Allwyn has appointed Francesco Rodano, a former executive from Playtech, as its new group head of responsible gaming. Rodano brings nearly a decade of experience from Playtech, where he served as the chief policy officer. From January 2022 to August 2026, he was also at the helm of its global player-protection initiative as the chief sustainable gambling officer.
In his previous role, Rodano played a key part in the deployment of BetBuddy, an AI-driven behavioral analytics platform intended to identify and address potentially harmful gambling behaviors. Before his tenure at Playtech, he worked for almost ten years as the director of remote gaming for the Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli, Italy’s regulatory authority. During this time, he was pivotal in establishing Italy's national online gaming framework and worked closely with international regulatory agencies, also participating as a member of an EU group of gaming experts. Overall, Rodano's experience spans two decades in the gambling sector.
In an interview shared on Allwyn's LinkedIn page, Rodano articulated his comprehensive approach to player protection, stating he had been involved in it "from every angle." His appointment is part of Allwyn’s strategy to enhance responsible gaming as a core component of its growth objectives. The company’s existing operations have already attained Level 4 certification under the World Lottery Association’s responsible gaming framework, which is the highest level available.
Robert Chvátal, the CEO of Allwyn, expressed that Rodano’s hiring aligns with the group’s ongoing commitment to embed integrity and player safety in all its markets and products. "Player protection is something I live and breathe, and I look forward to implementing that passion at scale across Allwyn," Rodano emphasized. He noted that, due to Allwyn’s presence across multiple markets, there exists a unique opportunity for cross-learning.
Rodano’s appointment follows a series of leadership changes within Allwyn, including Phil Walker leading the UK operations, Katie Harbron taking on the role of director of games in the UK, and Khalid Reede Jones' recent appointment as CEO for North America.
