Allwyn AG is seeking to continue enhancing its player safety approach with the appointment of industry veteran Francesco Rodano as Group Head of Responsible Gaming.
Rodano joins the global gambling giant from Playtech, where he spent over a decade, including nearly nine of those years as Chief Policy Officer.
In addition, he led the implementation of its AI-driven behavioural analytics platform. Before that, he spent nine years as Head of Remote Gaming at Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency.
Rodano stated: “I am privileged to be joining Allwyn and to build on the strong responsible gaming platform the company has already put in place across its markets.
“Player protection is something I live and breathe, and I look forward to implementing that passion at scale across Allwyn.”
The appointment marks the latest change to Allwyn’s leadership, after Phil Walker was recently announced as its Interim Chief Executive Officer.
This caught the eye of two MPs, Dawn Butler and Iain Duncan Smith, who wrote to the Gambling Commission about the hire since Walker was a key figure at William Hill when the bookmaker paid a record £19.2m settlement to the Commission in 2023.
Allwyn responded to these developments, however, stating that the Commission was informed of the appointment prior to the announcement and that the company is still on the hunt for a permanent CEO.
Allwyn continues responsible gaming push
Rodano’s appointment demonstrates the firm’s commitment to player safety and builds on its lottery businesses achieving Level Four of the World Lottery Association’s responsible gaming framework, the highest level of accreditation available.
The operator’s Play the Right Way campaign is also actively implemented across its markets, while the inaugural recipients of the Allwyn Player Protection Lab award were recently announced.
It continues to state its ambition to improve returns to Good Causes in the UK as well, after funding raised for those reached £3bn last month.
On the appointment of Rodano, Robert Chvátal, group CEO, commented: “As Allwyn expands its global presence, being responsible isn’t just how we approach business, it is a key part of who we are and our long-term strength.
“From how we partner, hire and innovate, to how we make games safer, we embed integrity and care across everything we do.
“Francesco’s appointment and the experience he brings are another clear commitment to that philosophy, and I am delighted to welcome him to Allwyn.”
