Gavin Isaacs appointed Non-Executive Chairman for SBTech

Gavin Isaacs (pictured), former Chief Executive Officer for Scientific Games Corporation (SGMS:NASDAQ GS), has been appointed by British online casino and sportsbetting solutions innovator, SBTech, as the company’s new Non-Executive Chairman.

According to the official press release…

Joining SBTech on Wednesday, Isaacs brings with him two decades of gaming experience established within various senior management positions to aid the London-based developer in the further growth of its rapidly expanding business in the United States.

PAPSA repeal catalyst for U.S. growth:

Since mid-2018, when the market opened due to the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May, SBTech became the first Europe-based technology company to announce a long-term agreement with a major operator in the U.S. when it launched its partnership with Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) (Nasdaq:CHDN), which it did just two days after PASPA was declared unconstitutional. The company also announced two more major U.S. deals to provide sports betting services for Golden Nugget casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Scientific Games tenure:

Isaccs first joined the global lottery and gaming supplier in 2014 as its Chief Executive Officer and board member and was responsible for advocating for game-changing mergers and acquisitions and in just two years growing Scientific Games from $1.3 billion to $2.9 billion.

New Non-Executive Chairman for SBTech, Gavin Isaacs, said…

“I was approached by a number of companies since leaving Scientific Games, however I chose to join SBTech due to its, superior technology, high standards across every discipline, entrepreneurial approach and incredible ambition and potential to grow further across a wide variety of regulated markets including the US where I am based and have an extensive network, knowledge and experience.”

“The business has already made significant in-roads into the newly regulated US sports betting market and I am extremely excited to be able to help and advise the senior management team to expand that even further across 2019 and beyond,” added Isaacs.

Senior management experience:

Prior to joining Scientific, Isaacs served three years as the Chief Executive Officer of SHFL Entertainment, where he reportedly helped to globally expand its slot business, developed a series of commercial opportunities in land-based and online casinos specialty table-game brands and helped to grow the firm to see record revenues. Before that, he served five years as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bally Technologies. And earlier in his career, served nearly eight years with Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive Officer for SBTech, Richard Carter (pictured, left) said…

“We’re thrilled that someone of Gavin’s calibre, credibility and experience has chosen to join SBTech. This is a huge coup for the business.

“Gavin’s two decades of successfully leading, transforming, and acquiring some of the biggest businesses in the gaming sector will be a massive advantage for us, particularly in the US where we have already partnered and gone live with several large brands across multiple states and where there are many more opportunities to grow.”

Recent partnership deals:

SBTech had a string of partnership deals last year including in December with Isle of Man-based casino games development company, Red Tiger Gaming, which was on the heels of similar agreements with iGaming company, Hero Gaming and with Spanish online casino provider, Red Rake Gaming.