If one looked solely at the industry news related to appointments this year, they might come to the conclusion that the gaming industry is making strides towards gender diversity. In late January, there were three female CEO appointments, including the first ever female CEO of a listed British gaming company in Entain’s Jette Nygaard-Andersen. This was followed by a wave of female board appointments. Bragg Gaming Group added Lara Falzon, former CFO of Red Tiger Gaming and operational CFO of NetEnt, to its board in mid-February. Later in the month, Entain named Stella David and Vicky Jarman as new board members, and Flutter added Holly Koeppel and Nancy Dubuc as non-executive directors. Flutter Entertainment also appointed its first director of inclusion and diversity. These board appointments are significant as previous statistics showed a decline in female representation. The All-in Diversity Project’s All-Index 2019 found that only 22.5% of non-executive board members were female, down 5.5% from the previous year.
The question now is whether these recent hires demonstrate a genuine commitment to gender diversity in the gaming industry, which has been criticized for its lack of diversity in the past. Lara Falzon, who was recognized as one of InnovateChange ‘s Most Influential Women 2020, believes that there has been a shift in mentality regarding women’s abilities to hold leadership positions. However, gaming and regulatory consultant Richard Schuetz remains skeptical, suggesting that gaming companies are being dragged along rather than leading the charge for change. He also notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has created setbacks for women in terms of employment and advancement opportunities.
The pandemic has indeed disproportionately impacted women, as various surveys and studies have indicated. For example, a survey conducted by the UK’s Trades Union Congress found that the burden of managing work, childcare, and homeschooling fell primarily on women, negatively affecting their mental health and job security. Another report from PwC highlighted the unequal burden of unpaid care work that women undertake globally, which has been further exacerbated by the pandemic.
The gambling industry, including iGaming companies, has an opportunity to address these challenges and set itself apart by embracing positive changes. Remote working, which has become prevalent during the pandemic, can pave the way for greater workplace flexibility, enabling parents to share childcare responsibilities more equally. However, flexibility alone is not enough. Education and providing women with the right knowledge and skills are crucial, irrespective of the industry. Initiatives like William Hill’s Lead IT Lady program are steps in the right direction, focusing on improving leadership opportunities for women in technology. Schuetz suggests that more data is needed, and companies should publish their diversity statistics and pay differentials to measure progress accurately.
Improving gender diversity requires buy-in from everyone, including men. Men must share responsibilities and recognize the value women bring to organizations. Challenging stereotypes and avoiding gender-associated roles are also important steps. While International Women’s Day raises awareness, continuous conversations and actions throughout the year are necessary for meaningful change.
