Midnite Strengthens Its Product Team with Additions from FanDuel and Sky Bet

Midnite has strategically strengthened its product team by hiring Willie Lok, former executive at FanDuel, as Vice President of Casino and Loyalty Products, and Dave Pilgrim, with over two decades of experience at Sky Betting & Gaming, as Senior Product Manager. These additions mark a key step in the company's international growth strategy, which aims to enter regulated markets like Canada and consolidate its presence in the casino and loyalty segment.

Key Reinforcement in Product Leadership and Experience

Willie Lok assumes the role of Vice President of Casino and Loyalty Products following his tenure at FanDuel, where he spent four years. He joined FanDuel as Senior Product Director, and in February of this year, he was promoted to Vice President of the same segment. Previously, he worked as Head of Product at Sky Betting & Gaming from 2020 to 2022, where he began his career as a business analyst in 2017 and climbed several positions within the product area.

On the other hand, Dave Pilgrim brings an extensive background of nearly 22 years at Sky Betting & Gaming. He joined in 2004 as an odds compiler and was promoted to Senior Odds Compiler in 2006, then to Assistant Odds Compiling Manager in 2007. From 2009 he served as Head of Sports, later becoming Trading Operations Manager in 2013, Senior Product Manager in 2015, and Principal Product Manager since February 2023.

Midnite's Commitment to Innovation in Casino and Loyalty

The hiring of Lok and Pilgrim aligns with the vision of Nick Wright, founder and CEO of Midnite, regarding the need to address the "structural gap" in the online casino market:

"With Willie joining the team, we are setting a new standard in casino and loyalty while continuing to drive product innovation; having his level of experience is a significant milestone to scale Midnite into a next-generation global operator," said Wright.

The CEO detailed that the goal is to raise the bar for casino and loyalty products, equipping Midnite with capabilities to compete in the tier-one category. Lok emphasized the potential of Midnite's proprietary platform and the shared ambition of the team:

"Developing casino products at scale has taught me what an outstanding experience requires. Midnite's internal platform is a rare foundation to achieve this. There’s a clear ambition in the business, and I’m excited to work with the team on the value proposition and growth of the casino," Lok stated.

International Expansion: Canada and South Africa as Key Focus Areas

Midnite has already taken concrete steps to grow internationally. The following moves stand out:

• Appointment of Dale Tang, former FanDuel, as General Manager for Canada.
• Recruitment of Andrew Mook, former Head of Marketing at SkyBet, as Brand Marketing Director in May of last year.
• Formal announcement of plans to operate in regulated provinces of Canada, with Ontario as the initial market.
• Launch of an office in South Africa in July, regarded by the company as a "statement of intent" within its strategy to reach the tier-one category.

Currently, Midnite only operates in the UK and Ireland, but it is actively seeking candidates for the positions of Casino Manager and Senior Platform Engineer to support its entry into Canada.

Noteworthy Backgrounds in the Online Gaming Industry

The professional histories of the new hires reinforce Midnite’s project:

• Willie Lok has developed casino and loyalty products in highly competitive environments, leading innovations at FanDuel and Sky Betting & Gaming.
• Dave Pilgrim has covered all product and trading areas at Sky Betting & Gaming, from odds compiling to advanced product management.

Pilgrim particularly valued the team: "I’ve only been here for three weeks, but I've been impressed by the team's human and professional quality, directed and skilled, but also very welcoming. We have a lot of work ahead to achieve our goals, but the team is motivated to make it happen."

Next Steps and Opportunity to Elevate Online Casino Standards

Midnite remains actively in search of key talent for its expanding operations, prioritizing reinforcement of the casino and technology areas. The company considers these appointments essential to prepare a differentiated proposition in regulated markets like Canada and new hubs like South Africa.

These moves solidify Midnite's ambition to address the "innovation deficit" identified by its management in the online casino and loyalty product segment, preparing for direct competition on a global level.