UK Tote Group starts looking for a new COO after Dave Hammond leaves

(AsiaGameHub) –   Dave Hammond has stepped down from his position as Chief Operating Officer at the UK Tote Group, concluding an eight-month tenure in the role and a three-year period with the company.

He originally became part of the organisation in April 2023 as Chief Commercial Officer, later advancing to the COO role in August of the same year. Before his time at the UK Tote Group, Hammond occupied significant positions with Inspired Gaming Group, Paddy Power Betfair, SBTech, and DraftKings.

Additionally, he established the UK-based Betconsultancy.com in 2018 and concurrently served as the head of the sports betting blockchain venture, Spartos.

Commenting on Hammond’s exit, Alex Frost, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Tote Group, stated: “We extend our gratitude to Dave for his major role in the Tote’s expansion while he was a member of our team.

“He is embarking on a long-awaited career break and will continue to be a valued friend to the company. We send him our best wishes for his future endeavours.”

UK Tote’s resilience despite headwinds

The UK Tote Group, a long-standing fixture in UK horse racing pool betting, is now seeking a new senior executive during a period of mounting challenges for the horse racing sector.

Only last month, the company’s Chief Revenue Officer, Paddy Desmond, spoke to an audience in Manchester about the necessary steps for the sport to recover and expand its audience and involvement, while also combating the illegal gambling market.

“In my view, a significant part of the issue relates to the governance of racing,” he remarked during the Illegal Gambling Prevention Conference hosted by Deal Me Out.

“An excessive amount of authority in British racing lies with the race courses, and with four distinct race course bodies, alignment is not guaranteed and they are often unwilling to cede control.

“This makes it challenging to unite behind a comprehensive promotional strategy for the sport and to involve trainers and jockeys effectively.

“Media rights present another complication. I participated in the commercial committee for two years and witnessed the internal disputes; the current structure is simply not effective.”

Even with concerns in a core market, the UK Tote Group has successfully concluded a number of important commercial agreements both inside the horse racing industry and beyond.

The group acts as the Official Principal Partner for the Wigan Warriors’ men’s and women’s squads and also finalized an agreement with BetMakers more than a year ago to supply its quantum technology – a partnership that Hammond was heavily involved in.

Having operated for almost a century, Frost has consistently expressed a positive outlook for both his firm and horse racing. However, the departure of a key figure introduces a further challenge at a pivotal moment for the industry.