Pioneers of Digital Gaming, Installment One: Paris Smith in Focus
In 1995, a fresh-faced Paris Smith, a young woman with a college basketball scholarship under her belt, embarked on a new adventure in Antigua armed with just a tourism degree. Little did she know that fate would hand her an opportunity that would lead her to the heart of the burgeoning iGaming world.
Walking her dog on the beach, Paris found herself embroiled in a life-saving encounter with a stranger, who would later introduce her to the world of sports betting. This chance meeting led her to an interview with Bill Scott of World Wide Tele Sports (WWTS), where she walked into an ashtray full of cigarette butts, a table full of beers, and a collection of clunky computers. After an unconventional 10-minute interview, Paris was onboard as a phone clerk, marking the beginning of her incredible journey.
Meeting the wild West
Despite the analogue chaos of WWTS, Paris and her colleagues managed to handle the volume of calls and provide exceptional customer service, earning them a reputation as the best in the industry. Nonetheless, Billy Scott was always on the lookout for growth, taking out a $750 ad in a sports betting magazine that quickly skyrocketed their customer base. However, with the acute lack of digital tools, this surge in popularity brought on a frenzy, with the team manually scribbling down customer details and process payments with only Western Union Quick Collect, cashier cheques or bank wires as options.
Making a legacy
Paris quickly proved her mettle, becoming indispensable to the company and rising through the ranks organically. After 11 years with WWTS, she joined Pinnacle, a company that was growing rapidly based on word-of-mouth popularity and a reputation for offering sharp lines and better juice. While with Pinnacle, Paris was instrumental in several major projects, such as the exit from the U.S. market, which was accomplished with unparalleled execution and professionalism despite seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Navigating the new frontier
Paris's tenure with Pinnacle spanned more than a decade, marking a significant chapter in her career and in the development of the iGaming industry. As the industry transitioned from its infancy to a more sophisticated marketplace, she played a crucial role in shaping a more professional, data-driven, and competitive online betting landscape. Today, Paris is passing her wisdom onto the next generation, continuing to contribute to the evolution of the industry that she helped mold.
Stay tuned for Part Two of our OGs of Online Gaming feature, where Paris Smith shares more nostalgic stories from the wild 90s and looks ahead to the future of the industry that they helped build.
P.S.: The online gambling sector owes its existence to visionaries like Paris, who shaped the industry by focusing on fairness through Random Number Generators (RNGs), secure payment gateways, and eventually building on simple foundations to incorporate live dealer systems and mobile gaming experiences.
- In the chaotic environment of WWTS, Paris and her colleagues, despite the lack of digital tools, managed to provide exceptional customer service, earning a reputation as the best in the sports-betting industry.
- After her impressive stint at WWTS, Paris joined Pinnacle, a startup that was growing in popularity due to its sharp lines and better juice, and she played a crucial role in shaping a more professional, data-driven, and competitive sports-betting landscape.
- Paris, a female pioneer in the iGaming world, navigated the new frontier of the sports-betting industry, paving the way for fair practices through Random Number Generators (RNGs), secure payment gateways, and mobile gaming experiences.
- From the wild West of 90s sports betting to the present day, Paris Smith's impact on the industry is undeniable, as she continues to contribute to its evolution, passing on her wisdom to the next generation.
