Even If the Regulation Seems Very Easy, There Is a Lot of Hard Work Behind the Scenes: Nadiya Attard from NetEnt

Nadiya Attard started her gambling career in her student days, working at land-based venues of Parimatch and Marathonbet. After the first experience, she wasn’t planning to keep advancing in gaming, but Betfair gave her a chance of exploring online gambling. It changed everything.

At NetEnt, Nadiya has worked a long way from a personal manager to a Director of Business Development. The article reveals how the specialist has climbed the career ladder.

“Betfair introduced me to online gaming and allowed to learn a lot about all gaming products”

I entered the gambling industry more than 15 years ago, juggling my studies alongside working at land-based bookmaker Pari Match and later on Marathonbet. Internet gaming was only starting back then and it was no where near to what the industry looks like now.

In 2006, I moved to Malta where the online gaming boom was just beginning. At Betfair, I made all my way up and learned a lot about all gaming product verticals, including sportsbook, poker and casino. As a part of the initial training process, we had to spend time with all departments at the company and this experience is still helping me even nowadays.

I had to start my career in Malta from the blank sheet and it was not a bed of roses and a lot of hard work. I really hope that my example will encourage others. I am always happy to share my experiences and support young people that are willing to learn and grow. One of my favorite sayings is “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”.

“Working in online gaming for one of the most reputable UK companies changed my view on gambling”

After working at land-based facilities, I wasn’t planning to continue my career in gaming, but Betfair was pushing hard and I accepted their offer. Working in online gaming for one of the most reputable UK companies changed my view on gaming and since then I am still working in this industry. At Betfair, I grew up professionally and worked in various roles, which helped me to understand a player, an operator and a B2B supplier.

I was constantly headhunted by recruitment agencies and after 2.5 years at NetEnt decided to try something different with Prima Networks powered by Microgaming. A few months later, I received a call from NetEnt’s manager who asked me to come back and join the Sales team. He was very convincing and I didn’t regret my decision.

“I learned a lot at NetEnt and became a completely different person”

My main task as a Director of Business Development at NetEnt is to bring in as much new business as I can, while also ensuring all new customers meet our high standards of services. In reality, one needs to be great on Commercial, Legal, Compliance and Technical aspects to succeed in this matter.

You should always hit the company targets and work as a team, as well as cooperate with the top customers and very smart people in the industry.

I learned a lot at NetEnt and became a completely different person. I am trying to share my experience with my team and people around me. I believe in a strong culture of teamwork. All employees are team members and this ensures we offer the best services at every level.

“Even if the regulation seems very easy, there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes”

The market doesn’t regulate overnight and sometimes it takes years before the actual regulation is published. The great example is the Netherlands: the discussions started over 5 years ago and the first customers are expected to go live only in 2021.

Business development plays an important part as we are always on the front line with customers. Every software company has a lot of priorities and entering a regulated market is a huge step. Resources are allocated months or years in advance and a lot of teams work on entering such markets. This issue involves Commercial, Legal, Compliance, Technical, Development and many other departments. There is no such thing as a low hanging fruit. Even if the regulation seems very easy, there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes.

To join the regulated market, the commercial team should initially bring the business case and ensure the internal buy-in from all stakeholders in the company. Then the “fun” begins: a lot of work, coordination, both internal and external challenges. Having experience with over 20 regulated market entries makes it easier to deal with, despite the regulations are so different.

“The regulation is the future of gambling and I am glad that Ukraine makes the right steps”

When I saw that Ukraine is getting regulated I was very happy. The regulation is the future and I am glad that the new President did the right step. Having said that I saw a lot of good and bad gaming regulations, so I truly hope that Ukraine will follow the right direction and will have one of the best regulations in Europe.

On April 15, Nadiya Attard will take part in the panel discussion titled ‘Regulating the gambling business in Ukraine’ at Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020.

More about the discussion and its participants ►►►