Bally’s Intralot names Chrysostomos Sfatos president of lotteries division
Table of contents
- Nikos Nikolakopoulos will step down as president of lotteries on 16 March 2026.
- Chrysostomos Sfatos assumes dual role as COO and lotteries president.
- Nikolakopoulos remains a non-executive board member after two decades with the company.
Bally’s Intralot has announced a leadership transition within its lotteries division, with Nikos Nikolakopoulos stepping down from his executive role as president of lotteries on 16 March 2026.
Nikolakopoulos will continue serving the company as a non-executive board member.
Chrysostomos Sfatos, who currently serves as chief operating officer and executive board member, will assume the role of president of lotteries whilst maintaining his existing responsibilities. The dual appointment forms part of what the company describes as its commitment to strategic growth and operational excellence.
Two-decade tenure comes to close
Robeson Reeves, chief executive officer and executive board member of Bally’s Intralot, publicly acknowledged Nikolakopoulos’s contributions to the business.
“I would like to thank Nikos for his dedication and invaluable contribution to the company’s growth and the wider lottery community ecosystem over the past 20 years, and I count on his continuing support. The new leadership team is committed to building on his legacy and advancing our strategic priorities to ensure a strong outlook.”
Nikolakopoulos had served as president of lotteries since November 2025, when the combined Bally’s Intralot entity was formed following Intralot’s €2.7bn acquisition of Bally’s International Interactive business.
New structure follows revenue decline
The leadership change follows a period of financial pressure for the combined entity. Bally’s Intralot reported a revenue decline for the first nine months of 2025, with the company working to integrate operations across its global footprint.
Sfatos was appointed group chief operating officer in November 2025 with oversight of finance, human resources, legal divisions and corporate affairs. He previously served as deputy chief executive officer of Intralot from January 2019, responsible for strategy, finance and corporate affairs. He holds a chemistry PhD from Harvard University.
The €2.7bn transaction between Bally’s and Intralot completed in October 2025, creating what the companies described as a global iGaming and lottery leader with €1.1bn in projected revenues. The deal saw the Greek lottery group acquire the US operator’s interactive business, with Bally’s becoming Intralot’s majority shareholder.
Strategic priorities under new leadership
Bally’s Intralot has positioned the succession plan as maintaining continuity whilst advancing the company’s operational priorities. The firm continues to operate lottery contracts and iGaming technology services across multiple jurisdictions.
The company faced a setback in August 2025 when it lost its Maryland lottery contract following a procurement review reversal, although it maintained other significant lottery operations across its portfolio.
Nikolakopoulos will maintain his full executive responsibilities until the transition date of 16 March 2026. The company has not announced any additional structural changes to its board or executive team at this time.
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About the author
Bianca Máthe
Bianca Mathe joined the iGaming industry in 2018 and has since built extensive experience across multiple verticals, working with international gaming organizations on editorial, marketing, and media strategy. She brings a strong understanding of the regulatory, commercial, and technological forces shaping the global iGaming sector.
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