Job Specification: Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Job Title

Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Department

Technology & Digital

Reports To

Executive Directors

Direct Reports

• Solutions Architect
• Head of Data
• IT Infrastructure & Operations Leads
• Information Security Lead
• IT Service Delivery Manager

Role Purpose

The CTO is accountable for the overall technology and data environment of the organization, ensuring that all platforms, systems, and data assets are secure, resilient, compliant, scalable, and aligned to business strategy.

This role provides executive ownership and governance over technology and data while delegating architecture design to the Solutions Architect and data delivery and analytics to the Head of Data.

Role Scope (Enterprise?Wide)

The CTO has accountability across:

• Online casino and sportsbook platforms
• Land?based (retail) betting shop technology
• Payments and financial systems
• Customer platforms (CRM, loyalty, CX)
• Enterprise systems (Finance, HR, Audit, Compliance)
• Infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, and networks
• Data platforms, governance, and regulatory reporting enablement

Key Responsibilities

1. Technology & Data Strategy

• Define and own the enterprise technology and data strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Ensure technology and data roadmaps support:
  • Revenue growth
  • Operational efficiency
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Responsible Gambling (RG)
• Act as the executive authority on technology and data risk.

2. Governance, Accountability & Control

• Retain ultimate accountability for:
  • System availability and resilience
  • Data integrity and trustworthiness
  • Regulatory and audit defensibility
• Establish and chair technology and data governance forums.
• Ensure clear RACI across Technology, Data, Compliance, Finance, and Operations.

3. Online Casino & Sportsbook Technology Oversight

• Executive oversight of:
  • Player Account Management (PAM)
  • Casino platforms and game integrations
  • Sportsbook platforms, odds feeds, and trading systems
• Ensure consistency, scalability, and compliance across online platforms.
• Approve platform and vendor strategies (not detailed designs).

4. Land?Based (Retail) Technology Oversight

• Governance of retail technology, including:
  • Betting terminals and POS
  • Cash management and reconciliation systems
  • Store connectivity and uptime
• Ensure seamless integration between retail and online environments.
• Ensure reliable reporting on retail performance and risk.

5. Data Ownership (Strategic & Governance Level)

The CTO owns accountability, not execution, for data.

• Own the enterprise data strategy across all domains:
  • Betting and trading data
  • Customer and CRM data
  • Financial and payments data
  • Operational, HR, audit, and compliance data
• Ensure:
  • Clear data ownership and stewardship
  • Single sources of truth
  • Strong data quality controls
  • Data lineage and auditability
• Work through the Head of Data for delivery, analytics, and reporting.

6. Regulatory, Risk & Compliance Enablement

• Ensure technology and data enable compliance with:
  • National and provincial gambling regulations
  • FICA / AML requirements
  • POPIA and data privacy legislation
  • PCI?DSS and payments standards
• Provide technology and data assurance to:
  • Regulators
  • Internal and external auditors
• Ensure RG monitoring and reporting systems are effective and defensible.

7. Cybersecurity & Business Continuity

• Own the cybersecurity strategy covering:
  • Application security
  • Infrastructure and cloud security
  • Access and identity management
• Ensure effective disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity planning (BCP).
• Oversee security incident response at executive level.

8. IT Service Delivery & Operations

• Own IT service management (ITSM), including:
  • Incident, problem, and change management
  • SLAs and vendor performance
  • System monitoring and uptime
• Ensure technology services support 24/7 betting operations.

9. Architecture Oversight (Via Solutions Architect)

• Set architecture principles and standards.
• Delegate:
  • Solution design
  • Integration patterns
  • Technology selection recommendations to the Solutions Architect.
• Approve designs at a governance level without owning detailed architecture.

10. Vendor, Budget & Commercial Management

• Own technology budgets (CapEx and OpEx).
• Approve technology investments based on value and risk.
• Oversee vendor contracts and performance.
• Avoid vendor lock?in and ensure exit strategies.

11. Leadership & Culture

• Lead senior technology and data leaders.
• Build strong succession and capability depth.
• Promote a culture of accountability, compliance, and execution.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive team and Board.

Key Interfaces

• CEO & Board – strategy, risk, assurance
• COO – operational resilience and scalability
• CFO – financial systems and data integrity
• Head of Compliance / Risk – regulatory enablement
• Solutions Architect – architecture design governance
• Head of Data – analytics, BI, and data delivery

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Platform uptime and availability
• Severity and frequency of incidents
• Audit and regulatory findings
• Cybersecurity posture and incidents
• Delivery against roadmap and budget
• Data quality and reporting confidence

Required Experience & Qualifications

Education

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Systems
• MBA or equivalent advantageous

Experience

• 10–15+ years in senior technology leadership roles
• Experience within:
  • Online gambling, sportsbook, or similarly regulated industries
  • High?volume transactional platforms
• Proven management of large vendor ecosystems
• Strong regulatory and risk management exposure

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and risk?aware
• Pragmatic and execution?focused
• Comfortable in regulated environments
• Strong communicator at Board level
• Balances innovation with operational stability