Barry Gibson, Entain Chair, will reflect on the extraordinary growth of the group globally, and BetMGM in the US, during a special keynote at May’s SBC Summit North America 2023 conference and tradeshow.
Entain, the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, features a range of established brands that includes bwin, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Coral, and PartyCasino.
The group’s joint venture with MGM Resorts, BetMGM, was established in 2018 to capitalise on the opportunities created by increasing regulation in select US states.
Since then, the brand is hailed as cementing its position as a top three operator in the country, with net gaming revenue of $1.44bn recorded from operations in the 2022 financial year. It is live in 24 markets, which provides access to approximately 48 per cent of the US adult population.
At last year’s SBC Awards North America ceremony, Entain received the Socially Responsible Operator of the Year award, while BetMGM was named Casino Operator of the Year, as the industry gathered to celebrate the crème de la crème of US sports betting and online casino.
The keynote will open the ‘Converging Worlds’ track of the agenda for the second full day (Thursday 11 May) of the event, which takes place at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
During his address, Gibson will reflect on the transformation of Entain in the past three years, as well as offering a deep dive into the company’s overarching philosophy that sustainability is the key to long-term success.
Gibson was appointed as Chair of Entain in February 2020 and has overseen a period of significant transformation for the group. His keynote is expected to be highly anticipated by Summit attendees due to his extensive expertise in the gaming and retail sectors, as well as his experience as a board member and leader with valuable insights on improving company performance and implementing transformation programs.
Before joining Entain, Gibson was involved in the industry as a Non-Executive Director at William Hill and bwin.party Digital Entertainment, where he held the position of Senior Independent Director.
Outside of the industry, he served as Chair of HomeServe, Group Chief Executive of Littlewoods, Group Retailing Director at BAA, and held Non-Executive Director roles at Somerfield and National Express, as well as occupying the position of Non-Executive Chair at Harding Brothers.
Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC, commented: “We are thrilled to announce Barry Gibson as a keynote speaker at SBC Summit North America. Entain has transformed into an industry powerhouse, and Barry’s insights on the journey to success will undoubtedly be invaluable to our audience.
“His discussion on market domination – both globally and locally – will provide a fascinating account of how strategic vision and business sustainability are essential to achieving long-term success.”
“Entain’s rapid expansion through both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions has made us one of the largest listed sports betting and gaming groups in the world and I am excited to share our growth and sustainability story with attendees at SBC Summit North America,” Gibson said.
“Sustainable business models are key to success in this highly competitive industry, particularly in newly-regulated US markets and I look forward to dissecting my thinking on this during my keynote speech.”
The SBC Summit North America conference and tradeshow, scheduled for May 9-11, will cover current trends and challenges in the North American region, with a strong focus on the igaming sector, which, despite slow regulation, presents a significant financial potential for the industry.
Other notable speakers from Entain at the event include Gabriele Griesbacher (Global Director of Payments and Compliance), Martin Lycka (SVP of American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling), and Justin Dellario (Managing Director of Esports).
Passes for the 2023 SBC Summit North America allowing you access to world-class content, a bustling exhibition and unmatched networking are available via the event website.
