Vested Interest #24: Prediction Markets Special

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #21 of Vested Interest with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig and Benjie Cherniak.In this episode, Pierre, Lloyd, and Benjie break down the biggest questions facing iGaming investors today:-How do you invest during uncertain, disruptive times?- Is AI in gaming hype or truly transforming the industry?- Has the classic B2B “picks and shovels” strategy held up or is it time to rethink?⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro 00:39 - Sponsors message03:33 - Investing in iGaming during uncertain times06:28 - Early-stage investment strategy v.s macro volatility08:38 - Regulatory risk v.s macro risk10:02 - Trump presidency and prediction markets13:24 - Lipstick index v.s lottery index17:19 - AI in gaming – hype or commercial reality?22:13 - Challenges: long sales cycles and limited proof points25:26 - What’s still missing in AI innovation26:41 - Spotlight: Blask and AI-powered black market insights28:14 - Can AI accurately measure offshore activity?30:22 - The problem with AI auditability32:06 - B2B vs B2C: risk-adjusted returns and market consolidation36:07 - The realities of bootstrapping and long integration timelines38:35 - Why sales cycles are so long in North America41:05 - Internal complexity and product prioritization at large operators43:05 - Closing remarks 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotioCONNECT 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/

16 Maj 43min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #235 with Jason March, VP of Gaming at DraftKingsJason March built DraftKings' iGaming division from scratch and in this episode, hosted by Pierre Lindh, he takes us behind the scenes of how it's become a tech-first, content-driven casino powerhouse.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:18 - Sponsors message01:38 - Welcoming Jason March02:10 - Why Jason joined DraftKings and built the iGaming division04:58 - How DraftKings became a tech-first casino operator07:36 - Trends in U.S. iGaming: live dealer, jackpots, social and multiplayer10:04 - Building in-house content and launching a game studio11:20 - What makes a hit game? Risk, failure, and unexpected winners15:04 - The importance of player choice and interaction16:25 - Sneak peek: new interactive games coming soon18:25 - Jason’s personal casino favorites20:57 - Live casino evolution and the rise of game shows23:37 - Challenges of state-by-state ring-fencing for live game content26:31 - How to approach DraftKings with a new game or product27:27 - Why entering the U.S. is hard and worth it28:04 - Balancing in-house games vs third-party content30:34 - Strategy behind DraftKings’ proprietary game studio31:50 - Lottery and Jackpocket: cross-sell strategy and player acquisition33:47 - The future of U.S. iGaming and why more states will legalize35:19 - The black market problem and the push for regulation36:20 - Responsible gaming and why regulation matters36:56 - Closing marks🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: 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/

13 Maj 35min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #234 with Erik Nyman, President EveryMatrix AmericasWhat does it take to double your revenue, double your EBITDA, and break into some of the hardest gaming markets?Pierre Lind sat down with Erik Nyman, President, North America at EveryMatrix, to uncover the strategy behind their global growth.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:38 - Sponsors message01:58 - Welcoming Erik Nyman03:05 - The incredible growth numbers of EveryMatrix05:36 - Erik’s career journey: from NetEnt to EveryMatrix10:15 - Entering the U.S.: licenses, strategy, and clean-slate building12:16 - Inside EveryMatrix’s modular, product-centric structure16:00 - Major milestones: landing lottery clients and breakthrough deals22:38 - When the business really took off: EBITDA surge25:20 - EveryMatrix's Financial Transparency29:30 - The challenges and opportunities in global lotteries34:15 - The U.S. lottery market: why it’s tricky and where it’s headed40:34 - U.S. iGaming landscape44:46 - Canada: Ontario’s rise, Alberta’s potential47:22 - Latin America: Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and the Brazil play51:10 - Emerging markets and operator types of the future52:54 - Why tribal gaming in the U.S. is a huge untapped opportunity56:03 - Where Erik sees EveryMatrix in the next 3 years57:29 - Closing marks🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE&si=sLfyEkrJVTQzBePPCONNECT 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/

6 Maj 58min

In this episode of NEXT In-Depth, Conor Mulheir invites Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland to explain how he approaches the analysis of publicly listed companies’ financial reports. With Q1 reporting season now upon us, the pair will explore the best ways to understand what public companies are telling us – and what they aren’t. As an example, they will take a closer look at Evolution’s Q1 report, which bucked the firm’s trend of consistent growth as it showed a sequential decline in quarterly EBITDA.

1 Maj 48min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #233 with Akhil Sarin, CMO of Stake.Akhil Sarin, the marketing mastermind behind Stake, breaks down the blueprint behind Stake’s viral rise from streamer-led growth and global sports deals to launching KICK and going head-to-head with Twitch.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:34 - Sponsors 01:51 - Welcoming Akhil Sarin03:35 - Akhil's Journey to CMO05:57 - The Early Days of Stake08:54 - The Streaming Strategy13:31 - Key Partnerships and Brand Elevation15:22 - The Drake Partnership Story20:02 - The Formula 1 Partnership24:02 - Company Culture and Team Dynamics26:30 - Measuring Success in Partnerships29:05 - Evaluating Sponsorships & Marketing Decisions32:36 - The Founder Mentality35:36 - The UFC Brand Partnership40: 02 - Leadership Culture42:50 - Building Kick: Strategies for Success47:23 - Future Aspirations and Market Expansion🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotioCONNECT 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/

10 Apr 53min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #231 with Justin Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Betty.How do you build a successful casino gaming brand in a highly competitive market? Justin Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Betty, shares his insights on launching and scaling a challenger brand in the regulated iGaming space.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:46 - Sponsors02:06 - Welcoming Justin Park06:09 - Betty Initials: startup journey & early ventures12:19 - Raising capital: relationships vs. pitch decks16:38 - Betty's business model: online casino18:09 - Understanding personas: slots vs. table players22:23 - How Betty stands out: brand differentiation24:55 - Ontario: a strategic launch market26:43 - Net revenue growth & success29:15 - Transparency & publishing results publicly33:12 - The McDonald's of iGaming franchise approach36:52 - Market expansion strategy39:00 - What it takes to be a founder41:07 - Scaling challenges & leadership growth43:11 - Book recommendations: Rockefeller & Andy Warhol45:35 - Where Betty will be in 3 years🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts 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/

3 Apr 46min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #225 with Tom Light, Co-Founder and Group CEO at FIRST - Best in SportsIn this NEXT.io Podcast episode, Tom Light, CEO & Founder of FIRST - Best in Sports, breaks down five major industry trends. These include the decline of easy profits in iGaming, the power of gamification, and the rise of AI-driven odds-making. ⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:36 - Sponsors01:54 - From SBTech to First – Best in Sports04:53 - Building a New Platform From Scratch07:54 - Analysing Today’s Sports Betting Landscape09:27 - Competing With Betano & bet365 as a B2B Provider13:06 - Tools, Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making14:17 - Trend #1: The Industry Isn’t Printing Money Anymore20:07 - Trend #2: Feature Fatigue & Sportsbook Advancements41:22 - Trend #3: Gamification as a Retention Strategy55:27 - Trend #4: The Rise of Brazil & Emerging LATAM Markets59:23 - Solving the “Saturday Problem” in Brazil01:00:02 - Brazil Case Study01:04:39 - Trend #5: AI’s Role in the Future of Sports Betting01:13:09 - What’s Next for First? Vision for B2B & Global Growth🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotioCONNECT 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/

27 Mars 1h 15min

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #230 with Jake Dovey, CEO & Founder of PayModum.What’s next for payments in the iGaming industry? Jake Dovey from PayModum, explores the current state of payment innovation, emerging trends, and the impact of evolving financial technologies on operators and suppliers.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:38 - Sponsors02:08 - Why payments and innovation aren’t always connected04:26 - Lessons from Apple Pay, Klarna & adoption timelines08:30 - The real reason innovation sticks: user experience14:58 - Why crypto hasn’t delivered on its payment promise18:00 - Stablecoins & the path to real-world usability21:00 - How gaming operators adopted crypto before anyone else25:19 - USDC vs USDT: why some stablecoins gain trust27:57 - Monetary systems, inflation & the future of currency33:31 - Global economic shifts & crypto’s potential role39:39 - The political side of payments & decentralisation44:30 - Deglobalisation, instability & the rise of local payment models47:29 - Fragmented regulation: why licensing differs globally49:00 - Cross-border payments & where payment providers thrive50:45 - What’s next in payments: stablecoins, M&A, and new rails56:56 - IPOs, fintech cycles & the pressure to innovate58:02 - What payment companies can actually do better59:00 - The role of strategic partnerships in driving change1:00:15 - Why micro-payments haven’t scaled (yet)1:06:08 - Reducing friction in iGaming payments1:08:59 - What PayModum does differently: code-free integration1:13:05 - Helping global operators enter new markets1:16:46 - Growing without VC: challenges and philosophy1:18:08 - Vision for PayModum & Masato over the next 3 years1:20:02 - Closing thoughts🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bcApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333CONNECT 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/

24 Mars 1h 20min