Legendary Las Vegas oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough is to be honored for his outstanding contribution to the gambling industry by being inducted into the Sports Betting Hall of Fame.
Organizer SBC has revealed that Roxborough will be one of five members of the Class of 2020 to join the Hall of Fame at a glittering ceremony during the second edition of the Betting on Sports America trade show in New Jersey this April.
The Hall of Fame was established to celebrate the accomplishments of the stalwarts who have changed the face of the industry, and few individuals could fulfil the entry criteria better than Roxborough.
He was the founder and owner of international oddsmaking businesses Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which is widely credited with revolutionizing the industry by pioneering the use of mathematical formulas and computer models.
Roxborough was also a co-founder of American Wagering Inc, which became the first U.S. bookmaking company to be publicly listed in 1996, and Instant Odds, which was the first site to supply real-time odds updates from Las Vegas casinos.
A familiar figure to U.S. sports fans through his frequent media appearances, he also co-authored Sports Book Management: A Guide to the Legal Bookmaker in 1988, the first educational book for the sports betting business.
There’s little wonder that he was second on the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s list of the most influential sports figures of the 20th century, as well as being named in GQ magazine’s 50 most important people in sports and Sports Illustrated’s 50 greatest sports figures in Nevada history.
On learning of his elevation to the Sports Betting Hall of Fame, Roxborough said: “It is an honor to be among the stars of the industry and I’m especially honored to be inducted with two Las Vegas friends. This award is for all the people who worked for the Las Vegas Sports Consultants’ team for years without recognition.”
Sue Schneider, VP, Growth & Strategy, Americas for SBC, said: “This class of inductees represents a lot of the roots of the industry when Las Vegas was the capital of sports betting, and Roxy personifies that. The number of current publicly listed companies in our industry all owe a tip of the hat to Roxy for breaking that barrier down back in 1996 with the listing of American Wagering Inc.”
Joining Roxborough in the Class of 2020 are Raymond Lesniak (Former Senator New Jersey), Jay Rood (COO, Bet.Works), Victor Salerno (President, USBookmaking & US Fantasy Sports) and Sara Slane (Former American Gaming Association Sr. VP).
Previous inductees include former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Station Casinos VP Race and Sports Book Operations Art Manteris, bet365 Founder & CEO Denise Coates, Pinnacle CEO Paris Smith, Sportingbet Founder Mark Blandford, Sportradar Founder Carsten Koerl, Betfred Founder Fred Done, BetConstruct Founder Vigen Badalyan and Bookmaker Technology Consortium Director Howard Chisholm.
Delegates at Betting on Sports America, the largest dedicated sports betting trade show in the world, will have access to the 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
BOSA, which takes place on April 28-30 at Meadowlands Exposition Center, features 200 industry experts sharing insights on the issues shaping the future of the U.S. sports betting industry, along with 60 leading suppliers showcasing their latest innovations on the 61,000 sq ft exhibition floor, world-class hospitality and extensive networking opportunities at exclusive evening parties in New Jersey and New York.
Registration for Betting on Sports America 2020 is now open, with the general pass available at the Early Bird Rate of $525, a saving of $170 on the standard price.