NEXT.io Podcast18 Joulu 2025

Phil Pearson: iGaming Industry 2025 in Review

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #256 with Phil Pearson, iGaming Consultant.

Another year. Another cycle of hype, pressure, pivots, and hard lessons.

In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Phil Pearson joins Pierre Lindh to unpack what really happened across iGaming in the past 12 months beyond the headlines.

Together, they explore the widening gap between innovation headlines and real progress, the pressure leaders are facing behind the scenes, the growing importance of focus over scale, and why many companies are quietly reassessing their priorities.

It’s a grounded conversation about what moved the needle, what didn’t, and what lessons are worth carrying into the year ahead.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Sponsor messages

02:04 - Welcome Phil Pearson

04:06 – Yolo’s move into regulation: why it matters

06:38 - Personal reset: health, sabbatical & perspective

11:55 - Biggest industry stories of the year

14:19 - Charity, Dar Bjorn & responsibility in iGaming

16:17 - Investigative journalism

33:27 - Game Studio Awards: overview

33:33 - Best studio of the year

39:29 - Best newcomer studio

40:39 - Worst studio of the year

44:01 - Most underwhelming game releases

49:56 - Live game of the year

51:21 - RNG game of the year

52:36 - Best industry freebies & swag

57:23 - Grey products explained

58:12 - Sweepstakes, prediction markets & loopholes

01:12:56 - The defining trend of 2026: grey products

01:30:02 - Events review: what worked, what didn’t

01:49:00 - Final outlook: where the industry is heading

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bc

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

Jaksot(473)

Valentina Diaco: These Are the iGaming Companies Getting AI Right

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #255 with Valentina Diaco, Founder at Profit Matches. AI has officially moved beyond hype. In 2025, it’s reshaping iGaming in real, tangible ways — from CRM and engagement to compli...

12 Joulu 20251h 11min

Emilie Jirsch: Creating a world-class brand via the Cool Shit Budget

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #254 with Emilie Jirsch, CMO at Dabble. Dabble has become one of the fastest-growing betting brands on the planet — not by outspending competitors, but by out-innovating them with c...

4 Joulu 202542min

Tom Wood: How Operators Should Think About Game Studios

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #253 with Tom Wood, CEO of RAW iGamingRAW iGaming calls itself “the pink shark in a sea of sameness.”In this episode, CEO Tom Wood joins Pierre Lindh to break down the realities of ...

27 Marras 202548min

Tim Heath: Yolo's Strategic Shift to Regulation

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #252 with Tim Heath, CEO and Founder at Yolo Group.Yolo Group has made one of the boldest moves in iGaming history — exiting grey markets entirely to pursue a regulated future.In th...

30 Loka 20251h 2min

NEXT In-Depth: Markets react to Playtech/Evolution bombshell

NEXT.io News Editor Conor Mulheir is joined by Head of Investigative Content Zak Thomas-Akoo and Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland, for a blow-by-blow account of how public markets and the wider iGaming ...

22 Loka 202538min

Leah Neutel: The Art of Leadership

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #251 with Leah Natuel, Head of Studio at Relax GamingLeah Neutel leads one of iGaming’s most creative teams at Relax Gaming, where innovation, empathy, and accountability come toget...

16 Loka 202547min

Vid Daolio: Tokacity Redefining Social Casino for a New Generation

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #250 with Vid Daolio, CEO at TokacityTokacity is reimagining online casinos by creating immersive, social gaming environments that merge gambling with modern gaming culture and youn...

9 Loka 202551min

Jake Dovey: How to Boost iGaming Conversions with Better Payments

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #249 with Jake Dovey, CEO and Founder of PayModum What’s the cost of not accepting something or the cost of not doing it right?From unpacking the true cost of “cheap” payment method...

2 Loka 20251h 23min