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Merkur Sportwetten Makes Structural, Personnel Changes Focused on Online Growth

Published

5 years ago

October 4, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Merkur Sportwetten has divided its product team into two departments – a “Digital Operation” team and a “Technology & Delivery” team. While the Digital Operation team concentrates on the commercial success of the digital business, the Technology & Delivery team focuses on the provision of customer-oriented and high-quality products.

The Digital Operation team is led by Andy Bentley. After having served the company as a consultant since November last year, the 40-year-old joined Merkur Sportwetten as Chief Operating Officer of Digital on 1 July 2021. In his new role as Head of the Digital Operation Team, he is responsible, among other things, for increasing the growth of the online business, for providing first-class customer service, and for defining the online product range.

“As a team, we have a clear vision: to create the best omnichannel experience across Europe. I’m very excited to be a part of this vision and to accompany Merkur Sportwetten on this journey as well as to drive it forward,” Bentley said.

The Technology & Delivery segment will be the responsibility of Adam Lomax as Director of Technology & Delivery B2C. The 42-year-old has been with the Gauselmann Group since 1 March 2021 and was initially responsible as Program Director for the provision of the platform and systems for the international land-based and online market. In his new role as Director Technology & Delivery, Adam Lomax has been responsible for the new and further development of Merkur Sportwetten products since 1 July 2021.

“I am thrilled to be working in such a future- and quality-oriented company. Splitting up the product team enables us to respond to the needs of our customers and business partners in an even more targeted and effective way. This presents an exciting opportunity to reshape the way Merkur Sportwetten drives international growth,” Lomax said.

“The new structure within our product team provides valuable resources and a more targeted focus on developing our online business. Now that we have well-established platform and technology partners, the team’s focus has to shift from ‘build and develop’ to ‘deliver and grow,’” Markus Ettlin, the Management Spokesperson at Merkur Sportwetten GmbH, said.

“With the appointment of Andy Bentley and Adam Lomax, we have been able to attract two experienced and proven experts and are thus taking a big step on the long-term path becoming the best omnichannel provider in the whole of Europe,” he added.

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

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