Robert Chvátal has run Allwyn, the lottery and gaming group, as CEO since 2021. In 2026, he took the company public in Athens and closed a $1.5 billion deal for PrizePicks. That second deal gave Allwyn a big stake in America’s fantasy sports market.
Who Is Robert Chvátal?
Robert Chvátal leads Allwyn as Group CEO and holds a seat on its board. Allwyn runs national lotteries and betting brands across Europe, including the UK National Lottery. The company is based in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Czech billionaire Karel Komárek controls Allwyn through his investment firm, KKCG. You will often see the CEO’s name spelled Robert Chvatal, without the accent. Since February 2024, he has also served on the Executive Committee of the World Lottery Association.
Robert Chvátal’s Career Before and at Allwyn
Chvátal studied business and international relations at the Prague University of Economics and Business. Later, he took executive MBA courses at Stanford and Harvard Business School. His first consumer goods jobs were with Procter & Gamble, then Reckitt Benckiser.
Next, he switched to telecoms, first running T-Mobile in Slovakia and then its Austrian arm. In 2013, he became CEO of Sazka, the Czech lottery company that later grew into Allwyn. He took the Group CEO role in 2021, when the group launched Allwyn as its global brand.
Under his watch, the group added lottery businesses in Austria, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. In 2022, Allwyn beat Camelot to win the fourth license to run Britain’s National Lottery. Allwyn began running the draw in February 2024, after three decades of Camelot.
| Year | Milestone |
| 2007–2012 | Runs T-Mobile’s Austrian business |
| 2013 | Named CEO of Sazka in the Czech Republic |
| 2021 | Becomes Group CEO of Allwyn |
| 2022 | Wins the right to run the National Lottery, and a planned NYSE listing is called off |
| 2023 | Buys Camelot’s UK and US lottery businesses |
| 2024 | Takes over the UK National Lottery and joins the WLA Executive Committee |
| 2026 | Closes the PrizePicks deal and lists Allwyn in Athens |
How Robert Chvátal Took Allwyn Public in 2026
Chvátal’s first try at a public listing fell apart. In January 2022, Allwyn agreed to a $9.3 billion SPAC merger to list on the New York Stock Exchange. Both sides dropped the deal that September, citing market swings.
The second try worked. In October 2025, Allwyn and Greek operator OPAP agreed to an all-share merger worth €16 billion. The merged company started trading on the Athens Stock Exchange in March 2026 under the ticker ALWN.
Robert Chvátal called the listing a major strategic milestone. KKCG still holds most of the shares, while about 22% trade freely.
The PrizePicks Deal: Chvátal’s Big Bet on the US
PrizePicks is the biggest name in North American DFS, short for daily fantasy sports. In September 2025, Allwyn agreed to pay around $1.6 billion for a 62.3% share of the business. It closed on January 16, 2026, for about $1.533 billion.
The sellers can earn up to roughly $1 billion more if PrizePicks hits growth targets through 2028. Meanwhile, the app keeps its own name and management under chief executive Mike Ybarra. Robert Chvátal said the deal puts Allwyn on far stronger footing in the US.
Why does this matter to US players? PrizePicks can operate in some states that still have no legal sports betting, because DFS follows different rules. It also offers prediction markets through a Kalshi partnership.
That model has its critics, including DraftKings co-founder Matt Kalish, who has attacked Kalshi’s sports product. So far, the numbers favor Allwyn, with Q1 2026 revenue up 21% to €1.204 billion. In Q2, PrizePicks helped lift group net revenue by 27%, as our Allwyn Q2 2026 earnings coverage explains.
What Allwyn Runs in the US: Lottery vs Daily Fantasy
Under Chvátal, Allwyn now reaches US players in two very different ways. Its 2023 Camelot purchase made Allwyn the private manager for Illinois’ state lottery. Illinois also lets adults start buying lottery tickets online, which only some states allow.
| Feature | Illinois Lottery | PrizePicks |
| What you play | Draw games and instant tickets | Player stat picks and fantasy contests |
| How you win | Match the drawn numbers or reveal a prize | Predict player stats correctly |
| Where it works | Illinois only | Most US states, varies by game type |
| Who sets the rules | Illinois Department of the Lottery | Each state’s DFS laws |
| Allwyn’s role | Private manager, contract runs to October 2027 | 62.3% owner since January 2026 |
Rules vary by state, so check your state gambling laws before you sign up. Whichever product you pick, set a budget first and follow basic responsible gambling habits.
The Bottom Line On Robert Chvátal
Robert Chvátal turned a Czech lottery firm into what Allwyn calls the world’s second-largest listed lottery and gaming group. His PrizePicks deal moved Allwyn straight into US fantasy sports. Keep an eye on the planned second listing, which could bring Allwyn to London or New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the CEO of Allwyn?
Robert Chvátal has led Allwyn as Group CEO since 2021, and he also sits on the board. Before that, he ran Sazka, the Czech lottery company that became Allwyn, starting in 2013.
Where is Allwyn based, and where do its shares trade?
Allwyn AG is based in Lucerne, Switzerland. Its shares trade on the Athens Stock Exchange as ALWN, following the March 2026 OPAP merger. KKCG, the firm owned by Karel Komárek, holds the majority stake.
What does Allwyn own in the US?
Allwyn holds a 62.3% share in PrizePicks, North America’s biggest DFS brand. It is also the Illinois Lottery’s private manager.
How much did Allwyn pay for PrizePicks?
Allwyn paid about $1.533 billion at closing in January 2026 for its majority share. Bonus payments tied to growth targets could push the deal’s implied value to $4.15 billion.
Where did Robert Chvátal work before Allwyn?
His career began in consumer goods marketing with Procter & Gamble, followed by Reckitt Benckiser. He then ran T-Mobile’s businesses in Slovakia and Austria. He joined Sazka as CEO in 2013.
