Paris Smith is a well-known figure in the gambling sector, having served 14 years as the CEO of Pinnacle and formerly the COO of Betcorp. Smith stepped down from the top position at Pinnacle in 2023, remaining in an advisory role for the group.
The former Pinnacle leader now acts as an angel investor for the industry. Last year, Smith and a group of investors backed Wire Industries’ betting marketplace Wager Wire.
Speaking at ICE 2025 to SavageTech CEO Tom Lemke, MFC Game CEO Michael Lee and WagerWire’s Travis Geiger, Smith discusses the importance of humility, hunger, smarts and passion in startups.
Smith also notes the challenges of valuation at the pre-seed stage, advocating for realistic expectations and collaboration among startups.
Speaking on the ethics of the gambling sector, Smith notes: “I’ve always been able to go to bed knowing that I’ve done what I believe is right and I think that that’s kind of the balance. But gaming is an industry, it’s a business.
“You know, we’re not running to people’s houses and putting a gun to their head and telling them they have to gamble. It’s an entertainment industry.”
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/tech-innovation/startups/paris-smith-startup-passiom/
