Why Reputation, Talent and Leadership Matter More Than Ever in iGaming

The 3rd edition of the Real Roadshow at BiS SiGMA South America brings Episode 48 of iGaming Real Talk which left us quite curious about a few things. 

Having spent nearly two decades across the supplier side before joining one of the biggest operators in the world, Simon Westbury offered a refreshingly honest perspective during a conversation with our host Surya Palli. Simon talks about reputation, leadership, talent, player protection and why people remain the industry's greatest competitive advantage.

Here are the biggest takeaways from our conversation.

Every company has a story. Someone has to tell it.

When Simon joined 1xBet, he wasn't joining to "fix" the company.

He was joining because he believed there was another side of the story that deserved to be told.

As he explained, much of the industry's perception is built on historical narratives, while businesses continue evolving behind the scenes.

For him, rebuilding a reputation doesn’t happen by denying the past.

It's about consistently demonstrating where the company is heading.

Announcements are fine but reputation changes through actions  

One of the strongest themes throughout the conversation was commitment.

Simon spoke about 1xBet's expansion into regulated markets, growing portfolio of local licences, and increasing focus on working only with partners who meet higher operational standards.

None of this happens overnight.

Changing perception isn't a marketing campaign.

It's the result of years of operational decisions that people gradually begin to notice.

Authenticity is a strength, but so is learning how to communicate it.

One of the most candid moments in the conversation came when Simon reflected on his own leadership style.

As someone known for being direct, he admitted that his approach has often intimidated people.

"When I go into a room, people are scared because I'm very comfortable with who I am."

Rather than seeing that as a strength alone, he spoke honestly about how his perspective has evolved over the years.

Looking back on his career, he believes determination got him far but it also made him realise that being direct isn't always the most effective way to lead. Sometimes, the message stays the same, but the language needs to change.

He reflected that there were probably opportunities he could have handled differently, not because he needed to compromise who he was, but because better communication creates stronger buy-in.

It's a reminder that authenticity isn't about refusing to adapt. It's about staying true to yourself while learning how to bring others along with you.

The industry has a talent problem, not a hiring problem.

Perhaps Simon's strongest opinion had nothing to do with operators or regulation.

It was about people.

He believes too many professionals are chasing job titles instead of mastering the work itself.

According to him, previous generations of industry leaders built companies because they genuinely loved the business.

Today's challenge is making sure passion doesn't disappear behind titles and salaries.

As Simon put it:

"I fell into iGaming and stayed because I loved it."

Great leaders improve companies. They don't tear them apart.

Drawing on nearly twenty years working across different organisations and cultures, Simon shared a lesson many leaders learn the hard way.

When joining a new company, your role isn't to explain everything that's broken.

It's to understand what's already working before helping people improve.

Companies evolve through continuous improvement. That approach builds trust.

Trust creates buy-in. And buy-in creates lasting change.

Culture matters more than processes.

Having worked across suppliers, operators and multiple international organisations, Simon believes every company has different processes.

The real difference lies in culture because organisations move faster and communicate differently.

Maybe some are more direct than others.

Success comes from understanding those differences rather than trying to replace them with your own way of working.

Perception is often stronger than reality.

Towards the end of the conversation, Simon left us with one of the interview's most thought-provoking ideas.

Everyone sees the industry through their own experiences.

Every company has a history.

Every professional has their own perspective.

Understanding that perceptions evolve and can be changed through consistent actions, may be one of the most valuable lessons for leaders across iGaming.

What stood out to us

• Reputation is rebuilt through consistent actions, not just PR & messaging.
• Leadership is about helping organisations evolve, not criticising what's already there.
• Player protection is increasingly becoming a strategic priority.
• The industry needs more professionals who love the work
• Company culture ultimately determines how quickly businesses can adapt and grow.

As part of the 3rd edition of The Real Roadshow, episode 48 is brought to you by Evoverse and Blokotech, helping us take iGaming Real Talk beyond the studio and into the conversations happening across the industry.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing iGaming leadership today - talent, reputation, regulation, or something else?