In an exclusive Q&A with NEXT.io, Continent 8 Technologies CEO Mike Small discusses his transition into the role, succeeding founder Michael Tobin, the impact of AI on the technology sector, and the strategic priorities shaping the company’s next phase of growth.
NEXT: After serving as a strategic board advisor over the last year, what ultimately convinced you to take on the CEO role at Continent 8 Technologies?
Mike Small: Having worked alongside the leadership team over the past year, I gained a real appreciation for what makes Continent 8 special. The company has built an outstanding reputation as a trusted technology partner to many of the world’s leading iGaming operators and platform providers, and that reputation has been earned through a relentless focus on customer success, innovation and operational excellence. Our Net Promoter Score of 71 is a great reflection of the trust our customers place in us and the commitment of our teams to delivering exceptional outcomes.
What ultimately convinced me was the combination of a strong foundation and the opportunity ahead. The business has exceptional people, deep customer relationships and market-leading technology, but I also see tremendous potential for growth as the industry continues to evolve and embrace new technologies, including AI.
Joining as CEO was an opportunity to help shape the next chapter of an already successful story.
NEXT: Looking back on your first months engaging with the business, what stands out most about Continent 8’s culture, people and customer relationships?
MS: The first thing that stood out to me was the calibre of the people. Across every part of the organisation and every location, I encountered teams that are passionate about what they do and genuinely committed to delivering for customers.
A key part of my work as strategic board advisor was helping shape the future operating model of the business, drawing on my experience building and scaling global delivery organisations. One of the achievements I’m particularly proud of is strengthening our Global Capability Centre strategy across India, the Philippines and Bulgaria. These centres play an important role in supporting our customers around the world, while enhancing our ability to scale, innovate and access exceptional talent.
I was also impressed by the strength of the relationships Continent 8 has built across the industry, not only with customers but also with strategic partners (the likes of AWS and Nutanix). Technology is obviously at the heart of our business, but it’s the trust we’ve established over many years that truly differentiates us.
Attending my first Continent 8 Customer Advisory Board meeting brought that to life. Hearing directly from customers about the value they place on our partnership, and seeing the openness of those conversations, reinforced just how strong those relationships are.
NEXT: Michael Tobin founded the business nearly three decades ago and has become one of the most recognisable figures in gaming technology. What conversations did you have with him ahead of taking the role, and how do you balance preserving what has made Continent 8 successful while bringing your own leadership approach?
MS: Michael has built an incredible business over the past 28 years, and one of the things that struck me most during our conversations was his passion for the company, our people and our customers. His leadership has shaped not only Continent 8’s success, but also the culture and values that define the business today. The respect he has earned across the industry reflects that legacy.
The transition has been carefully planned and there is a shared understanding that success comes from building on the foundations that have already been established. My focus is not on changing what has made Continent 8 successful. It’s about helping the company evolve, identifying new opportunities and ensuring we’re positioned for long-term growth.
Michael remains closely involved as chairman, which provides valuable continuity, while I bring my own experience from leading global technology organisations and scaling businesses through periods of transformation and growth. Together, that creates a strong platform for the future.
NEXT: You bring experience from organisations including Akkodis, Adecco, IBM, Hewlett Packard and Capgemini. Which lessons from those roles will be most valuable in this next chapter?
MS: I’ve been fortunate to work across a variety of global technology and services businesses, and while every organisation is different, some lessons are universal.
The most important is staying close to your customers. Technology evolves rapidly, but organisations that truly understand their customers’ challenges are best positioned to create value. Throughout my career, the most successful businesses I’ve seen are those that listen carefully, anticipate change and remain focused on solving real customer problems.
Additionally, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of balancing innovation with execution. It’s one thing to have a vision for where the market is headed; it’s another to consistently deliver for customers every day. The most successful organisations are those that can do both.
Those principles will continue to guide my approach at Continent 8 as we focus on supporting our customers, developing our people and driving the next phase of growth.
NEXT: Continent 8 has grown from a single data centre business into a global technology provider operating more than 100 connected locations worldwide. What do you believe has been the key to that success, and what opportunities excite you most about the next stage of growth?
MS: The company’s success has been built on consistently listening to customers and evolving alongside their needs. As the industry has grown and become increasingly global, regulated and technology-driven, Continent 8 has continued to invest in the infrastructure, expertise and services required to support that evolution.
A key part of that success has been our global network of 100+ locations, which today is recognised as one of the top 20 most connected networks in the world. It is the bedrock of our business and the foundation on which we have built our broader portfolio of infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity and managed technology services. Our customers operate in environments where performance, resilience and connectivity are critical, and that network gives them the platform they need to scale with confidence.
What excites me most is that we’re still at the beginning of some very significant opportunities. New regulated markets continue to emerge, customer environments are becoming more complex, and organisations are increasingly looking to modernise their technology estates through cloud adoption, data-driven decision making and AI-enabled innovation. At the same time, demand for secure, resilient and high-performance technology solutions continues to increase.
As these trends accelerate, customers need partners that can help them navigate change with confidence. With 28 years of experience in the highly regulated iGaming industry, Continent 8 combines deep sector expertise with a global technology platform spanning infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity and managed services.
That puts us in a unique position to help customers modernise their environments, leverage emerging technologies such as AI, and expand into new markets, all while maintaining the security, performance and compliance that are critical to their success.
NEXT: Artificial intelligence is becoming a major focus across every industry. Having helped shape AI strategy in previous leadership roles, where do you see the biggest opportunities for AI within Continent 8 and across the wider gaming ecosystem?
MS: AI has enormous potential, but I believe the iGaming industry is still in the early stages of understanding how transformative it can be. During my time at Akkodis, I saw firsthand how AI can move beyond theory and deliver real business value, helping organisations accelerate innovation, improve productivity, optimise operations and make smarter decisions at scale.
Across the gaming ecosystem, AI will help operators become more efficient, make better use of data and improve decision-making. It also has significant potential to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, automate repetitive processes, enhance operational performance and improve the overall customer experience.
Within Continent 8, we’re focused on how AI can help us deliver even greater value to customers. That includes improving operational efficiency, enhancing service delivery and creating smarter, more resilient technology environments. We also see significant opportunities to leverage AI across our global infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities, helping customers identify risks faster, respond more effectively to player queries and optimise their operations.
NEXT: Finally, when you reflect on your tenure several years from now, what would success look like to you?
MS: Success starts with our customers. If we continue helping customers achieve their goals and strengthen our position as a trusted long-term partner, that will be a significant measure of success.
Equally important is creating an environment where our people can thrive and develop. Great organisations are built by great teams, and I’m committed to ensuring Continent 8 remains a place where talent, innovation and collaboration flourish.
Ultimately, I would like to look back and see a business that has continued to grow, continued to innovate and continued to build on the remarkable legacy that Michael and the team have created, while positioning itself for even greater success in the years ahead.
We have an exceptional foundation, a world-class team and a tremendous opportunity ahead of us. I’m incredibly excited about the future of Continent 8.
Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, today announced the appointment of Mike Small as Chief Executive Officer, effective 15 July 2026. Founder Michael Tobin will transition to the role of Chairman following 28 years as CEO.
Small brings more than 25 years of global technology leadership experience. Prior to joining Continent 8, he served as President of Akkodis North America and US Country President of The Adecco Group, where he led large-scale technology, engineering, managed services, and workforce solutions businesses. He played a key role in advancing the organisation’s AI strategy, championing the use of artificial intelligence to help customers accelerate innovation, improve operational performance, and prepare for the future of work.
Previously, he served as CEO – Americas for Sitel Group and held senior leadership positions with IBM, Hewlett Packard, Capgemini, and VXI & SYMBIO Global Solutions.
Over the past year, Small has served as a Strategic Board Advisor to Continent 8, working closely with the executive leadership team. Based in Miami, he will lead Continent 8’s next phase of growth, focused on expanding the company’s global presence, strengthening customer partnerships, and advancing its portfolio of infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI-enabled technology solutions.
Michael Tobin, Founder and Chairman of Continent 8 Technologies, said: “After 28 remarkable years leading Continent 8, I am incredibly proud of what our team has built and achieved. This transition has been thoughtfully planned, and I have complete confidence in Mike’s ability to lead the company into its next chapter. His experience in scaling global technology businesses and his deep understanding of our customers and strategy, makes him the ideal leader to build on the strong foundation we have created.”
Tobin will work closely with Small and the Continent 8 executive team to ensure a seamless leadership transition while focusing on governance, long-term strategy, and key stakeholder relationships in his role as Chairman.
Mike Small, Chief Executive Officer of Continent 8 Technologies, added: “Continent 8 has built an exceptional reputation for delivering mission-critical technology solutions to customers operating in highly regulated and latency-sensitive environments. Having worked closely with the company over the 12 months, I have seen first-hand the strength of the business, the talent of our people, and the opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with our team to deepen customer partnerships, accelerate innovation, and continue delivering the secure, resilient, and high-performance solutions our customers depend on.”
Since its founding in 1998, Continent 8 has grown into one of the iGaming industry’s most trusted technology providers, operating a global network of more than 100 connected data centres across four continents and over 30 US states. The company delivers mission-critical infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, connectivity, and managed services that support many of the world’s leading iGaming operators and platform providers.
For iGaming and online sports betting operators, growth rarely happens in a straight line. A major sporting event, a new market launch, a jackpot promotion, or a live betting surge can place sudden pressure on platforms that need to be fast, resilient, compliant, and always available.
That is why scaling modern iGaming platforms is no longer just an infrastructure challenge. It is an operational challenge. Operators need to keep innovating while managing more environments, more technologies, more regulatory requirements, and more demand from players who expect a seamless experience every time they log in.
Today’s operators and providers run highly distributed environments that span multiple virtualisation platforms, database engines, and deployment models – including co-location, on-premises, private cloud, public cloud, edge, and hybrid setups. At the same time, technologies such as Kubernetes, micro segmentation, automation, and distributed databases are becoming part of the standard architecture.
In practice, that means platform teams are often supporting legacy services alongside cloud-native workloads, virtual machines alongside containerised applications, and stateful databases alongside stateless services. They must also balance low-latency player journeys with unpredictable traffic patterns driven by betting events, casino promotions, and regulatory market launches.
Each layer adds capability, but each layer also adds operational responsibility. Teams need to provision infrastructure, manage upgrades, maintain security policies, monitor performance, plan capacity, validate backups, and ensure availability around the clock. As complexity grows, the skills required to manage these environments become harder to maintain and more expensive to scale.
Kubernetes is a strong example. It gives operators a flexible way to deploy and scale modern applications, but running Kubernetes across co-location, on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments requires more than cluster deployment. It requires decisions around cluster and distribution design, infrastructure integration, networking, storage, control plane security, node lifecycle management, upgrades, and capacity planning.
On a scale, those responsibilities become more visible during the moments that matter most. A live betting operator may need to support sharp traffic spikes while odds are updating in real time. A casino operator may need infrastructure that can absorb a sudden surge during a promotion. A sportsbook may need to prepare for a major final where downtime is not an option. An operator entering a regulated market may need clear evidence of data residency, access controls, segmentation, and audit readiness.
In each case, the challenge is not simply whether the platform can scale. It is whether the platform can scale predictably, securely, and without pulling engineering teams away from the work that differentiates the business.
Many iGaming operators are now looking for a different model: one that reduces ownership of foundational infrastructure layers while preserving control over applications, player experience, product strategy, and data decisions.
This shift is about more than outsourcing tasks. It is about creating a consistent operating model across environments, with predictable cost models aligned to platform usage, built-in resilience and disaster recovery, standardised security and compliance controls, and clearly defined accountability between the operator and its managed services partner.
The diagram below helps illustrate this change. Instead of treating cloud, Kubernetes, databases, security, observability, backup, and day-to-day operations as disconnected workstreams, the model brings them together into a managed operating layer. That layer supports the application teams above it, helping them move faster while reducing the operational burden beneath them.
For iGaming businesses, that matters because demand is event-driven by nature. The platform may be stable on a quiet weekday, then face a sharp spike during a football final, an e-sports tournament, or a high-profile jackpot campaign. A managed operating model helps ensure capacity, resilience, monitoring, and response processes are ready before those moments arrive.
For example, our teams supported customers during the Super Bowl, helping them prepare for exceptional event-driven demand with managed services designed to maintain performance, resilience, and operational confidence when traffic and transaction volumes were at their highest.
Continent 8 cloud and managed services are designed for the realities of regulated iGaming and online sports betting. The aim is to help operators scale across private, multi-tenant, Kubernetes, virtual machine, AWS Outposts, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments without asking internal teams to absorb every infrastructure, networking, database, security, compliance, and operations task themselves.
In this model, Continent 8 can support the operational foundations that sit beneath the application layer, including infrastructure lifecycle management, security and network segmentation, backup and disaster recovery, observability, integration with hyperscale cloud services, and 24/7 operations.
Managed Kubernetes can reduce the day-to-day effort involved in cluster provisioning, configuration, control plane and node lifecycle management, Kubernetes and operating system upgrades, availability, and scaling integration.
Managed database services can reduce recurring operational work around patching, version upgrades, backup validation, recovery testing, replication, failover management, and audit readiness.
The result is a more practical path to modernisation. Operators can retain control over their applications and business logic while foundational services are operated using consistent, repeatable practices designed for regulated, high-demand environments.
For a live betting operator, operational confidence means being ready for sudden spikes while odds, transactions, and customer interactions are moving in real time. The infrastructure must be scaled, but it must also remain observable, secure, and resilient throughout the event.
For an operator launching in a new regulated market, the pressure is different. Data residency, segmentation, logging, access controls, and audit evidence need to be considered from the start. A consistent managed model helps create repeatable foundations, so market expansion does not require a complete operational rebuild each time.
For a casino or sportsbook preparing for a major campaign, the priority is readiness. Compute capacity, database resilience, backup validation, monitoring, and incident response must all be in place before player activity peaks. Reducing the operational heavy lifting gives engineering teams more time to focus on product performance and player experience.
When infrastructure modernisation is paired with an operating model designed for scale, the value becomes more concrete. Features can move faster because teams are not waiting for every foundational task. Platforms become more resilient because lifecycle management, observability, and recovery processes are handled consistently. Compliance becomes easier to demonstrate because controls are designed into the operating model rather than added after the fact.
Costs also become easier to manage because capacity, services, and responsibilities are aligned to platform usage and business growth. Most importantly, teams gain clarity. They know what they own, what their partner operates, and how both sides work together to protect uptime, performance, compliance, and customer experience.
This focus on service quality is reflected in customer outcomes too, with a 2026 NPS score of 71 reinforcing the value of Continent 8’s managed services model that supports reliability, responsiveness, and trust.
Modern iGaming platforms do not just require modern technology. They require a smarter way to operate it – one that helps operators simplify complexity before it slows innovation, growth, or the player experience.
If you are evaluating how to scale your platform more efficiently, reduce operational overhead, or prepare for growth across regulated markets, Continent 8 can help you explore the right approach. Speak to our team at sales@continent8.com to build a more resilient, scalable, and manageable foundation for your next phase of growth.