Career
Blandford is also the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Blandford was one of the earliest offline bookmakers to see the potential for sports betting online. Previously the owner of a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ bookmaking operation for over 15 years, Mark recognized the potential of the internet in the mid 1990s and sold his chain to Tote Bookmakers in 1997. In October 1998 he launched and in January 2001 the Company floated on the London Stock Exchange"s Alternative Investment Market in a landmark transaction for the online gaming industry.
With, Blandford went on to be voted American Institute of Management Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 and later earned the company the honour of American Institute of Management Transaction of the Year in 2005.
Blandford left day-to-day operations at in 2006 and now works as a venture capital investor. In recent years, Blandford has managed a venture capital fund focusing on the leisure sector.
The fund, called Valhalla Investments, has made a handful of investments in the online gambling industry. Industry analysts pay close attention to Blandford"s investments and he is a featured speaker at many gaming industry events.
