WAYNE ELLARD – LIGHT & WONDER
Wayne Ellard – one year on
It was almost a year ago that Casino International spoke to the newly appointed MD of Light & Wonder. Matt Broughton caught up with Wayne Ellard to find out how things have gone.
Matt: We spoke almost a year ago when you’d just stepped up to the MD role. A year on, has the role been as you expected? Wayne: My prior experience in the industry and within Light & Wonder has provided me with a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. It has been a rewarding journey and we’ve achieved success both internally and in our interactions with operators over the past year. Notably, the unveiling of our new products; Duo
Fu Duo Cai Grand, Jewel of the Dragon, and the extraordinary Cosmic cabinet which launched in Q4, have been a source of great pride. We have been pleased to see a strong player reaction to the first Cosmic placements, similar to when the product was launched in the US. These additions have not only enhanced our product portfolio but also contributed significantly to the success of our casino partners. We have of course encountered macroeconomic challenges in the region, but our global scale, commitment to excellence and strong customer relationships have allowed us to navigate these hurdles. I am particularly fortunate to have support from
what I believe is the best team in the sector, both at the global and regional levels. Their collaborative approach and commitment to hard work has been instrumental in our accomplishments and I look forward to building upon this foundation as we continue to pursue excellence in the coming year.
Matt: You spoke about your new responsibilities including setting regional strategies for your team. How have those parts of the business performed over the last 12 months? Wayne: 2023 was a great year with excellent performance in our core markets and strong gains in other markets. We’re seeing our internal focus on improving how we serve our partners translate into better execution and winning positions in many of our markets.
42 FEBRUARY 2024 Over the past 12 months, our focus on growth
has been underscored by the addition of talented individuals to our team. In line with our corporate strategy, we have increased investment in our creative teams and focussed on how we can use data to improve both our product and how we work. This infusion of fresh perspectives has significantly bolstered our capabilities in both execution and planning, allowing us to step up our performance for our casino partners. As an example, we have recruited additional product managers and backed them up with insight analysts to ensure that we can deliver the right products for each market.
Matt: What key products can visitors look forward to seeing at this year’s ICE? Wayne: It’s a testament to our range and quality that my first thought is “where do I start!”. For EGMs, the two must-see games are Dragon Train and Squid Game. Dragon Train is currently leading the way in the Australian market and has been received well by players. It has incredible production values and a great twist on the hold and spin mechanic that keeps players excited and engaged. We are also showcasing Squid Game for the first time in the EMEA region. It’s based on the popular Netflix series and is both visually stunning and one of the most immersive games we’ve ever created. Outside of slots I am looking forward to
showcasing our new systems products. We were able to give customers a sneak peek of our latest capabilities at G2E and the feedback was very encouraging. We are looking forward to showing L&W Engage, our AI capabilities and also RapidPlay, which enables quick and secure cashless slot machine transactions in as little as eight seconds with no cash, player card or mobile app required.
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