Online gaming operator PointsBet has made a significant effort to improve player protection by announcing the hire of Teresa Fiore as Responsible Service of Gambling and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager. The announcement came as part of a move by operators in the US to strengthen responsible gambling.
The global online sportsbook operator has experienced massive growth since it launched into the US markets of Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and New Jersey. The online gaming brand quickly endeared itself to fans in the US thanks to its extensive bet markets and top drawer app. Now, the company appears to be doubling down on efforts to increase player protection within its ranks.
Speaking after announcing the appointment, PointsBet CEO Johnny Aitken said: “We have been viewed as an industry leader for responsible gambling efforts and awareness since we launched in the US. We have the utmost respect and seriousness for the space, and we’re fortunate in being able to utilize our mature Australian market expertise to help push the industry standard here to be better.”
He added: “We are excited to now take a further step in responsible gambling by bringing a great talent in Teresa to the PointsBet team. Her experience in the US industry, understanding of the current landscape, and knowledge of best practices will be of great benefit to the company as we continue to realize the growing sports betting opportunity,”
PointsBet High-profile Hire – Teresa Fiore
Teresa Fiore joins PointsBet with almost five years of experience working within the responsible gambling space, most of which came from her time working at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. While she worked there, Fiore was in charge of GameSense, a $3M responsible gaming program that serves more than 300,000 customers annually across three of the state’s land-based casinos.
One of the key roles she played at GameSense involved being at the helm of monthly stakeholder meetings with casino management. She was also in charge of overseeing the design and construction of GameSense Info Centers, as well as offering specific insights that drove a $200,000 multimedia ad campaign. Fiore’s other notable duties included managing a state-wide Voluntary Self-Exclusion program which offered a platform for individuals who’d made the decision to step away from casino gambling and also helped promote regulation.
Speaking after her appointment at PointsBet, Fiore stated: “I am delighted to have joined PointsBet and I welcome the opportunity to continue to find ways to innovate within the responsible gambling sector. With the rapid emergence of legalized sports betting, attention to safe and sustainable business practices is crucial. Driving this work is a holistic view of the player, which will be used to ensure that messaging and safeguards are seamlessly integrated throughout the entire player journey.”
Before her spell at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Fiore spent some years working at research and consulting firm, Envirosell. There, she worked on data analysis, strategic oversight, and customer insight projects. Bringing in someone of her experience and expertise is expected to be a very beneficial move for PointsBet, one that will keep the brand firmly on its upward trajectory in the US.
