Continent 8 Technologies, the award-winning provider of managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and security solutions to the global online gambling industry, continues to drive growth with the appointment of Khaled El-Din as regional sales director.
Based in the UK, Khaled joins Continent 8’s global sales team as it continues to enter new regulated markets around the world, a move that is increasing its addressable audience and customer base.
Khaled is a highly experienced sales specialist and joins the global IT business from swcomms where he was sales manager. He has also held sales roles at Solar Communications and Chartered Developments.
His knowledge of infrastructure, connectivity and hosting solutions, plus his experience working with large organisations to determine their needs and creating bespoke solutions for them, makes him perfectly suited to Continent 8.
In his new role, he has been tasked with managing and amplifying existing customer relationships, as well as supporting the overall sales division with driving new revenue growth across core regulated markets including Europe and the Americas.
Nick Nally, chief revenue officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “Khaled is a fantastic addition to our global sales team, and we look forward to benefiting from his experience, skills, and commitment to customer satisfaction, as we look to better support existing customers and connect with new ones.
“With Khaled in the team, we can keep driving awareness of our solutions and services among those not currently working with Continent 8, whilst doubling down on the support we provide to those that are.”
Khaled El-Din, regional sales director at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “This is a very exciting time to be joining Continent 8 as demand for its managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and security solutions is on the rise.
“Continent 8 works with many of the biggest names in the industry, and it’s an honour to be working closely with the team, as well as an impressive collection of customers that trust in our solutions and our people. I am looking forward to playing a part in helping operators and suppliers access the infrastructure they need to succeed as the gambling market continues to grow at pace, globally.”
Continent 8 Technologies, the award-winning provider of managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and security solutions to the global online gambling industry, has welcomed Carl Bonner as regional sales director.
The appointment augments Continent 8’s global sales team at a time when demand for its solutions and services continues to rise amid the ongoing roll-out of regulated online gambling in key jurisdictions around the world.
Carl is a highly experienced cloud specialist and joins Continent 8 from AWS (Amazon Web Services) where he has been a senior account manager for the past three and a half years, co-founding the Betting & Gaming division, supporting a range of well-known iGaming brands with various AWS services.
Prior to that, he held senior roles at cloud-based enterprise software company, Oracle. This has seen him work with some of the biggest brands in Europe including Pret a Manger, WHSmith, Shazam, UiPath and ESET, supporting their cloud strategies and deployments.
He brings this wealth of experience to Continent 8 where he will be responsible for supporting the provider’s multi-cloud strategy and growing its customer base in core regulated iGaming markets, such as the fast-growing US market.
Continent 8’s multi-cloud strategy allows it to support customers with its regulated Public Cloud, Private Cloud, as well as Hyperscale Cloud solutions.
It holds AWS Advanced Tier Consulting Partner status so that it can assist customers with AWS projects and deployments. It is also a Microsoft Silver Partner, augmenting its existing cloud offering with Microsoft Azure Stack.
Brian B. Koh, chief commercial officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “I’d like to welcome Carl to our global sales team and look forward to benefitting from his unrivalled experience with supporting well-known brands in the iGaming sector with cloud-based solutions.
“We are the go-to regulated cloud provider for the biggest operators and suppliers in the industry, and with Carl onboard, we will be able to better support existing customers and drive awareness of our solutions and services among those not already working with Continent 8.”
Carl Bonner, regional sales director at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “Joining Continent 8 allows me to share my passion for cloud-based solutions with operators and suppliers in the iGaming industry, making them aware of the huge upsides they can unlock by utilising the cloud.
“I am thrilled to be joining such a respected business as Regional Sales Director and working with the wider team to not only meet but exceed our goals for growth.”
Continent 8 Technologies, the leading technology solutions provider for the online sports betting and iGaming industry, is set to cut the ribbon on a Curaçao data centre footprint next month.
The strategic site expansion comes on the heels of numerous transformation initiatives set out by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, including revising the licensing procedure for operators on the island.
Existing and future operators and suppliers will now be able to access Continent 8’s full range of services and solutions via the Curaçao site including direct connectivity to its unique network of over 100 locations across four continents, protection through its muti-layered cybersecurity offering and best-in-class managed hosting solutions.
Customers will be supported out of the most advanced multi-tenant Tier-IV data center in the Pan-Caribbean region, run to the highest technical and operational standards.
Continent 8 continues to drive its global expansion and strategic initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean with four sites currently open and numerous additional locations planned for the coming year.
Michael Tobin, founder and chief executive officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “We have been powering operators and suppliers in regulated jurisdictions for 25 years, providing compliant hosting solutions, globally. Thanks to our experience, regulatory knowledge, and market-leading solutions, we have become the trusted infrastructure partner to the industry.
“Our move into Curaçao comes at a time when operators and suppliers need infrastructure solutions they can rely on, and this is exactly what we have built our name and reputation on.”
Nick Nally, chief revenue officer at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “We pride ourselves on our agility and ability to provide solutions to customers, quickly. We realised an opportunity and we had to move fast to ensure operators have the very best hosting solutions.
“With the changes being made in Curaçao with regards to online gambling licences, strengthening the application process to attract a wider range of operators, those looking to seek a licence can be assured that they can capitalise on leading services and solutions from Continent 8.”
Continent 8 Technologies, an award-winning provider of managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and security solutions, welcomes one of the gaming sector’s most skilled regulatory and compliance specialists to its team.
Jeremie Kanter has joined Continent 8 as director of regulatory affairs and will oversee its new C8 Comply division. Jeremie will be responsible for leading Continent 8’s new advisory practice, supporting customers as they navigate the continuously evolving global online sports betting and gambling regulatory landscape.
This appointment comes at an important time as Continent 8 continues its global expansion to new regulated markets across the globe, coupled with the launch of numerous new solutions including regulated cloud environments, critical cybersecurity solutions and more.
Continent 8 will be able to leverage this unrivalled knowledge to strengthen its position as the go-to infrastructure provider of choice for operators and suppliers targeting regulated markets right around the globe.
Jeremie brings a wealth of experience to his role, having held senior management and consulting positions at some of the biggest companies in the industry including William Hill, PokerStars, SBTech, Playtech, Stations Casino and more.
Michael Tobin, founder and chief executive officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “Jeremie is one of the most experienced and skilled regulatory and compliance specialists in the industry, and this makes him an incredibly valuable asset to Continent 8. I’m very pleased to welcome him to our team.
“Regulation and compliance are the foundation of Continent 8’s business and bringing Jeremie on board as we continue to grow aggressively across regulated markets will be fundamental to our success in these jurisdictions, as well as those where we currently support our customers.”
Jeremie Kanter, director of regulatory affairs at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “Continent 8 is one of the most established and reputable companies in the sector and has been supporting its customers in regulated markets for 25 years now.
“I know the team well and I am excited to be joining such a reputed company, and looking forward to leveraging my industry experience and skillset to help Continent 8 achieve its ambitious goals.”
Global technology and data solutions company Continent 8 Technologies, a provider of specialised infrastructure and cybersecurity services to the world’s biggest betting and gaming companies, says that the industry is facing an unprecedented threat from a rising tide of cyber attacks.
The stark warning comes at the start of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which marks its 20th year in October 2023, and as the global land-based and online industry once again gathers in Nevada for the annual G2E Las Vegas exhibition and conference.
Founded in 1998 and celebrating 25 years of business in 2023, Continent 8 has 100 data centre locations across four continents, delivering a wide range of technology infrastructure and connectivity solutions to the biggest organisations in the industry, via a single interconnected network.
Michael Tobin, founder and CEO of Continent 8 Technologies, said: “In the 25 years since Continent 8 was founded, the threat to the data, infrastructure and digital security of companies in the betting and gaming industry has never been higher.
“The scale and sophistication of these attacks is increasing year on year, so it’s critically important that organisations take a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, protecting themselves from the mix of complex threats facing businesses in today’s world. What’s also important is ensuring your business is compliant, meeting stringent regulatory requirements across different markets.”
Patrick Gardner, managing partner of C8 Secure, a Continent 8 company, added: “With the average cost of a data breach reaching well into millions, and the gaming industry being a prime target, it’s crucial now more than ever for companies to bolster their cybersecurity measures.
“Both the online and land-based sectors must remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring protection of their data and infrastructure against increasingly evolving threats.”
Continent 8 will be on stand #4235 at G2E Las Vegas, which takes place at The Venetian Expo from 9-12 October, marking the beginning of Cybersecurity Awareness Month with an event-wide campaign highlighting the rising threat against the global betting and gaming sector.
North Carolina has become the latest state launch for award-winning global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and security provider, Continent 8 Technologies.
This comes ahead of North Carolina opening its doors to legal online sports betting for the first time in early 2024.
Back in June, Governor Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law, permitting up to 12 sportsbook operators to offer online and mobile betting to players in the state in addition to the three land-based tribal sportsbooks permitted under existing law.
The market looks set to be significant, with North Carolina residents expected to wager $6.8bn by year two bringing in around $100m for the state by year five.
Continent 8 has taken an aggressive first-to-market approach across North America and is already live in 27 states and counting.
This is to make sure that its customers can go live from day one having had time to ensure their infrastructure is up and running, and is fully compliant.
Operators in North Carolina will be able to access Continent 8’s full suite of solutions.
Furthermore, they have access to two dedicated sites within the state, ensuring resilient and reliable services to customers.
Justin Cosnett, chief product officer at Continent 8 Technologies, said: “We have been aggressive with our first-to-market approach in the US because it’s vital that operators can access the infrastructure solutions they need ahead of markets opening so that they are good to go from day one.
“What’s more, where possible we have invested in multiple sites in each state, such as North Carolina, enabling customers to utilize our backup and disaster recovery services.”
Nick Nally, chief revenue officer at Continent 8 Technologies, added: “Our regulatory knowledge and experience are unrivalled, and this is key to deploying our first-to-market approach in the US. This was certainly the case in North Carolina where we have been able to keep pace with legislative progress at all times.
“North Carolina will be a significant online sports betting market and is one that we know our customers have set their sights on. We can now offer our suite of iGaming hosting, connectivity, cloud and security solutions to these operators who can be confident they are fully compliant with the requirements set by the regulator.”
Continent 8’s first-to-market approach, unrivalled regulatory experience and cutting-edge suite of solutions have seen it emerge as the go-to infrastructure provider of choice for around 85% of operators on the EGR US Power Rankings for 2023.
Continent 8 Technologies is continuing its North American growth strategy by launching additional site service capabilities in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, and Louisiana and the US territory of Puerto Rico.
The hosting, connectivity, cloud and security provider launched its initial services in Iowa back in 2019, before Illinois in 2020, and Kansas and Louisiana in 2021. It opened its first site in Puerto Rico in 2022.
Each of these five markets now has an additional Continent 8 site, offering secondary and disaster recovery solutions.
This adds to Continent 8’s existing multi-site in-state infrastructure capability in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey (Atlantic City), and Pennsylvania.
Justin Cosnett, chief product officer at Continent 8, said: “Data centre resilience is an important consideration for infrastructure planning. We also know that regulators across various states want to see licensed operators deliver resilient and reliable services to customers and partners.
“We have built our offering so that operators and suppliers to the industry can use our diverse MPLS-connected backbone to create disaster recovery, back-up, or even active-active capabilities to guarantee availability.”
The multi-state infrastructure will also allow Continent 8 to offer its own off-site back-up service via a regulated Public iGaming Cloud solution.
The launching of additional US sites is likely to continue as new states regulate online gambling. The company appointed Kristian Valenta to the role of chief financial officer last year, with the aim of supporting continued growth.
The company spans 90 locations globally across four continents, including 25 US states.
iGaming service provider Continent 8 Technologies has appointed Kristian Valenta to the role of chief financial officer.
Before joining the hosting, connectivity, cloud and security provider, Valenta has held a number of senior level roles, most recently as vice president at technology, media and telecommunications group at US private equity firm Novacap.
He left Novacap in September after more than eight years with the company.
During his time at Novacap, he led numerous fund-related activities, supported various capital raises, headed several M&A and corporate finance efforts and was an active board member across numerous portfolio companies within the technology group.
Continent 8 CEO Michael Tobin said: “Over the last few years, we have built an exceptional team at Continent 8, growing our head count year-on-year.
“Kristian’s appointment is a significant one for our business during a period of fast growth as new markets regulate and open for business.
“Kristian brings a wealth of experience and passion to Continent 8, making him an invaluable member of our leadership group,” he added.
Continent 8 CEO Michael Tobin: “Over the last few years, we have built an exceptional team at Continent 8, growing our head count year-on-year. Kristian’s appointment is a significant one for our business during a period of fast growth as new markets regulate and open for business.”
Based in Montreal and reporting directly to Tobin, Valenta’s role at Continent 8 will see him continue to build on the company’s existing plans for expansion.
The company already has data centres and strategic points of presence in over 85 connected locations spanning Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Commenting on his appointment, he said: “It is an honour to join Continent 8, a company that has established itself as a highly respected leader in its field.
“My role as CFO will provide me with an exciting opportunity to work alongside a committed executive team and I look forward to playing an integral role in the company’s continued growth globally.”
Valenta will be responsible for the company’s overall finances, while working alongside the executive team on policy, operations and Continent 8’s overarching strategy.