Messenger

What is Messenger?

Respondents also requested structured and consistent guidelines with key performance indicators aligned to relationship outcomes. Real-time, detailed data alongside predictive behavioural signals also came up as a frequent answer.

Managerial autonomy supported by senior leadership was also mentioned by respondents.

“VIP operations is the most human function in iGaming, run by the smallest teams, on the least purpose-built technology, against the shortest-horizon metrics,” said Grygorenko.

About Messenger

It has been a challenging few years for Entain, having cycled through four CEOs in short succession. In November 2023 Entain agreed to pay a financial penalty totalling £585 million, plus a £20 million charitable donation and £10 million in Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and HMRC costs. This related to a bribery case initiated by the CPS into the company’s historic operations in Turkey.

Troubles continued as it faced declining growth within its digital business. Reports of failed integrations amid a frenzy of acquisitions further dampened Entain’s reputation and the operator subsequently committed to a major turnaround effort to cut costs and return its digital business to growth.

Efforts to update its legacy tech were also set in motion, and short-lived CEO Gavin Isaacs told iGB at ICE in January 2025 that his biggest challenge in the role was to modernise its core platform.

What is Messenger?

“Africa Safer Gambling Week will create a common continental platform. It’s more about cooperation, information sharing and agreement on important principles of consumer protection.”

Another aim is to raise awareness and Kesitilwe reveals the campaign has generated over a million online impressions which, in his view, demonstrates “a real appetite” for enhanced safer gambling efforts in Africa.

When asked what issue requires the most attention, Kesitilwe highlights underage gambling, especially as mobile penetration in Africa continues to soar.