Vested Interest #22: Exploring the Future of Skill-Based Gaming
NEXT.io Podcast11 Jun 2025

Vested Interest #22: Exploring the Future of Skill-Based Gaming

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #22 of Vested Interest with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig and Benjie Cherniak.From summer slumps to AI disruption, the trio returns to unpack three high-stakes themes shaping the future of gaming startups:👇 Here’s what they cover:- How to keep growing through the summer slowdown- Why skill-based games are booming (again) and what’s different this time- The state of affiliate businesses and how AI, SEO, and chatbots are reshaping the model⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:18 - Sponsor messages01:38 - Welcoming Benjie and Lloyd02:10 - Can you grow during summer? Founders vs. excuses07:42 - How NEXT.io handles seasonality with strategic summer planning13:52 - Skill-Based Gaming14:30 - The evolution and new wave of real-money skill games16:21 - Triumph, FanDuel, Bring It On and global market potential22:14 - Regulatory arbitrage and go-to-market benefits24:44 - What happens when operators join in? M&A and mainstream interest26:58 - The Affiliate Collapse27:35 - Market dip, SEO crashes & winners like Gambling.com31:04 - Fewer state openings, changing user behavior32:52 - Why SEO isn't enough anymore 35:56 - Lessons from Catena Media and the danger of single-market bets39:29 - What affiliate SEO looks like in the LLM era40:44 - Final thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio


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/

Episoder(470)

#14 - James Marshall, CEO - Push Gaming (Entertainment/iGaming industry comparisons)

#14 - James Marshall, CEO - Push Gaming (Entertainment/iGaming industry comparisons)

CEO and one of the two co-founders of Push Gaming, James Marshall started up the company in 2010. Highly passionate about games, and dedicated to offering premium quality entertainment products, James...

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#13 - Jesper Kärrbrink, Chairman - Green Jade Games (The future is bright)

#13 - Jesper Kärrbrink, Chairman - Green Jade Games (The future is bright)

Jesper Kärrbrink has a background in e-commerce, media and gambling. Several CEO positions since 1993, among those; Svenska Spel and Mr Green. Co-founder of gaming studio Green Jade Games.

9 Jul 202058min

#12 - Peter-Paul de Goeij, MD - Speel Verantwoord (Dutch re-regulation)

#12 - Peter-Paul de Goeij, MD - Speel Verantwoord (Dutch re-regulation)

Peter-Paul de Goeij is the managing director of Dutch online gambling trade organisation, ‘Speel Verantwoord’. Speel Verantwoord aspires to achieve and promote a safe and responsible online gambling o...

30 Jun 202041min

#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 Gi...

23 Jun 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 ti...

16 Jun 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,...

12 Jun 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 prom...

28 Mai 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 Moder...

26 Mai 202048min

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