Phil Pearson: iGaming Industry 2025 in Review

🎙 Welcome to the Podcast NEXT.io series, featuring our host Heidi Lofthus, Project Director of HR Connect, and special guest Tyler Bronson, Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Manager at Enteractive and Krysta Muscat, Senior Partner at Van Kaizen.  The core of the episode delves into the current state of hiring processes, emphasizing the significance of establishing strong relationships with hiring managers and the necessity of educating and training hiring leads. Discussions also cover the impact of candidate losses on organizations and conclude with Tyler’s strategic insights on recruitment and practical tips for optimizing interview processes.    ⏰ Timestamps:   00:00 - Introduction  00:22 - Sponsors  01:13 - Krysta's and Tyler’s Backgrounds  03:31 - What Hiring Processes Look Like Today  08:57 - Developing Relationships with Hiring Managers  13:26 - The Importance of Educating and Training Hiring Leads  16:48 - Impact on Candidate Losses  20:47 - Tyler’s Recruitment Strategy  22:14 - Consequences of Poor Recruitment Processes  23:13 - Tips for a Successful Interview Process    💼 About Tyler Bronson Krysta Muscat  From the Music Industry to Talent Acquisition, Tyler brings his straight-forward talking and controversial opinions about Human Resources to the next level. With over 8 years of experience in Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding. Hiring people globally and locally. Tyler gives most of his opinions straight to the point. Take with a pinch of salt or with a hand full. Whichever you prefer.      💼 About Krysta Muscat  Krysta is a seasoned and quality-obsessed recruiter with a true love for anything that involves providing positive impact, both candidates and clients alike, backed up by a Psychology bachelor’s degree. She has well over 13 years of experience under her belt both in the house and consultancy side, mainly in the wonderful fast-paced world of iGaming.     Krysta boasts a portfolio of close to 100% client retention and satisfaction and has led multiple teams over the years, generating a respectable annual revenue, predominantly as a Recruitment Director for an international Recruitment Consultancy Krysta feels part of her success is due to her strong unwavering ethics, bold integrity,  immediate resonance, and relationship building skills as well as thorough prospecting and motivational leadership qualities.    🔔 Subscribe for more insightful episodes!    🔗 Connect with Us:  Website: www.next.io   _____  This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is brought to you by:  Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.  Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

26 Maalis 202429min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we explore a critical legal case involving Evolution, a key player in the iGaming industry, where a court decision might reveal an accuser's identity, potentially setting a privacy and legal precedent. We'll examine the reasons behind this potential unmasking and its implications for both the accuser and the company, considering the wider legal and ethical impacts. Additionally, we will briefly review the acquisition of XL Media Assets by Gambling.com Group, highlighting strategic movements within the industry during these dynamic times. 🗞 Read the full story here: https://next.io/news/evolution-accuser-could-be-unmasked/ https://next.io/news/evolution-law-firm-misuse-attorney-client-privilege/ https://next.io/news/gambling-com-group-acquires-xlmedia-assets/ Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.  Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

21 Maalis 202437min

On this week's episode of NEXT.io Weekly News, we delve into a buzzing topic in the iGaming industry: the possibility of Entain putting up its non-integrated brands for sale, a detailed examination of Entain's current position in the market and the reasons behind contemplating such a decision. This development raises intriguing questions about the future direction of Entain and how it plans to streamline its operations for greater efficiency and market focus. We will explore the factors that might influence Entain's decision and what this could mean for competitors and investors in the space. 🗞 Read the full story here: - Report suggests Entain considering sale of non-integrated brands https://next.io/news/entain-consideri... Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We'll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week. Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

14 Maalis 202429min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #180 with James King, CEO of Flows Join our enlightening chat with James, exploring his journey from founding his company to its current success. We revisit our first podcast, delve into Flows' vision, mission and products, and dive into discussing market competition. James, shares also some thoughts on a crucial moment in the company's history, and how strategic partnerships and the careful selection of shareholders have been pivotal in the company's growth. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome 01:13 - Reflecting on Our First Podcast Together 02:08 - James’ Journey Building Flows 05:32 - Exploring Flows: Vision & Products 09:06 - A Turning Point At Initial Funding 13:15 - The Light & Wonder Partnership Story 17:44 - Choosing Shareholders Wisely: Synergy & Strategy 25:50 - Key Advice for First-Time Capital Raising 32:35 - The Long-Term Vision of Flows 39:13 - Navigating Industry Competitors 40:26 - Self-Learning Flows Products 42:08 - Strategies for Scalable Growth 44:29 - Securing Sustained Funding 54:03 - Keeping Motivation and Drive High 59:37 - Overcoming Obstacles: Resilience in Business 01:02:20 - James’ 3-Year Vision for the Company 01:04:27 - What's Next for James? Future Endeavors Revealed 💼About James King: Experience Over 10 years experience in the iGaming space. Track record Served as the director of sales at leading industry tech and media powerhouse Gaming Innovation Group. Group Sales Director at Clarion responsible for delivering all revenue across the portfolio following the successful sales of iGaming Business (in which he served as part of the mgt team) to Clarion in late 2015. 🔔Subscribe for more insightful episodes! 🔗 Connect with Us: Website: www.next.io _____ This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

14 Maalis 20241h 10min

In this episode of NEXT.io Weekly News, we focus on two significant developments in the iGaming industry: Entain's financial results for 2023 revealing a loss, and 888 Holdings confirming its strategic exit from the US market. First, we dissect Entain's fiscal year 2023 performance. We'll explore the challenges and external factors that influenced Entain's financial outcomes, discussing what this means for the company's future strategies and its position in the global iGaming landscape. Then, we turn our attention to 888 Holdings and their decision to exit the US B2C operations, as detailed in "888 Strategic Review: US B2C Operations." This segment will delve into the reasons behind 888's significant decision to withdraw from the US market, examining the strategic implications for the company and the potential impact on the US iGaming sector. 🗞 Read the full story here: FY 2023: Entain reports loss and warns of £40m 2024 regulatory impact https://next.io/news/fy-2023-entain/ 888 to explore US exit amid $50m split from Sports Illustrated https://next.io/news/888-strategic-review-us-b2c-operations/ Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We'll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.    Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

7 Maalis 202433min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #179 with Jesse Learmonth, Founder of Bettingstartups This episode provides a blend of personal stories, expert analysis, and insights into the future of gaming start-ups, making it a compelling listen for professionals and enthusiasts alike. As we delve into the professional realm, Jesse presents a comprehensive analysis of the start-up landscape in North America, drawing from his extensive report on the subject. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Sponsors 01:26 - Jesse's First-Time Fatherhood 04:08 - Jesse's Start-up Report for North America 07:09 - Report Summary 10:27 - Investment Landscape Overview 13:58 - Survival Mode at All Costs 19:22 - Jesse's View on Start-ups Now 25:19 - Survey Insights: Conference Scene" 34:04 - Jesse’s Organic Network with Investors and Start-ups 44:00 - North American Industry Trends 47:58 - High Margin Products and Games 53:18 - Jesse's Alternative Career Path 💼 About Jesse Learmonth Jesse Learmonth has worked at the top levels of the global betting industry since 2010 as founder, supplier, and operator. Currently he hosts The Betting Startups Podcast, operates the industry's largest job board, and advises several promising industry startups. Prior to this, he spent six years with Pinnacle.com as Director of Product Management and member of the executive leadership team. He also co-founded Bet Smart Media, which he led for five years as CEO until it was acquired by Pinnacle in 2015. 🔔Subscribe for more insightful episodes! 🔗 Connect with Us: Website: www.next.io _____ This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder/MD at NEXT.io, and is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

4 Maalis 202456min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #178 withTodd Haushalter, CPO at Evolution Gaming.  In this insightful episode, Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution Gaming, shares his expertise in online gaming innovation. We revisit Evolution's key strategies and achievements in 2023, including the development of RNG products and new gaming tools. Todd discusses the company's growth in the North American market and reflects on the competitive dynamics in the industry. The conversation also explores Evolution's approach to game creation, highlighting the use of AI and the impact of new technologies. Todd addresses challenges and shares his vision for the future, offering a unique glimpse into the trends shaping the online gaming world. ⏰ Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction 00:27 - Sponsors 01:20 - Recapping Previous Episodes and Welcoming Todd Back 02:54 - Evolution 2023: Year in Review 05:38 - Evolution's "One-Stop Shop" Concept and Tools 08:42 - RNG Products: 2023 Performance and Future Prospects 12:38 - Classic Titles and RNG Reliability 15:27 - Todd's Exciting Games and Tools for 2024 18:02 - Using AI in Game and Content Creation 29:39 - Todd's Strategies for Growing the North American Market 33:56 - Evolution vs. Competition 46:13 - Acquiring Livespins and Insights into the M&A Process 54:34 - Innovations in the Gaming Industry 01:00:24 - The Key to Successful Gaming 01:05:34 - B2B Marketing and Branding Strategies 01:12:22 - Todd on Building and Sustaining Success 01:16:07 - Strategies for Attracting New Players to New Games 01:18:10 - The Impact of Addressing Accusations Against Evolution 01:21:05 - Predicting Evolution's Future in Three Years 💼vAbout Todd Haushalter: Todd Haushalter is Chief Product Officer at Evolution Gaming. Todd is responsible for all aspects of Evolution’s game innovation and new product development, including the creation of award-winning titles such as MONOPOLY Live and Lightning Roulette. Prior to this, he was Corporate Vice President of Gaming Operations at MGM and Vice President of Business Strategy at Shuffle Master. He has a wide and varied knowledge of the casino industry. 🔔 Subscribe for more insightful episodes! 🔗 Connect with Us: Website: www.next.io  _____ This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder/MD at NEXT.io, and is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

1 Maalis 20241h 27min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we delve into a pressing issue in the UK iGaming industry: the potential impact of online slot stake limits.This segment will explore the reasoning behind these proposed limits, their projected impact on industry revenues, and how operators might adapt to these changes. We start with an in-depth look at the proposed stake limits for online slots, as detailed in the article "Stake Limits on Online Slots: Industry Costs” to discuss right after the broader implications for player behavior and market dynamics in the UK. Additionally, the episode covers a major shift in leadership with the resignation of Catena Media's CEO, Michael Daly. This news piece sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Daly's departure and the potential future direction of Catena Media under new leadership.  🗞 Read the full story here: How much will stake limits for online slots cost the UK gambling industry?https://next.io/news/stake-limits-online-slots-industry-costs/  Catena Media CEO Michael Daly resigns amid performance struggleshttps://next.io/news/catena-media-ceo-michael-daly-resigns/  Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week. Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

29 Helmi 202436min