SBC announced four industry heavyweights have earned a coveted place in the 2023 class of the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, recognized for their impact and long-lasting legacy. The ceremony will take place at the W Hotel, Barcelona on September 19, amid a new edition of the SBC Summit Barcelona, scheduled to take place at Fira Barcelona Montjuïc from 19th to 21st September.
The dignitaries who make up the Class of 2023 are Gustaf Hagman, CEO and Co-Founder of LeoVegas; Jordan Levin, CEO of OpenBet; Per Widerström, Incoming CEO of 888 Holdings (effective October 16, 2023); and Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chair of the Betting and Gaming Council.
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to recognize the industry’s individuals and their career-defining contributions. The ceremony will be hosted by former inductees — SBC’s very own Sue Schneider and Simon Bold (Betting & Gaming Consultant, Fatcats Limited).
The celebration of the newest inductees is set to unfold at the W Hotel, Barcelona, on September 19, as part of the SBC Leaders Summit. The inaugural C-level industry gathering forms part of SBC’s betting and iGaming show SBC Summit Barcelona.
📢@SBCGAMINGNEWS is pleased to announce the four industry heavyweights whose contributions to the industry have earned them a spot in this month’s SBC Hall of Fame Ceremony. 🏆🌟#SBC #HallOfFame #SBC2023 #SportsBetting #Gaming
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— SBC NEWS (@SBCGAMINGNEWS) September 13, 2023
Sue Schneider, VP of Growth and Strategy, Americas at SBC, said: “This is an occasion that will forever remain in the hearts of the inductees. It’s an opportunity for us, as an industry, to take a moment and recognize the incredible work they’ve done – from pioneering the concept of mobile-first betting to guiding companies through cultural transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and establishing ethical standards in the industry.”
“I’m excited to celebrate the impressive individuals of the 2023 class who are contributing their best to propel our industry forward. Hosting this ceremony is as much an honor as receiving my own Hall of Fame award,” she added.
The latest inductees will join their fellow 2023 classmates Michael Gaughan, Owner of South Point Hotel Casino Spa; Nick Bogdanovich, Sportsbook Manager/Oddsmaker at Circa Sports; Trish Lewandowski, Sportsbook District Manager, at Caesars Digital; and David L. Rebuck, Director of the NJ Department of Gaming Enforcement, who were inducted at SBC Summit North America in June 2023.
Alongside Sue Schneider, the 2022 ceremony also saw Chris Andrews, Sportsbook Director at South Point; Paul Burns, President & CEO of Canadian Gaming Association; Sandy Drozd, Director of Software and Product Compliance at Circa Resort & Casino; and Vincent Magliulo, Vice President/SportsBook Director, of Las Vegas Dissemination Co./Gaughan Gaming, inducted.
The SBC Leaders Summit is an invite-only gathering of 450 C-Level executives that includes exclusive networking opportunities, a highly engaging conference agenda, regional and regulatory roundtables, as well as a poker championship, alongside a variety of invite-only dinners during the core days of the summit.