iGaming Business Appointments (Week 8): MGC Chairman Passes Away, New Bally’s CEO, and More!

Leading gambling firms moves at the top via their latest iGaming Business Appointments (Week 8). Bally’s, GiG, and More! (Image courtesy of Tumisu at pixabay.com)

The iGaming industry is constantly evolving, with new and exciting developments being announced regularly.

However, while new partnerships and product launches can lead to business growth, arguably as important are the appointments made in senior positions at iGaming firms. The right leadership at the top of an organisation can help propel a company to the next level.

In this post, I will take you through some of the biggest appointments made recently in the iGaming industry. Among the firms that have made changes at the top include Bally’s, GiG, Vave Gaming, and others.

Mississippi Gaming Commission Chairman Al Hopkins has Passed Away at Age 81

The first story is some sad news coming out of the iGaming industry. Al Hopkins, the Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, was announced dead at his home on the 12th of February. While it is never nice to hear of the passing of anyone, Hopkins is fondly remembered by those he worked with during his time at the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Hopkins was performing his third term as Chairman, and had held the role during a time of major change in the gambling industry stateside. During his chairing, many states relaxed their online gambling regulations. As we know, online casino is now legal in six states, with others also considering their options.

Although Hopkins flew through his first two confirmations as Chairman, he did receive some opposition last time around. Senator David Blount was opposed to the third confirmation but was the only voter that was. Hopkins passed just days before his 82nd birthday and had chaired the commission for the past 8 years. The Mississippi Gaming Commission has stated they’re saddened by his passing and wanted to offer respect to the privacy of his family by not releasing any additional statement for the time being.

The latest appointments and position changes revealed in this iGaming business appointments post follow another batch we revealed last week. To catch up with big appointments at Digitain, Aristocrat, and others, check out our last appointments report here.

Bally’s CEO to Step Down – Robeson Reeves to Hold the Position

Bally’s has announced that its CEO, Lee Fenton, will step down at the end of March, with Robeson Reeves, the current President of Interactive, taking over as the new CEO of the casino and online gambling corporation. Fenton, who became CEO in October 2021 after the Gamesys acquisition, will also leave his role on the Board of Directors.

Fenton expressed his gratitude for his time at Bally’s and praised the company and its employees. He also noted the particular significance of handing the reins to Reeves, with whom he has worked for over 14 years, describing him as a unique talent.

Reeves, who previously served as COO of Gamesys before joining Bally’s in October 2021, will be responsible for leading the Interactive division, which has faced significant challenges in recent months due to intense competition for market share. Reeves will also oversee Bally’s wide casino portfolio and the licensing and construction of its flagship casino site in Chicago, a key strategic objective.

The departure of Fenton and the appointment of Reeves come amid reports of the Interactive division’s poor performance, with net losses of over $400m in 2022. Reeves will be tasked with navigating the division’s fortunes, while also overseeing the rest of the casino portfolio, which is in a healthier position.

Bally’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Soo Kim, thanked Fenton for his contributions to the company and welcomed Reeves as the new CEO, describing him as having an extraordinary mind and the drive required to excel in the role. Reeves, for his part, expressed his gratitude for the support and confidence shown in him and his commitment to maximizing Bally’s growth.

If you love keeping up with all the latest iGaming business news, and any type of news for that matter, make sure you check in regularly to our iGaming news pages here.