Press Releases
Playmaker Taps Taz Patel, Kristine Bill for C-Suite Positions to Accelerate Growth in 2023

Playmaker, a leading social media sports and entertainment content platform, announced two C-Suite appointments, bringing nearly three decades of experience across sports media, strategic marketing and business development to its team. Taz Patel joins the company to assume the role of Chief Business Officer, and Kristine Bill has been promoted to Chief Operations Officer. The position of Chief Business Officer is a role new to Playmaker, while Bill is succeeding former COO Rob Elder.
âThe appointments of both Taz and Kristine clearly articulate the strategic vision and aggressive growth goals we have set for ourselves in 2023,â said Brandon Harris, CEO of Playmaker. âIn the coming months, Playmaker is keenly focused on expanding our roster of creative talent, bringing to life more public-facing events and developing and redefining strategic brand partnerships, all while continuing to publish the first-rate sports and entertainment content Playmaker has become so well known for. Taz and Kristine will be instrumental in leaning into the momentum Playmaker created in 2022, and springboarding our brand to new levels of creativity, influence and notoriety.â
Patelâs responsibilities as Chief Business Officer include scaling the brandâs revenue, expanding platform integrations and securing strategic partnerships to further enhance the company’s progression. Patel is a renowned early-stage startup operator with multiple exits over the past decade and previously founded Captiv8, a leading venture backed AI Influencer Marketing platform. His most notable exits included BlueLithium and Interclick, both acquired by Yahoo!, where Patel contributed to meaningful revenue growth via agency and brand partnerships.
âThe early-stage companies that successfully scale talent, resources and profit have many of the characteristics Playmaker currently exhibits, most notably a lean operation, correctly leveraging technology and partnerships to maximize its output,â said Patel. âThe sports industry is currently in a renaissance period, moving from its traditional state to the true intersection of entertainment, media and technology. Iâm looking forward to utilizing my experience to broaden Playmakerâs sphere of influence and industry market share.â
Bill has been with Playmaker since July 2022, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Events. In this new position, she will be tasked with leading all initiatives related to marketing, public relations, social media, creator content and e-commerce. Prior to joining Playmaker, she held roles with STN Digital, Blast Motion Inc. and GMR Marketing.
âThe needs of todayâs sports fans are rapidly changing and, as a company, Playmaker is constantly seeking to identify the next great experience, digitally or in-person,â said Bill. âThis year weâll be expanding Playmakerâs influencer program and developing engaging newsletters focused on specific areas within sports, entertainment and culture, as well as expanding our brand footprint with sponsorships and creative content activations at key tentpole sporting events. Iâm excited to work with our world-class team of creatives and partners to provide our engaged audience with the exceptional experiences they demand.â
Playmaker experienced exponential growth throughout 2022 despite a series of market challenges brought on throughout the year. The rising platform saw a 300% jump in year-over-year revenue anchored by significant growth across its 30 social media channels, reaching more than 20 million followers and gaining new strategic partnerships with companies such as Pepsi, PointsBet and No House Advantage. Playmaker supported its financial growth by investing in people â specifically operational, marketing and financial employees â as well as new popular and emerging content creators such as Adam Garfield, Cam Smith and Nyrie Iskandarian. This expansion of talent brought Playmakerâs headcount from 12 to 60 in 2022, a 400% increase. In December 2022, Playmaker was named one of the Best Employers in Sports by notable sports business outlet Front Office Sports.
Latest News
BETBY STRENGTHENS LATAM PRESENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CALĂMACO

BETBY, an industry-leading sports betting provider, has announced a long-term partnership with CalĂmaco, a premium B2B sportsbook supplier with a strong foothold across Latin America. This collaboration aligns with BETBY’s expansion strategy in the LATAM market, reinforcing its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art sportsbook solutions in the region.
As part of the agreement, CalĂmaco will integrate BETBYâs award-winning sportsbook solution, including its proprietary esports feed BETBY Games, and comprehensive trading and risk management services. Additionally, by leveraging BETBYâs AI-driven technology, AI Labs, CalĂmacoâs partners will gain access to an unparalleled betting experience tailored to the needs of the LATAM market.
Known for its scalable and robust casino and lottery platform, CalĂmaco will significantly enhance its offering with an additional 300,000+ events, 8,000+ markets, 125+ sports, and 35+ esports provided by BETBY, cementing its position as a go-to supplier in the regionâs competitive iGaming landscape.
Stefanos Karakidis, Head of Business Development at BETBY, commented: âWe are excited to partner with CalĂmaco, a company that shares our vision for technological excellence and operator-focused innovation. Integrating our complete sportsbook solution into CalĂmacoâs platform will enable brands across LATAM to elevate their sports betting offerings and provide their users with an exceptional experience.â
Alejandro Serrano, Head of Business Development at CalĂmaco, added: âBETBYâs sportsbook technology is renowned for its flexibility, scalability, reliability, and comprehensive coverage. Incorporating their award-winning solution into our platform will empower our partners with world-class sports betting capabilities, further strengthening our presence in the Latin American market.â
Latest News
GLIÂź Names Sangeeta Reddy as Vice President, Innovation

To ensure the company keeps its global clients well ahead of the technology curve, Gaming Laboratories International (GLIÂź) has named Sangeeta Reddy as Vice President, Innovation. Previously, she served as Vice President of Engineering. Reddy will lead the companyâs newly formed Innovation division.
âTechnology is advancing at a breathtaking rate. Our mission at GLI is to advance with technology, while also constantly finding ways to do more to keep our clients informed and ahead of whatâs next. In her new role, Sangeeta will continue to evolve our evaluation methodologies via her passion for R&D, her extensive experience both in and out of the gaming, and her strong academic background,â said President and CEO James R. Maida.
Reddy began her gaming industry career in 2001 as a PA Engineer at IGT, specializing in VLT, Slot games. She joined GLI in 2020. Prior to joining GLI, Reddy successfully managed Software QA and Development teams at Thomson Reuters and General Motors.
She holds a certificate from the Harvard Business Publishingâs Emerging Leaders program and a certificate in Associates Computer Information Systems. Her Postgraduate certification includes Chief Technology Officer Program, Business Analytics: From Data to Insights, and Driving Strategic Innovation: Leading Complex Initiatives for Impact from the Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education and certifications in Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Business Applications, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science and Business Analytics from the Texas McCombs School of Business, Postgraduate Program.
Conferences
Rubens Barrichello to Open SiGMA Americas 2025 with a Keynote Speech

Legendary motorsport racer and SOFTSWISSâ Non-Executive Director in Latin America Rubens Barrichello is taking the stage at SiGMA Americas 2025 with an inspiring keynote speech on 8 April, the opening day of the summit.
This will be Barrichelloâs first major public engagement as an official SOFTSWISS representative at SiGMA Americas. In his speech, he will spotlight his vision of racing and iGaming â two worlds defined by speed, precision and passion. Attendees can expect a unique view of how these seemingly distant industries are more connected than it may seem.
In his keynote, Barrichello will share insights that bridge his personal racing journey with the opportunities presented by SOFTSWISS. The speech will also cover the cultural and human elements of doing business in Latin America, and the importance of timing, connections, and adaptability to achieve long-term success in this booming market.
âLatin America is a unique region filled with pure energy, emotion, and drive,” said Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS. “The iGaming industry here is moving so fast, that for me itâs like stepping into a new race. But instead of cars, itâs technology, competition, and innovation pushing the progress forward, just like in Formula 1. I canât wait to speak at the SiGMA Americas Summit and share what it takes to grow business on this continent.â
Barrichelloâs active public engagement highlights SOFTSWISSâ strategic expansion into Latin America, one of the fastest-growing iGaming markets in the world. The company has already established itself in the region through certification in Brazil and Peru for its Game Aggregator and Jackpot Aggregator. In addition, SOFTSWISS recently partnered with rising talent Eduardo Barrichello for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Rubens Barrichello will also join the SOFTSWISS team at Stand M85, where attendees can book meetings and explore how SOFTSWISS helps partners drive success across Latin America.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The companyâs product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
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