The Architect of US Sports Betting and iGaming

In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with William J. Pascrell III, “BP3”. He is a partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group and a driving force behind the legalisation of sports betting and online gaming in the United States.

BP3 shares the unseen cost of bold bets: losing every major client when he onboarded PokerStars to help bring iGaming to America, the two-year sprint that followed, and the resilience forged long before politics from a 45-day coma with spinal meningitis to the daily discipline learned from his father.

This is a conversation about courage, people, and choosing to be a happy warrior rather than an angry gladiator.

About BP3

Bill Pascrell III is a veteran strategist and lobbyist who helped lead New Jersey’s iGaming framework and the decade-long campaign that culminated in PASPA’s repeal in 2018.

He advises governments and gaming companies across the US and internationally on policy, compliance and market access.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Scars, setbacks and the “small gladiator” mindset
03:30 – “Architect of American sports betting” and what it really means
08:00 – Growing up without privilege and learning to outwork everyone
14:00 – Spinal meningitis as a teenager
20:00 – Lessons from his father on example, integrity and service
23:30 – The King David Hotel story and resourcefulness under pressure
28:30 – Grief, legacy and the Pascrell Public Service Institute
34:00 – Onboarding PokerStars, losing every client and starting again
39:00 – NFL opposition, real-world pressure and personal risk
40:00 – Happy warrior versus angry gladiator
43:00 – People before everything

Memorable Quotes

“I have the scars and the bruises to show I was a small gladiator in this fight.”

“Give me 10% of 40 million and I’ll get this done in two years. And we did.”

“I could have treated my adversaries more as a happy warrior than as an angry gladiator.”

“Titles come and go. What matters is how we treat each other.”

Connect with Bill Pascrell III

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billpascrell/
X: https://x.com/BillPascrell3rd
INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/pascrell3rd/

Follow Leo Judkins & iGaming Leader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/subscribe
Join the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/apply

Learn more about BP3

BP3 on Boston 25 News
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/25-investigates-sports-betting-could-raise-odds-problem-gambling-ma/PSOWJETP6ZA4VAX24VQZFCQURI/

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Entain Foundation U.S. Educates Athletes on Sports Betting
https://www.inquirer.com/sports/nfl-ncaa-betting-education-entain-foundation-amani-toomer-20230727.html#loaded

BP3 for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania's Casinos Must Protect Problem Gamblers
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2022/11/28/racinos-betters-gambling-addiction/stories/202211280003

Forbes: How New Jersey Will Double Down on Gambling if Casinos Come to New York City
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/10/14/how-new-jersey-will-double-down-on-gambling-if-casinos-come-to-new-york-city/
BP3: From NJ.com: NJ Sports Bettors Need More Protection
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/04/nj-sports-bettors-need-more-protection-opinion.html
Game Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry
Game Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry - USiGamingHUB
Sen. Addabbo: Legalize iGaming First, Then ‘I Want To Create’ Sweeps Regulation
Addabbo: Legalize iGaming, Then 'I Want To Create' Sweeps Regulation
Casinos, online play fuel strong July in NJ
Casinos, online play fuel strong July in NJ - NJBIZ
BP3: From IMGL Magazine– The Importance of Geolocation in the Online Gaming Industry
IMGL Magazine June 2025

Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated)
Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated) - NJBIZ
Bill Pascrell: US Election day warm up:
https://next.io/podcasts/next-io-podcast/bill-pascrell-us-election-day-warm-up/?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--thGRArZ3dvBERn9NoBY4lv0g8vB2vmx1uDcV5DecKSq-IXpITjwZ5BQ8Y2K1E1L1FtsB5UODaJ190VR9ISatxI2aSTCq25FCypCtUlLfYVSSP-xc&_hsmi=97835674&utm_content=97835674&utm_source=hs_email