Vested Interest #14: DKNG drama, industry trends and Caesars deep dive with Erik Hession

🎙Welcome to episode #14 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak and special guest, Erik Hession, Co-president Caesars Sports & Online gambling - Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Dive deep into the latest trends shaping the iGaming industry, focusing on the evolving build vs. buy strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and the growing interest in micro-betting. The episode features a special interview with Eric Hession, who shares insights into his career journey, the transition from retail to digital operations, and Caesars' strategic approach to growth and innovation in the competitive online gaming market. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:42 - Welcoming Guests 02:23 - Build vs. Buy Strategies 05:21 - Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the Industry 07:09 - Micro-Betting and Pricing Trends 09:00 - Impact on B2B Suppliers 14:11 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Discussion 31:21 - EriK Hession's Professional Journey 34:34 - Transition from Retail to Digital Operations 37:18 - Build vs. Buy Strategy and Zero Flux Acquisition 43:13 - M&A Integration Challenges 46:10 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Reaction 48:10 - Growth Opportunities for Caesars  50:50 - Exploring International Expansion 52:57 - Closing Marks 🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/  ✩ Instagram - @next.io ✩ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next... _____ 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/