Vanessa Arenram, Play’n GO: “2024 was a landmark year in the company’s sustainability journey”

Vanessa Arenram, director of CSR at Play’n GO, shared details about the second annual sustainability report.

Exclusive interview.- Play’n GO recently announced the release of its second annual sustainability report, which highlights progress made throughout 2024 in sustainability, player safety, innovation, and responsible growth.

To learn more about the company’s report, Focus Gaming News spoke to Vanessa Arenram, director of CSR at Play’n GO. She shared insights about the study, how the company’s sustainability strategy evolved over the past year, its initiatives, and the goals for the next year.

What are the key highlights from Play’n GO’s second annual sustainability report?

2024 was a landmark year in Play’n GO’s sustainability journey. Building on the foundation laid in our first report, this year’s publication expands the scope and reflects a business-wide integration of sustainable practices. We entered 13 new regulated markets, released more than 50 new games, and had all-time high spins and players. The company’s growth was matched by equally impressive progress in ESG.

Play’n GO became the first and only B2B supplier to achieve the prestigious Tier 2 ESG-C seal from the Malta Gaming Authority. The report also underscores the company’s continued leadership in responsible game design, with a public stance against predatory Bonus Buy mechanics supported by consumer research in the UK, Denmark, and Sweden.

In terms of operations, Play’n GO completed its five-year climate adaptation roadmap by transitioning to a Digital First working culture, reducing Scope 2 emissions by 80 per cent. New initiatives, such as paid Volunteering Time Off (VTO), and the launch of Play’n GO Music in collaboration with Grammy-winning artists and the long-term partnership with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, further highlight how sustainability and entertainment continue to converge at Play’n GO.

None of this would have been possible without the collective efforts of every team member across the business. All teams have worked incredibly hard to meet these milestones, I’m very proud of everyone at Play’n GO. We’re a truly global team, and this year’s accomplishments reflect that shared commitment to doing things the right way.

How has the company’s sustainability strategy evolved over the past year?

The past year marked a shift from foundational sustainability commitments to a more integrated, data-driven strategy. In 2023, Play’n GO established its carbon emissions baseline and began aligning its operations with global sustainability frameworks. By 2024, the company had mapped its contributions to all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, having initially focused on nine.

We’re ready to level up, and the report outlines our upgraded internal reporting structure built around the World Economic Forum’s model for Stakeholder Capitalism. Sustainability is also embedded into procurement processes, with climate commitments a standard criterion in partner assessments.

“The past year marked a shift from foundational sustainability commitments to a more integrated, data-driven strategy.”

Vanessa Arenram, director of CSR at Play’n GO.

What specific initiatives have had the most impact on reducing Play’n GO’s environmental footprint?

The transition to a Digital First operating model has been one of the most transformative changes we’ve made. By transitioning to remote-first work, we’ve not only maximised flexible freedom for our employees but reduced emissions, water usage, and general resource consumption significantly. It’s a powerful example of how operational shifts can support both people and the planet. A standout milestone was achieving an 80 per cent reduction in Scope 2 emissions compared to our 2023 base year, and we continued to address emissions from travel, compensating 100 per cent of all business travel and doubling offsets for executive travel. Our teams are continuously innovating to reduce this impact.

How does Play’n GO balance sustainability efforts with business growth in the iGaming industry?

We see sustainability not as a trade-off, but as an essential part of building a future-ready business.

Play’n GO’s decision to exclude Bonus Buy mechanics is rooted in a player-first, long-term philosophy. We choose to prioritise entertainment and creating premium quality gaming experiences over short-term gain. We believe this is core to building lasting trust with stakeholders.

“The transition to a Digital First operating model has been one of the most transformative changes we’ve made.”

Vanessa Arenram, director of CSR at Play’n GO.

Looking ahead, what are the company’s main sustainability goals for the next year?

It’s our purpose to make gambling fun and safe, and data is key to understanding our impact. It’s a journey of continuous improvement, and we’re focusing on improving quality in reporting for the material data points and topics that reflect our industry, ensuring we stay aligned with the best global standards and who we are as a company. We have recently partnered with Worldfavor and are looking forward to developing this over the coming year.