▶ Black Executives On The Rise ▲

July 2024

Khalid Jones

Current company and role: Virginia Lottery/Executive Director

Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas/Queens, New York

First job in the gaming industry: I have been involved in the gaming space since 2015 as an investor in the industry

What do you like about working in gaming?

I like that gaming touches many substantive industry verticals. From high level mathematics, engineering, technology, AI and finance all the way to human psychology, philanthropy and government relations. Most people view the industry as just games or gambling but the breadth and depth of the expertise base in the industry is impressively vast.

Did anything surprise you about the industry when you first started? (pleasant surprises, hopefully)

The biggest and most pleasant surprise was how willing people were to share the wealth of their knowledge. The industry is large – and growing quickly – but you see the same people again and again. I have been impressed that in such a fast-paced and competitive environment that people have been so willing to be of assistance and I try to take that ethos with me now.

Were you familiar with gambling before landing a job in the industry? What were your thoughts about gaming before starting to work in the industry?

I had a fairly deep knowledge base about the lottery and sports betting industries before joining the Virginia Lottery and a good working knowledge of the casino space that has deepened tremendously since I’ve started, in large part thanks to the strength of my Gaming Compliance team in Virginia, which is tasked with the regulatory responsibilities for both sports wagering and casinos.

Has your impression of the industry changed at all?

I wouldn’t say my impression has necessarily changed, however, the one thing I have noticed is a heightened importance placed on responsible gaming in the industry, which is a welcomed sight. In Virginia, we as a regulatory body are extremely focused on responsible gaming, as is our legislature and the Governor’s office. As gaming expands in Virginia and across the nation, the headlines are the revenues that are generated for companies and for the states, but with that expansion also comes the potential for players to develop problems gambling. Because of that, it is critical that there is an extensive focus on responsible gaming and we are very committed to raising awareness that this can become a problem for a small percentage of the population and also directing players who need them to the correct resources. In short, I believe we play a critical part in ensuring this stays at the forefront of conversation.

What major trends do you see emerging in the gaming industry over the next 5 to 10 years?

In addition to responsible gaming focus, over the next 5-10 years I see trends emerging in more socially-connected gameplay experiences. Right now, much of a gaming experience is an individual pursuit. Sports betting has an element of socialized gaming in that many people are pulling for the same team to win. In Virginia, for example, we are working to develop lottery game types that are communal or “team” in nature.

I also foresee AI gaming emerging in a way that is a step shift beyond how we use AI today generally. I envision a world in which a player will be able to essentially build his/her own game using AI tools on the spot. For example, imagine a lottery or slot game where a player dictates their price point, highest jackpot, symbol theme, color, playstyle, etc. and the AI engine creates a customized game in real time. These are the types of uses of technology that we are thinking about now…how we use technology like AI to expand the possibility of game development and put more choice in the players hand both during and BEFORE the game starts.

What advice would you give to aspiring leaders in the gaming industry?

Be Inquisitive: Read as much as you can, ask as many questions as you can and welcome new information that comes your way.

Find 2 Mentors: I think it is important to have two types of mentors in your professional life, and as many of them as you can find. One is a traditional mentor who is older, wiser and takes an interest in your development. The other is what I call a “Peer Mentor”, someone who is on the same path as you are whether in or outside of your industry. Someone who you can ask honest questions to and receive honest feedback. This is very important to have because the further you ascend, fewer people in your age group will be having similar experiences and even fewer will be willing to give you tough answers to hard questions.

Write Articles and Speak at Conferences: Industries are shaped by people who understand the past and present and use that to see into the future. Committing your ideas to paper and presenting them in large groups of industry professionals forces you to organize your thoughts, get critical feedback and refine your thinking.

Think of One New Idea Each Week: Whether big or small, try to force yourself to think of something new each week. Some of the ideas will be bad, some will seem unobtainable, and some will be plain brilliant. Ideas are the currency of innovation and stretching your imagination is an important exercise to remind yourself that what seems impossible today may be commonplace tomorrow.