Latest News

Pragmatic Play Appoints New VP of Strategy and Operations: Bhotesh Maheshwari

Published

5 years ago

February 26, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has appointed former Rank Digital Head of Gaming Product, Bhotesh Maheshwari, as its new Vice President of Commercial Strategy and Operations as the company looks to further cement its position as a top tier supplier in regulated markets.

His core responsibilities will include overseeing commercial operations and building closer product partnerships with leading operators across Europe while expanding Pragmatic Play’s footprint in newly regulated territories across the globe.

The 39-year-old will also head Pragmatic Play’s Gibraltar office which serves UK, German, Spanish and Portuguese operators with a team of three executives working to achieve the supplier’s goals in the region.

Maheshwari has a long history in the gaming industry, working for both top tier operators and suppliers during his 15-year career. Since starting out as a retail manager for William Hill in 2006, he has worked closely with product teams to deliver gaming propositions customised for local player bases across UK, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Having spent eight years in a variety of commercial and product roles in the land-based gaming space for William Hill and Inspired Gaming, he moved to Betfair in an online gaming role supporting its arcade product and built an in-house gaming proposition and the innovative timed jackpot offering.

He eventually joined the Rank Group in Gibraltar in 2016 heading casino revenue and product development for online brands Grosvenorcasinos.com and Meccabingo.com.

Julian Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “We are thrilled to have Bhotesh join us, and look forward to his impressive industry experience benefiting our growing team.

“The projects he has previously been involved with and the impact they have had on development in his previous roles bode very well for his future with us.”

Bhotesh Maheshwari added: “I look forward to working closely with the founders and management team at Pragmatic Play which has established itself as a leading multi-product provider in our industry in a very short time.

“We have hugely exciting expansion plans within regulated regions and new product verticals and it’s fantastic to be embarking on this next phase of growth for the company.”

Pragmatic Play currently produces up to five new slot titles a month, while also delivering Live Casino and Bingo games as part of its multi-product portfolio, available through one single API.

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

4 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 .

The post Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.