Allwyn vs Light & Wonder

Allwyn appoints Francesco Rodano as Group Head of Responsible Gaming

Allwyn has appointed Francesco Rodano as Group Head of Responsible Gaming, as announced on 9 September 2026. This is a key leadership appointment in the company's responsible gaming efforts.

Stagwell Posts Strong Q2 Driven by Record New Business

Stagwell delivered a strong quarter under CEO Mark Penn, reporting Q2 net revenue of $632 million, up 6% year‑over‑year, and year‑to‑date net revenue of $1.22 billion, a 5% increase. The holding company booked a record $171 million in new business in Q2 (up 45% YoY) as management doubled its new‑business unit to pursue larger global and CPG clients, supporting top‑100 client growth of 16%. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $109 million, up 15% YoY. Stagwell secured several major accounts this quarter — notably IBM (taken from WPP’s Ogilvy) — along with Heineken, Navy Federal Credit Union, Hershey’s, Allwyn and Haier, while expanding its media group and activations to scale global offerings. The firm holds a 35% stake in RealClearPolitics, employs about 13,500 people, and reports roughly 3% of revenue from the Middle East.

• Q2 net revenue: $632 million (up 6% year-over-year).
• Year-to-date net revenue: $1.22 billion (up 5% from 2025).
• New business in Q2: $171 million (45% YoY); company doubled its new-business unit to pursue larger global/CPG accounts; top-100 clients grew 16%.

Allwyn’s Powerball campaign dramatizes billionaire fantasies

Allwyn has launched Powerball in Britain with a major integrated marketing campaign led by creative agency VCCP and supported by Allwyn’s in-house Studio 59. The commercial dramatizes large-scale winnings with a mix of live action, CGI, collage and animation and asks “What would you do with Powerball money?”. Media agency Hearts & Science planned the 360-degree media buy across broadcast, streaming, digital, rail, London Underground and nationwide shopping destinations. Social and creator activity was developed with Coolr and leverages Snap’s Snapchat — including Snap Stars and a generative AI-powered Imagine Lens — to visualise winners’ ideas. The campaign will run on TV, cinema, social, retail, experiential and a national out-of-home program. Production credits include Iconoclast, director Glenn Kitson and a creative team led by Darren Bailes and Liam Wilson.

• Allwyn launched Powerball in the UK with an integrated marketing campaign.
• The commercial was made by VCCP and supported by Allwyn’s in-house creative, Studio 59.
• Media agency Hearts & Science planned the 360-degree campaign across broadcast, streaming, digital and nationwide OOH.

Light & Wonder Appoints Muthu Palanichamy as Senior Vice President & General Manager of Global Systems

Light & Wonder announced the appointment of Muthu Palanichamy as Senior Vice President & General Manager of Global Systems, effective September 17, 2026.

SciPlay Cuts 20 Jobs in Israel

SciPlay has cut about 20 jobs at its Ramat Gan development hub, roughly 7% of the site's ~300-person workforce. SciPlay Games Israel — described as a strategic development and growth centre that arose partly from Light & Wonder’s 2014 acquisition of Dragonplay — accounts for about one-third of SciPlay’s global headcount and handles engineering, product, data science/analytics, UI/UX and digital marketing. The studio develops and operates free-to-play social casino titles including Quick Hit Slots, 88 Fortunes and Hot Shot Casino, and its Israeli operations are managed by Chief Revenue Officer Noga Halperin. The reductions, which affect multiple disciplines, follow a separate round of cuts in June and come after parent company Light & Wonder reported a 7% year-on-year revenue decline to $187m in the first quarter; SciPlay has not publicly tied the latest cuts to any strategic review.

• SciPlay cut about 20 jobs at its Ramat Gan site, roughly 7% of the ~300 local workforce.
• SciPlay Games Israel accounts for roughly one-third of SciPlay’s global headcount.
• The centre develops and operates free-to-play social casino titles including Quick Hit Slots, 88 Fortunes and Hot Shot Casino and covers engineering, product, data, UI/UX and marketing.