SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The senior leadership at Yolo Entertainment, an online crypto-focused betting and casino operator, has undergone a shakeup with three promotions.
Part of the betting and technology firm Yolo Group, Yolo Entertainment has appointed a new Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), Chief Brand Officer (CBO) and Chief Data Officer (CDO).
All three positions have been filled via promotion. Abela Hardy, the new CPTO, first joined the firm in June 2024, having previously worked at Flutter Entertainment and Gaming Innovation Group (GiG).
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Yolo Entertainment, and my focus is simple: deliver the best betting and gaming product in the world,” Hardy remarked.
Meanwhile, the firm’s new Chief Brand Officer, Shane Anderson, also joined in 2024 after working in betting-focused content and broadcasting, most notably at Better Collective and Racing.com, working as a Senior Director at the former and in journalism and editorial at the latter.
Lastly, Laura Nash also joined the company in 2024 as a Corporate Strategy Analyst, joining after 10 years in data and intelligence at The Stars Group, and now assumes the role of CDO.
“My focus is on using data to give players the very best gaming experiences available, so joining Yolo Entertainment was an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse,” she said.
Yolo picks senior team amid changing times
Yolo stresses that the latest shakeup of its c-level leadership underpins its wider strategic growth plans.
Today’s appointments follow some major changes last quarter in which Yolo Group chose a new Chief Financial Officer for its B2B business alongside a Chief Operating Officer for Yolo Entertainment, among other senior hires.
As an operator of two crypto-focused brands, Sportsbet.io and BitCasino, Yolo may stand to benefit from the changing regulatory landscape around blockchain and crypto, with eventual adoption of crypto betting widely expected by betting stakeholders in markets like Brazil.
The company has also been doubling down on its sponsorship activity of late, as CBO Anderson explained to SBC News earlier this month. Notable deals lately include partnerships with an NBA athlete and the World Snooker Tour (WST).
“I’m thrilled to welcome Shane, Laura, and Ashley to Yolo Entertainment’s C-level team,” said Matthew D’Emanuele, Yolo Entertainment CEO.
“These leadership appointments are a key part of our ongoing transformation and commitment to delivering world-class casino and sports betting experiences.
“Their expertise will be instrumental in driving innovation and performance across the organisation.”
