielding new insights that are helping lotteries better engage players, improve retention, and spark growth. Also in this issue: Adam Barry, Chief of Staff at Intralot, Inc., gave a terrific presentation on the applications of Artificial Intelligence for lottery and gaming. I asked him to adapt it into an article. If you’re curious about how AI is already reshaping this industry, don’t miss it. Another bright spot: Brightstar’s collaboration with its lottery partners on the Mega Millions™ game change. It’s an inspiring success story that shows what’s possible when Team Lottery works together toward a shared vision. Coordination, execution, and mutual trust delivered a win for everyone. Looking more broadly, there are encouraging signs of a global trend toward stronger enforcement against illegal operators. Regulators used to refer to “gray area” markets. Now they are calling them what they are: Illegal operators. Criminal enterprises. Online casinos that masquerade as “Sweepstakes”, Coin-operated gambling kiosks and skill-based games that avoid being taxed or at least not as gambling machines, illegal sports betting and iGaming websites, illegal cross-border selling of lottery tickets – these are all coming under serious attack from regulators who are showing a vigorous resolve to actually enforce the law. And then there’s the country of Malta, Exhibit A in the Bad Actors Club. The European Commission has pursued ongoing infringement proceedings against Malta, accusing it of brazenly violating EU law by shielding its gaming industry from foreign court judgments. Malta’s 2023 Gaming Act amendment is expressly designed to block enforcement of EU-wide legal rulings against Maltese gambling companies. It is a direct affront to the principles of mutual trust and judicial cooperation at the heart of the European Union. The EC’s infringement notice cites Malta’s failure to comply with EU regulation by compelling its courts to refuse to recognize valid foreign judgments. Two rulings from Maltese courts earlier this year flagrantly ignored binding decisions by Austrian courts, denying justice to consumers defrauded by Malta-licensed operators. European lotteries and legal experts have rightly condemned Malta’s actions as dangerously undermining the rule of law across the Union. Looking ahead, September brings the NASPL Conference in Niagara Falls, followed by the EL Congress in Bern, Switzerland, and then our own PGRI Lottery Expo Conference in Nashville the first week of November. See NASPL.org, EuropeanLotteries.org, and PublicGaming.org for details, registration, and updates. Paul Jason, Publisher Public Gaming International Magazine
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTg4MTM=