Phil Pearson: iGaming Industry 2025 in Review

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #18 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak. In this episode, we dive into Robinhood’s surprising potential entry into the sports betting industry, the rise of federally regulated prediction markets, and how non-gaming giants like Amazon and X (Twitter) could disrupt the iGaming space. We also review the biggest M&A moves of 2024 and uncover the secrets behind successful exits. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and sponsors. 02:21 - Robinhood’s potential move into the U.S. sports betting sector. 05:10 - How Robinhood could disrupt the industry and potential strategies. 09:55 - The evolution of prediction markets and regulatory considerations. 17:07 - Exploring disruptive forces from outside the iGaming industry. 24:48 - Could companies like Amazon or X (Twitter) enter the gaming space? 30:12 - A year-end review of M&A activity in 2024 and standout deals. 37:15 - Lessons from successful exits: Bootstrapped vs. VC-backed ventures. 45:38 - Closing remarks and predictions for 2025. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio _____ This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

16 Joulu 202446min

Join us for a special episode of Weekly News exploring the findings of our new hashtag#SouthAfrica report. Discover the South African hashtag#iGaming landscape, including emerging trends, player preferences, and market forecasts. Check out the South Africa report here 👉 https://next.io/next-igaming-market-in-focus-south-africa-report/ 👤 Special guests Max Tesla from Blask and Sasha Boerma 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! This episode is brought to you by: Playson: https://playson.com/ Sponsored by: Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

13 Joulu 202454min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #213 with Nick Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO of Radar. In this episode, Pierre sits down with Nick Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO of Radar, to dive into the transformative role of geolocation technology in iGaming and beyond. From Radar’s roots at Foursquare to its cutting-edge solutions for fraud detection and compliance, Nick shares the story of how his team is redefining location-based services. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction  00:02 – Sponsors 03:03 – Founding Radar: From Foursquare to geolocation innovation 05:28 – Tackling geolocation challenges and the cat-and-mouse game 07:44 – Regulatory fines and VPN detection in Europe 08:55 – Current and future technology for VPN detection 13:48 – Understanding location spoofing and its implications 16:24 – The ongoing battle between geolocation providers and bad actors 19:04 – How operators detect VPN usage and its limitations 22:13 – Lessons from other industries: Retail, restaurants, and logistics 26:10 – Opportunities for geolocation in sports stadiums and live venues 28:32 – Radar’s international expansion plans and focus areas 31:22 – Emerging trends in geolocation and innovative solutions 35:57 – Improvements in GPS accuracy and indoor positioning 36:10 – Radar’s vision for the next three years 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

12 Joulu 202438min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #213 with Pierre and Ashley Lang, CEO of Pragmatic Solutions Ashley shares insights on how platform technologies drive innovation, the transformative role of real-time data in player engagement, and how operators can unlock new opportunities by leveraging AI, flexible integrations, and a customer-first approach.  From game content curation to building a scalable business in regulated markets, Ashley offers a masterclass in what it takes to thrive in an ever-complex iGaming landscape. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Overview 01:10 – Ashley’s journey in iGaming 02:20 – How iGaming has changed since the 1990s 06:30 – Early challenges in iGaming platforms 09:45 – Impact of the shift to mobile 12:50 – Role of marketing in iGaming growth 15:30 – Real-time data and player retention 24:12 – AI in iGaming: Opportunities and realities 33:50 – How shared wallets changed the game 41:30 – Game content curation with metadata 52:00 – Pragmatic Solutions’ operator approach 01:00:00 – What is the Connected Series? 01:05:00 – Importance of vendor collaboration 01:10:30 – Flexibility through integration 01:15:20 – Challenges in adopting new tech 01:20:45 – Data-driven insights for players 01:30:10 – Trends in platform technology 01:40:50 – Advice for operators today 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - /nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - /nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - /nextdotio This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading game content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/

10 Joulu 20241h 46min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re diving into the latest developments in the iGaming world, covering major updates on BC.Game, Cirsa, Rivalry, and Cbet. BC.Game has shut down its UK operations, raising questions about the platform's future in key markets. Meanwhile, Cirsa's parent company, Blackstone, has announced plans for a 2025 IPO, signaling a bold move for the gaming giant. Rivalry’s Q3 2024 financial results are in, showcasing impressive growth amid fierce competition. Finally, Cbet faces a new challenge as PSG Curaçao files a bankruptcy claim, adding to the complexity of the jurisdiction’s gaming ecosystem. 🗞 Read the full stories here: - BC.Game closes UK site https://next.io/news/casino/bc-game-closes-uk-site/ - Blackstone plans 2025 IPO for Cirsa https://next.io/news/investment/blackstone-plans-2025-ipo-for-cirsa/ - Rivalry Q3 2024 results https://next.io/news/results/rivalry-q3-2024-results/ - PSG Curaçao bankruptcy claim against Cbet https://next.io/news/marketing/psg-curacao-bankruptcy-claim-cbet/ 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! This episode is brought to you by: Playson: https://playson.com/ Sponsored by: Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

6 Joulu 202454min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #212 with Tania Johannisson, Founder of Amplific In this episode, we sit down with Tania Johannisson, founder of Amplific and former Director of Risk at Evolution, to explore her journey from building a billion-dollar iGaming powerhouse to launching her own venture.  Tania opens up about the challenges of balancing high achievement with well-being, overcoming burnout, and the neuroscience behind resilience. She also shares how her new company helps businesses turn risk and compliance into opportunities for innovation and growth. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Overview 00:26 – Sponsor 01:53 – Tania’s Background: From Latvia to Evolution 03:03 – The start of Tania’s career and the journey to Evolution 06:14 – Reflections on building Evolution’s risk department 07:18 – Experiences and challenges while working at Evolution 10:11 – The ways Evolution shaped Tania’s professional identity 13:31 – Identifying the onset of burnout and its initial signs 18:02 – The symptoms of burnout and the difficulty in recognizing them 22:29 – Turning points in managing and recovering from burnout 29:34 – Insights into the neuroscience of stress and burnout recovery 36:39 – The journey of learning to slow down and create balance 39:08 – Transitioning to entrepreneurship and the vision behind Amplific 46:24 – Amplific’s mission and how it stands out in the industry 51:04 – Tania’s vision for herself and Amplific in the next three years 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=f77f63485a8542eb Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio _____ This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

3 Joulu 20241h 6min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re covering major developments in Curaçao’s gambling industry. BC.Game is under fire as its licence may be revoked following bankruptcy and regulatory scrutiny. Meanwhile, allegations of fraud and embezzlement involving key industry figures cast a shadow over the jurisdiction’s efforts to reform its licensing process. With Curaçao’s role as a global licensing hub, these stories could signal big changes ahead for operators worldwide. 🗞 Read the full stories here: - BC.Game declared bankrupt amid regulatory review https://next.io/news/regulation/bc-game-declared-bankrupt/ - Curaçao regulator moves to revoke BC.Game licence https://next.io/news/casino/curacao-gambling-regulator-revoke-bc-game-licence/ - Fraud allegations spark reform in Curaçao licensing https://next.io/news/regulation/silvania-galea-fraud-embezzlement-allegations-new-gambling-licences/ 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! This episode is brought to you by: Playson: https://playson.com/ Sponsored by: Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

29 Marras 202434min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #211 with Ruzanna Elchyan, Head of Gaming at BetConstruct. Ruzanna Elchyan, Head of Gaming at BetConstruct, joins Pierre Lindh for an engaging conversation about her 12+ years in the iGaming industry, BetConstruct’s innovative projects, and Armenia’s emergence as a global iGaming hub. In this episode, Ruzanna shares insights into the evolution of iGaming, from technological advancements to the rise of feature-rich and branded games. She also discusses BetConstruct’s exciting projects like the Ortak NFT Marketplace and BFTH Arena, along with her perspective on building relationships in the fast-paced world of gaming. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00: Introduction 00:04: Sponsors: Pragmatic Play & Pragmatic Solutions 01:11: Welcoming Ruzanna: Her Journey in iGaming 02:21: Ruzanna’s Background: From Georgia to Armenia 05:48: Her Role as Head of Gaming at BetConstruct 08:06: Technological Evolution in the iGaming Industry 10:00: The Rise of Branded and Feature-Rich Games 13:01: BetConstruct’s Key Projects: BFTH Arena & Ortak NFT Marketplace 17:10: Armenia as an iGaming Hub 19:02: The Launch of the “Your Health” App and FTM Cryptocurrency 20:54: Ruzanna’s Advice to Young Professionals in iGaming 22:17: Exciting Plans for BetConstruct in 2024 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram: /nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter: /nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn: /nextdotio This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/\ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

28 Marras 202423min