Mark Grech: PwC's insights on a post pandemic world of work

🎙 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

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #210 with Valeriia Virchenko, Head of Talent Acquisition at Pin-Up Global. We sit down with Valeriia Virchenko, Head of Talent Acquisition at Pin-Up Global, to uncover the secrets behind their phenomenal growth. Valeriia dives into Pin-Up's dynamic culture and innovative hiring strategies, sharing tips for standing out in interviews and building a thriving career in iGaming.  ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction  00:26 – Sponsor  01:23 – Valeriia’s Background and Transition into Recruitment 02:09 – Pin-Up’s Rapid Growth and Talent Acquisition Strategy 04:28 – Tips for Succeeding in iGaming Interviews 07:18 – Key Qualities Pin-Up Looks for in Candidates 09:20 – Outstanding Examples of Interview Preparation 10:36 – Life Hacks for Reducing Interview Anxiety 11:20 – Pin-Up’s Work Culture: Dynamic and Fast-Paced 12:15 – Personality Traits and Values Pin-Up Prioritizes 13:14 – How to Excel as a Team Player at Pin-Up 14:24 – Challenges in Recruitment and Retention at Pin-Up 16:33 – Plans for Future B2B HR Products and Tools 17:04 – Closing Marks 🔔 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/

26 Marras 202417min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re breaking down major mergers and acquisitions shaking up the gaming and tech landscape! Bally’s shareholders approve its takeover by Standard General, while Everi Holdings goes private with backing from Apollo Global Management. Meanwhile, Endeavor’s management takes full control of OpenBet and IMG Arena, signaling a strategic realignment, and Aristocrat’s Pixel United offloads Plarium, shifting focus to new opportunities. 🗞 Read the full stories here: - Bally’s shareholders approve Standard General takeover https://next.io/news/investment/ballys-shareholders-approve-takeover-standard-general/ - Everi shareholders greenlight Apollo's take-private deal https://next.io/news/investment/everi-shareholders-approve-apollo-take-private/ - Endeavor takes full control of OpenBet and IMG Arena https://next.io/news/investment/endeavor-management-buyout-openbet-img-arena/ - Pixel United sells Plarium as Aristocrat sharpens its strategy https://next.io/news/investment/aristocrats-pixel-united-sells-plarium/ 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/

22 Marras 202458min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #206 with Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO at Internet Vikings Rickard Vikström, CEO and founder of Internet Vikings, returns for an in-depth discussion about the company’s progress and the future of the rapidly changing iGaming infrastructure landscape. Four years after his first appearance, Rickard reflects on Internet Vikings’ significant growth, its expansion into the US market, and the company’s strategic focus on building sustainable infrastructure solutions for iGaming businesses across key markets, including North America and Europe. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:43 – Sponsors 02:01 – Welcoming Rickard 03:16 – G2E Conference Insights 05:15 - The Growing Trend of the Sweepstakes Model 07:05 - Reflecting on Predictions for the U.S. iGaming Market 09:31 – MGM acquiring LeoVegas 12:12 – The Future of BetMGM, Entain, and MGM’s Relationship 16:05 – How COVID Accelerated Online Gambling for Land-Based Casinos 19:00 - Innovation Coming from New Market Entrants 23:57 – Comparing the iGaming Industry in 2020 vs. 2024 30:08 – The Shift Away from Regulation as the Focus in Gambling 33:55 – The Future of Sweepstakes and Crypto in Gambling 37:27 – Blurring Lines Between Gaming and Social Games 39:45 - Election Forecasting using Betting markets like Polymarkets 43:44 – Predictions on Crypto Casinos in the Next Four Years 47:03 – Growth Opportunities in Other Markets: Africa and Asia 54:16 - Internet Vikings’ growth and success in the U.S. market 57:57 – Predictions on the acquisition of major slot providers and online brands 01:02:00 - The role of AI in the future of game production 01:09:29 - Innovations translating into land-based casinos 01:14:06: Internet Vikings’ success on the company's growth 01:17:19: The future of U.S. state legislation 01:21:03: Closing remarks 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio 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/

22 Marras 20241h 21min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #206 with Rickard Vikström, Founder and CEO at Internet Vikings Rickard Vikström, CEO and founder of Internet Vikings, returns for an in-depth discussion about the company’s progress and the future of the rapidly changing iGaming infrastructure landscape. Four years after his first appearance, Rickard reflects on Internet Vikings’ significant growth, its expansion into the US market, and the company’s strategic focus on building sustainable infrastructure solutions for iGaming businesses across key markets, including North America and Europe. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:43 – Sponsors 02:01 – Welcoming Rickard 03:16 – G2E Conference Insights 05:15 - The Growing Trend of the Sweepstakes Model 07:05 - Reflecting on Predictions for the U.S. iGaming Market 09:31 – MGM acquiring LeoVegas 12:12 – The Future of BetMGM, Entain, and MGM’s Relationship 16:05 – How COVID Accelerated Online Gambling for Land-Based Casinos 19:00 - Innovation Coming from New Market Entrants 23:57 – Comparing the iGaming Industry in 2020 vs. 2024 30:08 – The Shift Away from Regulation as the Focus in Gambling 33:55 – The Future of Sweepstakes and Crypto in Gambling 37:27 – Blurring Lines Between Gaming and Social Games 39:45 - Election Forecasting using Betting markets like Polymarkets 43:44 – Predictions on Crypto Casinos in the Next Four Years 47:03 – Growth Opportunities in Other Markets: Africa and Asia 54:16 - Internet Vikings’ growth and success in the U.S. market 57:57 – Predictions on the acquisition of major slot providers and online brands 01:02:00 - The role of AI in the future of game production 01:09:29 - Innovations translating into land-based casinos 01:14:06: Internet Vikings’ success on the company's growth 01:17:19: The future of U.S. state legislation 01:21:03: Closing remarks 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio 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/

22 Marras 20241h 21min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re covering Missouri’s long-awaited legalization of sports betting, marking a big win for the Midwest market. Plus, DraftKings faces a class-action lawsuit in New York, Bally’s sells off its Asian interactive business to double down on US investments, and Elon Musk’s lawsuit heads back to state court, a shift with potential legal ripples for high-profile figures. 🗞 Read the full stories here: Missouri sports betting legalized after years of efforts DraftKings hit with class-action lawsuit in New York Bally’s offloads Asian interactive business to management team Elon Musk lawsuit remanded to state court https://next.io/news/regulation/misso...https://next.io/news/regulation/draft...https://next.io/news/investment/bally...https://next.io/news/regulation/elon-... 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/

7 Marras 202454min

🎙Welcome to episode #17 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak. Dive deep into the latest developments in election betting, the rise of federally regulated prediction markets, their impact on the gaming industry, and the legal battles surrounding sweepstakes operators in the U.S.  ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Sponsors 02:55 - Overview of the prediction markets and their rise in the U.S. 15:23 - Shift to the sweepstakes industry and its legal challenges. 21:01 - Discussion on the broader implications of sweepstakes regulation. 28:04 - Entrepreneurship and decision-making in challenging business scenarios. 42:37 - Closing remarks and strategies for following the election night. 🔔 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/

4 Marras 202443min

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, major shifts are underway in the iGaming sector. DraftKings has laid off 101 New Jersey employees, while Caesars Entertainment has cut positions within its Sportsbook creative team, reflecting cost-cutting trends. Meanwhile, Glitnor Group’s acquisition of OneCasino highlights ongoing consolidation in the industry. These moves signal a focus on streamlined operations as companies adapt to changing market dynamics. 🗞 Read the full stories here: Exclusive: DraftKings to shutter NJ live dealer studio, lay off 101 staff https://next.io/news/casino/exclusive-draftkings-lay-off-101-nj-staff/ Exclusive: Caesars cuts creative team behind sportsbook app launch https://next.io/news/people/caesars-cuts-creative-team-behind-sportsbook-app/ Glitnor Group to acquire OneCasino in major European expansion https://next.io/news/investment/glitnor-group-to-acquire-onecasino/ 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/

1 Marras 202454min