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Casinomeister’s 23 Year Anniversary

Published

5 years ago

June 11, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Casinomeister, the advocate of fair play, has reached a significant milestone: twenty-three years since the launch of the website – 10 June 1998.

What began initially as a hobby site was transformed into a one-man business in the early years of the Internet. Since 1998, Casinomeister has stuck to its original mission statement:

“Trust is what it’s all about. Our mission at Casinomeister is to provide verified information; information that enables players to make smart choices. Since trust is generated by information, the more players know about online casinos, the more at ease and safer they will be.”

And so it began. Casinomeister was run primarily by Bryan Bailey, the director and owner of the website, and it was his unique vision that drove the mission of the site. In the first two months a forum was created – which is now the one of the largest and most active gamblers’ forums on the Internet. Casinomeister began publishing newsletters and a news section, and Bailey began his podcasting before “podcast” was a word in the year 2000.

Within the first few months, “Standards for Online Casinos” were established. This was a first – no other website had established any standards for advertising partners, in fact – no licensing jurisdictions were doing this either. Casinomeister thus established itself as a beacon of light for the player of online casinos. These standards have evolved into the “Standards for Casinomeister Accredited Casinos”, and now Casinomeister is one of the only sites that requires these casinos to be vetted by its membership.

Most importantly, by Casinomeister’s reach and influence within the online casino industry, he began solving players’ complaints, and is now recognized as a leading and certified Alternative Dispute Resolution service for the player community. The pioneers of the online gaming industry wanted to work with Casinomeister since it was the heartbeat of the players.

It was not until 2007 that Casinomeister evolved into a two-man band taking on Max Drayman as the Complaints Manager. This freed Bailey up to manage the other areas of areas of the website, the Rogue Casino section (“Rogue Casino” was coined by Bailey in 2000), casino reviews, webcasts, newsletters, news, the forum, and attending and speaking at iGaming Conferences around the world.

Casinomeister has since evolved into a small business with a handful of full-time employees, part-timers, and a couple of other webmasters who assist in the forum. After 23 years, Casinomeister remains a viable and leading influence on the iGaming community.

Director of Casinomeister Bryan Bailey stated, “It’s hard to fathom that an idea that was initiated during a lunch at Oscars in San Diego became what it is today. To me it’s not only a business, but a service and a gathering of like-minded people – many of whom I have grown close to. I am humbled by the fact that Casinomeister has brought so many folks together, spawned friendships, romances, and in one instance (that I know of) – a marriage. I take pride in the site, and will always stay true to my vision, my community, and to my friends. It’s been an amazing ride these past 23 years, and I’m planning to ride this out until the end of the Internets.”

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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