JAN FEB 2025

Editor's Letter

Ladies and gentlemen, we at Gambling Insider would like to extend a warm welcome to 2025, a warm welcome to visitors of ICE Barcelona – and, most of all, a warm welcome to our annual CEO Special.
In a jam-packed January/February issue, our most prestigious edition of the year, I as Editor can't wait for readers to consume seven of the most in-depth, high-profile industry interviews you could hope to see this year. All feedback is more than welcome and I truly hope you enjoy the insights our stellar interviewees have to offer.
This year's CEO Special? Yeah, it's special, alright. Not only do we feature Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson, the biggest publicly traded operator in gambling, we include Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter and Betting & Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst. Providing a US perspective, a truly unique one at that as he runs an employee-owned casino in Nevada and a charitable gaming casino in New Hampshire, is Eureka Casinos CEO Andre Carrier.
However, this is where – this year – we bring a twist. For the very first time, we have included what we call 'the best of both,' meaning our CEO Special is delving into the realm of B2B suppliers as well as B2C operators. As such, joining Jackson, De Ruiter, Hurst and Carrier are Soft2Bet CEO Uri Poliavich, Betby CEO Leonid Pertsovskiy and Neosurf CEO Andrea McGeachin.
Each executive has an individual story well worth telling – and our team, myself included, do our very best to challenge them to tell as much of it as possible.
Naturally, this issue is not restricted to our seven feature interviewees. We have our usual selection of data, Insiders and product reviews, while our Roundtable feature includes a number of suppliers and their predictions for 2025's biggest industry trends.
Elsewhere, we have an array of contributors – new and returning – focusing on topics such as Brazil, the black market, personalisation, AI, India, Germany and Australia. They are accompanied by exclusive interviews on New Zealand and Ireland's new regulatory proposals, while Tammi Barlow-Marang also speaks to us on responsible gambling, and we report from Sportradar's Connect event at the Emirates Stadium.
As we say goodbye to a prosperous 2024, the gambling sector is already seeking new opportunities in 2025. For many, the truly meaningful discussions start in January at ICE Barcelona – so make sure you're armed with the most meaningful insights, which you can only find right here in this magazine.
TP, Editor

In the Magazine

Facing Facts: Q3 2024 analysis

Gambling Insider takes a look at the Q3 results of operators, suppliers and affiliates across the market...

Taking stock: The final count of 2024

Gambling Insider tracks operator and supplier prices of some of the trending names in industry news in 2024. Stock prices are taken across a six-month period (July 2024 to December 2024) – and from the close of the first available date of the month.

CEO Special: Flutter CEO Peter Jackson – Playing to win

As the biggest publicly traded operator in gambling meets the industry’s leading media publication in London, Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson speaks to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole about his passion for challenger brands, effective M&A, success in the US and more.

CEO Special: Holland Casino CEO Petra de Ruiter – High flier

Petra de Ruiter, Holland Casino CEO, speaks to Gambling Insider about a career flight path that spanned over 20 years in aviation, ending up with a destination in gambling. Words by Beth Turner.

CEO Special: Betting & Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst – Learning through change

Betting & Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst speaks with Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole, just as predecessor Michael Dugher did, reflecting on her first few months in charge, why she never wanted to become an MP and her goals for a very busy UK market.

CEO Special: Eureka Casinos CEO Andre Carrier – It's about family

Eureka Casinos CEO Andre Carrier speaks with Kirk Geller about how a life in the kitchen led to running not only the first 100% employee-owned casino, Eureka Casino Resort, but also the largest charity casino in the US, The Brook.

CEO Special: Betby CEO Leonid Pertsovskiy – A culture of innovation

Betby Co-Founder and CEO Leonid Pertsovskiy sits down with Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole to discuss his entrepreneurial journey – and the Betby story – so far. Words by Megan Elswyth.

CEO Special: Soft2Bet CEO Uri Poliavich – Feeding the fire

Uri Poliavich, Soft2Bet CEO & Founder, sits down with Gambling Insider’s Will Underwood to discuss his faith, family and the global journey that has led him to his current position as a business leader.

CEO Special: Neosurf CEO Andrea McGeachin – Imagine payments done differently

Neosurf CEO Andrea McGeachin sheds light on an often-overlooked corner of the gambling industry, as she speaks to Gambling Insider about a culture of trust, compliance and how she leads her team through the ever-changing landscape of payment providers.

Brazil: Game on for the regulated market

Brazilian gaming law expert Neil Montgomery takes a look at the nation’s federal regulated market, the thrills of 2024 and what to expect in 2025 ahead of its regulated launch in the New Year.

Hiring the best - a guide to resort recruitment

Gambling Insider regular contributor Paul Sculpher, Director of GRS Recruitment, discusses how resort casinos can best plan their hiring.

Regulation in Germany: Let them work!

Dr Joerg Hofmann, Senior Partner at Melchers Law and regular Gambling Insider contributor, discusses the workings of the GGL in Germany. He asks: why shouldn’t the body be left alone to make its own independent decisions?

Turning the ship on Australian gambling compliance

Paul Newson, Regulating the Game Founder, Australian policy expert and Gambling Insider contributor, discusses Australia’s complex landscape of gaming regulation.

Defining the threat of the black market

We hear a lot about the black market and the threats it poses within gaming. But what exactly is it and how best do we deal with the threat? BetBlocker Founder and Trustee Duncan Garvie gives his take.

Walking the tightrope of realistic regulation

Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General at the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) and regular Gambling Insider contributor, discusses how clashes between player appeal and regulation are causing licensed markets to fail.

Peronalised AI: The future of gaming?

Mark McGuinness, online gaming consultant and Gambling Insider contributor, unpicks the evolution of AI-powered personas and ChatBots in Web3 for online casino.

UK vs US RG: Strength in numbers

Gambling Insider sits down with Bally’s VP of Responsible Gaming, Tammi Barlow-Marang, to explore what the US can learn from the EU regarding player protection.

Connecting to stand out in the sports betting landscape

Gambling Insider Staff Writer Ciarán McLoughlin attended Sportradar Connect at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, and below provides some key takeaways from the event.

Ireland makes gambling history in 2024

Gambling Insider gets expert insights on the recently passed Gambling Regulation Bill in Ireland; featuring Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) Chairperson Sharon Byrne and Associate in Bird & Bird’s Ireland office Georgina Parkinson.

Opening New Zealand's market: A unanimous verdict

After announcing plans to regulate online gaming this summer, Jarrod True of True Legal sits down with Gambling Insider to sift through the upcoming changes to New Zealand’s developing gambling market.

The blueprint for India's market

Manav Bhargava, Head of India Desk at Segev LLP, discusses unlocking India’s iGaming potential using lessons from Ontario in Canada.

Building a gaming community

Digitain Founder Vardges Vardanyan speaks with Gambling Insider about continuous innovation, responsible expansion and why people are at the heart of the company

The gaming industry looks ahead to 2025...

Industry experts provide Gambling Insider with their predictions for 2025, including Betcore, Lynon, Spribe and RevenueLab.

Aardvark Technologies: Innovating no matter the barriers

Aardvark Technologies Commercial Director Arijus Denisovas breaks down the recipe for effective partnerships, adapting to different market needs and the trend of crash games in retail casinos.

Internet Vikings: A post-election landscape for US gaming

Rickard Vikström, CEO & Founder of Internet Vikings, breaks down his experiences and insights into the US region and beyond.

Volt: Around the world in 80 pays

Volt’s VP International Expansion Matt Jones, SVP LatAm André Faria and VP Strategy Sabrina Qian speak on open banking development in the UK and around the world, and what is next on the agenda for Volt

Amelco: Charting new growth opportunities

Gambling Insider speaks with Amelco Head of Business Development Brandon Walker, with a particular focus on sports betting within the US, the potential of new states legalising online casino, as well as what's on the horizon for Brazil in 2025.

Paysecure: Empowering growth for gaming operators

Paysecure CCO and Co-Founder Viktoriia Degtiarova speaks to Gambling Insider about how the supplier is helping to streamline payment processes, its plans for 2025 and more.

Novomatic: Reshaping the industry through omnichannel

Novomatic AG VP Global Sales & Product Management Thomas Schmalzer speaks on the growing need for omnichannel solutions among iGaming and land-based operators.

MiFinity CEO: Always asking “What’s next?"

MiFinity CEO Paul Kavanagh speaks with Gambling Insider on the payments supplier's latest developments, innovations in the payment processing market and lessons learnt as a CEO in 2024.

DS Virtual Gaming: Changing the game via technology

DS Virtual Gaming Head of Business Development, Araksi Sargsyan, discusses how shifts in technological advancements and consumer trust have set up virtual gaming for its biggest year yet in 2025.

WA.Technology with Gambling Insider magazine's final word of 2024

Phyllyp Sedicias, WA.Technology's Country Director for Brazil, discusses the country's regulated market, which is due to launch on 1 January.

Compliance: Finding the path of least resistance

Making compliance easier for employees: online gaming compliance consultant Alex Henderson provides Gambling Insider with a step-by-step guide on creating a unanimous approach