Kambi CEO passes Nevada licensing hurdle

The Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday recommended the CEO of Malta-based Kambi Group, a B2B sports betting supplier, be granted a gaming license in the state. The application of Werner Becher now goes before the Nevada Gaming Commission on Aug. 21st.

In January, the Nevada Gaming Commission paved the way for the sports betting services provider to enter the state, where it already has a deal in place for a field test at Bally’s Lake Tahoe.

Kambi, which continues to expand in the U.S., provides a software platform with front-end user interface, odds compiling, customer intelligence, and risk management. It has been seeking an entry into the Nevada market for several years.

Becher, who appeared via video Wednesday, gave the Board his background of founding a software company in 2003. In 2011, he became CEO of the Interwetten Group, the European-based sports betting provider. He served as CEO for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America for Sportradar between January 2021 and December 2022 after serving as Sportradar’s managing director of the U.S. between October 2019 and December 2020. He ultimately landed as CEO of Kambi in July 2024. Becher said he was contacted by a headhunter in early 2024 about the Kambi CEO position.

Kambi, which was founded in 2010, serves more than 50 operators in more than 60 jurisdictions, including 20 states in the U.S. It has roughly 1,000 employees with offices in eight global locations, including Philadelphia.

Becher said as CEO, the main part of his job is driving their global strategy when it comes to software development, trading, and risk management for customers. He said 50% of his time is spent in his main office in London; the rest of the time he travels across the world to meet customers and staff.

In Nevada, Becher said Kambi remains in the GLI testing phase, with about 55% of testing completed. He said they experienced an unexpected new reporting issue that needs to be fixed. The testing should be completed by the end of October and more by the end of November to submit their product to the Gaming Control Board for approval.

This is his first time licensed in Nevada and has applications pending in other states.

“Nevada is not only known as the gold standard in the industry when it comes to licensing, but also there’s a lot of experience and knowledge here. It’s an interesting location from which to hire,” Becher said.

Nevada regulators dive deep into applicants’ lives and a company’s technology compared to other regulators, Becher said in response to a question from Board member George Assad.

“It can be a little bit tough sometimes, but being licensed and having the gold standard on it is worth it,” Becher said.

Becher said he had to step down on other company boards he served on to be the Kambi CEO.