Relax Gaming promotes Martin Stålros to CEO

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Relax Gaming has announced the appointment of Martin Stålros as its new CEO.

Stålros has been with Relax for the last ten years and most recently served as the iGaming supplier’s CPO for the last three years.

He is replacing Simon Hammon who has held the role since 2022, and will stay with Relax Gaming until October in order to support the handover process.

“Having the opportunity to step up as CEO after seeing the company grow from 30 to 350 people during my time as COO is tremendously exciting. I’m humbled by the task and it’s the strength of the team that surrounds me which makes me even more motivated about the challenge,” said Stålros. “My predecessors have built a stable ship and a close working relationship with both Patrik Österåker, the Founder, and Simon Hammon, the previous CEO, has given me great insight.”

Outgoing CEO Hammon described Stalros as his ‘natural replacement’ and he believes that he will use his ‘extensive understanding of the company’s DNA’ to successfully steer Relax to all the goals it has set.

“Martin has been involved with Relax from the very early days and has had a material impact on the success of the company,” added Relax Gaming Chairman Patrik Österåker. “As the business and organisation continues to mature and grow we feel that Martin has the ideal profile needed to support and guide us on our ambitious growth trajectory.”

Relax enter North America in Ontario and New Jersey

Relax Gaming has had a presence in North America since the opening of the Ontario iGaming market two years ago.

In December 2023 it entered the U.S. after gaining a vendor transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Trading in the U.S. under its brand name RLX Gaming, it agreed a deal with BetMGM to provide its portfolio of titles in the state.

“This debut in New Jersey and acquisition of our transactional waiver is a milestone for Relax/RLX Gaming and just the beginning of our endeavors in the next level of US regulated markets,” said Relax Gaming Chief Regulatory Officer Alexia Smilovic Ronde at the time of the announcement.