IGT names former William Hill US CEO Joe Asher as new President of Sports Betting

International Game Technology (IGT) announced Thursday the appointment of Joe Asher as President of Sports Betting, effective October 1, 2021. Reporting to IGT’s CEO Digital & Betting, Enrico Drago, Asher will lead the ongoing expansion of the IGT PlaySports sports betting business in North American markets.

Asher’s latest position was at William Hill US, where he served as CEO since the creation of the brand in 2012. 

His background in the gaming industry is built on his keen interest in race and sports betting. He was an honored member of the Sports Betting Hall of Fame Class of 2021. He has held management positions at several racetracks including Brandywine Raceway, Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway and Foxboro Raceway. 

He was also the Wilmington News-Journal’s thoroughbred racing handicapper for Delaware Park. He became the youngest track announcer in North America, and he continues to announce horse races, serving as guest announcer at the Elko County Fair every year. 

In an official press release, Enrico Drago, IGT CEO Digital & Betting, spoke about Asher’s appointment and said: "The PlaySports sports betting solution is among the most widely used in the U.S., powering approximately 50 U.S. sportsbooks for 20 customers across 18 states. We expect continued growth in our PlaySports business, and Joe Asher's knowledge, experience, network and vision for sports betting are key ingredients to boosting our future success”.

Joe Asher also commented: "I'm really excited to join Enrico Drago and the IGT PlaySports team to help this business reach new heights for our customers and our shareholders. This is a unique moment in the North American gaming industry as sports betting is expanding rapidly and opportunities abound. I have some background working in partnership with PlaySports and I look forward to working with our team to further enhance our technology and trading capabilities to serve our existing and future customers."