Phil Pearson: iGaming Industry 2025 in Review

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/


Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

Jaksot(467)

#25 - Oskar Mühlbach, CEO - Raketech (The utopian vision of remote work)

#25 - Oskar Mühlbach, CEO - Raketech (The utopian vision of remote work)

Oskar Mühlbach, CEO at Raketech has been in the iGaming industry since 2016 when he joined the casino operator Mr Green as their COO. Before iGaming, Mühlbach worked within the international e-commerce industry in which he has held several senior positions, such as COO at global eyewear reseller Lensway, CMO at online footwear store Footway and director at the online makeup store Eleven. Mühlbach joined Raketech in early 2019, as a Senior Advisory Consultant to the board of directors and CEO at the time. He was appointed as the group’s COO and was then made acting CEO just 9 months after. Mühlbach has a Master of Science in Business Management and Engineering, from Luleå University of Technology.

7 Loka 202051min

#24 - James King, Director of Sales - GiG (COVID-19, the death of land-based casinos?)

#24 - James King, Director of Sales - GiG (COVID-19, the death of land-based casinos?)

At GiG James is responsible for providing leadership and management on the delivery of sales objectives around the globe (managing both the sales and marketing teams). James has over 11 years’ experience in sales from the front line through to Group Sales Director (Clarion Gaming) leading all aspects of sales excellence driving revenue growth initiatives globally. He has successfully led and managed sales teams of varying report sizes across a mixture of businesses ranging from events through to publishing and digital with focusses on b2b technology (software), operations and media within iGaming.

29 Syys 20201h 4min

#23 - Calvin Ayre, Founder - Ayre Group & CoinGeek

#23 - Calvin Ayre, Founder - Ayre Group & CoinGeek

Calvin Ayre, Venture Capitalist, Real Estate Developer, Founder of Ayre Group and CoinGeek: Calvin Ayre is a celebrated entrepreneur who made the cover of Forbes magazine in 2006 for his success in building the Bodog online gambling brand. More recently, Ayre founded the CoinGeek cryptocurrency news site and invests in companies that build on the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain. Ayre supports Dr Craig Wright’s view that original Bitcoin (BSV) is the only technology with the potential to scale to meet the needs of the global financial community and become the world’s global ledger and so much more.

25 Syys 202049min

#22 - Eman Pulis, Founder & CEO, SiGMA Group (Is there a future for iGaming events?)

#22 - Eman Pulis, Founder & CEO, SiGMA Group (Is there a future for iGaming events?)

Eman Pulis is the founder and CEO of SiGMA Group, a gaming and tech destination company with events across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. In addition to a wealth of experience in event management, Eman Pulis holds a degree in Education with first-class honours, as well as a Master's degree in both diplomacy and creativity and innovation. Mr Pulis also sits on a number of boards as a senior advisor. Mr Pulis currently resides in Manila with his wife and daughter, a central location which allows him to coordinate operations across continents, whilst overseeing the 2021 inaugural launch of SiGMA Manila and SiGMA Americas.

23 Syys 202046min

#21 - Petra Blixt, CMO - Svenska Spel Sports & Casino AB

#21 - Petra Blixt, CMO - Svenska Spel Sports & Casino AB

Petra Blixt is an experienced leader within digital marketing and sales with a broad background from various different industries. Since January 2020 she holds the position as CMO at Svenska Spel Sports & Casino AB, the state owned operator in the Swedish licensed market. Petra is convinced that the IGaming industry can grow in a sustainable way and in parallel with placing responsible gambling on top of the agenda.

16 Syys 202036min

#20 - Mikael Hansson, CEO - Enteractive (Player reactivation secrets)

#20 - Mikael Hansson, CEO - Enteractive (Player reactivation secrets)

Mikael Hansson is the Founder and CEO of Enteractive the leading player reactivation company driving revenues for iGaming brands across the world. He graduated from LIU, Sweden, with a Masters of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management, and previously held the position of CFO for a large Swedish company. He has been living in Malta since 2009, when he set up the Enteractive brand to support player retention and reactivation for the growing iGaming sector. Leading Enteractive’s unique ability to connect with players directly on a one-to-one level, Mikael is passionate about increasing the level of personalisation between iGaming brands and their players. As a champion for sustainability and longevity in the sector, he is instrumental in promoting growth and player retention alongside responsible gambling measures for players.

11 Syys 202052min

#19 - Alexander Grabner-Jarlung, TEDx Speaker Coach (Communication & storytelling)

#19 - Alexander Grabner-Jarlung, TEDx Speaker Coach (Communication & storytelling)

Alexander Grabner Jarlung has spent many years studying with the help of David JP Phillips and his methods the ability to convey the wonderful techniques of storytelling and public speaking. The last couple of years Alexander has been David's left hand and Alexander is today in charge of their international business, making the world come together in our communication revolution, both online and with physical presence. Alexander truly believes that the next generation has the right to learn how to communicate. This is our mission!

1 Syys 202055min

#18 - Martin Collins, Director of Business Development GiG

#18 - Martin Collins, Director of Business Development GiG

With 2 decades of experience in digital markets, Martin has a passion and drive to help organisations flourish. Through both internal and external strategic analysis, he can drive positive improvement in performance, as well as help identify new business opportunities. Always remaining one step ahead, Martin empowers organisations to truly perform and drive revenue and growth.

25 Elo 202046min

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