George Daskalakis

Early Experience at Bwin

Daskalakis began his career in the gaming industry as Country Manager for bwin in Greece between 2002 and 2005. It was a formative period for online gambling in Europe, and his work focused on establishing local operations, building brand awareness, and navigating a developing regulatory environment.

After leaving bwin, he entered the world of digital media and content. In 2005, he co-founded 24MEDIA, which would become one of the largest digital publishing groups in Greece. A year later, he launched Poker.gr, a platform focused on poker education and content for Greek users.

Founding Kaizen Gaming

In 2012, Daskalakis co-founded Kaizen Gaming, which operates two major brands: Stoiximan (Greece and Cyprus) and Betano (active in multiple international markets). Its international expansion was built through Betano, now present in multiple markets including Mexico, Argentina, Denmark, Colombia, and the UK.

Under his leadership, Kaizen Gaming has grown from a small team of 20 in Greece to over 2,500 employees across 18 markets, with plans to expand to 26 markets by 2026.

Kaizen Gaming has built a significant sponsorship portfolio across both brands. Betano is an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, and holds partnerships with football clubs like Aston Villa FC and FC Porto. Stoiximan continues to support local sport in Greece and Cyprus, sponsoring national teams, domestic leagues, and Olympic athletes.

Kaizen Gaming’s performance has been consistently recognized by the industry. In 2024, the company won seven awards at the EGR Operator Awards, including the coveted title of Operator of the Year.

Launching the Kaizen Foundation

In 2024, Daskalakis took Kaizen’s corporate social responsibility efforts to the next level with the launch of the Kaizen Foundation. The foundation’s first major project was a €3.8 million renovation of a children’s hospital in Athens. It has also donated defibrillators to sports clubs and provided life-support training to staff across local sports communities.

The foundation formalizes a philosophy that had already been present in Kaizen’s culture: that business growth should be matched by tangible contributions to society.

Daskalakis emphasizes a culture of innovation, employee well-being, and customer focus. He promotes a work environment that values autonomy, clarity, and long-term thinking. Internally, employees — referred to as “Kaizeners” — are seen as central to the company’s ability to grow sustainably across diverse markets.

He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Essex, an MSc in Banking & Finance from the University of Southampton, and an MSc in Decision Sciences (E-Commerce) from the Athens University of Economics and Business. In 2016, he completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School.