Mr. Schembri is the Founder and UBO of the IZI Group. He is a seasoned expert in the Gaming Industry with over 25 years of experience in various market segments including electronic gaming machines, sports betting, commercial bingo operations, casinos (land-based and online), and gaming technology.
Mr. Schembri brings to the fore unparalleled experience and knowledge of the local and international gaming market, having spearheaded several successful establishments in conjunction with reputable international gaming providers, including International Game Technology (IGT), Playtech, PMU, and Novomatic AG. Mr. Schembri has been instrumental in setting up different consortia with international gaming companies purposely established to operate and manage the Dragonara Casino. In the early 1990s prior to the establishment of IZI Group plc. (formerly known as Pinnacle Gaming Group).
In 2004, Mr. Schembri established, together with other shareholders, the Pinnacle Gaming Group Limited (today known as IZI Group plc) following the liberalization of commercial bingo through the enactment of the Lotteries and Other Games Act in 2001. In 2010, the Pinnacle Group Gaming Limited together with Toss A Coin Limited established Dragonara Gaming Limited which was awarded a concession to manage and operate the Dragonara Casino. In 2012, Mr. Schembri established the first network of ‘Controlled Gaming Premises’.
In 2021, Mr. Schembri led a team of experts entrusted with completing the proposals for two core operations within the land-based gaming industry, the first for the sustained operations and management of the Dragonara Casino and the second for the operation of the National Lottery of Malta. Both proposals were successfully concluded providing the Group the opportunity to operate two very important gaming assets, namely, the Dragonara Casino (2021 – 2031) and the National Lottery of Malta (2022 – 2032).