Ivars Bareika

Commercially driven iGaming professional with 16 years of poker experience and €200K+ in verified online winnings, combined with professional experience in business development, account management, client acquisition and operations. Strong knowledge of online and land-based casino products, including slots, poker, blackjack, baccarat, live casino, table games and sportsbook. Deep understanding of player behaviour, lifecycle, VIP dynamics, retention, promotions and engagement.

Highly analytical approach developed through professional poker, using GTO strategy, probability, expected value, game selection and risk management. Based in Malta with a 7,000+ professional network across the local iGaming ecosystem, including operators, suppliers and affiliates.

Associate Recruitment Consultant at ACCELERATE FINANCE & LEGAL RECRUITMENT (2024-09 – Present)

• Generated €230K in revenue through recruitment, business development and account management across finance, legal and iGaming.
• Built and managed relationships with Malta-based iGaming operators and suppliers, with approximately 40% of portfolio from the gaming sector.
• Won 21 new clients in 2025, generating approximately €120K in indirect revenue.
• Leveraged a 7,000+ Malta-based professional network to develop new business and engage decision-makers.
• Managed the full commercial lifecycle: prospecting, requirements, negotiation, delivery, account management and relationship growth.
• Identified upselling and cross-selling opportunities and developed relationships beyond individual recruitment mandates.
• Worked with iGaming businesses across VIP, operations, compliance and commercial functions, gaining direct exposure to operator structures and business needs.

EAP Coordinator at OPTUM (UNITEDHEALTH GROUP) (2018-07 – 2024-06)

• Managed 50 global client accounts across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Canada, ensuring service delivery, stakeholder communication and SLA performance.
• Managed sensitive client relationships within a highly regulated and confidential environment.
• Conducted screening, due diligence and risk assessments, developing transferable skills relevant to KYC, AML and risk environments.
• Managed complex cases requiring rapid decision-making, escalation and accurate documentation.
• Trained colleagues, supported onboarding and process improvement, and deputised for the First Line Manager.

Legal Support Advisor & IT Support Testing at NATIONAL ACCIDENT HELPLINE (2017-04 – 2018-07)

• Converted inbound leads into customers while working against conversion, performance and service KPIs.
• Managed customer interactions in a high-volume, regulated environment.
• Supported CRM implementation and user acceptance testing, contributing to process improvement.

Professional Poker Player (2013-06 – 2017-12)

16 years of poker experience with €200K+ in verified online winnings, providing extensive first-hand knowledge of online gaming and player behaviour.

• Used GTO strategy, probability, range analysis and expected value for data-driven decision-making.
• Developed game-selection strategies based on player pools, table composition, liquidity, stakes and profitability.
• Applied disciplined bankroll, risk and variance management.

BSc in Business Administration – University of Leicester