Chicago-based sports betting start-up Vigtory has appointed former MGM Resorts president of interactive gaming Scott Butera as its co-chief executive as it prepares to launch in Fall 2020.
Butera will serve alongside Vigtory’s current chief executive and founder Sam Rattner, and also joins the operator’s board of directors.
The new business was established to offer a US-focused product and an elevated consumer experience for US bettors.
It is in the process of securing market access agreements for multiple US states, as well as finalizing partnerships with professional sports leagues and media outlets, ahead of launching later this year.
Already supported by sports technology venture capital fund SeventySix Capital, it will now be able to draw on Butera’s experience of more than 30 years in the US gaming industry.
He most recently served as president of interactive gaming for MGM Resorts, tasked with developing and operating sports betting and igaming across the US. He also played a key role in forming the operator’s Roar Digital joint venture with MGM Resorts, as well as its partnerships with the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer. Butera left his role at MGM earlier this year.
Prior to joining the casino giant, he served as commissioner of the Arena Football League, president and CEO of Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment. He spent more than twenty years in investment banking before moving into the gaming industry, working for UBS, Credit Suisse and Bear Stearns, among others.
“I am incredibly excited to be joining Vigtory,” Butera said of his new role. “While US sports betting and interactive gaming is off to a tremendous start, there are countless opportunities in underserved sectors.
“Sam and I share a common vision to create a state-of-the-art customer experience, bringing unique sports betting products and a level of sophistication to a market that’s ripe for disruption.”
Rattner added that his blueprint for Vigtory had always been to “arm the company with specific knowledge, domain expertise and thought-leadership”.
“For 30 years, Scott has helped successfully build and scale some of the most prominent companies in sports and gambling across the United States,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited for Scott to be on board.”