Associations Advisory Board, Associations Advisory Board 2025

Ekaterina Hartmann

Ekaterina is the Director at the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). She has been with EGBA for 12 years working on legal and regulatory issues in the field of gambling both on an EU and national level. Prior to working at EGBA, Ekaterina worked on complaint and infringement handling in relation to the legislation of DG Health and Consumers at the European Commission. Other work experience includes the European Parliament and in a Brussels-based consultancy. Ekaterina holds a Ph.D in Health Policy from the Medical University- Sofia as well as an LL.M in European Law and a B.A. in Read More

Ovidiu Iosif
Associations Advisory Board

Ovidiu Iosif

Ovidiu’s journey in the gambling industry began 18 months ago when he became the Executive Director of the “Joc Responsabil” Association, an organization dedicated to promoting Responsible Gaming. As a newcomer, he was impressed by the scope of the association’s programs, the dedication of its staff, and the commitment of sponsors in supporting individuals struggling with addiction. Previously, Ovidiu managed a craft bakery and spent over 20 years in the telecom sector, holding various sales and operations positions locally, regionally, and globally. For him managing an NGO has been a paradigm shift where the focus is on delivering social programs Read More

Darko Zivanov
Associations Advisory Board

Darko Zivanov

Darko Zivanov poses a wide experience in gambling industry he gained through more than 25 years of work in dynamic markets. His profound knowledge on the industry was a valuable asset for MaxBet Group in the period of intensive expansion where he was firstly in charge for operations and later on, for business strategy and development. As the former CEO of MaxBet, he demonstrated exceptional leadership with a constructive and calm approach to almost 3000 employees. Currently, Darko serves as a Member of the Supervisory Board at MaxBet. Following Flutter’s acquisition of a majority stake in MaxBet in January, Mr. Read More

Vasko Ilijevski
Associations Advisory Board, Speakers 2024

Vasko Ilijevski

With over 11 years of experience in the betting industry, including 7 years as a marketing specialist, Vasko Ilijevski is the founder and, since 2017, the President of the Macedonian Sports Betting Association (MSBA). As President, his primary focus is on advancing the betting industry by elevating the standards and professionalism within betting shops. This includes promoting globally recognized best practices in gaming, educating players on responsible gaming, and organizing initiatives to underscore the importance of adherence to laws and regulations. He is dedicated to enhancing both legal and regulatory frameworks in the industry to ensure a safer, more transparent Read More

Fredric Gushin
Advisory Board 2024

Fredric Gushin

Fredric E. Gushin is Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Gaming Group. He founded Spectrum in 1993 after working 13 years for the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) where he was promoted to Assistant Director and an Assistant Attorney General. While serving the state of New Jersey, he was instrumental in the successful openings of 12 major Atlantic City gaming properties. At Spectrum, Gushin’s track record in providing gaming advisory services to public regulatory agencies and private sector clients internationally is unmatched. He has managed Spectrum’s regulatory and gaming advisory engagements throughout Asia, including in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Read More

Quirino Mancini
Advisory Board 2024, Advisory Board 2025, Speakers 2024

Quirino Mancini

Quirino Mancini is a Director and Partner at WH Partners Italy as well as a co-founder of SBC Advisory, a gaming & media business consultancy house based in London. He is one of the leading Italian media & gaming lawyers with a robust specialist practice of more than 20 years. He acts for many Italian and foreign-based companies active across various European and international regulated markets, advising on business strategy, legal and regulatory compliance and other operational matters. Quirino is the immediate past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) and a long-standing member of its Executive Committee.  Read More

Simon Thomas
Advisory Board 2024, Advisory Board 2025

Simon Thomas

Simon Thomas is Executive Chairman and majority shareholder of Hippodrome Casino limited, the extensive leisure casino complex in Leicester Square. It is the West End’s premier entertainment venue. 80,000 ft2, employing over 820 people, and entertains over 32,000 customers a week. It has three casinos, ten bars, two restaurants, a theater currently hosting Magic Mike Live, a poker suite, outdoor terraces, private dining rooms, a sports bar and more. He is the chairman of the UK casino industry section of the Betting and Gaming Council and a director of the European Casino Association. Simon has served on the GamCare board Read More

Joseph Borg
Advisory Board 2024, Advisory Board 2025

Joseph Borg

Joseph Borg heads both the Fintech and the Gaming and Gambling practices of WH Partners. Joe is ranked in the prestigious Chambers FinTech 2022 guide in the FinTech Legal practice area in Malta. He is also ranked as a “Leading Individual” in the FinTech practice area in Malta by Legal 500 EMEA 2022 guide, where WH Partners is listed as a Tier 1 law firm in Malta. Joe also practices in the areas of Esports, Corporate, IT, Telecoms and Intellectual Property Law. He is a Co-Founder and currently the Vice-President of Bitmalta, which is a non-profit organization with a mission Read More

James Illingworth
Advisory Board 2024, Advisory Board 2025, Speakers 2024

James Illingworth

James Illingworth serves as the Vice President of Sales EMEA at Gaming Laboratories International, heading up the European Business Development team across both land-based and online markets. With over 18 years of experience in the gaming industry, Illingworth brings a deep understanding of the market and a strong network across the continent. Throughout his career, he has held key roles at well-respected companies including Atronic, Magic Dreams SRL, Spielo International, and John Huxley. His journey in gaming began in publishing, providing him with a unique perspective on the industry’s evolution. For the past 12+ years, James has been a driving Read More