Melvin Bostelaar has resigned as CEO of Entain-owned BetCity to prioritise his health and family.
Vic Walia, who currently oversees Entain’s PartyPoker and PartyCasino brands, will succeed him.
In a LinkedIn post, Bostelaar (pictured left) stated: “Life is filled with unexpected moments that make us stop, reflect, and reevaluate.
“As some of you may know, at the end of November last year, I underwent open heart surgery due to heart failure – a life-changing experience that provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my priorities.
“With that, I have made the emotionally laden decision to step down from my role as CEO of BetCity. It was not an easy decision, but a necessary one, as I have decided to prioritise my health and family,” he further explained his decision.
From start-up to prominent industry player
Bostelaar expressed immense pride in witnessing BetCity’s growth from a “start-up to the market leader” in the Netherlands.
He credited the extraordinary dedication of his team, thanking them for their passion, determination and resilience.
Entain acquired the Dutch online sports betting and iGaming operator last year.
At the time, Paul Leyland of Regulus Partners outlined the meteoric rise of BetCity.
He described the brand’s 20% market share in the Netherlands as “a remarkable achievement from a standing start in October 2021, especially given that BetCity was originally to be a sports-only brand in what was a heavily gaming-led market.”
BetCity’s new CEO Walia joined Entain in September 2021 and has been responsible for the revenue generation and marketing operations of Entain’s PartyPoker and PartyCasino businesses.
Previously, he served as the CMO of Aion Bank, and prior to that, he spent 12 years at Expedia Group. During his time at Expedia, he held various positions including VP of global marketing.