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C360 Technologies Announces Howard Wright as new CEO
Company successfully completes financing and expands industry leading board with addition of Wayne Kimmel from SeventySix Capital
C360 Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based company providing sports fans a personalized viewing experience and rights holders new streaming revenue opportunities, today announced the appointment of Howard Wright as CEO and member of the company’s board of directors. Wright most recently was Vice President of Global Business Development for the Intel Sports Group at Intel Capital. Wright will leverage this experience to guide C360 through its next phase of growth. The national CEO search, conducted by SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory and Turnkey Search, was led by Rick Alessandri, Turnkey Search’s Managing Director, Media & Technology.
“We are thrilled to have Howard join the C360 team,” said Saied Seghatoleslami, Chairman of the Board. “Howard’s background and robust experience in sports and technology coupled with his business building and leadership experience are exactly what our company needs and is a tremendous strength. We look forward to watching Howard lead C360 into its next phase and continue to change the way that sports fans experience their favorite athletes and teams.”
Prior to joining C360, Wright was responsible for strengthening Intel’s presence as a sports technology company, and for developing new business opportunities related to the immersive experiences enabled by the Intel Sports Group. Wright also led the digitizing and personalizing of sports and entertainment in inventive ways to stimulate growth while collaborating with major sports leagues and organizations, broadcasters, telecom companies and other digital media business partners. Wright spent 14 years at Qualcomm Inc., culminating in his role as Senior Vice President of global business development. Wright holds a bachelor’s degree in Qualitative Economics from Stanford University, where he also played collegiate basketball. After earning his degree, Wright continued his athletic career by becoming a professional basketball player in the NBA, playing with the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks. Wright was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Wright is active on several national charitable boards, including serving as chairman of the Pro Kids Golf Academy and Learning Center.
“The immersive media ecosystem is being fueled by some of the most innovative companies in the world,” said Wright. “I am honored to be able to lead this extraordinary company to our next level so that we may be counted among them. I look forward to working closely with our exceptional senior leadership team, our amazing customer base, and our world class board of directors. C360 has some of the most talented people and group of leaders in our industry. Together, we will capture our share of the immersive media economy by remaining laser-focused on delighting our clients, creating significant value for our shareholders and providing the best career experiences for our people.”
Wright’s appointment accompanies C360’s addition of Wayne Kimmel to the company’s board of directors that now consists of several key industry leaders:
- Saied Seghatoleslami
Seghatoleslami has 45 years of experience as an engineer, manager, and executive with engineering, product management, and general management responsibilities. Seghatoleslami’s experience includes leadership roles with Bell Laboratories, Lucent, Avaya, AGT and Pypestream where he was President and COO. His experience includes due diligence, acquisition, and integration of companies in the US, Canada, and Europe. Currently, Seghatoleslami is engaged as an operations and technology consultant with a number of mid-market private equity firms.
- Catherine Mott
Mott is the founder of BlueTree Capital Group, BlueTree Allied Angels, and the BlueTree Venture Fund located in Pittsburgh, PA. The BlueTree entities have invested over $60+ million in multiple startup companies throughout the country. Mott is the past Chairman of the Angel Capital Association (ACA) and the Angel Resource Institute. Mott is serving a 4th term as one of 21 individuals selected for the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies focused on capital formation in the United States.
- Jed Drake
Drake consults with emerging technology companies and content creators after a 35-year career at ESPN where he served as SVP and Executive Producer of Remote Production. At ESPN, Drake had oversight of every major property, including Monday Night Football, MLB, NBA, College Football/ Basketball, NASCAR, Wimbledon and the World Cup. Drake has 16 Emmy awards, including one for the creation of the yellow “First and Ten” line in football.
- Evan Wimer
Wimer has nearly 30 years of management experience and was an award-winning Designer and Art Director during his years in the communication industry. He has managed national accounts such as CBS Broadcasting, Heinz USA and the U.S. Department of Energy. A few of his awards include: the esteemed American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) award, American Advertising Federation ADDY® award, and International Mercury award. Mr. Wimer holds a Degree in Design and Communications from the Art Institute where he graduated in 1988 with honors and also received a certificate in Technology Commercialization from Carnegie Mellon in 2000.
- Wayne Kimmel
Kimmel is a sports tech venture capitalist, entrepreneur and author of Six Degrees of Wayne Kimmel. Kimmel is the Managing Partner of SeventySix Capital, the venture capital company he founded in 1999, and invests in startup sports tech, esports, and sports betting companies. Among the Fortune 500 companies that have acquired his portfolio companies are Aramark, Intel, IBM, Walgreens and Yahoo! Wayne is also the Chairman of the SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory, which is a sports consulting group comprised of an expert team focused on bringing the emerging innovations and technology to sports executives, teams, leagues, brands and athletes.
With the appointment of Wright and the addition of Kimmel to the board, C360 also completed the second of two convertible note financing rounds, raising $1.8 million with new investor SeventySix Capital joining existing investors. C360 previously completed a $3.7 million Series A funding round that included investments from Boeing’s HorizonX Ventures, BlueTree Capital Group, MI-12 Ventures and Pasadena Angels. Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney served as counsel to C360 on the financing rounds and provides corporate counsel to the company.
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A Decade in iGaming: From Newcomer to a CMO
Wow, time flies! Can’t believe it’s been ten years since stepping into the exhilarating world of online gambling – a field that initially seemed like a short-term stint quickly turned into a new-found passion.
Moving to Malta, and eventually finding a home in Tallinn, I’ve had the privilege to watch the highs and lows as well as the many progressions and transformations. Today, I am proud to form part of the Mr. Gamble team that is ambitiously expanding into new markets, and pushing the boundaries.
From Customer Support to CMO
My journey in iGaming kicked off in Customer Support at Betsson – a leap from my telecom sales management role back in Finland. While this move puzzled my family and friends alike, it was a necessary step. Over the months and years, I worked my way up through various roles including Affiliate Coordinator, Affiliate Manager and Head of Affiliates, learning the various intricate parts of the industry, while at the same time adapting to new technological changes.
One thing is for sure, the iGaming industry is a fast-paced one, and each role has helped me to thrive and adapt to the various changes. Flexibility is key when working in this industry.
Venturing into Entrepreneurship: My Own Affiliate Business
Following many years of corporate experience, I took the leap to start up my own affiliate business with the aim of creating my own business from scratch. Handling everything from SEO and content strategy to fostering brand partnerships and growth strategies gave me an overall view of the affiliate industry’s many complexities. This entrepreneurial journey instilled insight and resilience, especially in terms of the value of the diverse skill sets found within a team.
By 2023, I joined Mr. Gamble as CMO, bringing my own entrepreneurial experience into this company’s growth strategy. Drawing on my background in SEO, content management and brand development and alongside a knowledgeable team, we have successfully strengthened Mr. Gamble’s presence in established markets, while also setting our sites on new markets.
New Markets and New Possibilities
Since the online gambling industry is continually evolving and expanding, it also brings with it a surge in growth when it comes to new and emerging markets. While we have made huge strides in launching Mr. Gambe USA, we are also eyeing promising regions in Asia, Latin America and Africa, where digital adoption and regulations are evolving creating new opportunities.
As we continue to solidify our presence in the US, these emerging markets represent the next frontier.
An Ever-Changing and Evolving Gambling Industry
Over the past decade, the online gambling industry has quickly evolved from a somewhat fragmented field to a high-powered professional space. Conferences and expos, once informal gatherings have become hubs for talent.
Events such as SiGMA, SBC, iGB, NEXT.io and Hiphter Events today celebrate the progression of iGaming, while highlighting the various advances in technology and market inclusivity.
The shift toward hybrid work in recent years has also paved the way for industry shakeups. While digital operations are convenient, the importance of face-to-face meetings and connections remains. In an industry highly reliant and built on personal relationships, meeting in person strengthens partnerships and opens doors to new opportunities.
A Bright Future for Mr. Gamble
As CMO of Mr. Gamble, I along with the team are committed to expanding our brand’s influence, not only in traditional markets, but also in new and emerging ones. iGaming is constantly evolving and our strategies must evolve too, adapting and driving on the windy road to success. This entails adapting to changes in technology, user behaviour and experience, and most importantly navigating regulatory landscapes.
Of course, Google’s frequent algorithm updates keep us our our toes, pushing us to refine our approach to stay competitive and ever more relent.
Reflecting on the last 10 years, I am energised and optimistic for the future. With a talented team and untapped markets in tow, Mr. Gamble is well-prepared for substantial growth and impact. Here is to the journey ahead and to everyone – mentors, peers, and friends who have been part of this rewarding path. The next decade holds great potential, and I look more than forward to what is yet to come.
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SELECTS SPORTRADAR TO TRANSFORM PLAYER TALENT SCOUTING FOR ALL 30 CLUBS
Sportradar today announced a multiyear agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) to offer unparalleled sports performance analysis of amateur baseball prospects, through its Synergy Coaching and Scouting solution, to the league and its 30 Clubs. This new partnership will revolutionize player talent scouting through Sportradar’s advanced, proprietary technology and highlights Sportradar’s commitment to delivering innovative and game-changing solutions to the league.
Under the agreement, MLB and its 30 Clubs will gain access to an unprecedented depth of player analysis and insights with event coverage expanding significantly, from 3,300 to more than 20,000 games – an over 600% increase. This includes college, international, professional partner leagues and leading amateur leagues, such as the MLB Draft League, the Appalachian League and MLB Develops events, and, for the first time, top high school events.
The Synergy Coaching and Scouting solution is uniquely positioned to address the player evaluation needs of MLB as it leverages Sportradar’s expertise ingesting and transforming millions of data points from video into detailed metrics, actionable insights and dynamic visualizations. This, combined with Sportradar’s AI-powered sports performance technology, enables Synergy to provide unparalleled, in-depth analysis of every player, play and game situation, and equips MLB and Club scouts with the information and insights they need to streamline the evaluation process, guide draft decisions and support the development of future MLB players.
“Sportradar’s cutting-edge technology, alongside our reputation as a trusted partner to leading US sports leagues, is driving the transformation of sports performance analysis,” said Eduard Blonk, Chief Commercial Officer, Sportradar. “Through Synergy we are pleased that we are expanding our relationship with MLB, equipping them with the deep data and insights they need to identify the next generation of players. We are eager to continue bringing innovative solutions to MLB.”
“We are excited to expand our relationship with Sportradar and ensure equal access to the Synergy video and data services for all 30 MLB Clubs. This platform has become a key resource for Clubs in the domestic and international scouting process and we look forward to continuing our work with Sportradar in the coming years,” said John D’Angelo, MLB’s Sr. Vice President of Amateur and Medical Operations.
Financial reports
Commercial Gaming Revenue Growth Continues in Q3 2024, Driving Industry’s 15th Consecutive Quarter of Growth
U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached $17.71 billion in Q3 2024, the industry’s highest-grossing Q3 on record, according to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker. This makes Q3 2024 the industry’s 15th consecutive quarter of annual revenue growth, with September marking the 43rd straight month of rising year-over-year commercial gaming revenue.
Through the first nine months of the year, nationwide commercial gaming revenue stands at $53.24 billion, pacing 8.0 percent ahead of 2023 and putting the industry on track for a fourth straight record revenue year.
In Q3 2024, 29 of the 35 commercial gaming jurisdictions operational last year saw increased year-over-year revenue. This growth resulted in an 8.9 percent year-over-year increase in state and local taxes tied directly to gaming revenue, with commercial gaming operators contributing $3.79 billion in taxes across the quarter.
Quarterly revenue from land-based gaming – encompassing casino slots, table games and retail sports betting – totaled $12.56 billion, 0.62 percent lower than Q3 2023. Meanwhile, combined revenue from online sports betting and iGaming totaled $5.14 billion in Q3 2024 as online gaming made up 29.0 percent of commercial gaming revenue, a significantly higher share than in Q3 2023.
Looking at each sector in Q3 2024:
- Traditional Gaming: Traditional brick-and-mortar casino gaming generated quarterly revenue of $12.38 billion, a contraction of 0.9 percent year-over-year.
- Legal Sports Betting: Americans legally wagered $30.3 billion on sports, generating $3.24 billion in quarterly revenue (+42.4% YoY). Recent market launches in Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina and Vermont contributed to this growth.
- iGaming: iGaming generated $2.08 billion in revenue, marking a 30.3 percent year-over-year increase.
“Q3 2024 continued gaming’s momentum from the first half of the year, with online casino and sports betting driving strong growth. At the same time, new brick-and-mortar casino openings bolstered traditional gaming, which still accounts for the bulk of industry revenue,” said AGA Vice President of Research David Forman. “More than a quarter of commercial revenue now regularly comes from online sources, raising the importance of continued sustainable growth with consumers in those states.”
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