{"id":2039,"date":"2026-03-06T13:25:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:25:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:25:30","slug":"the-stories-behind-the-industry-celebrating-igamings-literary-voices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/interviews\/the-stories-behind-the-industry-celebrating-igamings-literary-voices\/","title":{"rendered":"The Stories Behind the Industry: Celebrating iGaming\u2019s Literary Voices"},"content":{"rendered":"

In celebration of World Book Day, this month\u2019s Bettingjobs newsletter shines a spotlight on a side of the gambling industry that doesn\u2019t always make the headlines.<\/p>\n

The sector is rarely associated with literature. Conversations tend to centre on regulation, revenue or upcoming summits – not memoirs, reflection or storytelling. Yet beyond the statistics and stereotypes lies a wealth of personal journeys and industry insight, with powerful stories waiting to be told.<\/p>\n

For this special edition, we had the pleasure of speaking with four fantastic individuals who are each pioneering iGaming literature in their own way. Their stories reflect the depth, diversity and personality within a sector that is often viewed through a single lens.<\/p>\n

Of course, we recognise these are just a handful of the voices shaping gambling\u2019s literary landscape. There are many more authors, perspectives and untold stories across the industry that we didn\u2019t have the opportunity to feature this time. But for World Book Day, we are proud to celebrate these contributors – and to acknowledge the growing body of literature that continues to give the iGaming world a richer, more human narrative.<\/p>\n

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Ian Sherrington \u2013 Gambling Articles<\/h2>\n

The purpose of this newsletter is to celebrate literature of all kinds – not only those who write novels, but those who document the stories of industries, ideas and movements as they unfold. Few have captured the evolution of online gaming quite like\u00a0Ian Sherrington.<\/p>\n

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Over the course of 13 articles and the ambition of reaching 40 over the next year or so, Ian has chronicled the extraordinary rise of the iGaming industry – from its uncertain beginnings to the multi-billion-pound global force it is today. But as he reflects, writing was never something he naturally set out to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why I started writing articles because it\u2019s not in my nature really\u2026 I like being at the beginning; it was a unique situation.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sherrington was there when online gaming was little more than an ambitious idea, when risk outweighed reward, and the future was far from guaranteed.<\/p>\n

The growth of iGaming is often told through statistics: revenues, mergers, regulation and expansion into new markets, but Sherrington\u2019s articles bring the human element to the forefront, often using quirky analogies – including a reference to Schr\u00f6dinger\u2019s cat in a Valentine\u2019s Day article!<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to go through hell to get to where you want.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That determination is evident in the progression of his writing. What began as a challenge became a craft. There is a quiet pride in his reflection: \u201cI like to be able to look back on something I wrote a year ago and think that was not bad actually.\u201d<\/p>\n

And \u201cnot bad\u201d is an understatement; Sherrington has created a written archive of an industry\u2019s transformation.<\/p>\n

To check out these articles – click the link below\u2b07\ufe0f https:\/\/crownstar.com\/crownstar\/category\/gambling-articles\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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Karolina Pelc \u2013 Her Play<\/h2>\n

An entrepreneur, investor and now author, Karolina brings more than 20 years of experience across high-stakes sectors of global technology. This June, she adds a new chapter to her journey with the launch of her first book, \u2018Her Play\u2019 – a business memoir that challenges one of the most persistent myths in business: luck.<\/p>\n

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Success Isn\u2019t an Accident<\/strong><\/p>\n

The idea for the book began with a question she was asked repeatedly after selling her company:<\/p>\n

People repeatedly asked what the secret to her success was. They were looking for a clear formula, she explained, but she didn\u2019t have one. While writing her book, she began reflecting more deeply and came to see that the answer wasn\u2019t found in the three years she ran the company, but in the two decades that led up to it. As she put it, \u201cThe success wasn\u2019t built in those three years – it was built in the 20 before them.\u201d<\/p>\n

What she discovered was that success rarely comes from a single breakthrough moment. It is built over decades of experience, resilience, setbacks and reinvention.<\/p>\n

At the heart of Karolina\u2019s book is a clear message:<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople need to stop waiting for luck to land.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her story reframes success not as a lightning strike, but as the result of consistent risk-taking, hard work and an unwillingness to sit on the sidelines.<\/p>\n

Her best piece of advice?<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let the bastards put you down.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a phrase she believes in so strongly that she had it tattooed – a permanent reminder to stay resilient in industries that can be competitive, high-pressure and, at times, unforgiving.<\/p>\n

This memoir is not just a professional milestone – it\u2019s a personal one. A culmination of two decades of experience, distilled into lessons for the next generation of founders, operators and leaders navigating high-growth industries.<\/p>\n

As the iGaming sector continues to mature and professionalise, stories like Karolina\u2019s add depth to the conversation around leadership and success. Her book promises not a step-by-step formula, but something far more valuable: an honest exploration of the mindset, endurance and inner resolve that underpin real achievement.<\/p>\n

And if there\u2019s one takeaway?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t wait for luck.<\/p>\n

You can pre-order Karolina’s book here \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/4a2nkv6d<\/a><\/p>\n

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Claire Adamou \u2013 Life After Divorce<\/h2>\n

With over 20 years\u2019 experience in the iGaming sector, Claire Adamou has built her career as a vice president, coach and facilitator in one of the fastest-paced industries in the world. But her book, Life After Divorce<\/em>, takes readers somewhere far more personal.<\/p>\n

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Adamou is clear about why she wrote it:<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote this book for other people that have gone through divorce or separation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It was something much more human – a guide born from lived experience during what she describes as the most difficult chapter of her life, and yet, the impact has stretched beyond its intended audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though it is called Life After Divorce<\/em>, there are a lot of people who have read it who haven\u2019t been through that and have taken advice from it\u201d.<\/p>\n

What began as a deeply personal project has evolved into a broader conversation about relationships, boundaries, resilience and rebuilding.<\/p>\n

Despite decades of leadership experience, publishing the book wasn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI procrastinated because I was afraid of putting it out there and being so vulnerable to the world and particularly the industry \u2013 I am bringing in something so personal into a corporate environment, I had massive fear around that.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the corporate world, and particularly in high-growth sectors like iGaming, personal struggles are often kept separate from professional identity. Claire admits she wrestled with the fear of being judged or perceived differently.<\/p>\n

But ultimately, she leaned into the same resilience that had carried her through both her career and her personal life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I was more resilient than I realised, because of this industry it is fast paced, you HAVE to be resilient, you have to be hard working.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Claire\u2019s story is a reminder that leadership doesn\u2019t exist in isolation from life. The skills that make someone effective in iGaming like resilience, adaptability, grit, are often the same skills that carry them through personal adversity.<\/p>\n

As the industry continues to showcase its literary voices, Life After Divorce<\/em> stands out not because it\u2019s about iGaming, but because it isn\u2019t. It adds depth to the conversation around the people behind the sector -proving that strength isn\u2019t just about hitting targets, but about rebuilding when everything falls apart.<\/p>\n

Dive into this amazing book \ud83d\udcd5 https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3zfskm6n<\/a><\/p>\n

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ICE Gambling Book Awards \u2013 Jon Bruford<\/h2>\n
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The Gambling Book Awards at ICE Barcelona!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

At this year\u2019s ICE Barcelona, a new initiative was introduced to spotlight a different side of the gambling world: the inaugural Gambling Book Awards. Founded by\u00a0Jon Bruford\u00a0and\u00a0Fintan Costello, the awards aim to challenge the often-one-dimensional perception of gambling and highlight the depth, stories and personalities behind the industry.<\/p>\n

According to Bruford, the idea stemmed from a desire to shift public opinion. He explained that whenever gambling is mentioned, it is typically associated with negative connotations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen anything associated with gambling is mentioned, it is perceived to be negative and have poor connotations,\u201d he said. \u201cWe think that is bollocks.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At its core, the awards were created to encourage a more balanced view of the sector and to celebrate the people and narratives within it – from memoir and history to business insights and personal journeys.<\/p>\n

Bruford also pointed out that while many literary prizes exist, they often cater to very specific genres or audiences. \u201cA lot of book awards are very niche,\u201d he noted. In contrast, the Gambling Book Awards were designed to recognise a category of writing that rarely receives mainstream literary attention.<\/p>\n

He was also refreshingly candid about the financial realities of authorship in the sector. \u201cNobody is writing a book on gambling to get rich,\u201d he said. \u201cWe noticed that people writing these books were not making money, dedicating a lot of time and skill, so we decided to make the cash prize really big – let\u2019s make it meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the event at ICE Barcelona, the four shortlisted finalists were flown out to the city, with the identity of the eventual winner kept secret until the ceremony itself. The approach was intentionally designed to remove the usual competitive tension. Instead of a drawn-out build-up, the finalists were encouraged to socialise, connect and celebrate their shared achievement in a relaxed, engaging environment.<\/p>\n

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The four shortlist finalists!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The inaugural winner, along with the accompanying cash prize, was\u00a0Peter Venison\u00a0for his memoir SOL: My Friend and Adversary<\/em>. Speaking about the selection, Bruford described the book as \u201cunique\u201d, praising the remarkable achievement of an author well into his eighties. Venison\u2019s victory marked a fitting start to an award designed to showcase the rich and often overlooked stories from within the gambling world.<\/p>\n

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The winner of the prize – Peter Venison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Beyond the winner, Bruford highlighted that there are many more compelling examples of gambling literature deserving of attention – from personal memoirs and industry histories to explorations of betting culture and its social impact. The awards, he suggested, are only the beginning of a broader effort to recognise and elevate writing that captures the complexity of the sector.<\/p>\n

If the first year is anything to go by, the Gambling Book Awards are set to become more than a one-off initiative – they are a statement that the gambling industry\u2019s story is deeper, more nuanced and far more human than many assume.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In celebration of World Book Day, this month\u2019s Bettingjobs newsletter shines a spotlight on a side of the gambling industry that doesn\u2019t always make the headlines. The sector is rarely associated with literature. Conversations tend to centre on regulation, revenue or upcoming summits – not memoirs, reflection or storytelling. Yet beyond the statistics and stereotypes…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2041,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","category-interviews"],"acf":[],"post_author_name":"","post_authors_type":"","post_authors_from_team_members":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2043,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039\/revisions\/2043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/2041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bettingjobs.com\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}