Editor's Letter

As we welcome 2023 with open arms, we would like to wish a Happy New Year to all our Gambling Insider readers, partners and contributors. No less than six of the industry's most influential leaders feature in this year's CEO Special, which will be distributed en masse at February's ICE London trade show. Flutter International CEO Dan Taylor opens proceedings, speaking to Louis Thompsett at Flutter's London HQ. On page 38, Taylor walks him through a career that's seen him work with the Daily Mail, Teletext Holidays and – not least – manage several of Flutter's high-profile global brands.

Over at Light & Wonder, I speak to Gaming CEO Siobhan Lane (page 44), who provides one of the management quotes of the year when she says her job is to enable every one of her team's "superpowers." Unsurprisingly, Lane learned volumes about the industry in 12 years at Aristocrat and is now bringing those lessons to the fore at Light & Wonder's Gaming division.

On page 50, Hoiana President & CEO Steve Wolstenholme represents the land-based industry in Vietnam, as he tells me all about a career that has taken him to Florida, the Bahamas, the Philippines, Macau, Niagara Falls and many more luxurious destinations. This issue's theme is 'the jet setters' – and Wolstenholme probably embodies this best.

Meanwhile, Peter Lynch speaks with Tsachi Maimon, whose role has expanded as Aspire Global CEO since also becoming President of NeoGames. What I love most about these interviews is you get to know the person behind the exec; it turns out Maimon is a keen tennis player, who now regularly plays padel in Spain!

BGaming CEO Marina Ostrovtsova provides a fresh approach to our line-up. In a joint interview with myself and Louis Thompsett, Ostrovtsova discusses her unique rise and why it's important to give people the freedom to actually make mistakes...

Completing our CEO Special, I've left mention of Natalia Hilevych until last, because our emotive discussion will stay with me forever. The inspirational Parimatch Eastern Europe CEO fought back tears as she talked me through life as a CEO in a wartorn country. It's an interview you don't want to miss. 

My final message hits an equally emotional tone. The late Peter Nolan featured in our November/December edition, for the very last interview of his life. His sudden departure has broken the hearts not only of his family and his Digitain colleagues, but everyone who knew him in gambling. A titan of our industry, may he rest in peace.