Brightstar Lottery names Marco Tasso EVP and COO of Global Lottery
Brightstar Lottery has appointed Marco Tasso as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Global Lottery, effective 1 July 2026, as part of a wider reshuffle of its senior leadership team.
The newly created role will see Tasso take charge of the company’s global lottery operations, spanning technology, product development, marketing, sales, product management, supply chain, customer support and field services. He will report directly to Brightstar CEO Vince Sadusky.
Ascoli departs after two decades
The appointment coincides with the planned exit of Global Lottery CEO Renato Ascoli, who is set to step down on 30 June 2026 after a 20-year career across the lottery and gaming sector. During that time, Ascoli held several senior leadership positions and oversaw operations across multiple international markets.
Marco Sala, Executive Chair of the Board at Brightstar, credited Ascoli’s contribution to the company’s product and commercial development.
“Renato has made a tremendous impact on our company and the lottery industry. His broad experience across lottery product development, technology and commercial strategy helped us to continuously deliver innovative solutions and services to our lottery customers. I want to thank and congratulate him for his many career accomplishments.”
Tasso’s background
Tasso currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of International and Italy Operations at Brightstar, a role he will vacate to take on the global remit. He brings more than two decades of experience across lottery management, supply chain operations, strategy and product development.
During his career with Brightstar and its predecessor company IGT, Tasso held several senior roles, including Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Services and Senior Vice President of Global Lottery Marketing. His move follows a string of leadership changes across the sector, including Evoke’s appointment of Siddharth Dixit as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer and MGM Resorts’ appointment of Ayesha Molino as COO.
He previously served as CEO of Northstar Lottery Group, where he managed the private lottery management contract for the Illinois Lottery, later overseeing similar arrangements in Indiana and New Jersey. Before joining Northstar, Tasso held leadership positions at Lottomatica, managing business units across instant lotteries, lotto products and commercial services.
Earlier in his career, Tasso worked as a consultant with Bain & Company and Ernst & Young Consultants, focusing on strategic planning, production and cost-efficiency initiatives for clients including Telecom Italia, Fiat and Bridgepoint Capital.
CEO points to growth and transformation focus
Sadusky framed the appointment as part of Brightstar’s broader push to sharpen its operating structure as a standalone lottery-focused business, a trend also visible in Aristocrat’s recent leadership refresh for its interactive division.
“Having Marco as a part of our senior leadership team supports the company’s vision and strategic goals. As we strengthen our focus on growth, transformation and operational execution, Marco’s insights and experience will help shape the lottery operating organization and optimize it to deliver results.”
Brightstar said the leadership changes form part of its development as a standalone lottery-focused business as it continues to optimise operations and organisational structure. The company has been operating independently since its spin-off from IGT’s gaming business, and the appointment follows a period in which Brightstar has reported steady growth in its core lottery segment.
The handover takes effect from 1 July 2026, when Tasso assumes the EVP and COO title and Ascoli’s departure becomes formal. Brightstar has not indicated whether a successor will be named for Tasso’s current International and Italy Operations role, leaving that question open as the transition proceeds.
Source: Brightstar Lottery
