Former TCS John Huxley owner and chairman Bertil Knutsson has passed away after a short illness, aged 80.
Knutsson was one of the gaming industry’s most influential characters in a career spanning more than 50 years. The introduction of the revolutionary Chipper Champ in 1979 was among the most important innovations in gaming. Earlier this year, he received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the fifth International Gaming Awards, in recognition of his influence and contribution to the gaming industry.
“Bertil was not just a father, he was my best friend and confidant. The values he instilled in his three sons transcends all aspects of life; integrity, honesty and compassion,” said Michael Knutsson, director of TCS John Huxley.
“For those of us who were fortunate enough to know and work with Bertil we have lost a dear friend and mentor. Bertil leaves behind enduring legacies and his spirit will be forever with the company. The gaming industry will miss him dearly, and I have lost a father,” said Tristan Sjöberg, executive chairman of TCS John Huxley.
A true visionary who introduced leisure casinos to Sweden in 1958, he also signed one of the first foreign company controlled joint ventures in the former Soviet Union in the late 1980s. Knutsson also broke new ground in bringing online sports betting and poker to the Nordic markets through a joint venture with Ladbrokes. He became a major shareholder in online gaming providers Betsson AB and Net Entertainment AB. His varied interests led him to become involved in many industries, such as bingo in Africa, renewable energy and IT security, and he left his mark on them all.
In addition to his business interests, he was an accomplished boxing referee who umpired championship bouts all across Europe; he subsequently turned his enthusiasm to organising boxing galas together with his childhood friend Ingemar Johansson – the former World Heavyweight Champion of the world – and was chairman of the Swedish Boxing Federation 1985 – 89. A keen follower of sports in general he also brought World Championship Tennis (WCT) to Sweden and Harlem Globetrotters to Scandinavia in the 1970s.
Bertil Knutsson leaves a wife Stella and three sons, Micheal, Tristan and Charles. His funeral is to take place in Goteburg on August 3.
