Most Influential Women in The Online Casino Industry
The iGaming sector is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, with a market value of USD 58.2 Billion per the 2021 report. According to researchers, the industry is expected to hit USD 145.6 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 12%. Over the years, the online casino scene has undergone a tremendous transition in technology and innovation. The industry has also seen the number of women holding key positions increase considerably, with Europe leading the pack. To get the matter’s scope, we take you through Europe’s most influential CEOs that shaped the online casino industry. Highlights include why these women are important and the role they are playing in ensuring the continuity of the online casino gaming industry.
JETTE NYGAARD-ANDERSEN
Jette Nygaard-Andersen is a perfect example of the most influential CEOs that shaped and continue to shape the online casino industry. Nygaard-Andersen is a Danish business executive known for her position as the CEO of Entain. Entain is an international sports betting and gambling company with a massive fanbase in Europe, especially the UK. The platform is the parent company of some top online casino sites, such as PartyPoker, Gala Bingo, Gala Casino, Bwin, and Sportingbet. Nygaard-Andersen began her career at Entain in 2018 as a non-executive member. After two years of hard work, Nygaard-Andersen was appointed as the CEO of Entain, making her the first female CEO of a UK-listed betting company. The promotion of Nygaard-Andersen as the CEO of Entain came after Shay Segev announced his intention to step down to take a job at DAZN, a global sports streaming platform.
Since her announcement, Nygaard-Andersen has managed to steer Entain towards highly regulated markets such as the USA. This has helped boost the company’s online offerings a huge deal. In December 2021, Nygaard-Andersen saw the company’s revenue spike by 41% for the third quarter. The industry veteran is expected to increase Entain’s visibility in the US and create a bigger market. This does not seem to be a challenge to Nygaard-Andersen, thanks to her extensive experience in the online gambling scene. She works with the industry’s top developers and creative designers to provide Entain clients with the best online casino services.
THERESE HILLMAN
Therese Hillman is among the female CEOs that left a mark in the iGaming industry thanks to her creative thinking and innovative ideas. Hillman supports the company’s strategy of consolidating the market and expanding into new markets, such as the fast-growing EU sports betting market. She is the former president and CEO of NetEnt, one of the best EU online casino software vendors. NetEnt is mostly popular for supplying highly rated European online casinos with quality gaming options like slot machines and table games. It is the company behind award-winning slot machines like Starburst, Mega Fortune, Gonzo’s Quest, and Dead or Alive 2. Therese Hillman joined the casino software development company in 2017 as the CFO. In April 2018, she was appointed as the acting CEO of NetEnt, a position she occupied fully a month later. As the Chief Executive Officer, Therese Hillman revolutionized NetEnt and even expanded its portfolio, making it one of the biggest software developers on the planet.
Her legacy as the CEO includes purchasing Red Tiger in an all-cash deal that saw NetEnt pay £197 million for the already established software provider. This deal propelled NetEnt and enabled the company to dominate the iGaming industry, thus, proving its superiority. Her three-year tenure completely transformed NetEnt and the entire online casino industry. This is through constantly releasing fantastic online casino games and penetrating new markets. She was also able to increase NetEnt’s market value notably. Before stepping down as the CEO of NetEnt, Theresa Hillman had achieved goals that other CEOs in the iGaming scene had failed to.
AMY HOWE
Amy Howe is a force to reckon with in the online casino industry. Howe is the CEO of FanDuel, a dedicated all-in-one betting site that offers the best casino gaming services. Before joining the company, Howe occupied the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Live Nation Entertainment. She worked with the company in 2014 and left in 2015 after being appointed as the COO of Ticketmaster North America. In 2021, Amy Howe became the Chief Executive Officer at FanDuel. Her experience in the online casino industry has enabled her to propel FanDuel and other companies she has been associated with to success. At Ticketmaster, Howe helped grow the company’s mobile application installation base by 400%.
Under her leadership, FanDuel launched a betting app and captured 51% of the betting market. She also organized the development of app-specific bonus codes, a step that has helped increase the popularity of FanDuel’s mobile application. She has also helped to expand the casino gaming portfolio to increase FanDuel’s coverage in Europe. The stunning aspect is that despite taking the CEO position in 2021, Amy Howe has already won the Digital operator of the year. It is factual that Amy Howe is a key figure working round the clock to increase the global online betting income. Finally, Howe is behind the launch of FanDuel TV. FanDuel did make a bright choice of bringing Amy Howe on board as the brand’s chief executive officer.
ZOË OSMOND
Zoë Osmond is the Chief Executive Officer of BeGambleAware, a responsible gambling charity helping players experiencing gambling problems and protecting gamers at risk of developing betting issues. Osmond was confirmed as the CEO of the notable organization in 2021, and since then, she has been working tirelessly to shape the industry and ensure safe gambling for everyone. According to Zoë Osmond, BeGambleAware funds access to free and confidential treatment to more than 12000 affected players annually. Since she became the CEO, BeGambleAware has spent £22.46 million to protect players at risk of gambling. This is as per her open letter on GambleAware ret duties. She also said the charity would be spending £40 million in the coming fiscal year.
This means help for more people to gamble responsibly. Her main aim is to ensure players enjoy gaming without a hitch and monitor casino services to guarantee they are safe for players. This is by using its platform to create awareness and carry out relevant campaigns, not to mention work with operators to transform the industry. Zoë Osmond is taking all the necessary measures to shape the online casino industry by making it a haven for punters. Even though BeGambleAware mainly targets UK players, it extends its services to players in various countries in Europe, including Ireland.
ROUNDING UP
These are the most notable Chief Executive Officers in the online casino industry that have helped transform the sector differently. While Amy Howe works with industry-leading online casino brands to provide players with the best gaming services, Zoë Osmond is ensuring players practice responsible gambling. In short, each female CEO in the above list played or continues to play an important role in shaping the online casino sector and ensuring its continuity. Trends point to more female powerhouses expected to receive top roles ranging from the board of directors to Chief finance Officers in the coming years as part of the ongoing revolution in the iGaming industry.
