mkodo

Ross Haselhurst has joined mkodo as digital delivery director, where he will gain accountability for product delivery and ensuring projects and processes are matured to drive high-quality results for clients.

The newly created role, based at mkodo’s Newcastle upon Tyne office, will also see Haselhurst gain responsibility for the project management team and quality assurance. 

Haselhurst joins mkodo’s executive team from gaming platform provider Bede Gaming where he held the role of head of platform before being promoted to commercial director and part of the executive management. 

Haselhurst said: “It is a fantastic opportunity for me to join mkodo and the Pollard family and to be working across several key projects to help grow and mature the business. 

“mkodo has a fantastic client base and I look forward to bringing premium digital products and player engagement solutions to our partners. The market is still ripe for innovation and mkodo is in a great place to offer operators and their players that.”  

Great Canadian Corporation

Rod Baker has resigned as director, president, and CEO of Great Canadian Corporation with immediate effect, with Terrance Doyle, president of strategic growth and chief compliance officer, appointed by the company’s board of directors on an interim basis from January 24, 2021.

“Mr Doyle, with his 20 years of experience with the company and working with key stakeholders and the board, is well equipped to assume the duties as interim chief executive officer until a permanent replacement has been named,” stated Peter Meredith, Great Canadian’s chairman.

Furthermore, the company has confirmed the appointed of Sukvinder Singh as chief compliance officer, gaining responsibility for the group’s overall compliance regime and overseeing compliance, risk, security and surveillance functions.

FSB

Online casino and sports betting tech provider FSB has recruited Keith Laidlaw to assist with the company’s IT and technology strategy as it continues to drive growth in international markets, and prepares for an increased presence in the US.

Laidlaw will work alongside FSB’s IT and technical teams, which are headed by chief technology officer Sam Lawrence, and will share his knowledge and experience to allow the company to structure its strategy.

Dave McDowell, CEO of FSB, noted: “Keith is another great addition to our ever-increasing pool of talent at FSB. His knowledge and experience of IT and technology within the gambling sector is immense.

“He will work alongside our co-founder and CTO Sam Lawrence to fine-tune our strategy so that we can ultimately deliver the best products and services to our clients.”

PointsBet

Sportsbook operator PointsBet has teamed-up with digital media personality Paige Spiranac, who will contribute as the new, global lead on-air talent and a brand ambassador for PointsBet as the company continues its expansion across US sports betting.

As part of the long-term alignment, Spiranac will also become a significant PointsBet shareholder, taking an equity stake in the company.

“Today is a very exciting day for the company as we welcome Paige, the No. 1 most followed and interacted with golf personality on social media in the world, into the PointsBet family,” said Johnny Aitken, US CEO of PointsBet.

“Paige is known for her work ethic and ability to stand out in a sea of sameness, which very much embodies the DNA of PointsBet and our mandate to deliver the fastest and most differentiated way to wager in the legal sports betting market.

“We will look to deeply integrate Paige across our portfolio of brand channels, including linear and digital content, whilst unlocking unique ways to weave PointsBet into her social media universe as she strives to conquer sports betting and introduce it to her audience.”

Gambling.com Group

Johannes Bergh has joined Gambling.com Group as chief strategy office to help maintain the organisation’s pace of growth throughout 2021 and beyond.

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Live 5 

Staffordshire-based slot developer Live 5 has promoted Oliver Vlaytchev to director of operations, as the studio continues to build out its senior management team.

After initially joining the firm in 2017 as a software games developer and coordinator, Vlaytchev has moved through the ranks to the new role where he will be responsible for a range of business-critical tasks.

This includes managing the day to day activities of all departments within the company, ensuring seamless communication between departments, project planning and managing, overseeing the product roadmap and working with third parties.

Lloyd Butler, CEO of Live 5, said: “Oliver has proved to be a highly valuable member of the team and his promotion to director of operations reflects the positive impact he has had on the business since first joining our ranks in 2017.

“Live 5 has been on a tremendous growth trajectory over the past 18 months and Oliver has played a key role in this. In his new position, he will continue to manage day to day activities across our departments while playing an even greater role in the strategic development of Live 5.”

Penn National Gaming

Marla Kaplowitz has been appointed to the board of directors at Penn National Gaming, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

The appointment will expand the size of the board to eight members, six of whom satisfy the standards for director independence under the current Listing Rules of the NASDAQ stock market.

Kaplowitz is president and CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, a trade association serving more than 600 member agencies across 1,200 offices throughout the US, who are responsible for more than 85 per cent of total domestic advertising spend.

David Handler, chairman of PNG, noted: “Marla is an innovator and a proven leader in marketing and digital transformation, which will serve us well as Penn National continues its evolution into the nation’s leading omnichannel provider of retail and interactive gaming, sports betting and entertainment. We’re delighted to have her unique talents on the board.”

FSB

Sports betting and igaming tech provider FSB has named US retail and online gambling veteran Bob Akeret as vice president of operations in North America, as the company gets ready to launch into the market.

Based in New Jersey, he will be responsible for fine-tuning the provider’s cutting-edge product and service offering for the market, including assisting FSB’s business development team in localising its retail and online sportsbook technologies.

He will also build relationships with third parties such as payment providers and data suppliers in the US, as well as identify new business opportunities. Akeret will report directly to FSB COO Glenn Elliott.

Dave McDowell, CEO of FSB, commented: “Bob is one of the most experienced retail and online gambling executives in North America and I am delighted to welcome him to the team. Securing Bob is a real coup for FSB as we prepare to enter the North American market with our leading technology.

“We see huge potential for our products and services as the US market continues to roll out and with Bob on board, we will be able to make sure our technologies meet the exact needs of operators and players across North America.”

British Horseracing Authority

The former racecourse stewards’ panel chair and experienced racing industry figure David Jones has been appointed to the board of the British Horseracing Authority, in the role of regulatory independent non-executive director.

Jones’ tenure begins from January 1, and he takes over from Andrew Merriam who has served three terms on the BHA Board since 2012 and has been involved in a number of major regulatory projects during that time.

Annamarie Phelps, chair of the BHA, stated: “We are delighted to welcome David to the BHA Board. He brings with him substantial insight and enthusiasm for the racing industry, which has been exhibited through his invaluable contribution to a number of recent industry projects, and his time as a well-respected member of our stewarding team.

“Our sincere thanks go to Andrew Merriam for his immense service to the BHA Board across many areas and committees, and his continued service to the sport of racing. It would be hard to find a better liked or more respected individual and his contribution to the racing industry during his three terms at the BHA has been significant indeed.”

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FSB

Gaming tech provider FSB has bolstered its senior management team with the addition of Glenn Elliott as chief operating officer, building on an over 13 year industry career.

Elliott has been tasked with working closely with the firm’s management team to further develop FSB to become a better growth partner for its clients in regulated markets around the world.

The role includes responsibility for the account management team as well as full oversight of the company’s five operational service divisions of sports, platform, marketing, retail and SaaS hosting.

Dave McDowell, CEO of FSB, said: “I am delighted to welcome Glenn to the team. Having someone of Glenn’s calibre is hugely valuable for the business, especially at a time when we are expanding into new markets, adding additional products and signing new partners.”

All-in Diversity Project

The All-in Diversity Project has strengthened its global advisory by confirming the addition of Birgitte Sand and Esu Ma’at as board members.

Ma’at is AIDP’s first appointment which the organisation stated is ‘reflective of educational and institutional and organisational change management’.

Sand, who currently serves as the CEO of Birgitte Sand & Associates ApS, has amassed over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry.

The appointment of both Birgitte and Esu is a critical step in the All-in Diversity Project journey as we start to move out of gaming and take a more sector agnostic position with the forthcoming launch of the first ever formal international standard for workplace diversity, equality and inclusion, in partnership with the BSI,” commented Christina Thakor-Rankin, AIDP co-founder.

“Birgitte and Esu bring with them a different set of perspectives, experiences and insights which will complement and enhance those of the existing Board allowing us to explore and address every challenge from policy right through to practice across every type of organisation right across the world. These are incredibly exciting times for us.”

Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment

Casino resort developer and operator Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has appointed David Martinelli as chief marketing officer and Judy Newman-Locke as vice president of human resources management.

Both are lauded as bringing extensive knowledge and expertise to their new roles and will help guide MGE through a period of strategic growth and development.

“It will take a strong and effective leadership team to steer our organisation through this next chapter of growth and innovation. Accordingly, I am very pleased to have Dave and Judy join our team to further support our efforts throughout the US and abroad,” noted Mario Kontomerkos, CEO and president of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment.

“Dave and Judy’s considerable experience will be instrumental in promoting MGE as a worldwide industry leader in integrated resort entertainment and in retaining the best talent for our MGE family.”

1account

Player ID and verification specialist 1account has recruited Caroline Steele as senior client director, gaining responsibility for driving brand awareness for the firm and showcasing the company’s products and services.

This includes educating the industry about ever-changing player ID and verification requirements and what 1account can do to help operators, suppliers and affiliates to verify customers with confidence.

Marc Wood, sales and marketing director at 1account, explained: “I am delighted to welcome Caroline to the team and for 1account to benefit from her unrivalled experience and knowledge of the industry.

“We have already established ourselves as a leading player ID and verification provider, but we have ambitious growth plans and Caroline will play a central role in enabling us to deploy it.

“Caroline has already put forward interesting and impactful ways of increasing exposure for 1account and our products and services and I look forward to seeing them come to life in the coming months.”

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Amber Gaming

Multi-jurisdictional gaming compliance consultancy Amber Gaming has strengthened its international team with the appointment of Shaun Parmar as business development manager.

Parmar will be based in Amber Gaming’s Malta office and will be responsible for driving awareness and growth of the firm’s licensing, regulatory compliance, corporate services, accounting and training solutions.

Ted Pepper, managing director of Amber Gaming, said: “I am delighted to welcome Shaun to the team; he has a real enthusiasm and talent for connecting client’s needs and aspirations with the solutions that can help them.

“Our simple but powerful range of products and services help organisations protect their players, their staff and their bottom lines by ensuring compliance. Shaun will be key to helping prospective clients find that balance at which compliance and commercial benefit perfectly align.”

ESA Gaming

Games provider ESA Gaming has significantly bolstered its team by adding six new staff as the group aims to fuel a further period of growth.

With a wide-ranging upscale of its personnel, the supplier has hired a product owner, two senior developers, a QA engineer, as well as two members of the burgeoning support and account management team dedicated to the regulated markets in Latin America.

Zorica Smallwood, director at ESA Gaming, commented: “We are delighted to welcome six new members to the ESA Gaming team. With a diverse array of appointments, we are clearly stating our intent to grow rapidly.

“The new hires highlight the impressive period we have had recently, with the launch of our EasySwipe offering as well as continued commercial growth in a number of jurisdictions across the globe, as it remains an exciting time at ESA Gaming.”

Bluberi

Bluberi has appointed Casey Whalen as chief commercial officer to lead expansion and drive growth in market share across North America, becoming the first executive hire since CEO Andrew Burke joined the company at the turn of the year.

Whalen joins Bluberi with more than 15 years of gaming and sales experience, having most recently served as the senior vice president for North American Sales at Konami.

In his new role, Whalen will manage all aspects of the commercialisation of new products including sales, marketing, and new market entry. He will also be responsible for developing a high performing commercial team focused on growing Bluberi’s North American footprint.

“With Casey, we are welcoming a proven leader with a breadth of commercial experience that will be invaluable as we launch new products and enter new jurisdictions,” noted Andrew Burke, CEO of Bluberi.

“Casey will be instrumental to our ongoing strategic and operational transformation into a customer focused, culture driven and nimble gaming supplier.”

FSB

Gambling tech provider FSB has strengthened its business development team with the appointment of Russell Colvin as head of retail sales.

Colvin will be responsible for driving sales of FSB’s retail products, including its self service betting terminal and EPoS systems, in regulated markets around the world.

Colvin brings with him over 20 years of experience in sports betting, from both the operator and supplier side, having worked for industry giants such as Coral, Global Draw and Scientific Games along the way.

Dave McDowell, CEO of FSB, stated: “I am thrilled to welcome Russell to the team and for us to leverage his knowledge and experience as we continue to drive our retail product forwards.”

“Our retail products are market leading and Russell will play a key role in ensuring operators are aware of what we have to offer and the value we can deliver.”

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Evoplay Entertainment

Ivan Kravchuk has been named as the new CEO of game development studio Evoplay Entertainment, bringing over a decade of senior management and creative design experience.

In the new position Kravchuk is to be charged with further strengthening the production process for Evoplay Entertainment’s games portfolio, as well as guiding the company through its latest new market entries and operator debuts.

“Stepping up to lead the company I have been part of since day one is a dream come true. I’m incredibly proud to be guiding one of the industry’s most dynamic, agile and enterprising suppliers through its next chapter of development.

“Having already claimed a host of industry accolades and ground-breaking technological advancements with my team here, I can promise our innovation-packed portfolio is only just getting started as we gear up to deliver another record-breaking year.” – Kravchuk.

European Casino Association

Tracy Damestani has resigned from the board of directors of the European Casino Association effective immediately, following years of commitment to the promotion of the sector among UK and EU regulatory bodies.

After being elected as vice-chair of the association in 2015, Damestani is credited with substantially contributing to the growth and the diversity of the association, thanks to her long-lasting experience in the field of gambling association work.

“Within the ECA, Ms Damestani has emphasised the importance of supporting women in the gambling industry before the term gender diversity became mainstream. Working closely for several years with Ms. Damestani – on issues related to responsible gambling, GDPR and other important topics for our industry as well as trade organisation management – has been a great experience.

“Her contributions to the ECA are very valuable. She will be missed, but we know she will continue to be an ambassador for the land-based casino industry at different levels. Her involvement will have a lasting impact on the ECA, and we wish her all the best for her future endeavours. The ECA is now considering several different options to maintain a close relationship with the land-based casino industry in the UK.” – Per Jaldung, ECA Chairman.

Gold Strike Casino Resort

Brandon Dardeau has been announced as the new president and COO of MGM Resorts International’s Mississippi-based Gold Strike Casino Resort.

Beginning his career with the firm at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Las Vegas at the turn of the twenty-first century, Dardeau has also served as vice president of marketing at the firm’s Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi since 2014.

The appointment comes with predecessor David Tsai relocating to Michigan to serve as the new president and COO of MGM Grand Detroit Casino.

“This is a well-deserved promotion for Brandon and an exciting time for Gold Strike. Dardeau’s nearly 20-years of experience with MGM and strong Mississippi ties make him a great addition to the Tunica team.

“He has done tremendous work at Beau Rivage, leading their various marketing programs and, especially, his role launching M life Rewards, and I believe his business acumen, loyalty and passion will make this a successful transition. I also want to thank David for all his good work at Gold Strike. I know he will continue to thrive in Detroit.” – Jorge Perez, regional portfolio president of MGM Resorts International.

FSB

Former Playtech and Kambi board member and Kindred CFO Susan Ball has been appointed to the FSB board, as the firm aims to continue to strengthen its senior team and expand its presence across emerging and existing markets.

Ball will sit on FSB’s board in an advisory capacity and work closely with CEO Dave McDowell and his senior management team to guide the business during a period of planned rapid growth and expansion across new and established markets including Africa, Latin America and the US.

“Susan is a first-class addition to the company’s executive board. Her vast industry expertise and experience will play a vital role in taking the company to its next level of growth. We’re thrilled she has chosen to join us.” – David McDowell, CEO at FSB.

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Silver Heritage Group

Asia-focused regional gaming operator Silver Heritage Group has announced the appointment of Darryl Kaplan as a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect.

This follows James Spenceley stepping down from his role of chairman last month after a year and a half in the position, also giving up his role as a non-executive director alongside Michael Bassett, who also stepped down.

Kaplan brings in excess of 30 years experience in the fields of law, corporate finance and investment in Australia and South Africa, living in the former for 20 years.

Kaplan was previously the CEO of Astoria Investments from its inception until June 2019 following his resignation. Astoria is an investment company incorporated in Mauritius with primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

He was also a non-executive director of Kingswood Limited, an investment management group listed on the London Stock Exchange, from February 19, 2018, until his resignation on May 8, 2019.

Kalamba Games

Tamas Kusztos has been appointed as head of sales and account management at Kalamba Games as the firm aims for a “new era of commercial growth”.

Joining from Quickspin, Kusztos will focus on building key strategic partnerships in new and existing markets as the company prepares to launch a remote gaming server pending final regulatory approval.

“This year has been unprecedented in terms of growth and it is fantastic to have Tamas on board to help build on our existing partnerships and reach new clients, bringing enthusiasm and a strategic mindset to the role.

“His varied experience in markets across Europe and Asia, together with his ability to deliver results through ensuring great team dynamics and intelligence-lead decision making, will serve as a major advantage to Kalamba as we enter a new stage of business development going into 2020.” – Giles Lucas, CCO at Kalamba Games.

FSB

FSB is striving to increase its “scope and influence across the industry,” as the platform provider appoints Andrew Bowen to the role of chief financial officer.

Bowen arrives at FSB with “a proven track record at CFO,” having developed “a wealth of senior-level experience” in corporate and operational finance across the gaming, tech and payments sectors.

Some of his roles in the gambling arena include a stint at Ladbrokes, as well as at Scientific Games where he took the reins as finance director for the gaming division in 2013. 

“We’re thrilled that Andy is joining the FSB team. His industry experience and contacts are second to none. We feel sure he’ll be a true asset to both FSB and all our clients, as we look to grow beyond our initial domestic horizons. FSB’s flexibility, scalability and product range will see us consistently win business, even in the hotly contested US market.

“Unlike so many companies in the space, FSB have never worked in black markets, always focussing on regulated territories. I know that was hugely important for Andy, underscoring his CV for probity and compliance as a top-notch CFO. 

“Ultimately, this responsible approach should set us apart for our partners. We already offer the best B2B services backed up with the best technology and we are attracting the best talent possible. So, whether you’re an established operator or a bricks-and-mortar business making your first move into sports betting or online gaming, FSB can help.” – David McDowell, CEO at FSB.

Sportech

A trio of new appointments have been announced by Sportech as the company lauds the addition of “key individuals” to work across its B2B divisions.

Strengthening its product and commercial teams, Paul Rietdyke is to lead Sportech’s new product user experience and design department to help elevate clients’ online digital experiences.

Leon Hosking joins the Sportech team as product manager, bringing additional knowledge of the betting industry to the firm’s product development initiatives. 

Finally, Chris Rogers becomes the new commercial manager, combining industry knowledge and strong commercial and account management skills to support the continued growth of Sportech’s product range.

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Speaking as part of an SBC webinar entitled ‘Is your platform prepared for the ultimate 18 months of sports betting?’, panellists shone a light on the key considerations that operators must look at when contemplating platform migration.

For FSB CEO Dave McDowell, the two top priorities came in the form of ‘modern and modular’ technology as well as agility.

He explained that without these two components, platform providers run the risk of the clients leaving for other platforms which may be better suited to their needs.

“I guess looking back about nine months ago, we took a view that even though our websites are still amongst the very fastest and most responsive in the industry, the technology platform that we were operating on wasn’t going to cut it going forward,” he shared.

“To improve this, we have reinvested into a full, react-based front-end channel. It’s investments like this which keep our platform modern, modular and up to date which is really what helps us build great relationships.”

He continued: “Especially now that we’re working with larger and larger companies, it’s important to understand that every one of our customers is different – they’ve all got different customer experience requirements and different regulatory needs. It’s really important for FSB to understand those requirements and be as agile as possible when we help get another customer live.”

The topic of technology was a central theme to the discussion, as talk soon turned to whether operators have the technical capabilities of handling the volumes of traffic expected from punters in the next 18 months.

For Joe Saumarez Smith, platform stability should play a major role in ensuring that you can meet the growing demands of customers in the coming year.

The chairman of Eyas Gaming believes that when it comes to looking for a new platform provider, one of the first questions that should be asked is whether they can handle the volume of bets they expect to generate.

Other questions that should be considered was whether there are multiple data feeds from outside organisations, what the speed is for bet settlement, margin movement and whether the provider has a dedicated sports betting platform.

“The absolutely crucial thing is platform stability,” he noted. “It was one of the first things that we looked at when we were moving to a different sports betting platform provider. When we were switching, the first question we asked was ‘can you actually handle the sort of numbers that we think we will be generating?’

“We’ve got a very busy 18 month period where lots of sports events are taking place. This is a perfect opportunity for acquiring new customers.”

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As a result of the acquisition, EveryMatrix is working to migrate FSB’s clients onto its proprietary turnkey technology. This includes Player Account Management, OddsMatrix sportsbook, casino aggregation and its CasinoEngine productivity platform.

An EveryMatrix spokesperson said the acquisition would “further bolster OddsMatrix and build on its best ever financial year”, generating immediate additional revenues, cross-company synergies and establishing a presence in the UK, Ireland and Africa where FSB has developed strong market share.

Oakvale Capital has been driving the FSB sales push for the past few months and is understood to have reached an agreement with EveryMatrix.

The agreement marks the completion of a project to sell FSB, in which stakeholders originally sought a £20m valuation for the provider. 

OddsMatrix achieved its best year in 2023, setting record growth, profitability and a record number of bets for tier-1 customers. This included a 75 per cent year-on-year rise in total bets, profitability up 90 per cent, while live events rose 31 per cent to more than 1.8 million for the year.

Ebbe Groes, CEO of EveryMatrix, has previously underscored the importance of accelerating the sportsbook capacity of OddsMatrix, helping the company achieve its objective to become igaming’s most comprehensive technology supplier and fastest-growing company.

Groes said: “This is our most ambitious acquisition to date, by value, size and complexity. This transaction facilitates our long-term growth strategy of entering and growing within a greater number of regulated markets, including the UK, Ireland and Africa, where many FSB clients operate.

“It also allows us to accelerate this process, diversifying our customer and revenue profiles, while simultaneously migrating customers to a stronger, high-performing product proven to deliver exceptional results.”

FSB is a longstanding provider of wagering solutions that was founded in 2007 by David McDowell. In 2019, the Canadian private equity fund Clairvest gained a majority stake in the tech group for £23m. 

McDowell left the company last year, while FSB’s most recent accounts show that annual revenues were up 19 per cent to £11m, but pre-tax losses had increased 60 per cent to £22m.

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Digitain

Digitain has promoted Ani Mkrtchyan to the position of Chief Sales Officer. 

Joining Digitain as a Sales Manager over five and a half years ago, Mkrtchyan has served as the company’s Head of Strategy for almost three years, utilising her igaming experience in international development strategy, operations, and sales strategies across several regulated markets. 

Vardges Vardanyan, Founder of the Digitain Group, commented: “Digitain is committed to investing in its people and nurturing that talent. 

“Over the nearly six years of being part of the Digitain Family and its growth into multiple markets, Ani has demonstrated exemplary attention to detail, insight, and leadership, putting our partners and customers at the heart of everything we do.

“We are delighted to have Ani join our leadership team as we continue expanding as one of the major platform providers to B2C partner operators in regulated markets.” 

Mkrtchyan added: “I’m immensely grateful to Mr Vardanyan for his unfaltering vision in Digitain, mentoring and coaching our people. 

“When engineering complex sales solutions for today’s multi-jurisdictional operators, we put partners and our people first and strive for the very best versions of ourselves and for our partners in that delivery goal. I look forward to assembling and building a game-changing team over the months and years ahead.”

GREF

The Gambling Regulators European Forum Board has launched the Anti-Money Laundering Working Group and has appointed Rachel Bezzina from the Malta Gaming Authority and Christophe Vidal from the French National Gambling Authority as co-chairs of the group.

The AML Working Group is the fifth group to be created by GREF, along with Responsible Gambling, Digital & Innovation, InfoStat, and Enforcement.

AML experts will come together within the group to share insights into best practices, trends and developments, and consider any necessary joint action.

Sportradar

Sportradar has appointed Jim Bombassei as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance, effective immediately. 

Reporting directly to CFO Gerard Griffin, Bombassei will be responsible for building and maintaining global investment relationships, communicating Sportradar’s business model, long-term strategy and financial performance, and will have oversight of the company’s Corporate Finance function. 

Bombassei brings experience in financial and investor relations to the role, having previously held senior executive positions in the media, technology and gaming industries, most recently serving as CFO of SciPlay Corporation.

Griffin stated: “We are pleased to welcome Jim to the Sportradar team. He is a talented and respected finance executive, with a wealth of investor relations experience and a track record of success.

“Jim will be a great asset as we continue to communicate our vision and strategy to the market and our investor community.”

RubyPlay

RubyPlay has hired Olga Sirokha as its new Director of Partnerships.

With over 20 years of experience within the gaming industry, including in Latin America’s land-based casino sector, Sirokha will be tasked with managing RubyPlay’s partner network and securing agreements with operators in key regions globally.

Dr Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Olga to the team. Her deep knowledge of successful partnerships is sure to secure even more opportunities and collaborations for RubyPlay moving forward.

“We’ve signed some fantastic agreements with operators recently, and with our eye on further expansion in key markets in the near future, Olga is absolutely the right person for the role. We look forward to showing you some extremely exciting developments very soon.”

Sirokha added: “RubyPlay are on a fantastic upward trajectory, and I couldn’t be happier to be joining the company at such a pivotal time of expansion.

“Recent partnerships with some of the industry’s biggest brands have put us in good stead for the future. I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to even more growth as we approach 2024. Watch this space – we’re taking RubyPlay to the next level.”

American Gaming Association

The American Gaming Association has announced Joe Maloney as its new Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications. 

In this role, Maloney will direct the AGA’s communications, research, marketing and public affairs campaigns to advance key priorities for the association’s members.

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller commented: “I’m thrilled to have Joe join the AGA and lead our best-in-class communications team. Joe is an accomplished professional who has taken on significant public affairs challenges throughout his career.

“We will benefit not only from his depth of experience and his tireless advocacy, but his enthusiasm and energy to hit the ground running as a champion for the casino gaming industry.”  

Maloney will join the AGA in January 2024 from the Washington Commanders, where he served as Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications. 

“I’m honoured to join the AGA and its dedicated team at this pivotal moment for the gaming industry,” added Maloney. 

“The future holds great promise and I’m energised by the opportunity and challenge of communicating the remarkable benefits and economic impact of legal gaming across the country.” 

FSB

FSB has appointed Craig Artley to the role of Chief Financial Officer.

As CFO, Artley will oversee FSB’s financial strategy, lead its finance and compliance teams and direct commercial relationships with platform partners.

Joining from Sporting Group where he held several senior financial positions, he has also previously worked for Deloitte and Gfinity.

Adam Smith, CEO at FSB, noted: “Craig is another outstanding hire into our senior leadership executive team.

“As we continue to build our partner network across multiple continents, it was clear we needed a dynamic figure to deliver a robust, holistic economic strategy to support the overall ecosystem of our global business. With Craig’s sector experience and infectious desire to deliver he was the clear choice to fill this role and we’re thrilled to have him on board.”

Commenting on his new role, Artley said: “FSB’s transformation into a leading global sportsbook supplier has been inspiring to follow from within the industry, so to be offered the opportunity to join this journey is a great honour.

“My job now is to support the business from a financial view across our four operational continents and growing partner pool as we look forward to a busy 2024.”

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Through the deal, operator FSB will offer Spribe’s content to its global player base as the developer’s range of crash and instant games become available on its online casino platform. 

Brendan Courtney, Head of Casino Integrations at FSB, said: “Integrating Spribe’s catalogue of contemporary content adds further depth to our growing casino aggregation product and wider gaming technology stack.

“Spribe’s Aviator crash game has elevated the everyday gaming experience and this is something we want to deliver to our growing, global portfolio of partners and their players.”

Games to become available to FSB players worldwide include Aviator, the studio’s flagship product often hailed as the industry’s preliminary crash title, in addition to a catalogue of turbo games, poker, slots and skill games.

Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Chief Commercial Officer at Spribe, said: “Partnering with global platform provider FSB is another landmark moment for Spribe. The success of Aviator and our wider high-performance game content continues to grow and we are thrilled that these titles will now become available to FSB’s impressive range of operator partners.”

While this move impacts the developer’s audience worldwide, Spribe recently focused on Europe for the distribution of its igaming content, gaining a certificate from Gaming Associates to increase its European expansion efforts.

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