Exclusive: Former Betclic Expekt CEO joins Landry's as online boss
Thomas Winter will oversee US casino group's egaming launch from Houston headquarters
US casino group Landry’s has appointed former Betclic Expect CEO Thomas Winter as its new vice-president of online gaming, eGaming Review has learned.
The Houston-headquartered firm, which owns the famous Golden Nugget casino chain, has already taken steps towards launching its US egaming proposition, having entered into a platform supply deal with Bally Technologies.
It has obtained an online poker licence in Nevada, where it will use Amaya’s Ongame software through Bally’s platform, and is in line to be one of 12 operators in New Jersey when the state goes live as planned later this year.
Winter, who served four years as COO then CEO of European online sportsbook Betclic, will take responsibility for expanding the company’s egaming platform and mobile gaming initiative.
“I look forward to joining the Landry’s family and representing the Golden Nugget, a recognised and trusted brand across the nation,” Winter told eGR. “Unlike other casinos, Golden Nugget will go under its own brand to build up a specialised egaming team in-house, starting with the addition of my position.”
Landry’s launched its freeplay poker site under the Golden Nugget brand last year using Winamax software, as a result of Golden Nugget’s deal with the French operator’s previous owner Chiligaming, before Bally acquired the platform in February.
This was followed up earlier this year with a free-play iOS and Android mobile poker apps that offers players the chances to win prizes, including free hotel stays, dining, casino play and show tickets.
Winter said he expects the operator’s real-money poker site to go live in autumn.
“Our long-term goal is to be one of the big four or five brands in the US and to have a bigger share of the online market than we have in the land-based world,” he said.