The AGC sector has come a long way in terms of recruiting and promoting talented female colleagues – but and as far as Mark Jepp is concerned – not far enough. In a searingly honest appraisal, he points to the bingo sector for inspiration where more women occupy senior positions. Far from being an exercise in box ticking he argues that diversity makes great business sense helping to deconstruct groupthink and promote creativity.
Mark Jepp, CEO of Game Nation believes that when it comes to diversity in the workplace that AGC operators can learn a lot from their cousins in the Bingo sector.
Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day, Mark Jepp acknowledged that whilst advances have been made, they were eclipsed by the inroads demonstrated in bingo. He said: “There’s no doubt that brands such as Castle Bingo where the majority of the senior team are women and Mecca where the Marketing Director and the Central Ops Director are both female, are sign-posting where we as an important part of the gaming entertainment industry – an industry which has a significant female customer profile – need to be heading. There’s a long way to go and I am determined that Game Nation will play a part in ensuring that more senior voices in the business are female.”
He noted: “It’s very important that we are able to demonstrate that our industry provides a rewarding career path and that there are no glass ceilings: the best way to achieve that is to have more female role models who have progressed to the Boardroom. It’s about establishing clear career paths and investing in the development of people – both women and men – who have talent and determination.”
Jepp believes that diversity in the workplace also makes great business sense. “There have been numerous studies that have shown that companies with diverse leadership teams tend to achieve higher profitability and better long-term growth.” he stated. “When senior teams include both men and women, they are more likely to challenge assumptions, reduce groupthink, and make balanced strategic decisions. In competitive markets such as ours bringing a diverse approach to challenges and opportunities can be a significant advantage.”
He argued that having greater female representation at senior levels plays a key role in helping to attract high-quality candidates to the business. “Younger demographics in particular expect employers to demonstrate commitment to equality and inclusion. It’s a fact that those companies that fail to do so will struggle to attract top talent in what is an extremely competitive sector.”
Breaking the glass ceiling
Mark Jepp said… “Younger demographics in particular expect employers to demonstrate commitment to equality and inclusion. It’s a fact that those companies that fail to do so will struggle to attract top talent in what is an extremely competitive sector…
Originally published on Coinslot on March 9, 2026. Republished with permission.