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What iGaming employers look for at job interviews
News Team
3 days ago
iGaming has become an attractive sector for people looking for new and exciting careers. But with the soaring interest comes a lot more competition for each role, meaning employers in the online casino and sports betting space can be way more selective than they used to be.
For candidates, that means making sure their skills and attributes stand out in the application process and that they are fully prepared to answer questions well if they progress to the interview stage.
With that in mind, what essential qualities are iGaming companies looking for in their new hires? We asked Tanya Shevchuk, CEO of specialist recruitment company IGAMINGHUNT, for her top assessment.
Industry knowledge
When online gambling emerged as a new form of entertainment, basic knowledge of how things worked was just about enough to get you through the door. But today, many roles require a deep understanding of how platforms like casinos work, from the games and marketing to payment systems, regulation, customer service, tech, and design.
But that alone is not enough. Every role in iGaming requires employees to understand the customers. What makes casino players tick? What makes a bettor repeatedly return to the same sportsbook?
It’s rare for an industry to be this laser-focused. But with billions of dollars at stake, employers have no choice but to hire people who “get it” from day one.
Creativity
In a competitive environment where technology is evolving seemingly every week, iGaming companies must be creative to stay ahead of the curve. Creativity and innovation start at the top and should be filtered down through every level of the organisation.
Creativity induces brave new strategy, sparks conversations that result in innovative games, ways to market, methods to retain and extract value from customers, and so much more.
It’s rare to find sectors with such high levels of creativity, so if you’re looking to apply for an iGaming role, be sure you’re inquisitive and creative because prospective employers will explore your mindset during the selection process. Demonstrate that you can think outside the box and explore new trends before they become the norm.
Business mindset
Every iGaming company wants all staff to bring genuine value to its business. Execs hire good people and will demand results in return for what is usually an attractive salary and benefits package.
To show you can add value at the interview stage, we suggest you begin by demonstrating that you understand the business’s size, its challenges, competitor landscape and opportunities. Talk confidently about this at the interview, and be armed with examples of how you brought added value to a previous role. Did you input into a new product or process, for example? And if so, what were the results?
Agility
A successful company must be quick to respond to almost constant regulatory, technical, and consumer taste developments, which can change very quickly in iGaming.
It should react quickly when necessary. For example, the regulatory body might impose a cap on slot game bet sizing, as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission did in 2024. This required casino technical, content and customer service teams to switch things fast.
Or a new kid on the block might disrupt the landscape with a new product. Take Spribe and its Aviator game as a case in point. This became a high-flying success, spawning the crash game genre that so many other studios are still trying to catch up with.
But there’s no point in a company trying to be agile if its employees resist change and are “stuck in their ways.” Show your interviewer that you can be fast on your feet, work creatively, and work in spaces outside of your comfort zone to create incredible results.
Flexibility
While agility refers to the doing, flexibility applies to the mindset. iGaming companies need their employees to be flexible and to go the extra mile. Yes, many roles will be hybrid, some even fully remote. But if the business needs a period in the office, working long hours, to work through a challenge, you must show you’re keen to get stuck in.
When the FBI shut down the PokerStars platform unexpectedly on a Friday in 2011, many members of staff dropped their weekend plans and worked around the clock to find a workaround that allowed customers outside of America to access the online poker tables again.
It’s a great example of how staff in the iGaming sector should be willing to go above and beyond what’s stipulated in their contract.
Throughout the hiring process, demonstrate how you will do whatever it takes to support the business. In most cases, employers reward their teams handsomely as a result. If a company does not, it loses its talent.
Loyalty
You must demonstrate loyalty in two areas, which will undoubtedly improve your chances of interview success.
The first is being a devout custodian of company information. Being loyal to the cause in terms of protecting confidential information is crucial. In a sector where the competition is so fierce, data leaks about customers, suppliers, performance or strategy can be hugely damaging. Don’t trip yourself up at the interview by spilling the beans about your current or previous company – would this prospective employer worry you might do the same with their confidential information? Probably.
Secondly, loyalty is about demonstrating your long-term commitment. Every company’s selection process, followed by training and onboarding, is costly, and it’s super important to demonstrate your desire to stay and grow with them.
Interviewers often ask: “How do you see your future growth within the industry or company?” Well, the first thing is to say you hope your growth will be with the company and not elsewhere in the industry. You can then explain how you want to grow into the role you’re applying for and prove your skills and value, justifying the company’s faith in you.
Then, you can predict how eager you’ll be to develop and grow with the business as it continues to excel. Perhaps this might be by moving up in responsibility to lead and mentor others. But be sure to note how flexible you can be to adapt to wherever the company needs your talents and capabilities.
These are six of the most crucial attributes that iGaming employers will look for in every new hire. While landing one of these jobs is hard in a very competitive job market, you can certainly improve your chances by being prepared to demonstrate not one or two but all of these characteristics in your application and throughout the hiring process.
If you think you have what it takes to secure a new job in the sector or if your company is looking for new talent, contact the IGAMINGHUNT team.
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