Industry News
European Gaming Q3 Meetup Part II: The Importance of Company Culture in iGaming
The European Gaming Q3 Virtual Meetup that took place on 13 September had it all: from Commercial Marketing and the Player Lifecycle, to Employer Marketing, Talent Acquisition and Retention, industry experts from the European iGaming scene provided insights in two informative and honest panels that no professional should miss! Read on and find the link to the Livestream recordings to watch the EGQ3 Meetup on YouTube!
The European Gaming Meetups by Hipther Agency are designed to keep you up-to-date with what is fresh in the European gambling industry.
The meetups feature several panel discussions per region and topics that are joined by key industry experts, CEOs, C-Level Executives, Business Development Managers, and sometimes government officials/regulators.
The European Gaming Q3 Virtual Meetup featured two thought-provoking panels: “Mastering the Player Lifecycle” and “The Importance of Company Culture in iGaming”.
Panel 2: “The Importance of Creating a Company Culture in iGaming”
Speakers: Kevin Perks, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Van Kaizen | Nana Shneider, HRD at BETBAZAR | Tom Galanis, CEO at TAG Media & First Look Games
Moderated by: Zoltan Tundik, Co-founder and Head of Business at Hipther
Watch the Panel Discussion on YouTube and HiptherTV!
The panel discussion promptly emphasized the pivotal role of fostering a positive company culture within the iGaming sector.
Nana Shneider, HRD at BETBAZAR, initiated the conversation by underlining the significance of motivation and growth in the workplace, recognizing the impact of personal lives on employees’ well-being. She stressed that a positive company culture can contribute to achieving a harmonious work-life balance.
Tom Galanis, CEO at TAG Media & First Look Games, shared insights from companies that operate as remote workplaces. He highlighted the indispensability of strong communication, especially in remote work settings. While attractive salaries can incentivize talent acquisition, Tom emphasized that for talent retention, a company must offer something unique that motivates individuals to work and grow within the organization.
Kevin Perks, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Van Kaizen, offered insights from a recruiter’s perspective. He emphasized the essence of company culture both in general and from the job seekers’ viewpoint. Interestingly, he noted that candidates typically inquire less about “superficial” perks like game rooms or ping-pong tables and focus more on company culture. Key questions revolve around whether a company is people-centric, if employees are trusted to perform their tasks without micromanagement, and if there are ample learning and development opportunities. Kevin also stressed that while talent attraction involves marketing communications, the foundation for retention begins with building honest and strong relationships with candidates during the recruitment phase, where the company culture and values play a vital role.
The discussion then delved into the contemporary workspace and remote work environments. The panelists explored the role of company culture in these settings.
Nana emphasized the importance of motivation and connection. She contended that companies must motivate employees by fostering a sense of unity and support, even among remote workers. Tom, with his experience leading remote-work companies, highlighted the challenge of forming meaningful connections in remote work settings. He emphasized that a strong company culture provides meaning and motivation in such environments.
Kevin pointed out that company culture is fundamentally what the business stands for, making it essential for companies to establish a clear culture. In remote settings, effective communication becomes even more critical, with middle managers playing a crucial role in shaping and maintaining company culture.
The discussion also touched on employer marketing and the challenges of conveying company culture in media within a remote work context. Nana highlighted the need for clarity and conciseness in messaging and values to reach everyone, regardless of diverse backgrounds. She emphasized the value of democracy and finding common ground between the company and employees. Tom emphasized honesty and trust as fundamental values, while Kevin reiterated that a positive company culture equates to a people-centric culture, with every individual responsible for creating a safe environment, upholding company values, and advocating for them.
Regarding leadership and company culture, Nana stressed that leaders set the tone for the company and are crucial not only for business development but also for employee growth. Tom echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of leaders displaying soft skills and prioritizing training tools while fostering empathy in interactions with employees. Kevin agreed and reinforced the significance of managers in establishing company culture, emphasizing the promotion of people not just for task completion but also for their people management skills.
Lastly, the discussion explored changes companies can implement to promote a positive company culture. Nana emphasized the importance of companies attending to employees’ needs, embracing flexibility, and fostering communication through calls, discussions, and meetings between top management and employees. Tom urged leaders and management to revisit their vision and culture, offering support and assistance to employees. Kevin emphasized that candidates now closely scrutinize a company’s culture during the recruitment process. They seek signs of culture, which are often not evident in a company’s media communications. Thus, the recruitment process and the relationships established during it are vital.
In conclusion, the panelists underscored that people should be at the heart of company culture, enabling them to derive satisfaction from their work and personal growth. They emphasized that everyone within a company shares the responsibility for shaping its culture.
Read more about the first part of this exciting and informative edition of the European Quarterly Meetups, a panel discussion on Company Culture in iGaming!
IAGA
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) Announces 2024 International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C.
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 41st International Gaming Summit Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.
As a premier event that brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors, the Summit will provide operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other advisor delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing gaming.
“We are looking forward to holding this year’s 41st Annual International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C., and are pleased to announce an agenda that includes a specific focus on some of the key sports betting issues the rapidly expanding US market is facing. As part of this focus, we will bring together representatives from global sports betting operators, regulatory agencies, professional sports leagues and other experts to discuss how the industry’s sports betting stakeholders can better work together to ensure a sustainable, responsible sports betting environment that is built on best practices lessons learned from other markets,” John Stawyskyj, President of IAGA, said.
“Beyond our sports betting focus, our diverse agenda includes discussions on other issues of importance including the growing impact of fraud and cyber breaches on regulated operators, a look into the federal and state lobbying process, an update on what’s happening in other gaming markets outside North America, a deep dive into new technologies and how they might impact gaming and more. I look forward to welcoming our delegates to Washington and participating with them in lively discussions about these critical issues and more,” Stawyskyj added.
Marker Trax, a leader in cashless payment solutions for the gambling industry, has announced the appointment of John Henderson as its senior vice president of operations.
As the company continues solidifying its cashless payments sector leadership position, Henderson joins the team to play a key role in leading strategic planning efforts, executing new operator and customer initiatives, directing pursuit of key performance indicators, and ensuring overall product and technology quality control. He reports directly to, and will work closely with, Marker Trax President Charlie Skinner.
Henderson is a seasoned, energetic industry veteran who brings to Marker Trax more than four decades of success in delivering technology-based business solutions, leading innovation-forward companies seeking to increase their industry footprints and to solidify their market shares.
“We’re cementing our leadership position in the cashless space, and John is the right leader, at the right time, to help guide us there. He has tactical expertise, and a long track record of success in the IT space. More than that, though, he’s always eager to innovate – which aligns perfectly with our philosophy and goals. We’re lucky to have him on board,” Charlie Skinner, President of Marker Trax, said.
Immediately prior to joining Marker Trax, Henderson served as chief information officer at WorldStrides, a global leader in educational travel services, and helped the company navigate a business and IT transformation program. Henderson has also held client partner roles at Accenture, IBM, and Cognizant, and has served numerous global brands including Choice Hotels, Hilton Hotels, MGM Resorts, Wynn, Disney, and Royal Caribbean.
“Every step of his career, John’s shown natural aptitude for client relationship management and large-scale systems integrations, and a keen, tactical eye for optimizing performance at all levels of an operation. At Marker Trax, we’re increasing our market footprint through continual innovation, and John’s tactical leadership will be of tremendous benefit to reaching our goals,” Skinner said.
Henderson’s addition caps a prolific run of recent accomplishments for the company. It recently unveiled its innovative consumer product, Moolah Play, secured renewed commitment from partner and global payments leader Euronet Worldwide Inc., and is introducing its cashless credit technology into more markets around the country.
Affinity Interactive
Affinity Interactive Appoints Scott Butera as President & Chief Executive Officer
Affinity Interactive has announced the appointment of Scott Butera as President & Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Mr. Butera, who most recently led AI’s Sports Information Group (SIG) business, brings over 30 years of experience in gaming, hospitality, media, entertainment, and sports to the pivotal role. In his new capacity, Mr. Butera will set strategy and oversee operations of the Company’s diversified portfolio of casinos resorts across Nevada, Missouri, and Iowa. He will also continue to oversee all print and online media platforms, including Daily Racing Form.
Mr. Butera is an industry veteran who has a history of leading growth and innovation at numerous companies. As CEO of SIG, he led initiatives to develop retail and business products and optimize ecommerce sales for the Daily Racing Form. Under his leadership, SIG experienced significant growth in market share and revenue. Previously, Mr. Butera served as President of Fubo Gaming at Fubo TV Inc. He has also held CEO and President positions at MGM Resorts International, the Arena Football League, Foxwoods Resort & Casino, Tropicana Entertainment, and Trump Entertainment, among others. Earlier in his career, he worked as an investment banker for more than a decade, gaining valuable financial expertise that he later applied to strategic decision-making in the gaming industry. Mr. Butera has a B.A. from Trinity College, where he served as a Trustee, and an MBA from New York University.
“Scott’s operating acumen and deep knowledge of the gaming and entertainment industries have helped AI and Sports Information Group expand product offerings and improve the sports and gaming experience for consumers around the world. I am confident Scott will integrate seamlessly into this expanded role, and under his leadership, Affinity will achieve greater success, continuing to deliver world-class experiences to nearly 1 million users and guests across platforms,” James J. Zenni Jr., Chairman of Affinity Interactive, said.
“Affinity’s mission to elevate the gaming industry through advanced technology and unparalleled customer offerings – both across digital media platforms as well as in-person gaming – remains a driving force behind the business’ success. I am eager to collaborate with Jim and leverage my familiarity with the business as well as my passion for driving innovative change to execute on AI’s long-term strategic priorities,” Mr. Butera said.
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