Press Releases
Playmaker Taps Taz Patel, Kristine Bill for C-Suite Positions to Accelerate Growth in 2023
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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.
“The appointments of both Taz and Kristine clearly articulate the strategic vision and aggressive growth goals we have set for ourselves in 2023,” said Brandon Harris, CEO of Playmaker. “In 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.”
Patel’s responsibilities as Chief Business Officer include scaling the brand’s 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.
“The 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,” said Patel. “The sports industry is currently in a renaissance period, moving from its traditional state to the true intersection of entertainment, media and technology. I’m looking forward to utilizing my experience to broaden Playmaker’s sphere of influence and industry market share.”
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.
“The needs of today’s sports fans are rapidly changing and, as a company, Playmaker is constantly seeking to identify the next great experience, digitally or in-person,” said Bill. “This year we’ll be expanding Playmaker’s 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. I’m excited to work with our world-class team of creatives and partners to provide our engaged audience with the exceptional experiences they demand.”
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 — specifically operational, marketing and financial employees — as well as new popular and emerging content creators such as Adam Garfield, Cam Smith and Nyrie Iskandarian. This expansion of talent brought Playmaker’s 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
Grover Gaming announces $1.05 billion sale of charitable gaming assets to Light & Wonder, Inc.
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Grover Gaming, Inc. and G2 Gaming, Inc. (together, “Grover Gaming”) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its charitable gaming assets (“Grover Charitable Gaming”) for a total consideration of up to $1.05 billion to Light & Wonder, Inc. (“Light & Wonder,” or “L&W”)
The total consideration of the sale consists of the following:
- $850 million cash, payable upon closing of the transaction and subject to customary purchase price adjustments
- Contingent cash consideration of up to $200 million, subject to the achievement of certain financial targets through 2028
Privately owned by Garrett Blackwelder, Grover Charitable Gaming was founded in 2013 and currently has an installed base of over 10,000 leased electronic pull-tab units across five U.S. States (ND, OH, VA, KY, NH) operating under a recurring revenue model.
Grover Charitable Gaming has developed long-standing and persistent relationships with charitable customers in the states that it operates, underpinned by a dedicated local team of service technicians and relationship managers.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Blackwelder will collaborate with Light & Wonder to help drive the continued success of the business over the next four years.
The Company expects the transaction to close during the second quarter of 2025, subject to required regulatory and other approvals and customary closing conditions.
Post acquisition, Light & Wonder will operate the business with a combination of Grover Gaming and Light & Wonder employees.
“Grover Gaming is a leading player in charitable gaming, a category that has experienced significant growth in recent years,” said Matt Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Light & Wonder. “This transaction complements our position as the leading cross-platform global games company by adding another compelling regulated adjacency to our profile.”
“Importantly, there are exciting incremental revenue opportunities to be realized by leveraging Light & Wonder’s proven land-based gaming content to a new and loyal customer base. We look forward to continuing to partner with Grover Gaming’s customers, building on its strong dedication to customer service,” Mr. Wilson concluded.
“I am very thankful for all of our Grover Gaming teammates and how hard they work every day,” said Garrett Blackwelder, CEO and Founder of Grover Gaming. “I’m also grateful for our customers’ loyalty over the past two decades. We realize without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Light & Wonder is an ideal partner for us, given our similar company cultures and dedication to innovation and customer service.”
“The real winners are the charities and fraternals in these markets, because of the exciting game content L&W brings to the table,” said Kevin Morse, Chief Development Officer of Grover Gaming. “We are excited to see Charitable Gaming taken to a new level.”
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is serving as legal advisor to Grover Gaming in connection with the transaction.
View original content: prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases
Canada
Wyzia Renews Canadian Partnership With Betty
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Wyzia, the pioneering Canadian online payment solutions provider for regulated markets, is celebrating the renewal of its highly successful ongoing partnership with Betty, Ontario’s premier online slots casino.
This partnership, which began in 2023, is key to Wyzia’s expansion across North America. It supports players of Betty, an online casino catering to female players whose business is supported by Wyzia’s innovative, secure, and robust payment management solutions.
Wyzia is at the forefront of Canada’s fintech landscape, pioneering seamless online payment solutions for regulated markets. Its innovative platform connects merchants directly to all Canadian financial institutions, simplifying transactions and empowering businesses with reliable, efficient financial tools.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate a year of working with Betty with the renewal of our agreement,” said Guy Fietz, Group CEO at Wyzia. “Our collaboration has not only expanded our reach but enhanced the payment experience for Betty’s growing community of players.
“We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration and driving further innovation in the online gaming industry.”
Betty is the only platform created specifically for Ontario slot players. In 2024, Betty has enjoyed unprecedented growth, with a tenfold increase in net revenue since January and over 1000% growth in active players across Ontario.
By fostering a fun, safe, and supportive environment, Betty has harnessed the power of the female gaming audience to create a unique online casino experience. Betty focuses on transparency, community-based play, and gamification of the traditional slot experience.
This player-focused model has allowed Betty to stand out from other services, resulting in phenomenal growth and the ability to retain female players at a rate three times higher than their male counterparts.
Additionally, Betty automatically processes 99% of withdrawals, so players quickly receive their funds, a crucial benefit for online slot players.
“Our partnership with Wyzia has been instrumental in providing our players with a seamless, fast, and secure payment experience,” said Chavdar Dimitrov, Founder and CEO at Betty. “We are excited about the growth we’ve achieved together and are committed to delivering even better services to our community in the future.”
Latest News
BETBY EXPANDS LATAM PRESENCE WITH APPOINTMENT OF JUAN PABLO BARAHONA AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR
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BETBY, the premium sportsbook supplier, continues to strengthen its global footprint with the appointment of Juan Pablo Barahona as LATAM Regional Director.
Bringing over 17 years of experience across management, administration, marketing, and sales, Barahona has built a distinguished career within the betting and gaming industry. His expertise extends into the online media sector, technology, and both hardware and software sales, catering to retail, governmental, and e-commerce channels.
Throughout his career, Barahona has successfully navigated the Latin American market, holding key roles at industry-leading organizations such as Entain or Betway Group and technology giants. His wealth of experience and deep market knowledge make him a vital addition to BETBY’s expansion strategy in the region.
In his new role, Barahona will be responsible for driving BETBY’s regional business development, strengthening partnerships, and reinforcing the company’s position as a premier sportsbook supplier in Latin America.
Juan Pablo Barahona, LATAM Regional Director at BETBY, commented: “I am excited to be joining BETBY at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth journey. The LATAM market presents immense opportunities, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to expand BETBY’s presence and forge strong relationships across the region.”
Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, said: “Juan Pablo’s extensive industry background and deep understanding of the LATAM market make him a key asset for BETBY. As we continue our global expansion, his leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our presence and delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored to our partners in the region.”
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