In her new role, Catania will play a key role in developing new content for SG:certified on safer gambling issues including training, assessments, recommendations of best practices, benchmarking and research digests.
Catania joins SG:certified after more than 14 years with Kindred, most recently as the head of responsible gaming and research for Kindred. She stepped down from the position in December last year but remains head of responsible gaming research for the group on a freelance basis.
Catania’s other roles during her time with Kindred included head of player sustainability research and integrity team, integrity analytics manager, fraud and responsible gaming manager, and fraud analyst.
Before joining the gambling industry, Catania worked in drama, including a spell as a drama tutor at the Masquerade Theatre Arts School and drama animator at St James Cavalier.
“SG:certified’s company ethos is to do well and make a great social impact, which is something I always try to live by in my personal life,” Catania said. “So, this company was a natural fit for me.
“I can’t wait to get started and help other companies get the benefits of the platform and build out safer gambling processes resulting in the implementation of better SG strategies.”
SG:certified chief executive Laura Da Silva added: “I have admired Maris and how passionate she is about safer gambling for many years, so I am delighted that she is joining us as a safer gambling senior consultant.
“With her expertise and knowledge of the industry I believe we can really make further positive change on the industry.”