ClubsNSW Appoints Tabcorp and Star Veteran as New CEO

Moving forward, ClubsNSW will rely on the guidance, expertise, and industry acumen of Rebecca Riant who has stepped at the helm of the organization.

Much Needed Experience of All Things Gambling

Riant brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her, having worked at both Tabcorp and The Star Sydney and having decades of experience on the job. NSWClubs’ chairman Dr George Peponis had this to say about Riant’s appointment:

Rebecca brings over 30 years of experience in banking, strategy formulation and execution, regulatory liaison, and transformational change to our Association and the broader club industry.

NSWClubs’ chairman Dr George Peponis

Her announcement was revealed by ClubsNSW and will be effective from July 24, 2023. Riant succeeds her rather unfortunate predecessor who was axed from the job after he made insensitive comments in a spat with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

At the time, Josh Landis, the now ex-CEO, suggested that Perrottet’s only motivation to introduce mass cashless gambling at the state’s clubs was motivated by his catholic faith, a comment that sat well with neither friend nor foe and caused befuddlement.

Moving past this incident, though, ClubsNSW, have tapped the right person for the job. Riant has extensive experience working in the private industry and at financial institutions. She is well-versed in sustainability and customer experience delivery, and she understands the local gambling landscape.

She was part of The Star Sydney, serving as chief controls and enablement officer and became a chief controls officer for the entire Star Entertainment Group earlier this year. As to her reception within ClubsNSW, the entire organization is looking to collaborate with her and help strengthen regulatory standards and customer experiences.

Coming at a Time of Rapid Change in NSW Gambling

The arrival of Riant comes at a very important time for the industry as a whole. The state has seen several major developments over the past several weeks, with the government and regulators acting swiftly to address several outstanding problems.

One has to do with the betting limits at poker machines, which directly impact clubs. The maximum betting limit is now proposed to sit at around $340.

At the same time, the state carries on with cashless gambling, although the pilot had to be stopped after information transpired that hackers had been able to access the private information of at least 40 customers who used this form of play, raising questions about data protection standards in the industry.