E261 - Daniel Zimmermann from Verse Picks

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Daniel Zimmermann, CEO and Co-Founder of Verse Picks, the app bringing a “parlay anything” experience to the next generation of bettors.

Hear him discuss:

• How his college experience running Barstool Syracuse sparked his entrepreneurial journey

• The early days of Verse Gaming and the pivots from DFS to skill games to prediction markets

• Why the team spent years building toward a “bet on anything” model — and how legality shaped its evolution

• How Verse’s new “Parlay Anything” feature bridges the gap between traditional betting and prediction markets

• Lessons from operating under the sweepstakes model and navigating shifting state regulations

• His perspective on DraftKings, Kalshi, and the future of CFTC-approved prediction exchanges

• The retention challenges facing prediction markets and how Verse plans to gamify the experience

• Building a lean, agile startup team — and the value of staying alive through constant pivots

• How younger generations see gambling differently, shaped by crypto, trading, and gamified culture

• The long-term vision: becoming a top-tier prediction operator within five years

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--- This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting