Casinos.com Interviews Jennifer Innes, CEO of BettingJobs

• Name: Jennifer Innes
• Company: BettingJobs
• Role: Chief Executive Officer

In an interview for Casinos.com, UK Newswriter Alan Evans speaks to Jennifer Innes about her leadership journey and efforts to close the gender pay gap.

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Jennifer Innes is the CEO of BettingJobs and began her career in the industry in 2006 and has seen many changes in the industry. 

For one, when Jennifer started at the office in Glasgow, she was the only female employee. Jennifer had been working for a recruitment agency before seeing an attractive opportunity with BettingJobs. Although Jennifer had no experience or knowledge of iGaming, she took a gamble, and as she says, ‘the rest is history.

We know that women are now making up a greater percentage of the industry but there is more work to be done. 

People who work with Jennifer have described her as a "great CEO" who is passionate about inclusivity and equality. Jennifer freely admits that she has not had any training in this area but whatever she is doing, it is working.

AE: Recent reports suggest that there is still a disparity and a gender pay gap. Is enough being done within the industry to address this?

JI: As a result of initiatives like the All-in Diversity Project and the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards, as well as other community groups such as ‘SHEOs,’ there has been a considerable improvement within the industry in terms of reducing disparities and gender pay gaps. There are now a lot more female role models to look up to, not only for support but also for inspiration.

The closing of the gender pay gap is a cause that I am truly passionate about, and I strongly believe that everyone should be paid equally and fairly. There can never be too much effort put into this subject, and although progress has been made in this area, there is always room for improvement.

AE: What are the major challenges facing the industry when trying to attract and retain high quality female candidates?

JI: My personal belief is that one of the biggest challenges facing the industry when attracting and retaining high--quality female candidates is the perception that

the industry is overwhelmingly male-dominated. Whilst this is true to an extent, there are so many empowering females within the industry who are really changing the narrative.

Another reason which prevents women from pursuing a career in iGaming is undoubtedly externally influencing factors such as caring what family members or friends think of the industry. I.e., to outsiders looking in, iGaming may simply be viewed as a "vice" as opposed to the reality that this industry has so much to offer any woman who chooses to work in the sector; it is one at the cutting edge of digital marketing, modern technologies such as crypto currency and AI, and we are a young, vibrant, entrepreneurial sector.

AE: If you could offer advice to the young Jennifer with all the knowledge and experience you have, what would that be?

JI: I would tell her that she can do anything she puts her mind to, and not let the opinions of others affect her dreams and aspirations. I would tell her to stay true to herself and always stand up for what she believes in, and she will achieve great things!

AE: Are you seeing some of the entrenched historic issues within the industry, such as male dominance, beginning to recede?

JI: Absolutely. At BettingJobs, we are immensely proud to have placed amazing, talented female candidates in C-level and executive roles historically undertaken only by males. I take a lot of pride in advocating for women and championing their cause. It's incredibly important to me to be an ally and supporter, celebrating the achievements of other women and spreading positivity rather than tearing them down. 

Also, at BettingJobs HQ, we are thrilled to report a 20% increase in female hires in the past year, all of whom are performing exceptionally in their new roles and have already been making waves in the industry.

It must be said, though, that when it comes to recruitment, it’s a truly global world. I would love to say it’s equal across the globe, but that is sadly not the case for now. Although there has been an improvement to an extent, by no means is it a finished product in terms of its evolution. The same applies to gaming, which is also at different stages globally.

AE: What are the key areas prospective candidates should look for when trying to find employment in a diverse and inclusive workplace?

JI: When seeking to find employment in a diverse and inclusive workplace, my advice to prospective candidates is to have a look at the company’s social media, website, and Glassdoor account (if they have one); Do they regularly share team updates? What are their reviews like? Do they write articles on diversity and inclusion? What is the male-to-female ratio of employees? Checking for all these factors will help you gain a clearer picture of the culture of the business.

If someone asks me or any of the BettingJobs team about a company, we will always be completely transparent. We understand the true importance of making the best possible match for both parties, which is why we are committed to being fully transparent about the company culture, location, and local hiring laws, including details on salary, paid time off, maternity leave, etc. 

We always offer fully informed advice, and we will never place a candidate in a role or location that doesn't align with their needs and wants.

AE: What qualities do you possess which you try to instil in others within the workplace? What makes a good boss and employer?

JI: Although cliché, I try to instil in others at BettingJobs that teamwork really does make the dream work. I always try to be fair in everything I do as a leader and an employer, and we do our best to reward hard work at BettingJobs. Like anything in life, if you want to succeed, you must work hard. I always say that if you want to produce good work, then make it work for you.

AE: Does the industry host and provide enough opportunities, such as conferences and summits, focused on addressing the issue of gender pay gaps, equality, and inclusivity?

JI: As my previous points suggests, there has definitely been a positive increase in the number of opportunities and resources available to women in the industry now, whether that be community groups, award ceremonies or meet-ups. Women now have a seat at the table and topics such as inequality, the gender pay gap, and DEI are widely discussed and recognised. ‘Women in Gaming’ panels are now a regular feature at many high-profile conferences, which was not the case when I entered the industry 18 years ago.

However, I do still believe more efforts are required to create an industry that is fully inclusive through education and raising further awareness of the subject.

***

Jennifer followed a career path from school through university and into a recruitment agency. iGaming would have been relatively new to most people at the time, and it was a brave move or gamble for Jennifer, which has obviously paid off not just for Jennifer but for those who work with and alongside her. 

Despite there still being some disparity between men and women in the workplace, Jennifer is positive about progress so far and has identified the importance of having female role models to look up to. She is also realistic about the amount of work still left to do to close the gender pay gap and change the narrative of a male-dominated industry. 

Jennifer offers sound advice for those looking to work for an inclusive and diverse company. Jennifer identifies the changing landscape for women with some great examples and concedes it is a far cry from when she started 18 years ago. 

With people like Jennifer at the helm of big business, there is a positive example to follow for those who share or would like to share the environment of fairness, inclusivity, diversity, and success that Jennifer has so obviously fostered at BettingJobs.