Board of Directors, Advisor

Ray Yoder

Ray brings over 40 years of executive-level experience in public, private and entrepreneurial ventures.  He is the President of RayCal Management and Managing Director, Co-Founder of InterContinental Sports Marketing, LLC.  Ray was the Treasurer and VP of International Management Group (IMG) when the company grew 10-fold to 65 offices in 35 countries and has M&A execution experience with Fortune 200 Companies.  He has an A.B. (cum laude) from Wittenberg University and an MBA from The College of William & Mary.

Strategic Advisor - Lotteries, Gaming & Interactive

Richard Weil

Mr. Weil has over 25 years of experience in the regulated lottery/gaming and interactive industries (including sports betting and horse racing). He helped shape the US iLottery market twelve years ago pioneering early digital lottery products (players clubs, loyalty programs, second chance prizing and social games). Mr. Weil’s experience in these sectors include operational and strategic management, M&A, content, and technology development as well as public company governance.

Currently, Mr. Weil is an investor, advisor and consultant to lottery and gaming companies.

Most recently Mr. Weil was Chairman and CEO of INNOVA Gaming Group a company he led the C$50 million TSX IPO of in May 2015.  He coordinated the successful sale of INNOVA to Pollard Banknote (PBL:TSE) in late 2017. 

Previously Mr. Weil held several senior positions over a ten-year period at Scientific Games Corporation (SGMS:NASDAQ).  As Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, he assisted in the US$1.5 billion acquisition of WMS (one of the world’s leading gaming companies).  In 2010, after serving several years as a gaming business consultant, Mr. Weil, as CEO and Managing Director, launched Sciplay™ a business focused on providing interactive solutions to regulated operators, like lotteries and casinos (ie., New Jersey and Delaware).

Prior to Sciplay™, Mr. Weil was President of FUN Technologies, Inc., a TSX-AIM dual listed online social and sports gaming company.  During his three year tenure he contributed to the raising of approximately US$80 million to fund the acquisition of eight companies, oversaw the management of these business units and, in March 2006, assisted in the sale of 51 percent of FUN Technologies to Liberty Media (LSXMA:NASDAQ).  The company was valued at nearly C$500 million at the time of its final sale to Liberty Media in 2007.

Prior to joining FUN in August 2004, Mr. Weil was the Corporate Vice President of International Business Development for Scientific Games (formerly known as Autotote Corporation).  During his time (1994–2004) with the company, he collaborated on the acquisitions of Scientific Games, MDI, and IGT On-line Systems and contributed to major international growth and business development in Lottery, Gaming and Racing.

Before working at Autotote, Mr. Weil was a senior management consultant at Monitor Company, a top-ten strategic planning and corporate development firm. Mr. Weil holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Ryerson University in Toronto, and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business.  In addition, Mr. Weil has held gaming licenses in multiple states and provinces.  He has been featured in EGR and PGRI Magazines and as a speaker/moderator at various gaming conferences, including the ICE Sports Betting USA Conference, Global iGaming Summit & Expo (GIGSE) and the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries Conference (NASPL).

Advisor- Sports

Dr. Laila Mintas

Dr. Mintas is a high-profile entrepreneur, investor and thought leader in the technology, sports and sports betting and iGaming industry on a global level. She has been involved in various roles as a high Executive and in several deals as Strategic Advisor in the space.

She has extensive and unique experience in the Sports Betting space having worked in the space in many different roles – as a representative of a major Sports League with FIFA and CONCACAF, the leading sports (betting) data company with Sportradar, a very innovative Betting Platform with Betworks and as a disruptive sports betting, fantasy, iGaming and horse racing operator with PlayUp. Through her roles as Strategic Advisor, she was involved in many deals across the industry, including the media and crypto world.

Often described as a Veteran in the Sports Betting industry, Dr. Mintas has received for her Personal Achievements, the most prestigious awards and honors in the Sports and Sports Betting industry such as the Leaders in Sports U 40 Award in 2018, the SBJ Game Changers Award 2018 and the International Award for Women in the Gaming Industry – Inspiration of the Year 2018. She was named one of 25 Executives to watch in 2019 by the Global Gaming Business GBB magazine, selected as SBJ´s Power Player Sports Betting 2019 and Business Insider´s Leaders of the Sports Betting Industry 2019. Because of her extensive experience and knowledge, she was selected as Judge in 2020 and 2021 for the Global Gaming Awards and also for the SBC Awards. She received the GGB Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Award 2021.

Dr. Mintas has been actively involved in the Sports Betting and Sports Data Industry since 2006. She is a global thought leader on sports (betting) data, data collection, sports betting legislation, regulation and sports integrity with speaker engagements around the world including Europe, Australia, North America, Central America and Asia. She published more than 100+ publications in the top academic and professional journals about sports, sports betting and iGaming related subjects. She served as Guest Professor at several Universities such as Columbia University NYC, St John’s University NYC, University of New Hampshire and Humboldt University Berlin/Germany on topics such as Sports Betting, Sports Law and Sports Integrity.

Dr. Mintas is happily married and has to daughters (2 and 6).

Strategic Advisor - Gaming Industry

Michael Soll

Michael Soll is the President and a founding member of The Innovation Group. He brings 25+ years of experience with senior roles in leading hospitality companies, investment banks, and as an industry advisor. His capabilities range from project development expertise, such as analyzing project plans and financials, to more strategic deliverables, which include brand deployment, asset management, and capital planning. Michael has also crafted and negotiated management and operating agreements in gaming and hospitality transactions. In combination, this set of talents and abilities enables Michael to provide a high level of advisory oversight.

In addition to leading The Innovation Group in its day to day operations from the company’s Orlando office, Michael is focused on ventures taken on by the firm involving complex projects or high profile clients, usually including the introduction of gaming legislation in new jurisdictions, the analysis of large-scale leisure investment opportunities, assignments related to the deployment of brands at new and existing properties, and strategic and business planning initiatives.

Before rejoining The Innovation Group in 2008, Michael was Vice President of Casinos for Hard Rock International. In this capacity, he led the worldwide development activities for Hard Rock Casinos and their related hotel, condo, and resort assets. He was responsible for the identification of potential U.S. and international opportunities and their execution. He also oversaw the structuring and negotiating of joint venture, and management and license agreements. In this capacity, Michael directed expansion projects for Hard Rock in the U.S., Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Prior to his position at Hard Rock, Michael was Vice President, Planning & Development for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas where he managed Caesars’ development efforts in existing and emerging U.S., international and Tribal gaming jurisdictions. Prior to his work with Caesars, he was Director of Asset Management at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he oversaw Starwood’s managed and joint venture hotel portfolios under the Sheraton, Westin and W brands. Michael joined Starwood from Bear Stearns & Co., in New York, where he served as Vice President, Leisure Equity Research, covering mid and large-cap gaming and lodging companies.

Michael holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geography and Urban and Regional Planning, respectively, from the University of Wisconsin and the College of Urban and Public Affairs.He frequently publishes articles related to the gaming and leisure industries and speaks regularly at industry conferences. Michael’s passions include family, food, music, community and philanthropy.

**Named one of 2019’s “Top 25 to Watch” by Global Gaming Business magazine. Read the article here!**

Advisor- Regulatory

George Rover

George is currently the Managing Partner of Rover Strategic Advisors, LLC, a firm he formed following his retirement after 26 years as a Deputy Attorney General and then an Assistant Attorney General with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General. In January 1999, Rover was promoted to Assistant Attorney General and assigned as the Special Assistant to the Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. In August 2011, Rover was appointed Deputy Director of the Division and placed in charge of its Atlantic City office until his retirement in November 2016.

Prior to his assignment to the Division of Gaming Enforcement in January 1999, Rover served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office of Legal Affairs from July 1992 through 1995, where he provided legal advice on matters to the State Attorney General. In 1995, he served as a Special Assistant to the Director of The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control until his promotion to Assistant Attorney General in January 1999. Prior to joining the State of New Jersey as a Deputy Attorney General, Rover was an associate at a law firm from 1987-1992 where he handled litigation matters.

Rover received his BS degree, with honors, from Rutgers University in 1983 and his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University in 1986. Upon his graduation from law school, Rover served as a law clerk to The Honorable Virginia Long, in the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

Strategic Advisor - Online Gaming

Richard Roberts

Rich is the President Digital Gaming at Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. Rich brings of 20 years of gaming industry experience. Prior to joining Mohegan Digital, he was an executive business consultant for RSD Consulting, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations enter the U.S. sports digital media, regulated digital gaming, and eSports markets.  Prior, Rich was the CEO of FaceOff, a peer-to-peer social/skill sports gaming platform in the U.S.. Rich also held senior executive positions at Hasbro, Atari, Slingo, Sportech and DraftDay.

Strategic Advisor - Compliance

Eric Frank

Eric is the CEO and Found of Odds On Consulting. Before founding Odds On, Eric served as global Group Compliance Officer for The Stars Group Inc. (NASDAQ: TSG), one of the world’s largest online gaming operators. Eric Frank has unique expertise navigating complex compliance and regulatory matters throughout the world. He has managed global compliance teams with responsibilities in 20+ licensed markets worldwide and served as the principal legal advisor for regulatory, licensing and compliance matters in the United States, Latin American and Asia at TSG.

Eric also has over a decade of experience in private practice at one of the world’s largest law firms, advising gaming clients on a full range of regulatory and licensing matters, and in government at all levels – federal, state and international – drafting statutes and regulations and advising on policy.

Strategic Advisor - Compliance

Eric Weiss

Eric is Vice President, Technical Compliance for Odds On Consulting. Prior to Odds On, Eric was with the New Jersey Division of Gaming (DGE) Enforcement since 1991 and held positions in the Investigative, Technical and Executive Bureaus. In 2008, he became the Director of the DGE’s Slot Lab. During his eight years in that position, Eric was recognized for his efforts to improve the oversight and regulation of casino gaming technology. In 2011, he led two industry work groups, comprised of subject matter experts and industry leaders, to draft regulations designed to streamline the regulatory process, embrace best practices and ensure the ongoing integrity of casino systems and gaming equipment.

In 2013, Eric played a key role in bringing Internet gaming to New Jersey, as he was responsible for researching policy, approving Internet gaming systems and regulating Atlantic City’s Internet gaming operations. In 2016, he became the DGE’s Chief of Staff where he was involved in a variety of DGE initiatives including sports wagering. In 2019, he returned to the DGE’s Slot Laboratory as the Deputy Executive Director of Technical Services. Preceding his retirement in August of 2021, Eric was a key member of Director Rebuck’s Executive Staff, overseeing the DGE’s Engineering, Quality Assurance, Casino Services, Cyber Security and Information Technology Investigations teams.

Strategic Advisor - Sports / BenePlay

Leo McCullagh

Leo is the CEO of McCullagh & Associates and a Partner at Wyn Experiences. He brings over 40 years of business experience. Leo is the former Head of Marketing for the PGA TOUR and was a former senior executive at Wasserman, Brand Ideology and Phillip Morris.