My core objectives are championing the sector— both our economic and social contribution, which we have been good at, but we can always do more.
untold story, and one she is determined to share.“ The benefits and community engagement often get lost in reports about revenue and regulations. There’ s rarely a focus on what I’ ve come to think of as the beating heart of what we do— how we become visible and ingrained in the neighborhoods where we operate.
“ Casinos aren’ t just about entertainment and hospitality,” she says.“ They’ re about the genuine connections we build with the people who live and work around us. When done right, we become part of the fabric of our communities, supporting local causes and creating opportunities for people to come together.”
The Philly-born Gonzales says she“ grew up in the business.” Her family moved to South Jersey when the first Atlantic City casinos opened; her mother, Millie Nocito, made a career in the new industry. In time, Gonzales followed.“ I was lucky enough to kick off my career at the Golden Nugget with Steve Wynn, and right after that, Merv Griffin at Resorts. It does not get better than that.”
She joined Live! in 2012, and in 2021 she seized the opportunity to return to Philadelphia to open the Live! complex there.“ Coming home meant bringing everything I’ d learned in Maryland about community engagement to the city I love,” she says. On any given day, Gonzales can be found“ working on the next groundbreaking, helping count T-shirts for a charity walk, going to a luncheon, stopping at the studio to edit a video, then heading out the door to a Phillies game— only to come back and finish a news release edit.”
Life, career and philanthropy are inextricably entwined for her; gaming is“ a lifestyle, not a job. It’ s part of you, as you’ d expect from a 24 / 7 / 365 industry.”
She cites“ badass women in gaming” who have guided her path.“ Legendary marketing and PR gurus like Muriel Harris, Denise Zimmerman and Kim Townsend didn’ t just teach me skills. They taught me values, showed me how to navigate challenges and demonstrated that success in this industry comes from authenticity and genuine care for others.”
While the workday never truly ends, the rewards are“ wildly incredible,” she adds.“ For those considering a similar career path, my advice is simple: be organized, be authentic and never underestimate the power of genuine connections. Authentic commitment to excellence and community makes all the difference.
“ Because when you invest authentically in your community, everyone wins. That’ s not just good business— it’ s the right thing to do.”— Marjorie Preston
Leading with Purpose in a Changing Industry
Grainne Hurst
CEO, U. K. Betting & Gaming Council
With more than a decade in the gambling sector, Grainne Hurst took over as Betting & Gaming Council CEO in September last year, and she stands today among the most influential voices shaping the future of U. K. gambling.
Hurst’ s first professional exposure to the sector came while working for then-MP Philip Davies, who was on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee reviewing the U. K.’ s Gambling Act.
Hurst joined Ladbrokes Coral as head of public affairs in June 2015 before becoming group director of corporate affairs at Entain following its acquisition of Ladbrokes Coral in 2018.
From the halls of Parliament to her leadership role at the BGC, Hurst has been a passionate advocate for the regulated gambling industry. She’ s keen to be at the forefront of the U. K. sector’ s battle to raise standards in a constantly evolving landscape.
“ I’ ve obviously realized working in the industry for over a decade that the only constant thing for us as a sector is change, good and bad,” Hurst says.
Perhaps the most seismic of those changes, and one that’ s currently among the top of Hurst’ s priorities, is the ongoing rollout of the recommendations made in the 2023 white paper. While some elements have already been implemented, such as the new online slot stake limits and updated casino regulations, others such as the introduction of an ombudsman have yet to come into force.
Additionally, the U. K. government has proposed a new single-tax framework for online gambling, scrapping the current three-banded tax rate system. This is Hurst’ s biggest concern for the rest of 2025.
“ We have been very vocal in saying( the tax harmonization) would be hugely self-defeating, as it wouldn’ t achieve the government’ s aims of trying to raise more money, which I think is the bottom line,” she says.“ It will be hugely detrimental for the customer offer, and could also grow the black market.”
It’ s a fight Hurst is up for, as well as the pursuit of her long-term goals. The latter largely center around improving the perception of legalized gambling in the U. K., an industry she says contributes £ 6.8 billion($ 9 billion) to the
My core objectives are championing the sector— both our economic and social contribution, which we have been good at, but we can always do more.
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economy and employs more than 109,000 people.
“ My core objectives are championing the sector— both our economic and social contribution, which we have been good at, but we can always do more,” Hurst continues.“ We’ re going to be louder and prouder about doing that.”
But potentially Hurst’ s most enduring contribution to the sector stems from her role as a board member of Global Gaming Women, where she’ s been instrumental in expanding the nonprofit organization’ s international arm.
There has been progress, but Hurst says there is still a dearth of women in leadership positions in the gambling sector.
“ It’ s probably now seen as a normal element of the business, rather than a kind of tick-box exercise,” she explains.“ But I do think there is more to do in encouraging women to either apply for those leadership positions, or if they are in leadership positions, remain in leadership positions.”
Looking ahead, Hurst is excited by the possibility of new technical innovation.
“ We won’ t be able to ignore the new advances in technology,” she says.“ Another slightly contentious issue is crypto. Obviously, it’ s not regulated in the U. K., but seeing where that leads to in the industry, and having a kind of ringside seat in that, will be really exciting.”— Kyle Goldsmith
SEPTEMBER 2025 www. ggbmagazine. com 27