Gaming Realms has appointed of Mark Blandford as a non-executive director, with the Sportingbet.com founder joining with immediate effect.
Blandford was the owner of a traditional bricks-and-mortar bookmaker’s chain for over 15 years, then recognised the potential of the internet in the mid-1990s. In 1998 he founded Sportingbet.com and in 2001 floated the company on the AIM.
He stepped down from the board of Sportingbet in 2007 before its eventual sale in 2013 for £485m, with the assets split between William Hill and GVC. In 2002, he was named as AIM Entrepreneur of the Year.
Since stepping down from the board of Sportingbet, Blandford has become an active and widely followed investor in the digital pay2play entertainment space.
Michael Buckley, non-executive chairman of Gaming Realms, said: "We are delighted that Mark has agreed to join the company. He has significant board experience in public companies and the online gaming industry. We welcome him and greatly look forward to working with him."
