MGM Resorts International has promoted from within, appointing Niklas Rytterstrom as the COO and president of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa. The company confirmed the news on Monday and said that Rytterstrom will be involved with the business’s day-to-day and oversee the casino’s strategic expansion and operations.

Bringing in a Seasoned Veteran at the Borgata

Rytterstrom is a seasoned company veteran who first entered the company in 1999 and started out as assistant hotel manager at Bellagio Resort & Casino over on the West Coast in Las Vegas. He has held various roles throughout the company, including general manager of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and he oversaw the MGM Resorts acquisition in 2022, ensuring a smooth transition.

He also served stints as COO at The Mirage, Excalibur and Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, among other positions of power and responsibility. Commenting on his appointment, Rytterstrom added:

I’m honored to be embarking on this new journey at Borgata. This property is an integral part of the Atlantic City community, and I can’t wait to jump in and continue to help drive growth and success throughout not just this amazing city but New Jersey and surrounding regions.

Niklas Rytterstrom, COO and president of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa

He will similarly work on building a strong rapport with employees, elevate the company’s guest service, and strengthen community relations so that the Borgata is seen as an important landmark in the area.

A Warm Welcome for an Important Colleague

The newly appointed executive succeeds Travis Lunn on the job, who is heading back to Las Vegas as COO of the Mandalay Bay and Luxor, as well as MGM properties.

Commenting on this corporate rejuggle, MGM Resorts president of operations Steve Zanella said that the company was very happy to welcome Rytterstrom in this new role as his intimate knowledge of the Atlantic City business and the Borgata would allow him to navigate the business towards new heights.

“Nik’s strong leadership skills and strategic vision will continue to differentiate Borgata in a competitive landscape and enhance its position as a market leader,” Zanella explained. Rytterstrom holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration and was named in the “Top 25 People to Watch in 2024” by Global Gaming Business Magazine.

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Online casino operator Videoslots has announced the appointment of Anna Komemi as chief operating officer (COO). Komemi boasts nearly twenty years of industry experience and will contribute her substantial insights accumulated at companies like Ladbrokes, Playtech, and Aspire. Her diverse expertise makes her an invaluable addition amidst rising regulatory uncertainties.

Komemi Boasts an Impressive Track Record

With a career reaching back to 2007, Komemi has held positions in various Playtech-owned businesses, gaining expertise in poker, risk management, and online support. Her experience extends across diverse jurisdictions, including Israel, Bulgaria, and the Philippines. This expertise gives her a unique outlook on various markets and should bolster Videoslots’ global expansion efforts.

The newly appointed COO expressed her excitement about joining the company and anticipation of contributing to its full potential. She acknowledged the fantastic group of industry professionals at Videoslots and expressed confidence in her ability to bolster Videoslots’ 2024 ambitions, setting the stage for enduring success.

“The team is made up of a fantastic group of industry professionals with great knowledge and experience and… I look forward to helping the business develop to its full potential.”

Anna Komem, Videoslots COO

In her most recent position, Komemi served as CEO/Executive Manager at Marketplay. She played a crucial role in establishing the white-label casino company in Malta, crafting operational business plans, contributing to strategic development, and bolstering the overall success and growth of the organization. These skills will be invaluable in her new position as she helps propel Videoslots to new heights.

The Company Aims to Expand Its Business

Videoslots exits 2023 with mixed results. The operator achieved several notable successes, concluding strategic partnerships and paving the way for future expansion in high-profile jurisdictions. However, the company faced significant compliance challenges, suffering substantial fines in the UK and Sweden due to AML failings. It can hopefully learn from these mistakes and shore up any regulatory shortcomings.

Ulle Skottling, deputy CEO at Videoslots, expressed delight in welcoming Anna to the team, highlighting her passion and commitment to the industry. Skottling anticipated she would strengthen Videoslots’ team as they aim for expansion in 2024. The operator has revealed plans to launch in the highly-contested North American market, with the company choosing Canada as its gateway country.

“She has made a significant impact within the sector over nearly two decades and will undoubtedly strengthen our team.”

Ulle Skottling, Videoslots deputy CEO

Based in Malta, Anna Komemi’s role as COO at Videoslots will be instrumental as the online casino operator gears up for strategic growth. The appointment reflects Videoslots’ commitment to onboarding experienced professionals to drive the company’s development and success in the dynamic online casino industry.

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Moving forward, Julia Weygandt will help Turbo Games continue to bring more innovative slot content to its partners. The addition of Weygandt allows the company to benefit from her long-lasting career and industry success and high profile.

Bringing Wealth of Experience to Turbo Games

She joined the industry in 2005 when she started working for Gauselmann Group and moved on to becoming an executive assistant where she learnt a lot about running gambling businesses. Her career would take her through companies such as Schmidt Gruppe and GAMOMAT where she ended up working as head of international partnerships.

Prior to her joining Tornado Games, Weygandt was working at Red Rhino Limited as the company’s head of business development. Tornado Games head of sales Thaluana Muscat was excited to see the new COO join, arguing that Weygandt brings extensive experience and expertise that would help the company move forward.

She brings a wealth of experience, passion and vision to the team and we are thrilled to have her on board. Tornado Games is the new kid on the block, but we have ambitious plans to make our mark on the sector by developing games that players want to play. That someone of Julia’s calibre wants to join the business is a testament to our vision and the progress we have already made.

Tornado Games head of sales Thaluana Muscat

Commenting on her appointment, Weygandt was similarly pleased with the development and said that she was very excited to be a part of the Tornado Games team and work alongside the incredible team at the company. She expressed her confidence that already the studio is leaving its mark on the iGaming industry and that better times are to follow.

Incredible Roadmap Ahead

She called the upcoming developments at the company “awesome,” and added that Tornado Games has so much to offer in terms of new releases over the coming months in both Europe and beyond. Turbo Games has already been launching in new markets beyond Europe as well.

The company confirmed that it has brought its games with Cbet to continue expanding its footprint in the Latin American region, offering local players titles such as Turbo Mines, Towers, Plinko, CrashX, and Bayraktar.

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The betting and gaming arm of US sports merchandise and commerce brand, Fanatics, announced today the appointment of Hank Couture as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO).

‘Help Build Something that Exceeds Expectations’

The new addition Couture is expected to play an integral role at Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) by developing operations strategies for the firm that is planning to launch the Fanatics Sportsbook across the nation in mid-2023.

Commenting on his new role as COO, Couture outlined the “exciting opportunity” that was presented to him “to build something from the ground up,” eager to leverage his knowledge and experience gained at DoorDash in the sports betting industry to “help build something that exceeds expectations” of Fanatics customers.

Couture, who joined from technology company DoorDash where he spent the past seven years overseeing the company’s US Marketplace and was instrumental in developing its successful pricing, loyalty, promotions, merchandising and growth policies, became a member of the FBG executive team and will report directly to FBG chief executive officer Matt King.

‘Impressive Track Record of Success’

FBG CEO King also commented on the new appointment, excited to welcome Couture to the company’s leadership team and help the business benefit from his experience.

“Hank’s experience in building one of the largest marketplaces in the US is exactly the type of person we are looking for at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and as our new COO, his impressive track record of success will provide us with valuable insight as we build a sportsbook that is easy to use, trustworthy and more rewarding for sports fans,” he said.

Couture joined DoorDash in 2016 as one of the company’s regional General Managers of US Marketplace and two years later, he started climbing the corporate ladder by assuming the responsibilities of Director, US Marketplace, before being named Senior Director in 2019 and Vice President in 2021, his latest role before joining FBG.

During his time at DoorDash, he helped the e-commerce marketplace grow into a $50 billion industry leader, overseeing critical business lines such as DoorDash’s subscription program, DashPass, and the Caviar marketplace. He was also instrumental in developing the firm’s expansion strategy across the Midwest.

Starting in Investment Banking

Holder of BBA in Finance and Economics from William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, began his professional career on the trading floor of Goldman Sachs in 2013, dealing with cross-asset structured products and over-the-counter derivatives.

The appointment of Couture is the latest high-profile addition to FBG after the appointments of FanDuel veteran Andrew Kleiman as Vice President of Retail Operations and Andrea Ellis as Chief Financial Officer last year.

The launch of the Fanatics Sportsbook was initially expected to materialize in 2022 but was later pushed back to Q1 2023, and in January, the brand made its US debut by launching the first retail sportsbook inside an NFL stadium, FedEx Field, home of the Washington Commanders.

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