Women Leaders in the iGaming Industry, Part II

Continuing the interview conducted by iGF's special correspondent, Lauren Harrison, with Christy Caldwell, the founder and CEO of Betsmart Consulting, and Helen Walton, the founder and managing director of G.Games. The discussion delves into the intricacies and uncertainties of regulation in Britain, addressing reforms and strategies for fostering mutual understanding between regulators and operators.

Additionally, the conversation explores the future prospects of iGaming within Great Britain's evolving legislative landscape, alongside the unique challenges faced by women in the iGaming sphere, as shared by these accomplished female professionals and industry leaders.

– Gambling is often portrayed as a very negative and dangerous area. How do you feel about this opinion?

Kirsty:

– I think mistakes and negativity happen, and it’s a real shame for the industry." The vast majority of people perceive gambling as a social activity for calm and relaxation. This is the same entertainment as going to the cinema or dining at a restaurant. Of course, for some, this is not the case, but you could make the same criticism of many other industries that seem to avoid the negative publicity that the gambling sector is regularly subjected to.

When I personally encounter negative attitudes towards gambling, I try my best to express my point of view clearly and honestly, using the knowledge and experience that I have gained from working in this field for a very long time. Sometimes, however, it's just not what people want to hear, in which case I stay silent and don't argue - let them have their own opinion.

Helen:

 – There is a large amount of snobbery in some assessments of the industry." Many people I meet who talk about gambling actually enjoy playing the lottery and betting on elections. But they convince themselves that this is not “real” gambling. Only those gambling games that they personally do not like are perceived negatively. These same people also enjoy a whiskey or glass of wine and would be outraged if I said they were “wasting” money and time or compromising their well-being and health. Of course, as an industry, we must recognize the potential for harm and work with different customer groups to mitigate or prevent risks. But at the same time, we should not apologize for what we do, for our work.

Millions of people love to buy lottery tickets, place bets on the Grand National, giggle during a game of bingo, cheer on their football team by betting on victory (no matter how crazy the odds!), play a few rounds of blackjack or roulette, with bated breath hearts to watch the drum spin... there is nothing wrong with any of these activities if they bring pleasure, if you perceive it as just one of the entertainments.. In my opinion, this is the most important reason why we must regulate the area well and effectively! We need an industry with dignity and integrity that puts its players first and is committed to long-term sustainability.

 –  You are both women at the very top of a traditionally male-dominated industry. What have been the biggest challenges in your professional journey? How did you overcome them? What are the biggest challenges women face in iGaming and the gaming industry as a whole?

Kirsty:

– Although the gambling sector may have traditionally been a male-dominated industry, I think this has changed to some extent since I started my career in 2010. Some of the biggest gambling companies in the world definitely give everyone the opportunity to succeed.

Helen:

– Probably, if you start all your answers with the words: 'It’s much better now than it was!' is probably a sign that you've been in the industry too long! When I first entered the industry, I was horrified by some of the events that were happening and said so publicly. I was not invited to the conference because I pointed out on LinkedIn that our male employees had a pole dancer right outside their office where they were running a 'Lean-in' promotion promoting women in the gambling industry. However, despite such wild stories, the industry has changed.

There are more women in leadership positions today than ever before, and more female personal management license holders. Professionalism is growing among women, which means that the most unpleasant excesses, if not completely disappeared, have become less common.

We still have a lot to do. I have always believed that the gambling industry is good in terms of social diversity, but it has a long way to go in terms of racial diversity. Finally, I think the gambling industry reflects problems in our society. Punishment from employers for motherhood is quite real. The most difficult time in my career was when I had a child and I was trying to work and juggle what seemed impossible. In many ways, this is what inspired me to create G.Games.

My partners Dan and Paul also had young children, and we were determined to give our employees the opportunities and flexibility we didn't have. I still hear from women who are asked to turn down promotions because they are mothers - it's incredibly shocking (and illegal!).

Bad behavior must be called out, and as we progress in our careers, we must make personal commitments to ensure that the problems and pain we suffered do not recur.

IGF Note:

The last UK Gambling Act, passed in 2005, marked a significant liberalization of gambling in the UK. However, experts suggest that a more 'holistic' approach is needed now to enhance player protection and ensure robust regulation suitable for the digital age, fostering sustainable growth.

One major hurdle in achieving this is the agility of regulators to enact swift changes. Helen advocates for flexible regulations that offer valuable guidance while remaining adaptable to future shifts. Kirsty acknowledges that while reversing reforms initiated by the Gambling Act is unlikely, ongoing regulatory ambiguity poses the most significant challenge to the UK industry. However, she sees opportunities in aligning the interests of all stakeholders.

Addressing the negative perception of the gambling industry, our experts assert that it is unjust, attributing it largely to "snobbery." They point out that many who oppose gambling readily engage in activities like playing the lottery, oblivious to its similarities with other forms of gambling such as slot machines.

Furthermore, our experts highlight industry-wide discrimination issues, ranging from scandalous incidents and conference bans to the "maternity penalty." While strides have been made in bridging the gender gap, challenges persist, particularly in terms of racial diversity and inclusivity, signifying a continued journey towards progress and tolerance.