Hit the jackpot: Adam Greenblatt

In 2018, a ruling by the United States Supreme Court ended a 26-year national ban on sports betting, opening up an incredibly lucrative market for betting companies. Adam Greenblatt, who at the time was living in the United Kingdom, saw this moment as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Given the scale of the market’s potential, and the huge omnichannel opportunity for gaming and sports betting, I made the decision to move from London to New York," he says.

This decision, as it turns out, was a risk worth taking.

A premium brand

Having served as CEO of BetMGM since 2018, Greenblatt has established the company as a market leader.

"We offer sports betting in a digital world, as well as having 31 physical sportsbooks," he says. "On top of that, we offer an online casino product, which includes poker, table games and slot machines."

"What sets us apart from competitors is that we are really the only app that was ‘Born in Vegas’."

MGM Resorts, the iconic hospitality and entertainment company with the most hotel rooms on the Las Vegas strip, is a joint shareholder in BetMGM, along with Entain, and a brand name synonymous with glamor and luxury.

"BetMGM really leans into this," he says. "We are a sports betting app with a premium brand that provides a chic, aspirational experience."

Greenblatt describes the mission of the company is to provide fun and entertainment to its customers. But it’s not just customers that he believes should be getting a kick out of industry, it should be equally as enjoyable for those providing the experience – his team.

"What we’re selling is an enhancement of real-life experiences," Greenblatt says. "We’re in the business of fun for our customers, but being part of its creation is also fun."

Inclusive culture

A key element of his leadership philosophy is a conviction in the need to foster an inclusive and supportive working environment, in order to make employees feel happy and perform at their highest level.

"I believe that we get the best out of individuals by seeing them as individuals, and creating a place for individuals within a grander collective," he says. "The days of command and control leadership are gone.

"I’m very committed to honest, open debate. I would rather have an uncomfortable but direct conversation rather than avoid the conversation, or have the conversation behind closed doors. If you layer this on top of human values and a clear, collective purpose, there’s a formula for success."

And he has the accolades to prove this. "BetMGM has won awards for being a top employer," he says. "We’ve been recognized as one the best workplaces in metro New York by Fortune Media."

The company takes steps to maintain its positive culture by ensuring regular communication between all levels of the business.

"We survey the whole business three times a year, and we have an engagement score that’s significantly ahead of our peers in our sector," he says. "More than 90 percent of BetMGMers would recommend BetMGM as a place to work."

Greenblatt also conducts all-team calls twice a week to keep spirits high and reinforce its value-centric messaging. He knows from experience that this uplifting culture is a fundamental reason why BetMGM performs at the level it does.

"I’ve worked in businesses where there’s a real fear of fitting in and of getting things wrong, which doesn’t get the most out of people," he says. "We get the most out of people when they feel energized, strong and brave, and that’s the environment we want to create at BetMGM."

Valued teammates

As well as its unique brand value and its positive workplace culture, Greenblatt says the company’s relationship with its strategic partners distinguishes it from the competition.

"Another thing that sets BetMGM apart are its unique partnerships," Greenblatt says.

He talks about encouraging his employees to embody values that help build lasting partnerships with companies, such as media company Almost Friday.

"In order to maintain relationships over time, we need to be able to demonstrate that we are trustworthy, we stand by our word and we show up when we commit to doing so," he says.  "These values help build and maintain long-term partnerships for BetMGM."

He is enduringly proud of the people of BetMGM, and feels vindicated when others realize their virtues, too.

"One of the most gratifying things about my job is when I get feedback from our partners who say to me, ‘Adam, your team’s great. They are so professional and really good people,’" he says.

"It’s just so rewarding for me, and it happens often."