In a notable shift in executive leadership, Relax Gaming has announced the elevation of Martin Stålros to the role of Chief Executive Officer. After nearly a decade serving as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Stålros is poised to take over the helm from Simon Hammon, who has guided Relax Gaming as CEO since 2022 following his prior role as Chief Product Officer.
Hammon, whose tenure as CEO spanned a transformative period for Relax, originally joined the company back in 2018 after a successful stint at NetEnt that lasted over six years. In this period, NetEnt unleashed some of its most iconic and commercially successful gaming titles. While at the top of Relax Gaming, Hammon was instrumental in pushing forward the development of the renowned Money Train series, which has cemented its place within the gaming industry as one of the most sought-after title series in recent memory.
Under Hammon’s leadership, 2022 marked the unveiling of the Dream Drop progressive jackpot. Since its introduction, this exciting innovation has transformed 14 lucky individuals into millionaires, a testament to the company’s commitment to game-changing product offerings.
As Hammon prepares to depart his CEO position, he will continue to provide support to the company and ensure a smooth transition until October 2024.
Stålros, a seasoned executive in the gambling sphere, brings a wealth of experience to the CEO role, with a background that includes a series of prominent positions within the industry. Before joining Relax Gaming in January 2015, he contributed significantly to Kindred-owned Unibet as a business development manager and head of poker operations. Additionally, Stålros sharpened his expertise during a two-year tenure at Ladbrokes Egaming, where he excelled as a customer development manager for poker and a marketing executive.
Speaking on his promotion, Stålros expressed both enthusiasm and humility, commenting on the remarkable growth of Relax Gaming from a modest team of 30 to a robust workforce of 350 during his term as COO. He attributes much of his motivation to the dynamic and talented team at Relax Gaming, emphasizing the collective strength that spurs him to embrace the challenging role of CEO.
Patrik Osteraker, Chairman of Relax Gaming, shared his high regard for Stålros, noting his deep-rooted understanding of the company and expressing confidence in his ability to propel Relax’s ambitious growth strategy. Osteraker refers to the foundational role Stålros played in the company’s achievements and endorses his capabilities to guide Relax Gaming through its escalating expansion.
Outgoing CEO Hammon praised Stålros as the fitting candidate to lead Relax Gaming at this critical turn of events. Commending the team and the company’s performance throughout his five-year journey, Hammon exuded confidence in Stålros’ knowledge of the company’s DNA, offerings, and personnel, along with his results-driven yet sensible approach, which, according to Hammon, will direct Relax Gaming in fulfilling its objectives.
The executive transition occurs hot on the heels of Relax Gaming’s ambitious expansion into the United States market. Near the close of the previous year, the company obtained a vendor transactional waiver for New Jersey, signaling its commitment to broadening its global footprint. Partnering with BetMGM, Relax successfully launched its set of slot games under the brand name RLX Gaming in the U.S., with popular titles such as The Great Pigsby and Epic Joker making their American debut. The move into New Jersey serves as a grand step following a successful foray into the Ontario, Canada market in 2022, solidifying Relax Gaming’s North American ambitions.
