Alwyn Strengthens Responsible Gaming Leadership with Playtech Veteran

Allwyn has announced the appointment of former Playtech executive Francesco Rodano as the group’s new head of responsible gaming.

Rodano led Playtech’s policy as director of supplier policy for nearly a decade. He then led global player protection efforts as Director of Sustainable Gambling from January last year to August 2026.

During his tenure, Rodano was instrumental in introducing BetBuddy, an artificial intelligence-based behavioral analytics platform designed to identify and intervene in potentially harmful gambling behavior.

Before moving to the private sector, Rodano spent almost a decade as director of remote gaming at Italian regulator Agenzia Dogane e Monopoli.

He played a significant role in the creation of the national online gaming system in Italy and liaised with international regulators.

During his tenure, he was also a member of the EU-established Gameplay Experts Group. In total, Rodano has worked in this sector for 20 years.

Speaking during an interview about his appointment posted on Alwyn’s Linkedin page, he said he was working to protect players “from all angles”.

Playtech veteran to lead Alvin’s RG strategy

Rodano’s appointment reflects Allwyn’s commitment to making responsible gaming an integral part of its growth strategy, the company said in a statement announcing the move.

The company’s existing operations have achieved Level 4 accreditation under the World Lottery Association’s Responsible Gaming Principles – the highest level possible.

Robert Chvatal, CEO of Allwyn, said the appointment is in line with the group’s long-term vision to ensure player integrity and safety across all its products and markets.

“Protecting players is what I live and breathe, and I look forward to bringing that passion to the scale of Alwyn,” Rodano added.

He said that by working in multiple markets, Alwyn had a unique opportunity to learn from each other.

The appointment also follows a period of leadership changes at Allwyn, including the move of Phil Walker to lead the UK business, the appointment of Katie Harbron as UK gaming director and the appointment of Khalid Reed Jones as North America CEO.