Allwyn has appointed Francesco Rodano, a former executive at Playtech, as its new group head of responsible gaming. Rodano brings nearly a decade of policy experience from Playtech, where he served as the chief policy officer. From January last year until August 2026, he led the firm’s global player-protection initiatives as chief sustainable gambling officer.
During his time at Playtech, Rodano was key in the implementation of BetBuddy, an AI-driven behavioral analytics platform aimed at recognizing and addressing potentially harmful gambling habits.
Before his career in the private sector, Rodano was the Director of Remote Gaming at Italy’s Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli (ADM) for nearly ten years. In this role, he contributed significantly to the creation of Italy’s national online gaming regulations and worked closely with international regulatory agencies. He also participated as a member of a European Union group composed of gaming experts. Overall, Rodano has dedicated 20 years to the gaming industry.
In an interview shared on Allwyn’s LinkedIn page, Rodano expressed his comprehensive experience in player protection, stating he has approached the issue "from every angle."
Allwyn’s announcement emphasized that Rodano’s role aligns with the company's commitment to responsible gaming as part of its growth strategy. The company's current operations have achieved Level 4 accreditation, the highest standard under the World Lottery Association’s responsible gaming framework.
Robert Chvátal, Allwyn’s CEO, noted that this appointment supports the group’s vision of enhancing integrity and player safety across its offerings and markets. Rodano himself added, "Player protection is something I live and breathe and I look forward to implementing that passion at scale across Allwyn." He pointed out that operating in multiple markets gives Allwyn a unique chance to share insights across its operations.
Rodano's appointment comes amid a series of leadership changes at Allwyn, which also includes Phil Walker taking over UK operations, Katie Harbron joining as director of games in the UK, and Khalid Reede Jones being named CEO for North America.
