Bragg Gaming Group has appointed Sportradar senior vice president Luka Pataky as its new executive vice president of AI and innovation.
The Toronto-headquartered gaming supplier said in a release that the hire reflects its commitment to leveraging data, advanced analytics and AI to enhance user experience, player engagement, maximize revenue potential and drive smarter, more efficient online gaming operations.
Pataky will work closely with Bragg’s technology teams to develop a 360-degree AI strategy that integrates artificial intelligence into product development and design, user experience, external communications, safer gambling initiatives and internal processes to drive growth and efficiency.
Pataky joins Bragg from Sportradar, where he spent more than a decade and rose to the position of senior vice president of automated content. In that role at the sports data and content firm, he led the construction and implementation of a production-ready, scalable system that now powers 300,000 sports events per year. Bragg noted he was also instrumental in revolutionizing sports content creation and integrating acquired tech businesses.
Bragg already has a robust AI technology suite, including its AI-powered Games Recommendation System in its Fuze marketing and promotional toolset. It also extensively uses AI to more effectively identify and support at-risk gamblers.
CEO Matevž Mazij called Pataky “the ideal hire” to help Bragg take its AI use to the next level.
“His extensive experience of being at the forefront of this game-changing technology and innovation will help springboard Bragg into the next iteration of our growth,” added the chief executive.
“Bragg has always struck me as a company where technology and innovation are key drivers,” added Pataky. “This is a company which is always pushing the boundaries, using its extensive knowledge and the skills of its teams to create and set new trends. It sits on vast amounts of user data and insight, which we can turn into intelligence that will power next-generation player engagement. Introducing AI at all levels of product and operations will make it perfectly positioned for future growth.”
Fanatics content deal builds on surging US growth
Pataky is Bragg’s second major hire in the space of a few weeks. In early June, the fast-growing supplier recruited experienced former Aristocrat Leisure executive Scott Milford as its new executive vice president of group content. Milford now oversees casino game development and strategy across all of Bragg’s in-house gaming studios and its external content partnerships, with a focus on fueling the company’s growth in the U.S. and beyond.
Bragg reported earlier this year that the company’s U.S. revenue soared by 150% year-over-year, hugely outstripping its overall revenue growth of 7%. The surging growth is largely a result of Bragg significantly deepening and broadening its footprint in the American online casino market.
In January, it announced a partnership with Caesars that includes an exclusive game development collaboration. Last month, Caesars launched the first title under that collaboration in New Jersey.
Last week, the company announced it would be launching its full catalog of online casino games on Fanatics Casino’s platforms in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Fanatics players in the three states can now play Bragg’s online casino content, including proprietary titles from Atomic Slot Lab, Wild Streak Gaming and Indigo Magic, as well as from Bragg’s multiple studio partners including Incredible Technologies, Bluberi, King Show Games and Sega Sammy Creation. In addition, Boomerang Studios, Four Leaf Gaming and Reflex Gaming will all launch titles on the Bragg RGS later this year.
