Entain Plc has reorganised the leadership ranks of its Southern Europe unit, due to the forthcoming departure of long-term executive Andrea Faelli.
This week, Entain confirmed that Faelli had chosen to step down from his 12-year tenure leading Entain Italia and as Regional Executive Director of the markets of Belgium, Greece and France.
The departure closes one of the longest-serving executive tenures within Entain’s business, with the FTSE-listed gambling group crediting Faelli for helping transform its Italian operations into one of the company’s most strategically important regulated market positions.
Faelli commented: “Leading Entain Italia over the past 12 years has been an extraordinary professional journey and a source of immense pride. Together, we have built a business that today stands among the leading regulated gambling operators in Italy, supported by exceptional teams, strong brands and a clear long-term vision.
Succession plans see Curry Sloan, Chief Commercial Officer for Southern Europe and the Americas, will assume interim leadership of the Italian business alongside wider Southern European responsibilities.
Entain Italia said: “The entire Entain group extends its gratitude to Andrea for his leadership, dedication, and the fundamental role he played in building a solid, high-performance company that is now fully established in the Italian market.”
Sloan takes charge during a significant period of regulatory transition across Southern European gambling markets, particularly in Italy and Greece, which are applying new compliance frameworks and revised licence regimes for online gambling
Entain’s Italia footprint is anchored by the digital brands Bwin and Gioco Digitale, alongside the heritage retail network of Eurobet Italia.Entain added that the reshuffle is intended to create stronger alignment between the Italian business and the group’s wider executive leadership structure. “This transition offers an opportunity to reinforce the operating model of Entain Italia,” the statement noted, “ensuring full management continuity and even closer alignment with the Group’s executive leadership.”
The update also reaffirmed Italy’s role within Entain’s broader international growth strategy. As CEO Stella David, in Q1 highlighted Italy as a target growth market following the launch of the country’s new online gambling licence regime in November 2025.
Leadership eyes investment to accelerate competition within Italy’s online casino sector, creating opportunities to take new market share.
The long-term strategy for Italy remains centred on expanding online gambling operations, reinforcing its retail betting network and further developing proprietary technology and omnichannel capabilities.
Entain also signalled that it intends to capitalise on future concession tenders and regulatory developments expected to shape the next phase of competition as Italy is evolving into Europe’s largest regulated gambling market.
