BETTER CHANGE
Careers in Gaming A
s our kids head back to school this month after their summer break, I wonder how many of them will be contemplating or even discussing a career in gaming with their advisors? I have been working in the gaming industry for
almost a decade now and I absolutely love it. I’m proud to say I work in an industry that is innovative, exciting and challenging. I’m proud to see my peers thriving in a meritocracy that offers genuine career progression and sees talented individuals achieving six-fi gure salaries regularly. I’m proud that the industry is constantly evolving as we see the emergence of things like eSports and Artifi cial Intelligence. I’m proud that we’ve got inspirational women as the CEOs of huge, traditionally male-focused organisations like Entain and Betfred. So why do I feel like I’m often alone in being proud of our industry? Why aren’t careers advisors shouting about the amazing opportunities available in gaming to our students? Why is there still a stigma attached to working in gaming? I think a large part of the reason is down to a lack of
understanding. Some people, particularly from older generations, may not fully understand the complexity and diversity of careers within the gaming industry. We work with a number of vulnerable adults who are experiencing homelessness and we often ask if they’ve thought of a career in gaming. The most common response we get is ‘I don’t fancy working behind the counter at a bookies’ Either that or they think we mean becoming a professional poker player! We soon correct them and point out the myriad of
36 SEPTEMBER 2023
Why aren’t careers advisors shouting about the amazing opportunities available in gaming to our students? Better Change founder, Victoria Reed, raises a valid question.
possibilities in gaming from jobs in HR, IT, Finance and of course, compliance which is what we focus on. The reaction we get when we tell someone they could start a
career as a safer gambling executive on a salary of £21,000 and potentially end up as a Compliance Director on £150,000 plus within 10-15 years is incredible. For many, it’s the fi rst time they’ve considered a career and not just focused on getting a job. The gaming industry is rife with misinformation and outdated
beliefs which certainly contribute to the negative perception of gaming-related careers. We’ve heard it suggested that it’s easy money as some people believe that gambling jobs don’t require specialised skills or education. In reality, most of the roles in the industry demand expertise in areas such as marketing, fi nance, customer service, and of course regulatory compliance. Indeed, a Personal Management Licence (PML) holder is at risk of incurring a personal fi ne or even a prison sentence if they fail to understand and comply with the regulatory requirements imposed on them. That doesn’t sound like an unskilled person to me. This also quashes the argument of those people we’ve spoken to
who think roles within the gambling industry aren’t real jobs as everyone is just having fun all the time. Clearly there are plenty of times when working in a casino, a bingo hall or on an eSports tournament will be hugely entertaining but that’s not the reality. Creating a safe and entertaining experience for your customers is hard work and carries huge responsibility. Whilst things have improved dramatically in recent years, there
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