MGM-GVC’s US joint venture named Roar Digital
Former Coral Interactive marketing chief Matt Prevost has been named chief marketing officer of Roar Digital, the rebranded $200m MGM-GVC joint venture targeting the US sports betting market.
Prevost, who will be based at Roar’s head office in New Jersey, joins the operator having previously served as the chief marketing officer of Coral Interactive in Gibraltar between 2011 and 2015. Most recently he served as operating executive at US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management and chief digital officer at New Avon, the direct selling beauty company.
Roar CEO Adam Greenblatt said Prevost’s experience in both European gaming and US commerce will be crucial as the venture looks to take advantage of the new opportunities created by the expansion of sports betting across the US.
“I am delighted to appoint Matt to the team,” said Greenblatt, who was appointed in October. “Matt brings a unique combination of experience and expertise in Europe’s most competitive betting environment with a deep understanding of the US consumer and media landscape.
“Matt further strengthens Roar’s foundations and will help us compete for leadership over time as the US market evolves.”
The 50/50 venture initially named MGM GVC Interactive was founded in July 2018, with Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, saying at the time they expected to “dominate” the US sports betting market thanks to a combination of retail and online gaming expertise.
Prevost said: “I am thrilled to join the team at Roar at this historic time for the US sports betting and gaming sector.
“The combination of brands, technology, and market access of the two parent companies will provide a significant opportunity to build a world class sports-betting operation in the US.”
Thanks to MGM’s casino portfolio, including Nevada, New Jersey and New York, and a partnership with Boyd Gaming, Roar Digital has access to 15 US state markets, with a combined population of 90 million.
Since its establishment Roar Digital, has launched the PlayMGM app in New Jersey, partnered with the United Auburn Indian Community and appointed Sportradar as its exclusive supplier of US sport data.