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George Kliavkoff Joins MGM Resorts International As President Of Entertainment And Sports
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Kliavkoff to lead company’s evolving role within the sports and entertainment marketplace
Longtime Entertainment Executive Richard Sturm to form Entertainment Consulting firm to work exclusively with MGM Resorts
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) (“MGM Resorts”) announced that George Kliavkoff has joined the company as President of Entertainment and Sports. Kliavkoff will drive MGM Resorts’ entertainment and sports operations and develop and maintain partnerships within the industry.
In his new role, Kliavkoff is responsible for the operations, finance, strategy, booking, marketing, sponsorships and ticketing for MGM Resorts‘ more than 30 theaters, showrooms and arenas, including T-Mobile Arena (home of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights), MGM Grand Garden, Mandalay Bay Events Center, the Mandalay Bay Beach, Park Theater, the Theater at MGM National Harbor and the MassMutual Center at MGM Springfield. Kliavkoff will be based in Las Vegas and report to MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle.
MGM Resorts is one of the largest live events companies in the world, with offerings that include six Cirque du Soleil shows, hundreds of A-list concerts, magic and comedy shows every year, eSports, and traditional sporting events including boxing, UFC, rodeo, and MGM’s WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces.
“George is joining our company at an exciting time and will play a key role as we both build on existing successful partnerships as well as continue to expand our industry-leading sports and entertainment offerings,” Hornbuckle said. “His innovative approach and knowledge in the entertainment and digital world will strengthen our reputation as a company that provides world-class experiences for our guests to enjoy.”
Hornbuckle also announced that MGM Resorts was thrilled to be able to continue its important business relationship with Richard Sturm, the company’s long-serving President of Entertainment and Sports, by securing an exclusive three-year consulting agreement with Sturm’s new company, Las Vegas Live Entertainment and Sports. As part of that agreement, Sturm will continue to personally provide invaluable business advice and oversee key relationships for the company.
“Richard is an icon in the Las Vegas sports and entertainment world and we are thrilled to continue his relationship with the MGM Resorts family. Many of the city’s most exciting and successful events over the last two decades can be attributed to Richard’s relationships and deep industry knowledge,” Hornbuckle said.
Kliavkoff joins MGM Resorts with more than 20 years of experience leading media and entertainment strategies. He most recently served as the CEO of Jaunt Inc., an augmented and virtual reality start-up that worked with clients like NFL, NBA, MLB, Manchester United, Uber, Disney and other leading companies to develop immersive content technologies. He previously served in executive roles with top media companies, including serving as Co-President at Hearst Entertainment & Syndication, Chief Digital Officer at NBC Universal and Executive Vice President of Business for Major League Baseball Advanced Media.
Kliavkoff holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.
ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 28 unique hotel offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company in 2018 opened MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM COTAI in Macau, and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. The 81,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®.
Source: MGM Resorts International
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Wazdan’s Mighty Wild™: Jaguar nominated for Online Slot of the Year at Global Gaming Awards EMEA
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer, has been nominated in the Online Slot of the Year category at the Global Gaming Awards EMEA 2026 for its standout release, Mighty Wild: Jaguar.
The prestigious nomination recognises Wazdan’s ongoing commitment to innovation and player engagement, with the jungle-inspired title balancing modern mechanics and smooth, dynamic gameplay to deliver a captivating gameplay experience.
The title brings together several of Wazdan’s most distinctive features, including Wild Rampage, the signature mechanic of the Mighty Wild series, which fills bonus rounds with symbols and multipliers for fast-paced action.
It also incorporates Hold the Jackpot, one of Wazdan’s flagship features, where players trigger bonus rounds to pursue grand jackpot win by filling the entire grid, alongside Cash Infinity, which boosts engagement and retention by keeping symbols on the reels between spins. Lastly, Sticky to Infinity also makes up the title’s impressive mechanic line-up, which locks bonus symbols in place during respins to heighten the sense of progression and maximise win potential.
The game’s success underlines the growing strength of the Mighty Wild series, one of Wazdan’s most popular lines. Following the outstanding performance of Mighty Wild: Jaguar, the company is preparing to expand the collection with the upcoming Mighty Wild: Gorilla, further cementing its reputation for creating high-performing, feature-rich titles.
Delivering exceptional results since launch, Mighty Wild: Jaguar has become one of Wazdan’s strongest releases of the year, resonating with both players and operators across regulated markets.
At the same time, Wazdan’s nomination takes on even greater significance in light of the upcoming Global Gaming Awards EMEA ceremony, which will take place in Barcelona in January 2026 as part of the opening day of ICE 2026.
With the release now shortlisted among the industry’s best in class, Wazdan continues to strengthen its position as one of the leading developers shaping the future of online slot entertainment.
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “Being nominated for Online Slot of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards is a fantastic recognition of the creativity and engineering that drive every Wazdan release.
“Mighty Wild: Jaguar reflects our ongoing mission to design games that not only entertain but deliver measurable results for our partners. We’re incredibly proud of how the Mighty Wild series has evolved and look forward to building on its success with new titles that continue to push the boundaries of player engagement.”
The post Wazdan’s Mighty Wild™: Jaguar nominated for Online Slot of the Year at Global Gaming Awards EMEA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Wazdan wraps up successful showcase at SiGMA Central Europe
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer, has concluded a successful trip to Rome for SiGMA Central Europe, where the company’s team connected with key partners, unveiled its latest titles and reinforced its growing presence across the region.
Located at booth 4040, Wazdan’s cohort enjoyed intensive meetings with partners and operators, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback on its latest releases and engagement-boosting features. The event provided an excellent platform to strengthen regional relationships and accelerate the company’s local growth strategy.
Attendees had the opportunity to exclusively explore some of the developer’s highly anticipated and top-performing titles, including Mighty Wild: Gorilla, Cash Grotto, 16 Coins x5000 and Mighty Crown: Legacy of Mars. Each game captivated operators with its distinctive mechanics and player-driven experiences, underlining Wazdan’s commitment to innovation and entertainment.
Adding to the excitement, Wazdan also presented its festive €6,000,000 Network Promotion, with its Halloween chapter having successfully concluded on the 2nd November and its Christmas stage set to run from 28th November to 31st December, once again offering its partners fresh ways of engaging their player bases.
Wazdan’s appearance at SiGMA Central Europe marks another milestone in its global event calendar, as the company continues to showcase its cutting-edge content and strengthen partnerships across key markets.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “SiGMA Central Europe was an incredible opportunity to connect with both new and existing partners.
“The positive response to our portfolio and features reaffirms our focus on creating value-driven, immersive gaming experiences. We’re delighted with the momentum we’ve built in this region and look forward to achieving even greater success together.”
The post Wazdan wraps up successful showcase at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The ELA Games Fiesta: Piñatas Festival Outperforms Studio Benchmarks With Instant Success
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Vibrant visuals and engaging mechanics are key growth drivers for the studio’s new release
Piñatas Festival, a recent ELA Games release, has outperformed studio averages across all key performance metrics. The game’s strong results reinforce ELA Games’ sustainable growth trajectory and its ability to produce titles that captivate players and drive record performance for operators.
Inside Piñatas Festival Breakout Success
In the first month following its release, Piñatas Festival recorded the following results:
- Actives: +13%
- Turnover: +280%
- GGR Total: +465%
- Round Count: +276%
These results highlight the game’s instant mass appeal, player retention, and strong value for partners. The game’s visually rich design sets the player in a vibrant world of music, colour, and energy, combined with its engaging mechanics, such as Hold & Win, Collector Symbol, and generous bonuses, which keep players returning and operators growing.
Consistent Growth Through Creativity
Piñatas Festival builds on ELA Games’ signature development approach of data-backed creativity and visually rich design. The game’s success mirrors the studio’s track record of building positive momentum on each release. Buffalo Force, another recent title, also experienced significant results, including +62% GGR total growth, and much more. Both games have been strong additions to the studio’s portfolio, with Piñatas Festival’s continuation of its predecessor’s success delivering increased value to operators.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented, “Piñatas Festival is another strong addition to our portfolio, with its success proving that our titles can deliver consistent business value. The game’s strong GGR growth is a direct result of how our signature visually rich design, engaging mechanics, and creative approach support our partners’ growth. Maintaining this high-quality output will ensure our trajectory positions ELA Games as a top content developer with a diverse portfolio for all types of players to enjoy.”
ELA Games remains committed to a steady content release schedule, consisting of diverse titles that blend innovation and engaging mechanics that keep players engaged. Piñatas Festival is a key milestone for the studio’s portfolio as it aims to achieve its goals.
The post The ELA Games Fiesta: Piñatas Festival Outperforms Studio Benchmarks With Instant Success appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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