Melvin Ritsema
Co-Founder & CEO of Xcite Ventures Ltd
Melvin Ritsema has spent nearly two decades in the iGaming industry, beginning his career as a 19-year-old affiliate in Gibraltar at Pokerstrategy. He then moved into casino and sportsbook operations, becoming an integral part of building Royal Panda from its startup days. At Royal Panda he oversaw Casino, Sportsbook, CRM, Marketing, and Compliance, and later served as CMO.
After Royal Panda was acquired by LeoVegas Group in 2017, Ritsema stayed on as Managing Director and, following the full merger of the brands, became Commercial Director and later General Manager – Rest of World (ROW) for the LeoVegas Group, responsible for Asia, Latin America, and New Zealand. He also served as a culture and leadership trainer for over 50 managers within the group.
In 2023, after nearly a decade with LeoVegas Group, Ritsema co-founded Xcite Ventures Ltd together with Christopher Davis, with backing from HappyHour.io. He currently serves as CEO, leading the startup in the iGaming space.
Career History
| Company | Role | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Panda | CMO & later Managing Director | 2014-01-01 – 2017-01-01 |
| Royal Panda (under LeoVegas Group) | Managing Director | 2017-01-01 – 2019-01-01 |
| LeoVegas | General Manager – ROW (later strategic projects) | 2019-01-01 – 2023-01-01 |