Paul Leggett To Leave Amaya Gaming

Paul Leggett will be leaving Amaya Gaming “effective immediately” according to an internal e-mail acquired by USPoker.com.

The e-mail was sent by David Baazov, CEO of Amaya, and confirms Leggett’s departure from the company. “Paul is a consummate professional and has done an incredible job at Amaya,” he said. “He has led the integration of the online businesses, developed our strategies for technology and product, signed key deals and has put our online business on the path forward to greater things.  He will be sorely missed.”

A source inside the company also believed that Leggett’s departure was made voluntarily, and on good terms. The move was apparently intended to help Amaya receive licensing as quickly as possible as Leggett’s involvement in online gaming post UIGEA could potentially delay the process.

Don Jaques, Director of Business Development, will replace Leggett as VP of Online, and Darcy Krough, VP of Business Development, and Fredrik Kjell, Head of Product, will assist in the transition by assuming some of Leggett’s responsibilities as well.

“Don Jaques has done a great job at leading our USA business development efforts and has extensive history with our development team in Stockholm, making him the ideal candidate for the role,” says Baazov.

“I would like to thank Paul for his dedication to Amaya and we wish him all the success with his future endeavors,” the e-mail concludes.

Just today, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement announced that Amaya has received a license to operate in the state, along with bwin.party, Betfair, Ultimate Poker, Caesars and 888. Online gaming is set to go live on November 26 in the Garden State with a soft launch on November 21.