Nikolas Bojtoš: "Our management truly matches our responsibilities to our potential"

Nikolas currently holds a position as a PR Assistant, but there was a time when he worked for Casino Guru as a Complaint Specialist. He has been with the company for over 7 years, and in this interview, he explains what made him stay for so long (without planning to leave anytime soon). He also talks about the change in his professional focus, shifting from one specialty to a completely different one.

As of now, Nikolas’ agenda is still evolving to best reflect his strong suits and current needs of the PR team. He has recently completed PR onboarding, and he continues to collaborate his colleagues on various initiatives, including establishing new partnerships and supporting the team with unique tasks and creative projects such as Casino Guru News and Casino Guru Awards.

Read on to learn more about Nikolas’ journey.

Q: Nikolas, before we get to anything else, I’d like to know what did you want to be when you were growing up? Did you ever imagine doing something like what you do now as a child?

Did I ever think I’d end up in the iGaming industry? Definitely not. I don’t think that’s something kids usually dream about. [laughter] But I’ve always loved cooking. I remember running around the kitchen and helping my mother with Sunday dinner. So, for years I dreamed of becoming a professional chef. To this day, I still love cooking for others, even if it rarely happens in the midst of busy adult life.

Q: Yet still, you didn’t become a chef, and now you’ve been with Casino Guru for quite awhile. So, what first drew you in, and what’s made you stick around all this time?

To be honest, I was just about to leave the country when I suddenly got a call from Casino Guru that they would like to invite me for a job interview. At first, I was a little skeptical as I didn’t really understand exactly what the company did. I have never heard about the iGaming business before. So, I was very curious, and I decided to try it out. And here I am, 7 years later.

And what made me stick around? First and foremost, my colleagues. I’ve been working with some of them for years now and they have become something like a second family to me. We hang out after work, travel together, and stay in touch pretty much all day, every day. Secondly, I feel very aligned with company policies. Even after 7 years and many things changing and growing in Casino Guru, I can still say that all of us stand for the same values as before.

Q: What do those values mean to you exactly?

Simply making online gambling safer for players and leading the industry on a better path. Knowing that I’m helping others and, well, in my own way, trying to make the world a better place.

Q: It’s great you feel that way! Now, you mentioned company’s policies as well, so I’m curious, if you had to describe the company’s culture in one sentence, how would you put it?

This must be the toughest question I’ve got so far! [laughter] But I think I’ve already kind of said it, right? We are friendly group of people who try our best to create a safe environment for casino players and operators. We choose to promote responsible gambling even when it’s not a popular choice. And I also think it’s important to highlight that together we create a very unique professional setting that offers great opportunities for its people.

Q: That’s right, you know first-hand about different opportunities this company offers, since you were able to switch from Complaint Resolution Center to PR. Tell me, what was it like to work with players and their complaints?

It was amazing, which says a lot, coming from me, considering I did it for five years. I genuinely enjoyed handling complaints. I mean, of course, it had its ups and downs, but what job doesn’t? Over the years, I helped many players recover their balances, which was a very rewarding experience.

Q: Now you’re basically on the other end of the spectrum from what you’ve done before. It’s more creative, more dynamic, with different rules and goals. What’s been the biggest challenge of your transition to PR team?

That’s true, it really is a very different side of Casino Guru. You see, for years, I have been communicating 99% of the time with players, so the biggest challenge for me is the fact that now I have to adapt to various communication styles, both with my team and other industry professionals. There are also plenty of other things I need to learn, work on and improve, but I believe it’s all worth it.

Q: How did this transition of yours even come about?

Well, I reached a point in my life where I wanted to learn something new and gain fresh perspective and experiences. When the position in our PR team opened, I knew I had to go for it. And I must say, the transition went really smoothly. I received a great deal of support from both teams, and I’m grateful that I get to grow with the company.

It’s all about those opportunities we mentioned earlier. I feel like it’s welcomed at Casino Guru to have a desire to change things up and gain new skills. Our management truly tries to match our responsibilities to our potential and personal preferences.

Q: Have you thought about changing employers when this need to learn something new came about?

No. It was never even on the table.

Q: Do you think your background in handling complaints actually gave you a secret advantage when you were interviewed by PR team leader, Daniela?

I’m not so sure about that. I mean, handling complaints has little to do with what the PR team does. But I had the advantage in the sense that I was already familiar with people working for Casino Guru, as well as what do stand for. Also, it helped me to look at our PR strategies from a whole other angle and to bring new ideas. For the most part though, I think my hard-working mindset and willingness to learn were the things that gave me aleg up.

Q. Has your view of the Casino Guru values changed since you joined the PR team?

Not in a sense of what our values represent, but I definitely gained a more holistic view of things. There are so many amazing projects at Casino Guru which were out of my reach before. I’ve always felt we are doing the right thing, but now with all the new insights, I can see the company in an even brighter light. For example, being involved directly in Casino Guru Awards really showed me how much we care about transparency and fairness towards not only players, but the industry, too.

Q: From what you’re saying and how you’re saying it, I get the impression that you like your new position so far. [laughter]

Oh, yes, I like it very much. I won’t be lying, the change can still be hard sometimes, but I already feel like I’ve learned many things. When I think about being only at the beginning of this journey, and how much more there is to learn from Daniela and others, it only motivates me to try harder.

Q: And what’s been your proudest moment so far, either in complaint resolution or in PR, that really made you think, "Yep, this is why I love working here"?

I don’t think there is any one proudest moment, to be honest. Just coming to work in the morning makes me proud. Although, don’t get me wrong, from time to time I’d love to stay in bed and sleep through the day, but where’s the fun in that? [laughter]

I don’t look at my job as simply a way to pay my bills. Truth is, I have loved working here since the beginning and never stopped. I know it sounds cheesy, but it really became a part of my life.

Q: Finally, if you could give advice to someone joining the company today, what would you tell them?

Do your best! The company is ready to recognize your talent and interest in growth and people here will do their best to help you reach your maximum potential.

I still remember the first time Petronela, current Head of Complaint Resolution Center, came to our office as a new hire. She asked me how the work at Casino Guru is and I’ve said it is the best job ever. Look where she is now!

This interview is part of Casino Guru Insiders, a series of interviews during which experts from Casino Guru share their unique workflow, reveal insider information, and offer an exclusive overview of experience-packed know-how.