Sportingtech names former News UK betting chief Ustunel as CEO

As CEO, Ustunel will be tasked with spearheading expansion plans at Sportingtech in 2024 and beyond. This will include a focus on growing the betting and gaming platform provider’s presence in the Latin America market.

Ustunel takes on the role having been working with Sportingtech for the past years through his First Gen Consulting business. 

Prior to this, Ustunel spent over two years with GAN. Here, he spent time as vice president of gaming operations and also chief of gaming operations.

Ustunel builds gaming brands at News UK

Ustunel also worked in gambling-related roles at British newspaper publisher News UK for almost seven years. Positions included head of betting, bingo and gaming, as well as betting and gaming director, leaving in May 2020.

During his time with News UK, Ustunel oversaw a major expansion of its gaming assets. This included its 2015 deal with Playtech, whereby the Sun Bingo and Fabulous Bingo brands migrated to Playtech’s bingo network. That deal was expanded to cover the launch of a casino product and extended for 15 years in February 2019.

Earlier in his career, Ustunel worked as senior product manager at Rank Interactive. He also had a spell as senior project manager at Smart Gaming Group.

Sportingtech said the appointment follows a series of internal promotions at the business, as part of its wider growth strategy.

“Sportingtech has been on an incredible trajectory in recent years,” Ustunel said. “2023 saw unprecedented success which we are looking to not only replicate, but also build on.

“I am thrilled to be working with such a talented team of people across the entire business during what promises to be an exciting time as we look to further cement ourselves as the go-to provider for operators.”