The second half of June is proving to be another busy period for the North American commercial gaming industry. There’s certainly no summer slowdown when it comes to hiring season and executive moves.
As we do every Thursday, SBC Americas is here to highlight the latest workforce and industry changes in gaming. Here’s what’s happened this week.
DraftKings bolsters government affairs team
On Tuesday, Andrew Winchell announced that he accepted a position at DraftKings as the company’s Senior Government Affairs Manager.
Winchell joins DraftKings after holding several government-related roles in gaming for FanDuel and Betr. In 2019, FanDuel hired Winchell as its Director of Regulatory Affairs. He spent five years at DraftKings’ biggest rival before assuming the role of Head of Government Affairs at Betr.
After two years there, he’s now landed at DraftKings.
“I greatly appreciate the trust that the team has placed in me and am glad to have the opportunity to continue moving the gaming industry forward,” said Winchell.
Before entering the gaming industry, Winchell served as Chief of Staff for former New York State Sen. John Bonacic for nearly a decade after time spent as an assistant to former New York Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt.
Soft2Bet taps Lynch for key partnership role
Catherine Lynch joined Soft2Bet this week as Vice President of Global Partnerships after spending a year at Underdog as a senior manager.
Lynch brings partnership experience in gaming with a previous stop at DraftKings, where she held various roles including as Manager of Strategic Partnerships for the NFL and NHL.
“Soft2Bet is bringing something special in the North American market, and I’m excited to help build it,” said Lynch in a LinkedIn post.
Before entering the gaming space, Lynch was a manager at marketing agency Cramer.
Red Rock Resorts hires new general counsel
J. Colby Williams is joining Red Rock Resorts as the company’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Williams is replacing Jeffrey Welch, who is retiring after nearly a decade with the casino operator.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Jeff for his leadership and contributions that have positioned us for continued success, and to wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement,” said Red Rock Resorts CEO Frank Fertitta III. “We are looking forward to welcoming Colby, a longtime and trusted advisor to the company and to me. His successful and impressive legal track record and his intimate familiarity with our organization will ensure a seamless transition.”
Williams will start his new role in September 2026 and will lead Red Rock Resorts’ regulatory, legal and compliance efforts. He brings more than 30 years of legal expertise and is the founding partner of Las Vegas-based boutique law firm Campbell & Williams.
PureWager Group adds new director
Florida-based PureWager Group has added Graham Martin to its team as a non-executive director in preparation for the operator’s entry in the U.S. gaming market. The hiring comes after PureWager restructured with a focus on technology and operations.
“Graham is one of the true pioneers of regulated online betting,” said PureWager CEO Elliott Banks. “His appointment comes as PureWager Group enters an important phase of growth following our restructuring into two focused pillars.”
Martin’s legacy in gaming includes the founding of Bonne Terre Limited, the Flutter-owned gambling brand behind Sky Betting & Gaming.
Brightstar Lottery makes a promotion
Brightstar Lottery has promoted Marco Tasso to EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Global Lottery.
Tasso is replacing Renato Ascoli, who will step down as CEO on June 30 after more than 20 years with the company. Tasso, who is currently COO of Brightstar Lottery’s international and Italian operations, will start in his new role as an executive for global operations on July 1.
“As Renato prepares to step down, I want to thank him for his many years of service and steadfast commitment to our business and people,” said Brightstar CEO Vince Sadusky. “Having Marco as a part of our senior leadership team supports the company’s vision and strategic goals. As we strengthen our focus on growth, transformation and operational execution, Marco’s insights and experience will help shape the lottery operating organization and optimize it to deliver results.”
Tasso will leverage his experience at Brightstar Lottery and Northstar Lottery Group to expand the reach and streamline the execution of Brightstar Lottery’s global strategies.
