You may not have known this, but there is a Sports Betting Hall of Fame for entrepreneurs of the sport.
Sports Betting Community (SBC) founded the Hall of Fame in 2016. It was the foundation’s way to recognize famous figures in the world of sportsbooks. The Hall of Fame now has six new members. They were recently inducted at the Betting on Sports Conference.
The Inductees for 2019
Richard Flint
Richard Flint is the former Sky Betting & Gaming CEO. Sky Betting and Gaming has its headquarters in Leeds, England. Unlike many British sportsbooks, Sky Betting & Gaming does not have bet shops. It conducts all its business over the phone. Flint took SkyBet to the top of the online and mobile gaming industries. The company brought in revenue of more than $800 million in 2018. Flint was also responsible for the introduction of group betting on sportsbooks, and the launch of its casino online. SkyVegas, not software, runs SkyBet’s browser. SkyBet also had some of the first online lottery offerings and an online bingo tournament. Flint left the company earlier this year. The company sold Sky Betting & Gaming to the Stars Group for more than $4 billion.
Denise Coates
Denise Coates is the Bet365 CEO. She founded Bet365 with her family, which had been in the sports gambling business for decades. She got her first business loan at 27 to buy three bet shops in her hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, England. She quickly made them successful. In 2000, Coates was one of the first people to take betting online. Bet365 is one of the most profitable gambling companies in the United Kingdom, with revenue of $3.37 billion. Coates has an estimated wealth of more than $6 billion. She is the only female founder and CEO of a gambling company.
John Boyle
John Boyle is the founder and CEO of Boylesports. Boylesports is the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland. Boyle founded the company in 1982 when he opened up his first bet shop in Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. By 2006, Boylesports had 100 shops, and, by 2018, the franchise had 250 shops. Boylesports has expanded further into the British market by buying 13 bet shops in the Midlands. Boylesports also has an online casino and an online poker room. The company also has invested heavily in live casino gaming, virtual gaming, and virtual sports.
John Anderson
John Anderson is the former CEO of 888Casino. 888Casino was one of the earliest online casinos. Founded in 1997, it has its headquarters in Gibraltar. In addition to its original offering, 888Holdings owns a sportsbook, 888Sport, and a poker room, 888poker. The business has been innovative since its beginning and incorporates third-party games on its website and mobile apps. Anderson also steered 888Casino through the years of regulation by the U.S. and U.K. governments. 888Casino has won several awards for best casino website and best mobile app.
Art Manteris
Art Manteris is the former CEO of Station Casinos. Manteris is responsible for bringing the casino company out of bankruptcy and into the black. Station Casinos ended up in bankruptcy because the original owners purchased too many casinos. Under Manteris’ guidance, Station Casinos was able to resume the purchase of casinos. Station Casinos owns 20 casinos, mostly in Nevada and California.
The Hall of Fame said each of the entrants has to have played a role in promoting sports gambling or other gaming venues. Visitors to the hall can read the information on all their favorite gambling entrepreneurs and how they became successful. The Hall of Fame has exhibits in Manhattan and London. The SBC publication runs the Hall of Fame.
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