Allwyn names David Craven as CEO for National lottery bid

The former managing director of The Tote brings digital content experience to Allwyn’s National Lottery bid.

UK.- Saska’s Allwyn, the Czech gaming giant’s new UK division, has named David Craven as chief executive. He will work alongside Allwyn’s bid chair Sir Keith Mills to direct the company’s bid for the next UK National Lottery licence.

Craven served as managing director of the UK gambling group The Tote for six years. He also served as chief executive of the gaming software company World Gaming and was a co-founder of the digital media business UPC/Chello.

He said: “National Lotteries are needed now more than ever. In Sazka Group’s other markets, they have driven footfall on the high street whilst making a real difference in local communities. 

“That’s why the opportunity to become the CEO of Allwyn, and hopefully the National Lottery, was impossible to turn down.

“Throughout my career in the global gaming sector, I’ve always focused on how technology can be used to improve the customer experience, whether that be in-store or online. Not only does this mean making games fun and exciting, but I passionately believe that technology is the best way to safeguard customers.”

Increased focus on technology for Allwyn’s National Lottery bid

Craven joins a growing team as Allwyn develops its bid for the fourth National Lottery licence in the UK. In April, Allwyn appointed Twitter UK MD Dara Nasr to advise on the digital commerce side of the bid.

Allwyn is known to be keen to emphasise its plans for the digital development of the lottery. It’s also announced Vodafone as its “connectivity partner” for its bid.

Mills, the founder of Air Miles and Nectar and organiser of the 2012 London Olympic Games, said: “Any business that wants to grow its customer base must be able to demonstrate a credible plan to invest in and deploy the latest technology. 

“David’s phenomenal track record in software, broadband and gaming gives him an excellent understanding of this, which will only provide yet another huge boost to our application to run The National Lottery.”

Sazka is competing for the National Lottery licence against Italy’s Sisal and India’s Sugal & Damani, and, it’s assumed, the incumbent Camelot, which has won the lottery since its inception.

The Gambling Commission is expected to announce its preferred bidder later this year. The licence will begin in 2023.