SBC has announced the names of the four industry pioneers who will join the Sports Betting Hall of Fame during this year’s SBC Summit North America conference in East Rutherford, New Jersey in July.
The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was established in order to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and outstanding accomplishments of personalities who have brought lasting success to the industry. The new members will be honored at a special ceremony in New Jersey’s Meadowlands Exposition Center on July 13, 2022.
The four industry figures set to be inducted are:
- Chris Andrews - Sports Book Director, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
- Paul Burns - President & CEO, Canadian Gaming Association
- Sandy Drozd - Vice President, USBookmaking
- Vinny Magliulo – Vice President, Las Vegas Dissemination Company & Sports Book Director, Gaughan Gaming
All summit delegates will have full access to the evening party at the racetrack, SBC announced.
Sue Schneider, SBC’s Vice President of Growth and Strategy, Americas, said: “As the industry enjoys substantial growth in multiple U.S. states and Canada, the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of some of the trailblazers who have helped to make the current success possible.”
Sports Betting Hall of Fame Class of 2022 announced https://t.co/mffDpfmabC #LatestNews #Sportsbook pic.twitter.com/Grj4KzwIJW
— SBC NEWS (@SBCGAMINGNEWS) May 2, 2022
The new inductees expand the North American representation in the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, as they join Class of 2019 members Art Manteris (retired VP Race and Sports Book Operations, Station Casinos), Dennis Drazin (CEO, Monmouth Park), and Chris Christie (former NJ Governor).
In 2020 the U.S. contingent grew with the induction of Victor Salerno (President, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports), Raymond Lesniak (former NJ State Senator), Roxy Roxborough (Legendary Las Vegas Oddsmaker), Sara Slane (former Sr. VP, American Gaming Association), and Jay Rood (COO, Bet.Works).
Last year, the five new members were Yolanda Acuña (former Director of Administration, MGM Resorts), Joe Asher (President of Sports Betting, IGT & former CEO, William Hill US), Johnny Avello (Director of Race & Sports Book Operations, DraftKings), Joe Brennan Jr (former Chair, IMEGA), and Jimmy Vaccaro (Sports Book Director, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa).
Here is a snippet of what to expect at SBC Summit North America 2022:
See you there 😎https://t.co/tKyVqSnRXw pic.twitter.com/hkBeugLFPo
— SBC NEWS (@SBCGAMINGNEWS) April 20, 2022
SBC launched the Sports Betting Hall of Fame in 2016 with the goal to recognize the achievements and outstanding contributions “of the pioneers who have made a long-lasting mark on the industry.
SBC Summit North America will feature an eight-track conference focused on the future of the high-growth sports betting and iGaming industries, with a speaker line-up of 250 senior executives and experts. There is also an exhibition of 75 suppliers showcasing their latest innovations, and a program of evening networking events.
Three companion events will take place during the week: the Player Protection Symposium (a responsible gambling conference on July 12), Sports Betting 101 (an educational conference focused on the fundamentals of sports betting on July 12), and the SBC Awards North America (at Pier Sixty on July 14).