SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame will add six new industry pioneers to its roster next month at the Betting on Sports conference.
Former Sky Betting & Gaming CEO Richard Flint, Bet365 CEO Denise Coates, Boylesports Founder & CEO John Boyle, former 888 CEO John Anderson, and Playtech PBS CEO Armin Sageder will all be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the lavish ceremony at the Natural History Museum on Thursday 19 September. Joining the industry veterans will be Jukka Honkavaara, who placed the first ever online sports bet with Intertops back in 1996.
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame has been curated in order to recognise the individuals who have contributed a great deal to the industry over the course of their careers with a lasting legacy. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honour, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting fame to the sports betting sector.
Previous inductees include Pinnacle CEO Paris Smith, Sportingbet Founder Mark Blandford, Sportradar Founder Cartsen Koerl, Betfred Founder Fred Done, BetConstruct Founder Vigen Badalyan, Bookmaker Technology Consortium Director Howard Chisholm, Bwin Founder Norbert Teufelberger, former Intralot CEO Constantinos Antonopoulos, former ABB Chairman Warwick Bartlett, Snaitech CEO Fabio Schiavolin, and Betsson Group CEO Pontus Lindwall.
John Boyle said: “It is an honour to be asked to join the Sports Betting Hall of Fame. To be associated with the other greats in the industry in this way means a lot and I’m pleased of the roles that Boylesports has been able to play in the industry.”
Richard Flint commented: “The Sports Betting Hall of Fame is a great way for the industry to acknowledge those that shaped it over the years. This is why I was so happy to accept the offer to join the sports betting pioneers who have already been recognised for their contribution.”
John Anderson said: “I’m honoured to be recognised by my peers in the industry. There are many innovative people driving the sector forward and providing entertainment to millions of customers every week, so I am humbled that I have been picked out to join the Sports Betting Hall of Fame this year.”
Jukka Honkavaara said: “I feel honoured being part of sports betting history as being the first of many to place a sports bet online. I never thought when I bet on Tottenham to beat Hereford with Intertops back in 1996 that it would lead me to the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, but I’m glad I did.”
SBC CEO & Founder Rasmus Sojmark added: “We are once again in an iconic venue to recognise some of the industry’s most iconic names. Last year’s Sports Betting Hall of Fame proved to be the perfect way to end the Betting on Sports conference and so it made complete sense to return to one of London’s premium venues for our closing party.”
Entry to the Hall of Fame ceremony is included in every ticket for the Betting on Sports conference and additional tickets for the extravaganza are also available from [email protected].
