SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The five industry pioneers in the Sports Betting Hall of Fame Class of 2020 were inducted in a special virtual ceremony during SBC Digital Summit North America.
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame recognises the legends who have made an outstanding lasting contribution to the betting industry over their careers.
The Class of 2020 are:
- Victor Salerno, President, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports
- Raymond Lesniak, Former Senator New Jersey
- Roxy Roxborough, Legendary Las Vegas Oddsmaker
- Sara Slane, Former Sr. VP, American Gaming Association
- Jay Rood, COO, Bet.Works
In more normal times, the ceremony is a lavish event, but current conditions meant that the achievements of the five individuals who have played such crucial roles in the development of the US sports betting industry were celebrated remotely via Zoom.
During the ceremony, Lesniak and Slane shared some of their experiences of the fight to overturn PASPA, while Salerno, Roxborough and Rood revealed some stories from their long and hugely influential careers in the industry.
Sue Schneider, SBC’s Vice President of Growth and Strategy, said: “All five of these individuals thoroughly deserve the honour, as they are among the trailblazers of sports betting in the United States. From operators, legislatures, oddsmakers, and industry advocates, this group also shows the depth and breadth of the overall industry within the US.”
The Class of 2020 join Art Manteris (VP Race and Sports Book Operations, Station Casinos) Dennis Drazan (CEO, Monmouth Park) and Chris Christie (former NJ Governor) as members of the Hall of Fame from the US industry.
SBC launched the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2016, in order to honour, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting success to the industry. The original inductees were Carsten Koerl (CEO, Sportradar), Mark Blandford (Founder, Sportingbet) and Howard Chisholm (Director, Bookmakers Technology Consortium).
They have since been joined by Paris Smith (CEO, Pinnacle), Fred Done (Founder, Betfred), Vigen Badalyan (Founder & CEO, BetConstruct), Norbert Teufelberger (Co-Founder, Bwin), Pontus Lindwall (CEO, Betsson), Warwick Bartlett (CEO, GBGC), Constantinos Antonopoulos (Vice-Chairman, Intralot), Fabio Schiavolin (CEO, Snaitech), Denise Coates (Founder & CEO, bet365), John Boyle (Founder & Chairman, BoyleSports), John Anderson (Former CEO, 888 Holdings), Armin Sageder (Founder, paysafecard & BGT), Richard Flint (Former CEO, Sky Betting & Gaming) and Jukka Honkavaara (Punter who placed the first ever online sports bet).
