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

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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)

#11 - Heidi Lofthus, CPO - ComeOn Group (To return or not return to the office)

#11 - Heidi Lofthus, CPO - ComeOn Group (To return or not return to the office)

Heidi Lofthus is an iGaming industry veteran, closing in on 15 years within the industry having worked both with suppliers and operators alike. Her iGaming journey started with operational roles in Gibraltar and Sweden and she has been active in Malta over the last 10 years. She has broad experience ranging from managing start-ups, mid-sized and larger corporates. She currently holds the position as Chief People Officer of ComeOn Group and oversees an 550+ staff strong operation, active across multiple geographical locations, heading a team of 20 with functions ranging from People Experience to traditional Human Resources.

23 Kesä 202047min

#10 - Todd Haushalter, CPO Evolution Gaming (Innovate or die)

#10 - Todd Haushalter, CPO Evolution Gaming (Innovate or die)

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.

16 Kesä 20201h 4min

#9 - Carl Fredrik Stenstrom, General Secretary NBO (Regulation in Norway)

#9 - Carl Fredrik Stenstrom, General Secretary NBO (Regulation in Norway)

Carl Fredrik is the Secretary General of the Norwegian Trade association (NBO) representing several major iGaming organisations since May 2019. Background: 20 years working for the monopoly in Norway, Commercial director for Rikstoto 2013 - 2019 (jan).

12 Kesä 202043min

#8 - Ivan Filletti, COO GamingMalta (The future of iGaming in Malta)

#8 - Ivan Filletti, COO GamingMalta (The future of iGaming in Malta)

Leading the GamingMalta Foundation - a non-profit foundation set up by the Government of Malta and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) - since 2018, Ivan together with his team spearheads efforts in promoting Malta as a centre of excellence in the digital and remote gaming sector globally. Ivan is also responsible for liaising with the local relevant authorities to improve Malta’s attractiveness as a jurisdiction and enhance the ecosystem surrounding the gaming industry. Under Ivan’s leadership the GamingMalta Foundation has taken a broader of gaming encompassing iGaming, esports and video gaming.

28 Touko 202055min

#7 - Gustaf Hoffstedt, General Secretary BOS (Swedish regulation)

#7 - Gustaf Hoffstedt, General Secretary BOS (Swedish regulation)

Gustaf Hoffstedt is the Secretary General of BOS, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, since 2015. Prior to joining BOS, Gustaf served as a Member of the Swedish Parliament for the Moderate party. Gustaf has fought for the abolition of the Swedish gambling monopoly and the implementation of a licensing system for more than a decade. He is pleased with the Swedish regulation but at the same time concerned about political attempts to drastically change the newly implemented regulation.

26 Touko 202048min

#6 Angelo Dalli, CEO Umnai (The future of AI in iGaming)

#6 Angelo Dalli, CEO Umnai (The future of AI in iGaming)

Angelo Dalli is an AI expert and serial tech entrepreneur, combining deep technical ability with commercial acumen. Angelo founded 9 startups, was involved in 4 IPOs, invested in numerous Technology, Entertainment and Fintech companies, and secured investments from EU funds, Angel Investors and VCs. Angelo is an EBAN member, WBAF senator and BAM president, and was twice named as Malta’s Top Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014 and 2019. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Angelo authored over 23 papers about Artificial Intelligence, Language Processing and Search Engines. Angelo won a bronze medal at the 1995 International Olympiad in Informatics.

19 Touko 202049min

#5 - Jesper Svensson, CEO Betsson Group

#5 - Jesper Svensson, CEO Betsson Group

Jesper Svensson has been in the gaming industry since the mid-2000s. Over the years he worked in senior positions in several gaming companies in Europe and Asia. He joined Betsson in 2013 as the managing director of its flagship brand, betsson.com. In 2015 he became Betsson’s Chief Commercial Officer and was then made acting CEO in September 2017. Just three months later, he was appointed as CEO for Betsson Operations. Jesper holds a Master in International Business from EAE Business School (Barcelona) and a Bachelor in Marketing from BI Norwegian Business School (Oslo). Jesper is passionate about sports and gaming. 📍 Channelisation in the Swedish market 📍 Ethical approach to marketing in the current climate 📍 What emerging markets are Betsson looking into? 📍 How does a deal like Rizk happen? What considerations are taken to understand value, synergies etc. 📍 What are the secrets to Betssons success in its company culture? 📍 Where is Betsson in five years?

13 Touko 202047min

#4 - Robin Eirik Reed, Co-founder GiG

#4 - Robin Eirik Reed, Co-founder GiG

Robin Eirik Reed Co-founded GiG 10 years ago and successfully grew the company to €150m revenue. In 2019, Robin became an inductee in the iGaming IDOL Hall of Fame. In this episode we discuss what Robin has been up to since leaving GiG, the current state of the industry, and the recently announced stricter regulation in Sweden.

13 Touko 202047min

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