SBC Adds Magnificent Five to Sports Betting Hall of Fame

A former director at MGM Resorts, a former CEO at William Hill US and former chair of IMEGA, a legendary Las Vegas bookmaker and a director at DraftKings are the luminaries who make up the Sports Betting Hall of Fame Class of 2021, SBC announced.

Hall Of Fame Inductees

The magnificent five is comprised of former director of Race & Sports Administration for MGM Resorts International Yolanda Acuña, former William Hill US CEO Joe Asher, DraftKings director of Race & Sportsbook Operations Johnny Avello, former chair of IMEGA Joe Brennan Jr and popular Las Vegas bookmaker and director of Sports Marketing at South Point Hotel & Casino Jimmy Vaccaro.

A special ceremony held at the Coaches Club at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, during the SBC Summit North America conference and trade show on December 1, 2021, will see these five new members inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame for the outstanding industry contribution they have made during their careers.

Each of these inductees [has] made an amazing contribution to the industry so we’re pleased to induct them into the Hall of Fame to recognize their efforts.”

Sue Schneider, VP, Growth and Strategy, Americas, SBC

The 2021 SBC Summit North America, which will begin November 30, 2021, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, will see the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony take place on its second evening. The sports betting and iGaming event is scheduled to run until December 2.

US Representation

The Sports Betting Hall of Fame was started by SBC in 2016 to honor, preserve and perpetuate the names and accomplishments of the personalities who have brought outstanding success to the industry. US industry representation began with the Class of 2019, which saw retired VP of Race & Sportsbook Operations of Station Casinos Art Manteris, Monmouth Park CEO Dennis Drazin and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie inducted.

A year later, the US trio was joined by former New Jersey Senator Raymond Lesniak, Las Vegas oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough, former SVP of the American Gaming Association Sara Slane, president, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports Victor Salerno and SVP, Risk & Trading at Bally’s Interactive Jay Rood.

The leading conference and trade show for the sports betting and online gaming industry in North America, a successor of the Betting on Sports America show, will feature a conference with up to 200 industry executives and specialists speaking on the future of the industry at this year’s event.

Besides the program of networking events that will include the Sports Betting Hall of Fame ceremony, there will be an exhibition that will allow suppliers to showcase their latest innovations.