43 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 products such as Lotto Plus and, most recently, EuroDreams, and she directed the introduction of EuroMillions—Europe’s first pooled lottery—in Austria. The current EuroMillions TV commercial was named the world’s best lottery TV spot at the 2022 World Lottery Summit in Vancouver. Firmly rooted in the EuroMillions community and as a board member of the Belgian company Services aux Loteries en Europe, Elisabeth actively fosters international exchange with industry peers. She is also passionately committed to mentoring young female talent through her involvement in the Women’s Initiative in Lottery Leadership. Her team is recognized for effective marketing carried out within strict Responsible Advertising guidelines. This includes the voluntary implementation of the responsible 18+ rule— one must be over 18 to play with the Austrian Lotteries—under the guiding principle of “playsponsible.” Charles Scannella – cont. from page 10 Elisabeth Römer-Russwurm – cont. from page 10 As Scientific Games’ Vice President of Commercial Sales and Client Relations, Charlie leverages his extensive knowledge of and experience in strategically and responsibly growing game portfolios to lead the North American Sales team and drive success for the company’s lottery partners. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with lottery customers, embedding himself as an extension of their teams and business operations. This deep collaboration has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of their operational needs and has set the gold standard for client partnership and support. Prior to joining Scientific Games in 1990, Charlie gained valuable foundational experience in the lottery industry at the New Jersey Lottery and seven years as a Project Manager for Webcraft Games Inc. In this role, he directly supported the Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, and Indiana lotteries, contributing to instant and draw game training in New Jersey and Indiana. Notably, he played a key role in the start-up operations for both the Indiana and Oklahoma Lotteries, providing him with crucial insights into the initial stages of lottery development and implementation. Since joining Scientific Games, Charlie has been instrumental in driving success for numerous U.S. lotteries. As Regional Director, he contributed to the development and implementation of thousands of instant games and spearheaded successful strategic customer marketing plans. His tenure as Regional Vice President of Licensed Properties demonstrated his ability to strategically leverage popular brands to enhance game portfolios and engage players. In his most recent roles as Regional Vice President of Instant Products, Vice President of Business Development and Customer Support for the company’s Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership business and now VP of Commercial Sales and Client Relations, he has served as a key business lead for major customers including Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Georgia, consistently providing expertise in portfolio management that has directly contributed to their sales and profit goals. Throughout his distinguished career, Charlie has not only learned from industry leaders but has also become a respected mentor and teacher to colleagues and lottery customers alike. He embodies the qualities of a true partner, known for his unwavering trust, exceptional integrity, and consistent delivery of his commitments. His deep understanding across all aspects of the industry, gained through close collaboration with internal and external partners alike, has significantly impacted the success of numerous lotteries within Scientific Games' network and has positioned him as a highly respected leader within the organization. Charlie Scannella's four decades of dedicated service, his comprehensive understanding of lottery operational needs gained through deep collaboration, his proven track record of strategically and responsibly growing lottery clients' game portfolios, and his exceptional ability to build strong, trusting partnerships underscore his significant and enduring contributions to the lottery industry. His work has left an indelible mark, and his leadership continues to inspire those around him. PGRI LOTTERY INDUSTRY HALL OF FAME FOR 2025 Stephen Durrell– cont. from page 10 Stephen’s innovative approach to the Kansas Lottery was exemplified by the 2017 launch of Kansas PlayOn® Loyalty, a game-changing shift from transactional engagement to a relationshipdriven, entertainment focused model. PlayOn was so successful in Kansas that the lottery eventually had 16% of the adult population registered. Following this, Stephen used his detailed knowledge of the Kansas Lottery enabling legislation to identify an opportunity to launch iLottery. Combining the legislative possibility, with an identified beneficiary for the new funds, Stephen was able to secure support for iLottery. The lottery then moved quickly and in less than a year launched online sales of e-instant games, Powerball® and Mega Millions®. With the highly engaged PlayOn loyalty player base, iLottery has been a huge success in the state of Kansas, exceeding all expectations. Stephen continues to evolve the Lottery as an entertainment brand, leveraging partnerships with movie studios, sports teams, and streaming platforms to offer players unique experiences and exclusive prizes— further positioning the Kansas Lottery as a dynamic, player-focused enterprise. Stephen has served on the Executive Committee of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), first as Chair of the Security and Integrity Committee, and currently as Chair of the Legal Committee since 2023. Stephen’s 21 years in the gaming industry and longstanding leadership and commitment to the Lottery industry, through a blend of legal expertise, strategic vision, and innovation, combined with a focus on operational efficiency, digital growth, and partnerships has positioned Kansas as a leader in the lottery industry. With a proven track record in managing intricate regulatory landscapes and driving player engagement, Stephen continues to shape the future of state-run lotteries and contribute to our industry in a variety of ways.
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