Malta-based gambling operator Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) has appointed two Argyll Entertainment executives to key leadership positions.

Stuart Tilly has been named new Corporate Secretary, while Dan Marks has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Tilly is co-founder and current CEO, and Marks is CFO, of Argyll Entertainment, the UKGC-licensed operator of SportNation.bet. 

Tilly has also held several in-house legal residences with major gaming companies, and in 2012 founded the iGaming Counsel – a regulatory and commercial advisory service for the industry.

Marks has nearly two decades of experience in financial and operations leadership roles, mainly in the corporate banking sector, including as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the UK Coverage team at Barclays, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for large US-based corporations and mid-market enterprises at HSBC in New York.  

Discussing the appointments CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, Grant Johnson, said:

“We’re excited to officially welcome Stuart and Dan to the Esports Entertainment team. As CEO and CFO of Argyll Entertainment, they have proven their ability to execute in our industry, growing the business from start-up to $12 million in revenue annually in just a few short years. As we continue to ramp the Vie.gg platform this experience will be invaluable.”

Commenting on his new role Tilly said:

“Esports Entertainment is ideally positioned to capitalize on a wealth of opportunities as growth in the esports industry continues to gain momentum. I am excited to be part of the team and look forward to my role in building a leading global brand.”

While Marks added:

“I am delighted to be joining Esports Entertainment at such an exciting time, after becoming the first online e-sports betting company to list on NASDAQ. I look forward to working with the strong leadership team and assisting the Company in achieving its strategic and financial goals.”

AYO.NEWS says:

It seems like everything is full-steam ahead at EEG, and the company is certainly attracting some heavyweight talent from the world of iGaming and finance. 

Earlier this month the company announced the appointment of esports and gaming industry veteran, Magnus Leppäniemi, as Vice President of Marketing and Head of Esports at betting platform VIE.gg. 

The company also recently set up a New Jersey subsidiary, GMBL New Jersey Inc., and started onboarding new affiliate partners.  

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Simona chats with David Minns, founder of Joystick.dating – the new dating service specifically designed for the gaming and esports community. 

Find out the inspiration and logic behind setting up a niche service in a sector dominated by huge players like Facebook and Tinder, and what makes Joystick special. 

Don’t forget to check out Joystick.dating

Isle of Man-based esports betting operator Luckbox is looking to make five key hires as it pursues its ambitious growth plans. 

The company, which recently announced a CAD $4.5M funding drive and plans to publicly list on the TSX Venture Exchange, is now advertising for a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Head of Marketing, VP of Operations, CRM Lead, and a node.js Backend Developer. 

Luckbox says the roles can be based at its offices in the Isle of Man or Bulgaria, or even fully remotely for the right candidates. Full details of the opportunities are available here.

Commenting on the news Luckbox CEO, Quentin Martin, said:

“It’s been a fantastic year for us so far and our oversubscribed funding round has put us in the perfect position to capitalise. We’re now ensuring we maintain that momentum by filling these very important roles with the right people who share our passion for growing Luckbox rapidly.

“We see these roles as a priority right now and we will be further strengthening the team in the coming months.”

Luckbox now offers wagering on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch, Call of Duty, King of Glory, Starcraft II, Starcraft, Hearthstone, FIFA, NBA 2K, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite the COVID-19 crisis still raging across the world, things are looking up for the Luckbox team, with business booming, the company about to become only the second dedicated esports betting operator to be publicly listed, and even the Isle of Man completely out of lockdown so they can all pop down the pub to celebrate! 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Esports tournament organiser ESL has appointed Patricia von Halle as Director of Consumer Marketing. 

Having joined ESL in late 2016 as Marketing Manager, a year later von Halle became a contracted Counter-Strike: Global Offensive observer, and two years after that was appointed Lead Event Marketing. 

Before joining ESL, von Halle worked as a copywriter and editor with 99Damage and Gute Propaganda. 

Earlier this month ESL announced the appointment of former ProSeibenSat.1 executive Stefan Beitz as its new Chief Financial Officer. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With the global economy plummeting headlong into a COVID-19 lockdown triggered catastrophe, it’s great to see the esports industry is still bucking the trends and making new appointments! Given her experience and passion for esports, we’re sure von Halle will excel at her latest role. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Simona catches up with one of the pioneers of the iGaming industry, Jesper Kärrbrink, Chairman at Green Jade Games, and former CEO of Mr Green and Svenska Spel,  for a chat about Swedish politics, how the industry can improve its public image, what the future holds for slots and skill-based games, and plenty more.

Jesper will be on the ‘Future of Gaming’ panel, along with Ariel Reem, CEO of Genesis, Alexander Martin, CEO of SKS365, and Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson, on 2 July, at the upcoming CasinoBeats Malta virtual conference. Find out more at CasinoBeats Malta.

Guild Esports has formally launched, with David Beckham and Blue Star Capital as investors.

Guild is developing an esports talent pipeline in the UK, based on the traditional academy model, to enable the most promising players to receive coaching and support from industry leaders. The company is also planning to form a roster of scouts to continually find and sign the best young talent. 

Headquartered in London, Guild Esports is aiming to raise GBP £25, and has so far received investments from both David Beckham, via DB Ventures, and Blue Star Capital.

The company’s management team comprises esports veterans with extensive experience of professional level playing, coaching, and media. Guild Executive Chairman, Carelton Curtis, is well-known in the industry and architect of the Overwatch League and Call Of Duty Leagues. Prior to joining Guild, he held senior esports roles at Activision Blizzard and Red Bull. His expertise complements David Beckham’s position in the world of mainstream sports to create a unique esports proposition.

Over the course of the 2020/2021 season, Guild says it intends to develop into various esports disciplines. Its first team is slated to debut in Autumn 2020, competing in popular titles like Rocket League, FIFA, and Fortnite. 

David Beckham’s move into esports is described as a natural progression, given his extensive experience in developing traditional sports businesses, notably through his co-ownership of Inter Miami CF in the MLS, and his passion for enabling youth talent to achieve excellence. 

London-based artist Fergus Purcell, creator of the iconic identity for skate wear label Palace, will be designing Guild’s brand and developing it for a lifestyle apparel line. Fergus has previously collaborated with high-profile fashion designers including Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, and music artists like 2manydjs.

Commenting on the news CEO of Blue Star Capital, Tony Fabrizi, said:

“We are very pleased to announce today’s news from Guild regarding its global launch and the association with David Beckham. The team behind Guild is incredibly strong and gives us great confidence that the company has an exciting future.”

While David Beckham added:

“Throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to work with players at the top of their game, and I’ve seen first-hand the passion and dedication it takes to play at that level. I know that determination lives in our esports athletes today and at Guild we have a vision to set a new standard, supporting these players into the future.”

AYO.NEWS says:

With so much high-profile talent and expertise already onboard, and the backing of Blue Star Capital, things are looking very promising indeed for Guild! It’s fantastic to see the company has solid plans for building a well-rounded commercial brand, while also investing in the development of UK esports talent. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing what happens with this. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020