Frank Suarez Appointed New CEO of Connecticut Lottery Corporation
Frank Suarez, the current Executive Director of the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming, has been named the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC).
Announced on Thursday, Suarez will assume his role on August 1, succeeding Greg Smith, who will remain as a consultant until the end of September. Smith, who began his tenure in 2018, had announced his intention to retire in 2024.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Suarez steps into his new role at a critical juncture for the CLC. The agency has faced several challenges recently, including issues with a new point-of-sales system that resulted in wrongly invalidated winning tickets in 2023.
Additionally, the CLC is transitioning to a new sports betting vendor following the end of its partnership with Rush Street Interactive (RSI) earlier this year.
The Connecticut Lottery announced Fanatics Betting & Gaming as its new sportsbook vendor in December.
Experience and Achievements
Suarez brings a wealth of experience to the CLC. During his tenure at the DC Lottery, he led a significant turnaround in sports betting operations, transforming losses into profitability within a year.
He also spearheaded the conversion to a new mobile and online sports betting platform, achieving an 887% growth in gross gaming revenue within the first 30 days of operation.
Prior to his work in D.C., Suarez served as the deputy executive director of brand management and communications at the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Suarez expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating, “I am honored and excited to join the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and to work with the talented team here to drive continued growth and success. Our focus will be on maximizing revenue for the state while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and responsible gaming.”
Robert Simmelkjaer, board chair of the CLC, praised Suarez’s leadership and industry experience, noting that his “visionary approach” makes him well-suited to guide the company through its next phase of growth and innovation. “We are confident that, under his stewardship, we will continue to achieve remarkable success and continue to deliver value to our players and revenue to the State of Connecticut,” Simmelkjaer stated.
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