Ed Andrewes former CEO of Resorts Digital Gaming: Bridging Brick & Mortar Casinos with their Digital Arms & Educating Customers

In this episode of the "CMO Weekly" podcast, brought to you by OpenFortune, host interviews Ed Andrewes, a seasoned executive in the AI gaming industry. Andrewes, known for his leadership roles in both European and U.S. markets, recently launched AI Gaming Advisory Services, a consultancy firm offering strategic support across the AI gaming sector. This new venture follows his nine-year tenure as CEO of Resorts Digital Gaming, the online division of Resorts Casino, Hotel in Atlantic City.

Andrewes shares his unique career path, which began in the military and transitioned into horse racing journalism due to his passion for the sport (he was an amateur steeplechase jockey). This led him into the gaming industry when he joined Blue Square, the UK's first licensed online-only sports bookmaker.

He discusses his move to the U.S. in 2016 to work with Resorts Digital Gaming, initially a temporary role that became full-time. Andrewes highlights the similarities he observed between the European and New Jersey gaming markets, particularly in KPIs and advertising strategies. He emphasizes the importance of digital marketing for Resorts Digital Gaming due to its trackability and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional advertising. He also talks about the complementary relationship between brick-and-mortar casinos and their digital arms, citing the success of Resorts' iGaming lounge in educating customers about online services.

Andrewes expresses his enjoyment of his current consultancy role, appreciating the opportunity to work with different businesses on their growth strategies. Looking ahead, he expresses a desire to return to a full-time position, driven by his passion for building businesses and fostering strong company cultures. He praises companies like FanDuel and DraftKings for their significant impact on the U.S. market, especially their cross-sell strategies between sports betting and iCasino. Andrewes also shares his thoughts on the slow pace of iCasino regulation in the U.S., advocating for a regulated space for customer safety and state revenue.

The episode concludes with some fun, personal questions, where Andrewes reveals his admiration for Mahatma Gandhi, his love for Florence, Italy, and his belief that people in 30 years might be nostalgic for traditional social media and physical playing cards. He also shares that his past self would be most shocked to learn he now lives in America.