GGW Voices is an ongoing collaboration between CDC Gaming Reports and Global Gaming Women featuring commentary and insight from women in the gaming industry.
It’s hard to believe it was Summer 2016 when I worked with Jennifer Carlton and Global Gaming Women (GGW) to bring together some of the gaming industry’s top leaders over a day-long conference, The Power of Technology, which discussed technology’s outsized influence on every facet of our industry and trends we were observing as operators, suppliers and consumers in gaming.
Questions posed then – How will casino operators address the influence of new generations in their tech-related purchasing decisions? What kind of tech appeals to these groups, and what regulations need to be in place to sustain tech innovation? – seem just as relevant today, especially as the “oldest” Gen Z-ers are nearing their thirties.
While tech continues to be an area of extreme interest for me, so too are the topics of entrepreneurialism and investments behind the tech founders advancing innovation in our industry. And, make no mistake: there’s much advancement, especially as the industry evolves!
Back in the summer of 2016, although there was much discussion about the potential repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (also known as PASPA), it only happened in May 2018. And then there was the “black swan” event, COVID-19, which descended upon us in 2020. Amongst many things, COVID-19 hastened the way in which we entertain ourselves online. Thank goodness for entrepreneurs, like Anna Sainsbury and David Briggs, who had the foresight to solve for important issues, like geolocation compliance and fraud prevention, especially as player behavior was changing and more consumers were going online to enjoy their favorite games. Like many entrepreneurs, they navigated unchartered waters fueled by passion, vision and purpose, and refined their ideas to eventually turn concepts and prototypes into game-changing solutions.
Just as important are the funders behind these founders – the ones who identify those sparks who can ignite an industry and change lives. Top-tier investors, like Kenzie Shaw, regularly find the diamonds in the sea of rocks, supporting founders and projects through their innovation journey and helping them to shine. As companies mature and grow, founders and investors alike appreciate the perspectives of their premier advisors and board members, like Anna Massion, who, as an investor with extensive experience in gaming, can bring those insights into the boardroom and to executive teams in support of business innovation.
I deeply believe in investing behind next-generation entrepreneurs – these leaders help drive innovation, breathe new life into industries via their offerings, and, importantly, create jobs. Further, investment isn’t just about growing money (although that’s a nice benefit). It’s also about creating opportunities, fostering empowerment and learning new ways to solve problems. It’s important to remember that “investment” can mean many things.
For example, investment of time and skillset can be just as valuable to a founding team as the dollars someone brings to the table. For those who are curious, I would encourage you to reach out to places like UNLV’s Black Fire Innovation Center or tune into GGW’s Fair Game Podcast, which amplifies the insights of game-changing women in our industry, including entrepreneurs.
With this in mind, I’m especially delighted to bring Anna, Kenzie and Anna to chat with me during G2E for our panel, From Ideas to Impact: Women Entrepreneurs and Investors Pioneering Innovation, on October 7th at 11:20am. This GGW-sponsored panel will aim to cover a range of topics from product-market fit, scalability and competitive advantage to fundraising and defining the metrics that matter. From my pre-panel discussions with each of these remarkable leaders, I’ve already learned so much and look forward to our continued conversations.
On a personal note, planning this panel makes me feel fortunate to be a part of the board of Global Gaming Women, an organization focused on enhancing the development and education of women in gaming. You can learn more about the organization at www.globalgamingwomen.org. I’m grateful to count my fellow GGW board members, GGW committee members and leaders at large I meet throughout the industry each day as a constant source of inspiration. It’s in this spirit that I look forward to the insights of this panel come G2E. I hope you will join us.
