Free agency isn’t limited to just the sports world. Dan D’Arrigo was a free agent of sorts, in the gaming world, having recently stepped away from a long run with MGM Resorts International. Now unencumbered and free to find new challenges, the long-time gaming executive has been recruited by a new team. D’Arrigo now sits on the Board of Directors of Gambling.com Group Limited.
Gambling.com Adds Heavyweight to Board
D’Arrigo is a gaming industry authority whose skills and experience will now become integrated into Gambling.com’s operations as the company continues to charge forward. According to a press release from yesterday, he was drafted and signed on July 27, the same day Gambling.com completed its initial public offering (IPO), adding him to the Board of Directors. He will reportedly be the Chair of Gambling.com’s Nominating & Governance Committee and a member of its Audit Committee.
Gambling.com will likely rely heavily on D’Arrigo’s history to expand its operations. The co-founder and CEO of the company, Charles Gillespie, said of the appointment, “Dan has extensive experience as the CFO of a publicly-traded S&P 500 casino and hospitality company which will be an enormous asset to the management team at Gambling.com Group, and he is a timely addition as we begin our journey as a publicly-traded company in the United States.”
When the company launched on the NASDAQ exchange last month, it had high expectations for a strong reception. It opened at $8 under the ticker GAMB and enjoyed an uptick to $8.29. However, things went downhill from there and, on July 29, it hit its lowest point at $6.80. It has recovered slightly since then, but has only reached $7.01 as of yesterday afternoon.
D’Arrigo Skilled at Gaming Operations
Gambling.com likely hopes that D’Arrigo’s presence will bring additional support to the company. After all, he was the Executive VP and CFO of MGM Resorts from 2007 to 2019. He was also intrinsically involved in the establishment and rollout of BetMGM and helped secure several high-profile partnerships.
D’Arrigo was also a crucial player during MGM China’s IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2011 and the 2016 IPO of MGM Growth Properties on the New York Stock Exchange. Even before moving up to the top ranks at MGM, he was leaving his mark, having been involved in the massive Mirage Resorts acquisition in 2000, which was valued at $6.4 billion, and the $7.3-billion acquisition of Mandalay Resorts Group five years later.
D’Arrigo says of his recruitment, “I am excited for the opportunity to join Gambling.com Group’s board of directors and work with the management team as the company continues its growth as a leader in performance marketing for online gambling.”