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GAMING1 elevates David Carrion to COO Interactive

Published

5 years ago

December 2, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Promotion to see former CMO focus on enhancing company’s technology, business and marketing operations

Leading gaming and sports betting partner GAMING1 has promoted its former CMO, David Carrion to the position of Chief Operator Officer Interactive (COO Interactive).

As the newly appointed COO Interactive, David will focus on developing a high performing organisation, that is capable, focused and resilient. While also aligning the company’s technology, business and marketing services to operate as one.

The structural change reflects the company’s outstanding growth over the past year, which saw GAMING1 become the first company to launch live casino in Columbia thanks to a long-standing partnership with the industry leading live casino provider, Evolution.

GAMING1 also celebrated its launch into US market this year, with plans to also launch in the Netherlands in the coming months, while it continues to consolidate and grow in Belgium through a robust portfolio of brands and products.

These projects are spearheaded by a responsible gaming approach and focus on long term sustainability of the sector. With this in mind, the company forecasts significant traction across all international fronts in 21 different operations during 2022.

Commenting on the appointment, Sylvain Boniver, Co-founder of GAMING1 said: “Everyone at GAMING1 is delighted to have David take on more responsibilities as the company’s new COO Interactive.

“During his time as a Chief Marketing Officer, David showed his quality and experience in delivering impressive growth strategies. We are confident that in his new role, David will excel and continue being a tremendous and valuable asset to the company and its partners.”

David Carrion, COO Interactive at GAMING1 said: “I’m proud to have been trusted as COO Interactive for one of the industry’s most exciting and ambitious brands. During my time here, the company has excelled in every area and continues to see rapid growth.

“We have bold aspirations for the future, our goal for the GAMING1 interactive business line is to outperform market growth, we are set to double our revenues within the next five years. We aim to do this based on scalability and by delivering real quality to the player.”

Well-known throughout the industry for his track record of achievements, GAMING1’s COO Interactive holds a wealth of experience, notably at the BlackStone-owned Spanish Casino Group Cirsa, and at The Stars Group, where Carrion led the company’s digital marketing transformation and growth before becoming Marketing Director of its renowned brand, PokerStars.

Carrion’s tenure saw him develop the strategy, teams and tech stack around SEO, PPC, Paid Social, Affiliates and Display advertisement, as well as multiple high-profile award-winning campaigns.

These have included Game On (2018 EGR Marketing Social Campaign and Poker Campaign Winner), and the PokerStars NLHE Championship, poker’s largest ever $25k buy-in tournament, earning him a place on Gaming Intelligence’s prestigious HOT 50 list of online gaming’s most influential professionals.

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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