Las Vegas-based technology supplier Sightline Payments named payment industry veteran Joe Pappano president of the company’s Americas Division, adding additional leadership as the gaming industry’s focus on digital payment processing increases.
Sightline CEO Kirk Sanford said in a statement that Pappano brings more than 30 years of payment processing experience to the new position. He joined WorldPay in 1991 when the company was known as Vantiv. He is currently senior vice president and managing director of WorldPay Gaming Solutions.
“I have worked with Joe for nearly 10 years in his previous role and am thrilled to have him lead the company’s core business at this exciting time,” Sanford said. “His entrepreneurial spirit and thought leadership style, along with his 30 years of payment experience, is the perfect combination for this role at this time.”
Pappano is expected to help Sightline in its continued development and installation of its Play+ platform, which is utilized in digital payments for the integrated resort and gaming industry.
Casino operators have expressed an interest in introducing cashless gaming and digital payment technology to help move past the nationwide shutdown of the gaming industry in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19 virus.
In May, the American Gaming Association released a study that found nearly 60 percent of casino-goers over the past one-year period are less likely to use cash in their everyday lives because of Covid-19.
On the casino floor, 54 percent of customers indicate they would be likely to utilize a digital or contactless payment option if available. Some 57 percent of those respondents also indicated that having the option to use a digital or contactless payment option on the casino floor is important to them.
Pappano’s experience in the payment industry includes merchant acquisition, card-issuing and servicing, prepaid and rewards, mobile and alternative payments, agent bank, and third-party processing.
“Sightline’s innovative spirit, leading technology, and strategic vision, coupled with a best in class leadership team, made this a natural fit after 29 years to continue to lead the digital transformation in the gaming industry,” Pappano said. “Sightline is best positioned in the market with Play+ and the Play platform to drive the convergence of payments and gaming, providing a true frictionless and seamless consumer experience regardless of the points of interaction.”
In addition to Pappano, Sightline announced the addition of Staci (Columbo) Alonso to lead the strategic marketing efforts, with a primary focus on the Play+ platform for gaming clients in both the digital and brick and mortar gaming environments.
Alonso has worked in the casino industry for over 30 years, serving in senior-level marketing roles for Red Rock Resorts (Station Casinos) and as chief marketing and innovation officer and vice president of global marketing for IGT.
“As an industry, we have been discussing the need for a more digital, cashless and contactless experience on the gaming floor and taking steps in that direction,” Alonso said. “Now, in today’s unprecedented times, the customers are (also) talking about it. I believe that will change the pace from steps to sprints, and I wanted to be a part of that journey with Sightline.”
Sanford said Alonso is “one of the most innovative marketing leaders (and) also knows how to execute. Sightline has exciting times ahead for our Play+ and there is no better person to lead those marketing initiatives than her.”
