Head Of Online

Initiate; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 3,000,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Initiate is seeking an experienced Head of Online to own the day-to-day performance, growth, and strategic direction of our online sportsbook and casino operation. You will lead across sportsbook, casino, product, trading, payments, CRM, marketing, risk and technology to drive revenue and exceptional customer experience.

The role requires deep iGaming knowledge, strong leadership, and a proven track record of growing an online betting and casino business across multiple functions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a senior online management role within iGaming, online sportsbook or sports betting.
• Proven experience overseeing an online sportsbook and/or casino operation.
• Strong understanding of the complete online gaming customer journey from registration to retention.
• Strong commercial understanding of sportsbook and casino revenue and profitability.
• Experience across multiple online functions: Sportsbook, Casino, Product, Trading, CRM, Payments, Marketing, Customer Support, Risk and Compliance.
• Strong knowledge of online gaming KPIs including GGR, NGR, turnover, FTDs, deposits, active players, retention, ARPU and LTV.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the online sportsbook and casino operation, including performance, commercial results, and customer experience.
• Develop and execute the overall online strategy aligned with growth plans.
• Oversee performance and identify opportunities to increase acquisition, activation, engagement, retention and revenue.
• Collaborate with Sportsbook and Casino teams to keep the offering competitive and commercially effective.
• Work with Trading and Product to optimise sportsbook proposition, markets, odds, promotions and player experience.
• Oversee the online casino proposition including game portfolio, suppliers, promotions and engagement.
• Coordinate with CRM and Marketing for lifecycle management, promotions and retention.
• Monitor key online metrics such as GGR, NGR, turnover, deposits, withdrawals and profitability.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven

IGaming knowledge

Strategic planning

Cross-functional

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Online to take ownership of the day-to-day performance, growth and strategic direction of a leading online sportsbook and casino operation.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the entire online gaming operation, ensuring the sportsbook and casino platforms deliver an exceptional customer experience while achieving ambitious commercial and revenue targets.

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the iGaming ecosystem and be comfortable working across sportsbook, casino, product, trading, payments, customer operations, CRM, marketing, risk and technology.

This is not a traditional marketing position. We are looking for someone who can run an online betting and casino business - understanding the commercial drivers behind the operation, identifying opportunities for growth and ensuring all online functions work together effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall ownership of the online sportsbook and casino operation, including performance, commercial results, customer experience and operational delivery.
• Develop and execute the overall online strategy, aligned with the company's commercial objectives and growth plans.
• Oversee the performance of the sportsbook and casino, identifying opportunities to increase player acquisition, activation, engagement, retention and revenue.
• Work closely with the Sportsbook and Casino teams to ensure the product offering remains competitive, engaging and commercially effective.
• Collaborate with Trading and Product teams to optimise the sportsbook proposition, betting markets, odds, promotions and overall player experience.
• Oversee the online casino proposition, including game portfolio, suppliers, promotions, player engagement and commercial performance.
• Work closely with CRM and Marketing teams to ensure effective acquisition, lifecycle management, promotions, retention and reactivation strategies.
• Monitor and analyse key online performance metrics, including GGR, NGR, FTDs, active players, deposits, withdrawals, turnover, player value, retention and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to improve conversion, player activity, average revenue and customer lifetime value.
• Work closely with Payments teams to ensure an efficient and reliable deposit and withdrawal experience for customers.
• Collaborate with Customer Support and Operations to ensure a high-quality customer journey across the entire online lifecycle.
• Work alongside Risk, Fraud, Compliance and Responsible Gambling teams to ensure the online operation remains secure, compliant and commercially sustainable.
• Work closely with Technology and Product teams to identify platform improvements, resolve operational challenges and improve the overall online customer experience.
• Manage and develop relationships with key platform providers, sportsbook suppliers, casino providers, payment providers and other strategic partners.
• Monitor competitors and market trends across the African iGaming and sportsbook landscape and identify opportunities to strengthen the company's competitive position.
• Develop and manage commercial plans around major sporting events, casino campaigns, promotions and key seasonal opportunities.
• Ensure the online business operates efficiently, with strong processes, reporting structures and performance management.
• Lead cross-functional teams and ensure effective collaboration between Online, Trading, Product, Marketing, CRM, Payments, Customer Support, Risk and Technology.
• Report on online performance to senior management, providing clear insights, recommendations and commercial forecasts.
• Identify new opportunities to expand the online offering, increase market share and improve overall profitability.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years' experience in a senior online management role within iGaming, online sportsbook, online casino or sports betting.
• Proven experience managing or overseeing an online sportsbook and/or casino operation.
• Strong understanding of the complete online gaming customer journey, from registration and KYC through to deposits, betting/gaming, withdrawals, retention and reactivation.
• Strong commercial understanding of the key drivers behind sportsbook and casino revenue and profitability.
• Experience working across multiple online functions, including Sportsbook, Casino, Product, Trading, CRM, Payments, Marketing, Customer Support, Risk and Compliance.
• Strong understanding of sportsbook operations, including betting markets, trading, odds, promotions, player behaviour and sportsbook performance.
• Good understanding of online casino operations, including game providers, game performance, promotions and player engagement.
• Experience working with iGaming platforms, sportsbook platforms and casino technology/providers.
• Strong knowledge of online gaming KPIs including GGR, NGR, turnover, FTDs, deposits, active players, retention, ARPU and player lifetime value.
• Proven ability to use data and reporting to identify performance issues and commercial opportunities.
• Strong understanding of the African online betting and gaming market.
• Experience managing external suppliers and strategic technology partners.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Commercially astute with the ability to balance customer experience, revenue growth, operational efficiency and compliance.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial iGaming environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who understands the online gaming business from the inside out.

You could currently be a Head of Online, Head of Gaming, Head of Sportsbook, Online Operations Director, Online Gaming Manager, Operations Director or Senior Online Manager within an iGaming, sportsbook or casino environment.

We are particularly interested in individuals who have had genuine ownership of an online operation, rather than candidates whose experience has been limited to one specific function such as marketing, CRM, trading or customer support.

You will be commercially driven, highly analytical and comfortable making decisions across multiple areas of the online business. You understand that a successful sportsbook and casino operation requires every part of the customer journey to work together - from product and trading through to payments, promotions, customer experience, retention and revenue.

Most importantly, you will be a hands-on leader who can take ownership, identify problems, drive solutions and ultimately be accountable for the performance of the online business.