Twenty years ago, our CEO Jennifer Innes began her journey with BettingJobs. Since that time, both the company and the broader iGaming industry have undergone remarkable transformation.

Jennifer has seen the industry shift from a concentrated, male-dominated field to a vibrant, global sector. Throughout this evolution, she has played a key role in expanding BettingJobs, building international relationships, and connect people with new opportunities.

To celebrate her 20-year anniversary, we sat down with Jennifer to reflect on her journey, the lessons learned, and the memories that have shaped her into the person she is today.

20 years on…

Can you believe you’ve been at BettingJobs for 20 years?

“Working for a company for 20 years doesn’t really happen very often. What are my emotions surrounding that? In equal parts, I feel very old but also very proud.”

It’s a milestone that doesn’t come around often, and looking back over two decades naturally brings a sense of reflection. While BettingJobs has grown considerably during that time, Jennifer believes the company’s core purpose has remained the same.

“At its core, it hasn’t changed. We still recruit in the iGaming industry, but over the years our client base has expanded significantly, along with our global reach and team size.”

“I feel like I have matured alongside the company. It feels like a different company from when I started.”

When Jennifer first joined in 2006, she was also the only woman on the team, which meant she had to establish her place in the industry.

“I had to find my own network and cultivate a group of friends. I didn’t want to have the same as the rest of the team because I knew that wouldn’t work, especially being the only woman.”

Despite all the challenges, one thing has remained constant: her motivation to help people find new opportunities.

“It has always just been about helping people find a new job for me.”

So, what attracted Jennifer to BettingJobs in the first place?

Having worked in recruitment previously, she had experienced competitive environments where colleagues weren’t always happy to see others succeed. That wasn’t the type of workplace she wanted to be part of.

Meeting David Copeland, who was also working in recruitment, allowed her to be part of something different. His vision was to create an environment that removed many of the negative aspects Jennifer had experienced elsewhere.

“I’ve never wanted to work in an environment where it is antagonistic or backstabbing. I wanted to work in an environment where everyone helps each other.”

That sense of collaboration has remained an important part of BettingJobs over the past 20 years.

🕰️ Back in 2006…

Before looking at how much iGaming has changed, it’s worth remembering just how different the world looked when Jennifer started.

🎬 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestwas the year’s highest-grossing film

🎵 Hips Don’t Liewas topping the UK charts

📱 The iPhone didn’t exist

💼 LinkedIn was still in its infancy

And while the world has changed considerably since then, few industries have evolved quite as dramatically as iGaming.

From a few hubs to a truly global industry

What has been the biggest change you’ve seen across iGaming?

For Jennifer, one of the biggest developments has been the industry’s maturity, particularly as regulation has evolved. But perhaps more importantly, iGaming has become a genuinely global industry. Malta, Gibraltar, and the UK were among the industry’s key hubs. Today, that picture looks very different.

“The iGaming industry is no longer limited to the traditional hubs of Gibraltar, Malta, the UK, and the Isle of Man. Today, it is truly global. We are witnessing a boom across Africa and the recent emergence of the UAE, while smaller pockets of iGaming talent have developed throughout Europe – in countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece.”

A changing industry

The industry hasn’t just become more global. Jennifer has also witnessed significant changes in the people working within it.

“When I first joined the industry, it was so male-dominated, but it has been so pleasing to see more females enter the industry and progress to senior roles. That’s something I’ve felt proud to play a part in.”

More recently, AI has become one of the biggest talking points across the recruitment industry. While the technology itself isn’t particularly surprising, Jennifer says the rise in AI-related redundancies is something she finds difficult to accept.

“The most recent trends, it’s not surprising, but the increase in redundancies due to AI – it is not nice to see.”

What are you most proud of?

After 20 years, there are plenty of achievements to look back on;

“I guess I am just proud of the team, and proud to have helped build the business to where it is.”

Winning EGR ‘Recruiter of the Year’ is one achievement that stands out, but success isn’t just about awards or business growth. The most important thing remains helping people find new opportunities.

“Winning the EGR Recruiter of the Year was nothing less than what we deserved, and I’m proud that we’ve continued to be a strong name in the recruitment world when other businesses struggle.”

The memories that stand out

Over the past two decades, Jennifer has experienced countless memorable moments, with industry conferences and the remarkable people she’s met standing out most of all.

“What I enjoy most is attending these events and meeting people in truly unique locations. Without this industry, I wouldn’t have had the chance to travel to so many places and connect with such a diverse range of people -something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Still learning after 20 years.

Even after two decades in the industry, there are still new challenges to overcome.

“This might show my old-school tendencies, but I struggle integrating AI. I still love my notepad and pen. I know I need to adapt to the 21st century!”

Looking ahead

So, after two decades at BettingJobs, what excites Jennifer about the future?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s still the people, the relationships and the opportunities that come with working in iGaming.

She is looking forward to continuing to attend conferences, visiting new and intriguing places, and meeting people from across the industry. But she’s also excited about the newest members of the BettingJobs team.

“We have new members joining our team, so I am excited to get them settled and integrated into the industry, where they can travel and build their own network.”

It’s a fitting reflection on Jennifer’s own journey. Twenty years ago, she was building her own network and finding her place in a growing industry. Today, she’s helping the next generation do the same.

One final question…

After 20 years at BettingJobs, what advice would you give your younger self?

“That is a hard question to answer, I think I would want my younger self to have security in the fact that what I am doing funadmentally helps people, and know the value of the knowledge I have”

“Being confident that what I am doing is enough is something I have often struggled with and also take pride in the industry I work in, there is so much to take pride in”.

Twenty years later, the industry may look very different, but one thing remains the same: Jennifer’s passion for people and helping them find their next opportunity.

Congratulations to Jennifer on 20 years at BettingJobs – here’s to the next chapter. 🎉