People news 2 October 2014
The latest people news from the egaming industry in the last seven days (26 September to 2 October 2014)
Bet365 relocates global operational hub to Gibraltar
Operator moves sportsbook operations from Stoke to Gibraltar as part of major corporate restructuring
Bet365 confirmed this week it is relocating its international remote gambling operations, including its sportsbook team, to Gibraltar as part of a significant corporate restructuring at the Stoke-based firm.
According to the firm, the reorganisation came following a review of its corporate structure with Gibraltar now acting as its new licensing hub.
Bet365’s Stoke-on-Trent offices will continue to house around 2,000 staff, including the Group’s board with both Denise and John Coates remaining in the UK.
More than 100 roles, mostly connected with its sportsbook operations and including the operator’s chief trading officer, have been transferred to the firm’s Waterport Place offices in Gibraltar as bet365 looks to streamline its licensing structure.
PokerStars hires Eurobet gaming director as Italy head
PokerStars has appointed Eurobet’s gaming director Marco Trucco as the online poker operator’s new country manager for Italy.
Trucco is expected to take up his new role next month after serving out his notice period at Eurobet and will replace Barbara Beltrami who has led PokerStars’ Italian business since May 2008.
A spokesperson for PokerStars confirmed the appointment of Trucco but declined to comment further, while eGR also understands Eurobet has yet to appoint a successor for Trucco with the recruitment process still ongoing.
Seven days in people news:
Former Sportech COO Hogg joins GamCrowd
Sportech’s former chief operating officer Ian Hogg has joined gambling crowdfunding company GamCrowd as its new chairman.
Hogg has been an investor in GamCrowd since December 2013 and joins the board after a four-year stint as COO of Sportech’s consumer-facing business which he joined in October 2010.
Prior to Sportech, Hogg was also chairman and owner of Fox Poker Club which he founded with GamCrowd’s current CEO Chris North and subsequently sold to Genting Casinos in 2011.
Wagering software supplier Metric Gaming has announced the appointment of Atul Bali as the first member of its new official advisory board.
Bali is currently president of RealNetworks’ gaming division GameHouse which he joined after serving as president and CEO of Aristocrat Technologies.
“Metric has developed an impressive management team and is currently developing some of the most innovative and exciting technology in the industry,” Bali said.
“I believe they are well positioned for significant growth, and I look forward to helping them along the way,” he added.
Gamblit has hired egaming veteran and former IGT executive Marcus Yoder to head up regulated markets business development at the California-based gaming and platform supplier.
In his new role, Yoder will be responsible for introducing Gamblit to new markets in the gaming space and will manage relationships with casino operators, regulators and industry groups.
“Marcus is the perfect addition to the Gamblit team,” Gamblit CEO Eric Meyerhofer, said.