FIRST.bet founder and CEO Tom Light named to Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 class of 2026
Tom Light, founder and CEO of FIRST.bet has been named a member of the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Class of 2026. Presented by The Innovation Group in partnership with Global Gaming Business and iGB, the programme recognises professionals under 40 who are making a significant impact on the global gaming industry.
The professionals recognised were selected from a record field of more than 250 nominations from around the world. Light is also featured in a profile published by Global Gaming Business magazine as part of the Class of 2026. The recognition follows his Individual Achievement Award at the EGR Awards 2026, where FIRST.bet was also named Sports Betting Supplier of the Year.
“Building in this space requires long term thinking. Results take time, and consistency matters more than short term wins,” said Light.
Building FIRST.bet with one clear focus
Born and raised in Israel, Light moved to Bulgaria in 2013. Over more than a decade, he has built sportsbook and trading platforms used by some of the largest betting operators in the world. He was part of the early evolution of live betting and helped shape many of the core mechanics that are now standard across the industry.
Under his leadership, FIRST.bet has grown to more than 500 employees, with major operations in Sofia and Plovdiv, two of Bulgaria’s largest cities. The company delivers a full sportsbook engine built for speed, scalability, real-time performance, dynamic pricing and efficient risk management.
“Today we are talking about thousands of events per day and hundreds of markets,” said Light. “We focus on speed, scalability and real time performance.”
Product leadership through focus
FIRST.bet covers a broad range of global and local sports while adapting its product to real player behaviour in each market. In Brazil, for example, the company offers vaquejada, a traditional local sport that ranks among the most popular betting categories in certain regions.
The company continues to develop areas including bet builders, automation, data-driven pricing and personalisation, giving operators more flexibility and stronger tools to compete.
“This reflects our approach. We adapt to real market demand and local player behavior,” said Light.
Looking ahead
Light expects the industry to become increasingly sophisticated as regulation expands and operators demand stronger products, faster execution and better compliance. “In this industry, product quality and speed of execution are what ultimately determine success,” he said.
“Unlike many providers, we are fully dedicated to sportsbook. That focus allows us to move faster and deliver a stronger product to our partners.”