Gavin Isaacs Joins SBTech As Chairman To Drive US Sports Betting Expansion

SBTech has a new Non-Executive Chairman in Gavin Isaacs, the former CEO of Scientific Games (SG).

The company is making the appointment to firm up its credentials in the rapidly growing US market. SBTech CEO Richard Carter said:

We’re thrilled that someone of Gavin’s calibre, credibility and experience has chosen to join SBTech. This is a huge coup for the business. Gavin’s two decades of successfully leading, transforming, and acquiring some of the biggest businesses in the gaming sector will be a massive advantage for us, particularly in the US where we have already partnered and gone live with several large brands across multiple states and where there are many more opportunities to grow.

Sizing up the US market

The sports betting opportunity may be enormous, but the US market is intensely competitive.

One of SBTech’s biggest competitors is Isaacs' former employer, SG. SG is partnered with Caesars and has sports betting up and running in casinos in New Jersey and Mississippi.

Caesars’ Pennsylvania property Harrah’s will open for sports betting soon, with SG again providing the sports betting platform.

SBTech advancing rapidly across the US

Isaacs will definitely help counter the competition, but SBTech is already making a significant mark on the US market.

SBTech operates sportsbooks in New Jersey for Churchill Downs, Resorts Atlantic City and the Golden Nugget.

In Mississippi, the company has three locations up and running:

• Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa in Greenville
• Riverwalk Casino Hotel in Vicksburg
• Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi

The first two are operated by Churchill Downs and use the BetAmerica brand, which it will also launch in Pennsylvania.

Churchill Downs recently took over the Presque Isle Downs casino and has submitted a sports betting application to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) naming SBTech as its partner.

SBTech, GAN have an even bigger footprint

In a prescient move, months before the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA, SBTech formed a partnership with GAN.

The deal signed in January 2018 announced the companies would integrate their technology for sports betting:

“SBTech’s sports betting solution will be integrated with GAN’s GameSTACK™ enterprise software platform and delivered to players through both online and retail channels. GAN’s clients in the US represent more than 70 casino properties from coast to coast, generating annual revenues in excess of US $8 bn in land-based casino gaming.”

On top of the Pennsylvania properties served by SBTech, GAN has partnerships with the Valley Forge Casino and the Parx Casino. The PGCB gave both approval to offer sports betting.

SBTech believes Isaacs’ deep knowledge of the industry and long-established personal relationships will be invaluable in making these partnerships succeed. Something stated explicitly in his own comments on the new appointment:

“I was approached by a number of companies since leaving Scientific Games, however I chose to join SBTech due to its, superior technology, high standards across every discipline, entrepreneurial approach and incredible ambition and potential to grow further across a wide variety of regulated markets including the US where I am based and have an extensive network, knowledge and experience.”

The post Gavin Isaacs Joins SBTech As Chairman To Drive US Sports Betting Expansion appeared first on Legal Sports Report.

Original source: https://www.legalsportsreport.com/27255/gavin-isaacs-sbtech-chairman/

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