Interview with Per Widerstrom, CEO, Fortuna Entertainment

What do you believe is the most prominent challenge facing betting operators?

I think one of the underlying challenges we have is that you adapt but also, capitalise on an unpredictable regulatory environment and this is in a multi-restriction, multiproduct, multichannel context.  But at the same time, really scaling operations to drive profitable growth, sustainably and also, take the market share.

Can you outline the recent corporate changes Fortuna Entertainment has undertaken?

During the last four years, we have been able to actually drive the top and the bottom [inaudible 00:00:34].  This has been driven by M&A but also, organic growth.  What has really changed the corporate setup for us has been the acquisitions, obviously but also, has seen our minority share of independent investment have wanted to take the company and delist it from the stock exchange in Prague and Warsaw.  So, today, we are a privately-owned company.

What do you believe will be the dominant factor/dynamic of the betting sector in 2019?

I think 2019 is going to be a very dynamic and very exciting year.  I think that we will continue to see consolidation efforts across both the B2C and B2B sector but equally so, I will say that people will be watching really carefully and also, influencing how the US market will develop.  It’s a really exciting 2019. 

How important is this event for the industry?

You can see at this event, there are some truly leading industry profiles that you can interact with, you can network with.  Equally so, you have some fantastic companies now exhibiting at this event this year.

SBC Summit Europe: What does a successful regulated market look like?
29 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Ellis Davis
'SBC Summit Europe | 19-21 April 2027 | RAI Amsterdam Channelisation: Keeping players in the regulated...
Read more
7 European Markets that everyone should be watching in 2027
28 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Ellis Davis
'SBC Summit Europe | 19-21 April 2027 | RAI Amsterdam How We Defined “Opportunity”Finland: Europe’s Next...
Read more
SBC Summit Europe Strengthens Dutch Industry Engagement Through Strategic CasinoNieuws Partnership
28 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Ellis Davis
'Multi-year partnership will see CasinoNieuws become SBC Summit Europe's exclusive Dutch gambling media partner, expanding the...
Read more
SBC Summit Europe: Is Europe's Regulatory Environment Too Fragmented?
27 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Ellis Davis
'SBC Summit Europe | 19-21 April 2027 | RAI Amsterdam One Continent, Multiple LicencesTax Can Change...
Read more
SBC Summit Europe: The Home of European Gaming
26 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Maria Tsnompilantze
'Why Europe's regulated gaming industry needs a meeting place of its own, who it is for,...
Read more
Know Your Player: Turning behavioural insight into responsible growth
21 Oct | Webinar | Scott Fulton
'How can operators use player behaviour data to make better decisions? Are we able to turn...
Read more
SBC and VNLOK Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Licensed Operator Participation at...
19 Oct | SBC Summit Europe | Ellis Davis
'Multi-year partnership will bring Dutch licensed operators and industry leadership to Amsterdam, strengthening dialogue on regulation,...
Read more
SBC Summit 2026 Closes Record Lisbon Week with 40,000 Attendees as Event...
16 Oct | SBC Summit | Cosmo Teare
'SBC Summit 2026 concluded its third edition in Lisbon with more than 40,000 attendees, but the...
Read more