Sports Betting Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2022
Four hugely-influential industry figures will be inducted to the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in a special ceremony at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was established to recognize the achievements and outstanding contributions of the pioneers who have made a long-lasting mark on the industry.
SBC has now announced the luminaries who comprise the Class of 2022:
- Chris Andrews – Sports Book Director, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
- Paul Burns – President & CEO, Canadian Gaming Association
- Sandy Drozd – Vice President, USBookmaking
- Vinny Magliulo – Vice President, Las Vegas Dissemination Company & Sports Book Director, Gaughan Gaming
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame Ceremony and Networking Party forms part of SBC Summit North America 2022, the leading conference and tradeshow for the sports betting and igaming industry, which is scheduled for July 12-14 at Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
All Summit delegates will have full access to the evening party at the racetrack, providing them with the chance to meet some of the legends who have helped to shape the industry.
Sue Schneider, SBC’s Vice President of Growth and Strategy, Americas, said: “As the industry enjoys substantial growth in multiple U.S. states and Canada, the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of some of the trailblazers who have helped to make the current success possible.”
The new inductees expand the North American representation in the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, as they join Class of 2019 members Art Manteris (retired VP Race and Sports Book Operations, Station Casinos), Dennis Drazin (CEO, Monmouth Park), and Chris Christie (former New Jersey Governor).
In 2020 the U.S. contingent grew with the induction of Victor Salerno (President, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports), Raymond Lesniak (former NJ State Senator), Roxy Roxborough (Legendary Las Vegas Oddsmaker), Sara Slane (former Sr. VP, American Gaming Association), and Jay Rood (COO, Bet.Works).
Last year, the five new members were Yolanda Acuña (former Director of Administration, MGM Resorts), Joe Asher (President of Sports Betting, IGT & former CEO, William Hill US), Johnny Avello (Director of Race & Sports Book Operations, DraftKings), Joe Brennan Jr (former Chair, IMEGA), and Jimmy Vaccaro (Sports Book Director, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa).
About the Sports Betting Hall of Fame
SBC launched the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2016, in order to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting success to the industry.
The original inductees were Carsten Koerl (Founder & CEO, Sportradar), Mark Blandford (Founder, Sportingbet), and Howard Chisholm (Director, Bookmakers Technology Consortium).
They have since been joined by:
2017: Paris Smith (CEO, Pinnacle), Fred Done (Founder, Betfred), and Vigen Badalyan (Founder & CEO, BetConstruct).
2018: Norbert Teufelberger (Co-Founder, Bwin), Pontus Lindwall (CEO, Betsson), Warwick Bartlett (CEO, GBGC), Constantinos Antonopoulos (Vice-Chairman, Intralot), and Fabio Schiavolin (CEO, Snaitech).
2019: Denise Coates (Founder & CEO, bet365), John Boyle (Founder & Chairman, BoyleSports), John Anderson (former CEO, 888 Holdings), Armin Sageder (Founder, paysafecard & BGT), Richard Flint (Non-Executive Director, Flutter Entertainment & former CEO, Sky Betting & Gaming), Jukka Honkavaara (Bettor who placed the first ever online sports bet), Art Manteris (retired VP Race and Sports Book Operations, Station Casinos), Dennis Drazin (CEO, Monmouth Park), and Chris Christie (former NJ Governor).
2020: Ralph Topping (former William Hill CEO), Victor Chandler (Founder, BetVictor), Bill Mummery (pioneer in online betting & Asian market), Giovanni Garrisi (CEO, StanleyBet), Juan B. Pérez Hidalgo (former President, Coljuegos), Victor Salerno (President, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports), Raymond Lesniak (former NJ State Senator), Roxy Roxborough (Legendary Las Vegas Oddsmaker), Sara Slane (former Sr. VP, American Gaming Association), and Jay Rood (COO, Bet.Works).
2021: Simon Bold (Founder, SBGL and former CEO bwin International), Vincent Caldwell (Founder, betinternet and Chairman & CEO, Virtual Software), Ludovico Calvi (President, Global Lottery Monitoring System), Clive Hawkswood (former CEO, RGA and former Chairman, RAiG), Birgitte Sand (former Director General, Danish Gambling Authority), Jan Svendsen (Founder, Coolbet, Nordicbet and Triobet), Yolanda Acuña (former Director of Administration, MGM Resorts), Joe Asher (President of Sports Betting, IGT & former CEO, William Hill US), Johnny Avello (Director of Race & Sports Book Operations, DraftKings), Joe Brennan Jr (former Chair, IMEGA), and Jimmy Vaccaro (Sports Book Director, South Point Hotel & Casino).
About SBC Summit North America 2022
SBC Summit North America, at Meadowlands Exposition Center, New Jersey on July 12-14 2022, is the leading conference and tradeshow for the U.S. and Canadian sports betting and igaming industries.
It will feature an eight-track conference focused on the future of the high-growth sports betting and igaming industries, with a speaker line-up of 250 senior executives and experts. There is also an exhibition of 75 suppliers showcasing their latest innovations, and a program of evening networking events.
Three companion events will take place during the week: the Player Protection Symposium (a responsible gambling conference on July 12), Sports Betting 101 (an educational conference focused on the fundamentals of sports betting on July 12), and the SBC Awards North America (at Pier Sixty on July 14).
Find full details at the SBC Summit North America website.
