30 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • MARCH/APRIL 2024 Paul Jason: Your role expanded six years ago from managing sales and operations in North America to managing them worldwide. What have you observed about the industry during this time? Jay Gendron: Europe is far more advanced in the interactive space and cloud computing. The lotteries face similar challenges to those in the U.S. with illegal lotteries, plus they are facing an increase in commercial operators especially in the digital space, as well as challenges due to restrictions on consumer advertising and the continued challenge of “How do we continue to grow responsibly in an everchanging gaming environment?” A Global View on Lottery Growth Opportunities Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer Global Lottery Jay recently shared his thoughts on lottery opportunities for the year ahead and other current topics: PGRI INTERVIEWS PGRI INTRODUCTION: Since December 2017, Jay Gendron has been the Chief Operating Officer of Global Lottery at International Game Technology (IGT), ensuring that IGT’s resources, products, and services support the diverse and unique needs of Lottery customers around the world, excluding Italy. His role includes leadership of lottery operations and customer relationships, instant ticket printing, and global field operations. In October 2015, Jay was inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. Since joining IGT in March 1995, Jay has held various positions in Government Relations, Lottery, and Video Lottery sales. Prior to stepping into the position of COO, he served as Senior Vice President, North America Lottery, from 2014 until 2017. These positions of increasing responsibility over his 29-year career provide Jay an incomparable understanding of lottery operations to better serve the company’s worldwide customer base. Jay is a member of IGT’s Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council, and the co-executive sponsor of ACE, one of seven Employee Impact Groups at IGT. ACE stands for Advancing Cultural Education, whose primary purpose is advancing people of African descent through recruitment, professional development, and networking within the company and the gaming industry.
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