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Joe Asher
Chief Executive Officer, William Hill U.S.
Caesars Entertainment’s September purchase of sportsbook operator William Hill for $3.7 billion finally puts the operator and Asher in position to become a front-line player in the emerging U.S. market. It has been an arduous road for Caesars, which saw its move into sports slowed by the complications of a large merger, which ceded operation of the combined companies’ sportsbooks to William Hill. It was Asher who presciently secured those rights late in 2018, setting William Hill up as an early mover in many states — and eventually a valuable acquisition target. — Bill King
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Jason Robins
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, DraftKings
Robins took DraftKings public at the end of April, against the headwinds of global economic uncertainty, with most sports shut down by the pandemic. And it turned out great. Even before sports resumed, the market welcomed DKNG warmly. The stock price doubled in its first month and has held strong since then, as sportsbooks have put up record numbers in states across the country. — Bill King
