Interview with Marina Antúnez

More and more women are breaking into the betting world, putting their skills on the table and showing they are here to play to win. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Marina Antúnez - Chief Legal Officer of Softquo Holding, the parent company of GoldenRace - to learn about her journey in the betting industry, shed light on the challenges and opportunities in her department, and discover a unique perspective to the company's legal and compliance efforts. Get ready to be inspired!

You’ve taken quite a non-traditional route, not many women step right into the betting industry. Tell us how you started, your new role and what motivated you to take a leap of faith in this position.

I've always been drawn to industries that are fast-paced and challenging, and the betting industry certainly fits the bill. I actually started as an intern in 2016, we were a small team, and a few months later I was offered a permanent position. From here, my professional journey started to take off. It’s been amazing to witness our team's remarkable growth over the past few years.

As I progressed in my career and took on more responsibilities, I learnt, thanks to the company, how to truly enjoy the intellectual challenge of balancing business needs with legal compliance. It's incredibly rewarding and motivating to see the impact that our work has on the success of the company.

Now, as a Chief Legal Officer, one of my main objectives is to establish legal and compliance policies at a group level and standardise the procedures in all our activities as a group and not individually.

The legal department is a crucial part of any business, but it often flies under the radar. What exactly does the legal team do and which are the main challenges it faces?

Our work may not be as visible as other departments, but it is essential to ensure the company operates lawfully and safeguards its reputation. The Legal department negotiates and drafts contracts, provides legal security on various transactions, and issues commercial guidance such as intellectual property and data protection. On the other hand, Compliance is in charge of carrying out feasibility studies for the entry into new jurisdictions and preparing internal policies to comply with regulations, among others.

Regulation in the ever-changing world of betting is very dynamic, both at technical and corporate levels. Our department faces many challenges, especially as we expand into new jurisdictions - the absence of harmonised regulation means that we have to monitor legislative developments by country, even by region or state, as in the case of the United States. Despite this, we remain dedicated to protecting the company's interests and have achieved significant milestones such as expanding to a great number of markets, and developing comprehensive policies and compliance plans.

Why is your department so important for Softquo's culture?

Not everyone knows that, but we also focus on promoting values and responsibilities within the company. Our guiding principles of operational independence, accountability, and integrity drive us to ensure every employee understands their role in upholding our legal standing. Through a variety of training sessions and initiatives, we strive to foster a culture that nurtures the trust of customers and partners, and protects the reputation of the industry as a whole.

Related to your career in the betting industry, what do you think can be done to promote more diversity and inclusion for women in this sector?

I think there's definitely room for improvement in terms of women holding leadership positions in the industry. That being said, there are many talented and capable women working in the betting area, and it's important to recognise and support them.

I feel very lucky to be working for a company that values diversity and inclusion. Of course, we acknowledge the industry’s gender gap, but I believe that recently there have been implemented work-life measures that help promote greater equality, such as flexible working hours, remote working, feedback sessions and career development plans.

It's up to all of us to create a more equitable and inclusive industry. This means challenging stereotypes and biases, promoting women into leadership positions, and creating a culture of respect and support for all employees.

Last but not least, are there any significant legal changes affecting the betting industry recently? What goals do you have for your department in the year ahead?

In terms of recent legal changes affecting the betting industry, we've seen Sweden implementing a new B2B licensing system, and Peru publishing updated regulations for B2C licensing.

As for our company, we are aiming to expand our presence in various North American states, and achieve certifications for slots, crash games, and scratch games in South Africa. We're also working towards ISO 27001 implementation for Novusbet and Spinmatic, recertification for GoldenRace, and certification for Novusbet in Peru.

With our ambitious goals for 2023 and beyond, I'm honoured to be part of this team.