Gaming Industry Experience in Management Positions
Annalisa Emelia Samuels
Igaming And Land Based Lottery, Sports Betting, Limited Payout Machines And Casino Gaming Specialist
Northriding
Summary
Results-driven Gaming Specialist with forward-thinking approach centered on company success and competitive growth. Demonstrated record of success in building successful teams and managing profitable operations.
Overview
20
20
Work History
Business Development and Product Specialist
Bitville Holding
Gauteng
10.2021 - Current
- Devise strategies in online Gaming and Retail space to create competitive advantage to clients by
- Finding cutting edge products
- Ensuring compliance to standards
- Selling to clients
- Brokering commercials with supplier
- Liaising with Labs
- Communicating with Client and Supplier Top Management to secure deals
- Manage internal process with Dev to ensure product delivery
- Get clients trained
- Liaise with customer base of 150 on marketing initiatives and product promotion.
- Liaise with Gambling Boards- Application for Approvals and Suitability's, Renewals
- Come up with Game concepts for SA
- Deal with any and all complex tasks apart from coding that organization going on like retail rollouts with products and projects are managed by me.
Vice President Africa
Pragmatic Play
Gauteng
02.2021 - 10.2021
- Managed SA Hub
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents
- Developed team communications and information for meetings
- Worked flexible hours across night, weekend and holiday shifts
- Maintained energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment
- Actively listened to customers' requests, confirming full understanding before addressing concerns
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions
- Used Microsoft Word and other software tools to create documents and other communications
- Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic
- Managed team of employees, overseeing hiring, training and professional growth of employees
- Onboarded new temps by entering employee information into systems
- Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor
- Collaborated with team members to achieve target results
- Handled 15 calls per day to address customer inquiries and concerns
- Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and fast-paced atmosphere
- Conducted research, gathered information from multiple sources and presented results
- Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule
- Worked with customers to understand needs and provide excellent service
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting
- Worked within applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment
- Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between parties
- Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed
- Created plans and communicated deadlines to complete projects on time
- Identified issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems
- Offered friendly and efficient service to customers, handled challenging situations with ease
SALES DIRECTOR
AFRICA
10.2019 - 02.2021
- Take care of all B2B relationships and supporting third party and client integrations
- Monitor and evaluate progress
- Develop strategies to grow clients that were assigned
- Identify and sign up new clients
- Project Manage integrations and client requests
- Implement strategies that make region work
- Liaise with all regulatory authorities
- Get approvals from all gambling boards
- Sales Reports for Region
- Play key role in Product Development Ideas for Region
- Competitor Analysis
- Sign new Business in Africa
- Decide on Marketing for Region
- Implementing new legislation
- Responsible for application, issuing and renewal of licenses
- Manage technical areas of business.
- Made target year on year.
- Developed pipeline utilization strategies and penetration processes to increase overall profitability by 44%
- Developed key partnerships with industry-leading organizations to strengthen professional network and expand future business opportunities
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Gold Rush Group
10.2018 - 09.2019
- Coordinated innovative strategies for Bingo and Betting Divisions to accomplish marketing objectives and boost long-term profitability.
- Project Managed Bids for Sport Betting Licenses in Mpumalanga, Gauteng - competitive Bid Acquisition Environments with deadlines and Requirements restraints with successful results.
- Project Managed the opening of Bingos in KZN, with the various F&B Department, Health and Safety, Prepared Liquor License Applications, Approved Architectural Plans, decor and order of Furniture, Fitting, Gambling Equipment, Set Up, Testing, Staffing, Compliance, to the point of Go-Live.
- Relationships with Various Gambling and Betting Boards to ensure communication regarding Bingo's, Limited Payout Machines and Betting was fluid, during projects.
- Responsible for getting 6 Betting Shops in Gauteng approved and several in Mpumalanga.
- Responsible for successful acquisition for all Liquor and Business Trade licenses for Bingo's in KZN.
- Handled Legal Matters with respect to Municipal Matters and was successful in defending matters regarding opposition to opening Bingo.
GENERAL MANAGER
Luck@it KZN and VSlots KZN
07.2013 - 06.2019
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision and long-range planning. Made 40% Yr on Yr Growth during my tenure.
- Evaluated suppliers to maintain cost controls and improve operations.
- Planned and resourced personnel and logistics for operations component exercises resulting in highly trained personnel ready to act quickly in critical roles.
- Formulated processes to reduce downtime and financial loss.
- Advanced productivity KPIs to achieve key business goals and objectives.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
- Reviewed operations reports to understand numbers and trends.
- Spearheaded department training to enhance employee performance and boost employee productivity.
- Introduced new methods, practices and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Built and reviewed master service agreements to simplify and streamline contract negotiation process.
- Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts and costs.
- Ensured that suppliers were appointed in line with Procurement Policy.
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices and company procedures.
- Developed effective business plans to align strategic decisions with long-term objectives.
- Performed statistical analyses to gather data for operational and forecast team needs.
- Designed modern employee recognition program which boosted productivity and improved morale.
- Enhanced and redefined organizational structure to maintain competitive edge across territories.
- Developed initial sales roadmaps and market strategies to promote successful product launches.
- Worked in matrix management environment with oversight of division level managers, Sales, Compliance, Finance, Admin, Technical, Call Centre and Maintenance.
- Led improvement initiatives to advance operational efficiencies and increase revenue.
- Developed systems to track and log work issues.
- Reduced process bottlenecks by training and coaching employees on practices, procedures and performance strategies.
- Monthly Meetings with EXCO to report results
GENERAL MANAGER
Gold Circle KZN Slots
08.2010 - 03.2013
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision and long-range planning. Made 40% Yr on Yr Growth while General Manager.
- Drew up Policies and Procedures for all Departments
- Handled all internal audits
- Managed external audits
- Assigned signatory for Company up to R2million
- Reported directly to Board of Directors
- Handled Remco, Compliance Committees, Audit Committees
- Evaluated suppliers to maintain cost controls and improve operations.
- Planned and resourced personnel and logistics for operations component exercises resulting in highly trained personnel ready to act quickly in critical roles.
- Formulated processes to reduce downtime and financial loss.
- Advanced productivity KPIs to achieve key business goals and objectives.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
- Reviewed operations reports to understand numbers and trends.
- Spearheaded department training to enhance employee performance and boost employee productivity.
- Introduced new methods, practices and systems to reduce turnaround time.
- Built and reviewed master service agreements to simplify and streamline contract negotiation process.
- Prepared annual budgets with controls to prevent overages.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts and costs.
- Ensured that suppliers were appointed in line with Procurement Policy.
- Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices and company procedures.
- Developed effective business plans to align strategic decisions with long-term objectives.
- Performed statistical analyses to gather data for operational and forecast team needs.
- Designed modern employee recognition program which boosted productivity and improved morale.
- Enhanced and redefined organizational structure to maintain competitive edge across territories.
- Developed initial sales roadmaps and market strategies to promote successful product launches.
- Worked in matrix management environment with oversight of division level managers, Sales, Compliance, Finance, Admin, Technical, Call Centre and Maintenance.
- Led improvement initiatives to advance operational efficiencies and increase revenue.
- Developed systems to track and log work issues.
- Reduced process bottlenecks by training and coaching employees on practices, procedures and performance strategies.
- Monthly Meetings with EXCO to report results
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Zonke Monitoring Systems
01.2008 - 08.2009
- Compiled research data and gave professional presentations highlighting finds and recommended optimizations.
- Evaluated diverse organizational systems to identify workflow, communication and resource utilization issues.
- Collected, organized and modeled data using Proclarity and Maps.
- Conducted thorough reviews of operations to devise and deploy improvement strategies.
- Worked on models for African countries, Ghana, Tanzania, etc.
- Wrote the Internal Control Standard for Zonke Monitoring Systems.
- Completed tenders for Zonke Monitoring Systems.
- Performed Specialist Industry Training for Limited Payout Machines to Executives at Zonke Monitoring Systems.
GROUP COMPLIANCE MANAGER
Luck at It (Pty) Ltd
07.2007 - 03.2008
- Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting.
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Prepared variety of different written communications, reports and documents.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
- Received and processed stock into inventory management system.
General Manager
Vukani Gaming KZN (Pty) Ltd
01.2004 - 01.2007
- Strategic planning and implementation for the respective province
- Finance - Authorize purchases and payments, plan budgets, forecast income,
- And plan impending rollouts Management of compliance
- Responsible for Gambling Board stakeholder relationship and providing feedback on new legislation
- Development and execution of the sales strategy
- Management Training and People plans
- Management of the technical division
- Responsible for Licensing.
SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR/ NATIONAL OPERATIONS
Vukani Gaming Corporation (Pty) Ltd
09.2002 - 01.2004
- Attended meetings to deliver status reports to key stakeholders.
- Supported day-to-day operations, monitoring and resolving client/server and storage issues.
- Start up Route Operation
- Write Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KZN Bids - technical sections
- Train Staff of 30
- Testing at sites
- Manage Mpumalanga Offices when GM was not available.
- Oversee operations
- Rollout of 1000 LPM
- Signed 333 Site Contracts in Two Weeks
Education
No Degree - Organizational Leadership, EQ And Others
Kwelanga Training
On Site 04.2001 -
NQF Level 8 - Management Advancement Program
Wits Business School
Management Advancement Program 10.2006 - 10.2006
Certified Netware Administrator - IT
CS Holdings
KZN 07.1998 - 11.1998
Diploma - Business Management
Unischool
University Of KZN 04.1998 - 04.1998
High School Diploma -
Sastri College
Durban Central 12.1995 - 12.1995
Skills
Verbal and written communication
Quality control
Relationship building and management
Strategic planning
Revenue Generation
Business development and planning
New Business Development
Goals and performance
Marketing
Forecasting ability
Vendor management
Territory Management
Key decision making
Staff Management
Networking strength
Operations
Additional Information
- I have over 2 decades of gaming experience with a proven track record. All my previous roles have needed me to develop and implement strategies and I have proved to have been a champion of change. The methodology I apply is one of relentless and continuous improvement with the objective to develop solutions that are viable and sustainable.
Timeline
Business Development and Product Specialist
Bitville Holding
10.2021 - Current
Vice President Africa
Pragmatic Play
02.2021 - 10.2021
SALES DIRECTOR
AFRICA
10.2019 - 02.2021
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Gold Rush Group
10.2018 - 09.2019
GENERAL MANAGER
Luck@it KZN and VSlots KZN
07.2013 - 06.2019
GENERAL MANAGER
Gold Circle KZN Slots
08.2010 - 03.2013
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Zonke Monitoring Systems
01.2008 - 08.2009
GROUP COMPLIANCE MANAGER
Luck at It (Pty) Ltd
07.2007 - 03.2008
NQF Level 8 - Management Advancement Program
Wits Business School
10.2006 - 10.2006
General Manager
Vukani Gaming KZN (Pty) Ltd
01.2004 - 01.2007
SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR/ NATIONAL OPERATIONS
Vukani Gaming Corporation (Pty) Ltd
09.2002 - 01.2004
No Degree - Organizational Leadership, EQ And Others
Kwelanga Training
04.2001 -
Certified Netware Administrator - IT
CS Holdings
07.1998 - 11.1998
Diploma - Business Management
Unischool
04.1998 - 04.1998
High School Diploma -
Sastri College
12.1995 - 12.1995