Entain and UNLV will recruit and educate women at the undergraduate and graduate level. The program will be located in the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park and will include a state-of-the-art laboratory with an esports arena, virtual reality studio and other resources.
Approximately 20 women will participate in the initial class launching this August. The program is led by Jan Jones Blackhurst, Chief Executive in Residence, International Gaming Institute and Robert Rippee, Ph.D., Executive Director, Innovation Hub.
“Entain is the ideal partner to help us bring this groundbreaking program to life,” said Jones Blackhurst. “As a leader in online sports betting and gaming, Entain will help us showcase the myriad of opportunities available in these professional fields, further develop our curriculum, and help women see career pathways in a technology led industry where they are not always well-represented.”
The program’s curriculum will be designed to accommodate hands-on-experiences and internships.
Entain, which operates BetMGM in partnership with MGM Resorts, hired Jette Nygaard-Andersen as its CEO last month, making one of the few leading female executives in gaming and sports betting.
“We are honored to be a part of such an inspiring and pioneering program with UNLV,” said Nygaard-Andersen. “Women can face many obstacles in getting traction in careers that are often or traditionally male dominated. This program will encourage women to aspire for careers they previously may not have considered, and it provides the hands-on experience they need to make the sports betting, gaming, and technology industries more inclusive.”
