Allwyn has appointed Francesco Rodano, a former executive at Playtech, as its new group head of responsible gaming. Rodano brings nearly a decade of experience from Playtech, where he served as chief policy officer. From January 2022 until August 2026, he also led Playtech's global player protection efforts, holding the title of chief sustainable gambling officer.
During his tenure at Playtech, Rodano played a crucial role in implementing BetBuddy, an AI-driven behavioral analytics platform aimed at identifying and addressing potentially harmful gambling behaviors.
Prior to his work in the private sector, Rodano was the director of remote gaming at Italy's Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli for almost ten years. In this role, he contributed significantly to the development of Italy's national online gaming framework and collaborated with international regulatory agencies. He was also a member of an EU-formed group of gaming experts. With 20 years in the gaming sector, Rodano is well-set to take on this new role.
In an interview shared on Allwyn’s LinkedIn, Rodano stated that he has approached player protection from "every angle." His appointment is seen as part of Allwyn's broader commitment to strengthening responsible gaming within its growth strategy. The company claims its existing businesses have achieved Level 4 accreditation under the World Lottery Association’s responsible gaming framework, the highest level available.
CEO Robert Chvátal noted that Rodano's appointment aligns with Allwyn’s vision of embedding integrity and player safety across its products and markets. "Player protection is something I live and breathe, and I look forward to implementing that passion at scale across Allwyn," Rodano expressed. He also mentioned that Allwyn’s operations in several markets provide a unique opportunity for mutual learning.
Rodano's appointment comes in the wake of several leadership changes within Allwyn, including Phil Walker's recent transition to lead the UK business, the hiring of Katie Harbron as director of games in the UK, and Khalid Reede Jones' appointment as CEO for North America.
