The Betting Startups Podcast

Ep. 205 features John Caldwell, Co-Founder of i3Soft, a gaming technology company building next-generation poker and casino products designed to improve player experience, increase liquidity, and bridge the gap between poker and casino gameplay.   Hear them discuss: John’s unconventional journey from the music industry (Atlantic Records, Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie & the Blowfish) into poker and eventually gambling tech Building PokerNews into the leading global poker media platform and later transitioning to PokerStars during the online poker boom The core problem with online poker today: long tournament times and a broken experience for recreational players The vision behind i3Soft, including AI-assisted tournament formats (“Skip It”) designed to shorten gameplay and restore balance between pros and casual players “Poker Casino” and the strategy of using poker-adjacent games to improve cross-sell from poker into casino products Challenges of selling a new category to operators, and why liquidity remains the biggest barrier in online poker The four-year product development journey, including a failed early build and eventual breakthrough to launch Funding i3Soft through a mix of self-funding, friends & family, and unconventional “drip” investment structures The current state of poker: strong live demand but ongoing struggles to translate that momentum online 2026 priorities for i3Soft, including operator adoption, scaling distribution, and expanding poker liquidity networks   SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ i3soft website ➡️ John Caldwell on Linkedin    📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 204 features Allan Stone, CEO & Co-Founder of Intelitics, a marketing intelligence platform helping betting and iGaming companies better understand the true impact of their marketing spend and optimize performance across the full player lifecycle. Hear them discuss: Allan’s journey into betting, from online poker to affiliates and founding Intelitics The origin story of Intelitics and the gap in marketing intelligence within real money gaming How shifting consumer behavior (desktop → mobile) reshaped marketing opportunities in the industry What “marketing intelligence” really means and how it connects spend to actual revenue outcomes Why traditional metrics like deposits or FTDs aren’t enough to measure true ROI The complexity of attribution across channels, affiliates, and player behavior How operators can use real-time data to optimize acquisition, retention, and reactivation The impact of AI on SaaS models and changing expectations around pricing and value Why betting companies need purpose-built, vertical-specific technology to solve deep industry problems The evolving marketing mix in 2026, including opportunities in underutilized channels like Yahoo and Reddit Key differences in marketing strategies between traditional sportsbooks and emerging products like prediction markets Advice for founders on aligning marketing spend with unit economics and long-term business outcomes   SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Intelitics website ➡️ Allan Stone on Linkedin    📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 203 features Toby Bucsescu, CEO & Co-Founder of Blitz:Draft, which is reimagining the sports gaming experience by combining elements of daily fantasy, betting, and quick-play mechanics into a format built for speed and accessibility.   Hear them discuss: Toby’s path into the sports gaming industry and founding Blitz Draft The problem with traditional betting and DFS products How Blitz Draft creates a faster, more engaging user experience Key differences between draft-style games and conventional formats Product development insights and early user feedback Navigating regulation while building an innovative product Strategies for acquiring and retaining users in a competitive market The importance of simplicity and reducing friction in gameplay How Blitz Draft fits into the broader evolution of sports gaming What’s next for the company and the future of quick-play betting formats   SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000. Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Blitz:Draft website ➡️ Toby Bucsescu on Linkedin    📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/  

Ep. 202 features Cal Spears, founder of Gambly, returning to the Betting Startups Podcast to share an update on the company’s progress since launch, insights from the NEXT Summit in New York, and a major milestone for the business.    Hear them discuss: Cal’s return to the podcast and what has changed at Gambly since its launch in October 2024 Key takeaways from the NEXT.io Summit in New York and why prediction markets dominated the conversation The story behind Gambly merging with Unabated and why combining forces made strategic sense for both companies How Unabated’s advanced betting analytics and pricing models now power Gambly’s tools and insights for bettors The vision of creating a unified ecosystem that blends AI-driven bet discovery with professional-grade betting data Lessons learned from building and scaling products in the betting ecosystem How founders should think about partnerships, consolidation, and product leverage when building betting startups What’s next for Gambly following the merger and how the team plans to expand its product offering   Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Gambly website ➡️ Unabated website ➡️ Cal Spears on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 201 features Taylor Caby, Co-Founder of Establish The Run, sharing the story behind building the evolution of betting content, the business of premium sports analysis, and why high-quality information products continue to thrive in an increasingly crowded sports betting ecosystem.   Hear them discuss: Taylor’s background in poker, daily fantasy sports, and the path that led to launching Establish The Run How the DFS boom helped shape the modern sports betting content ecosystem Why building a subscription-based analysis product requires credibility and long-term trust with an audience The difference between entertainment betting content and serious analytical work How Establish The Run approaches projections, modeling, and content production across multiple sports The realities of running a premium subscription business in a market filled with free picks and influencer content Why niche expertise and deep analysis still outperform broad “mass-market” betting advice How sports betting media companies balance education, entertainment, and actionable information The role of community and loyal subscribers in sustaining independent sports betting media businesses Taylor’s perspective on where sports betting content and analytics businesses are headed next Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Establish The Run website ➡️ Taylor Caby on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 200 marks a major milestone for the Betting Startups Podcast, featuring a special conversation between Jesse Learmonth and longtime industry leader Paris Smith to celebrate the 200th episode and announce a major new chapter for the platform.   Hear them discuss: Jesse and Paris’s shared history at Pinnacle, how a startup acquisition led to a six-year partnership, and the full-circle moment that brings them back together The official launch of BettingStartups Capital, including its mission to back early-stage real-money gaming startups as one of the first checks in What they look for in founders, from industry experience and coachability to problem-solving mindset and commercial realism Lessons Paris has learned as an angel investor, how operator instincts translate to investing, and why availability and honesty matter most Why ecosystem-building, fast decision-making, and founder support are central to their investment philosophy The announcement of InsightPlay.ai as the first investment under BettingStartups Capital and why the team stood out How conferences, networks, and mentorship accelerate startup success in a complex and regulated industry   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital   Only a few tickets remaining! Use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/  

Ep. 199 features Michael, Evan and Chris from Feen, to discuss building a next-generation betting product, navigating early-stage product decisions, and finding differentiation in an increasingly crowded wagering landscape. The conversation explores Feen’s origin story, early traction, and how the founders think about product focus, user behavior, and long-term scalability. Hear them discuss: The founding story behind Feen and the problem the team set out to solve Why real market volatility beats RNG games and how Feen turns crypto moves into playable races Macro thesis: finance following content’s shift toward short-form, on-demand, dopamine-driven formats Community, identity, and lessons learned from NFTs and consumer internet culture B2C focus vs potential B2B integrations with operators and ecosystem partners UX challenges in crypto, onboarding “normies,” and passing the ultimate test: the mom test Early traction, user feedback, and why Feen stayed private during initial iterations Bootstrapping the company, current fundraising plans, and scaling mobile distribution State of crypto in 2026, volatility as opportunity, and why builders still have the edge Five-year vision: becoming a household pocket prediction game   If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Feen website ➡️ Michael Chiang on Linkedin ➡️ Evan Luza on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 198 features Pierre Lindh, founder of NEXT.io, returning for his fourth appearance on the Betting Startups Podcast. Pierre reflects on NEXT.io’s breakout year, the transition from scrappy startup to growth-stage business, the role of investigative journalism in iGaming media, and why emerging betting products may go global in 2026.   Hear them discuss: How 2025 became a “12-year overnight success” after more than a decade of compounding momentum The shift from runway preservation to investing aggressively in growth Why founders inevitably become bottlenecks and how to let go without losing vision The importance of finding a true operational counterbalance as a visionary leader Why sustainable scaling beats short-term overexpansion in a cyclical industry How AI is reshaping media and why human journalism may become more valuable, not less The commercial trade-offs of integrity-led investigative reporting Game theory, AI acceleration, and why safety may lose to competitive pressure The explosive growth of NEXT New York and what makes it a senior-level dealmaking event His 2026 prediction: emerging products like prediction markets and sweepstakes expanding globally   If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Next.io website ➡️ Pierre Lindh on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 197 features Benson Bleier and Daniel Prior, Co-Founders of Regen, an automated savings platform built specifically for sports bettors. break down how Regen helps bettors automatically save money on every bet — win or lose — and why they believe savings and investing can become a core part of sustainable gaming.   Hear them discuss: Benson and Daniel’s paths from consulting, VC, and professional poker into building a betting-adjacent fintech startup How the founders met in Argentina through padel and decided to launch Regen How poker bankroll management inspired the original idea behind Regen What Regen does: automated savings triggered every time a sports bet is placed (win or lose) How the product works, including sportsbook connections, bank integrations, and user-set saving rules Why users save on both wins and losses and how typical saving percentages are set How Regen aggregates betting activity across multiple sportsbooks to provide simple performance insights Why Regen positions itself as a fintech, “gambling-adjacent” product for operators and bettors How Underdog’s Guard Dog fund discovered Regen and why it invested Regen’s roadmap, including operator integrations, investing products, and its vision for sustainable betting and financial education   If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Regen website ➡️ Ben Bleier on Linkedin ➡️ Daniel Prior on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 196 features Javier Troncoso and Cristian Barbosa, Co-Founders of InsightPlay.ai, an AI-powered engagement platform using autonomous agents to help operators acquire, retain, and reactivate players at scale. Fresh off a busy ICE Barcelona and a newly announced seed round, Javier and Cristian join Jesse Learmonth to break down how Insight Play is redefining player engagement through conversational AI  and what it takes to build an AI-native startup in global gaming. Hear them discuss: Javier and Cristian’s paths from media, affiliates, and iGaming into building an AI-native startup How InsightPlay.ai was founded and why they went all-in on autonomous AI agents What InsightPlay.ai does: conversational AI agents that drive acquisition, retention, and reactivation Real-world use cases including win-back campaigns, VIP engagement, onboarding, and support A live demo showing AI agents making personalized outbound calls to bettors Why conversational AI changes sportsbook UX from static interfaces to 1:1 interaction Early traction in LATAM, rapid deployments, and lessons from launching with real operators Performance metrics, reactivation success, and how AI complements CRM and call centers Closing a $500K seed round, choosing strategic investors, and founder fundraising realities The roadmap ahead, global expansion plans, and why the World Cup is a major growth catalyst   If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/     Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ InsightPlay.ai website ➡️ Javier Troncoso on Linkedin ➡️ Cristian Barbosa on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 195 features Jonathan Baxandall and Gavin Puszczalowskyi, Co-Founders of Bettortainment, for a deep dive into live betting watch-alongs, sportsbook retention, and why most operators still underinvest in in-play engagement.   Hear them discuss: Jonathan’s decade-long career in iGaming, B2B data and acquisition teams Gavin’s 20+ years in radio broadcasting and early in-play content work with William Hill The origins of Bettortainment and why “live” is the most valuable moment to engage bettors What a betting watch-along really is and why it’s more than just commentary Why retention consistently matters more than acquisition, yet remains underserved How sportsbooks lose customers during live play and how to prevent it The balance between data, entertainment, and betting prompts in live content Why community-driven engagement outperforms passive content The limitations of AI in live sports content and the importance of human reaction Bettortainment’s white-label approach and making premium content accessible to smaller operators How affiliates can use live content to drive engagement and differentiation Bootstrapping the company, founder risk, and early startup realities Why the 2026 World Cup represents a massive opportunity for live betting content   If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/     Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Bettortainment website ➡️ Jonathan Baxandall on Linkedin ➡️ Gavin Puszczalowskyi on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 194 features Noah Fulk, Founder and CEO of EWagers, for a deep dive into building compliant, skill-based wagering infrastructure and the hard lessons learned from pivoting a gaming startup from B2C to B2B. Hear him discuss: Noah’s background as a lifelong gamer and the early inspiration behind Ewagers The original B2C vision for peer-to-peer wagering and why the model ultimately failed The pivotal decision to pivot from consumer-facing product to B2B infrastructure What Ewagers does today, including payments, KYC, geofencing, and compliance tooling The underestimated complexity of building regulated gaming infrastructure Fundraising lessons, early structural mistakes, and navigating tougher capital markets Why profitability doesn’t necessarily make scaling easier The importance of advisors and experienced operators in avoiding costly errors Key signals that confirmed the pivot to B2B was the right move What’s next for Ewagers and the long-term vision for the platform   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ EWagers website ➡️ Noah Fulk on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

Ep. 193 features Scott and Warren, founders of PokerLab, for a deep dive into the evolution of online poker and how PokerLab is positioning itself as a modern “Poker as a Service” platform built for today’s operators and players.   Hear them discuss: PokerLab’s origin story and the founders’ decades-long careers in poker and iGaming What “Poker as a Service” really means and how PokerLab differs from legacy poker platforms Why poker remains one of the stickiest products in gambling despite years of decline The rise of short-form poker and why attention spans are changing product expectations The overlap between poker players, sports bettors, DFS users, and prediction market participants Why poker can serve as a powerful acquisition and retention tool for operators Regulatory considerations, taxes, and the divide between professional and recreational players The upcoming Canadian Poker Network launch and what PokerLab hopes to prove Lessons learned from building multiple startups and navigating timing, conviction, and risk   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ PokerLab website ➡️ Scott Wilson on X/Twitter ➡️ Warren Dombowsky on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.  

Ep. 192 features Jesse Learmonth in a special "Ask Me Anything" edition of the Betting Startups Podcast, where he flips the script and answers questions from founders, operators, and builders across the gaming ecosystem. Hear him discuss: The biggest lessons from nearly 200 podcast episodes, including why industry experience and distribution matter more than ever for startup success What surprised him most in 2025: prediction markets, the blurring lines between betting, finance, and speculation, and what that means for founders Common mistakes founders make, from confusing personal pain points with real market opportunities to poorly framing “use of funds” in pitch decks How bettors are evolving, why access (not tools) is now the biggest constraint, and how prediction markets are changing the landscape in 2026 Jesse’s vision for Betting Startups in 2026, including new products, events, a tech platform, and plans to raise strategic (non-institutional) capital   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Jesse Learmonth on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

Ep. 191 features Joshua Swerdlow, from ChatBet AI, an AI-powered sports betting platform built to deliver smarter, more personalized betting experiences through data and conversational technology.   Hear him discuss: Josh’s background and the leap he took moving from England to Tel Aviv  What ChatBet is and how he is using AI to reshape the sports betting experience What his go-to-market strategy was and major lessons from launching  Why Josh believes that the user experience sits at the center of ChatBet’s product philosophy and why it is so key  The realities when it comes to gaining capital in the start up world  How Josh has navigated the startup ecosystem from working with startups to now running his own How Chat Bet AI uses data-driven insights to create better outcomes for bettors Key lessons learned as a first-time founder The vision for 2026 and ChatBet’s long-term growth and engagement strategy, hint the World Cup is involved   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇   ➡️ ChatBet AI website ➡️ Joshua Swerdlow on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

Ep. 190 features Irakli “Marcus” Davarashvili, Founder & CEO of Promofy, for a deep dive into the global rise of AI-powered gamification and how operators are rethinking loyalty, engagement, and retention. Hear him discuss: His 13-year journey across advertising, brand building, and iGaming leadership and how operational pain points at scale inspired him to build Promofy What Promofy is: an AI-driven, no-code gamification platform that lets operators launch loyalty systems, missions, sports predictors, prize drops, kiosks, and full-page engagement experiences in minutes How Promofy’s rapid traction and product innovation led to winning “Launch of the Year” at the Starties, and why that recognition validated the team’s vision and executio Why global operators misunderstand “gamification,” and how true gamified ecosystems differ from simple bonuses, cashbacks, and tournament The massive market shift away from bonus-led retention to personalized and behavior-driven engagemen Regional adoption trends across LATAM, Europe, Asia, CIS, and North America plus why gamification is becoming “must-have” instead of “nice-to-have How Promofy differentiates itself with AI design tools, content generators, sports prediction engines, casino loyalty, and a full library of mechanics that operators can test and optimiz The challenges and realities of fundraising as a first-time founder, why saying “yes” and “no” matter equally, and what kinds of investors Promofy is seeking today The transition from operator to entrepreneur expectations vs. reality, resilience, failure tolerance, and why agility is a survival skil Why 2026 will be a breakout year driven by global expansion, new product launches, and massive demand heading into the World Cup   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇   ➡️ Promofy website ➡️ Irakli  Davarashvili on Linkedin     📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

Ep. 189 features the three co-founders of Golden Camel, Artie, Ben, and Ryan, for a lively deep dive into building a sports-betting lifestyle app rooted in community, fun, and authenticity. Hear them discuss: How a series of career pivots led them to partner up on Golden Camel a number of years after the original idea was sparked Why Golden Camel rejects “beat the house” culture, instead leaning into fun and community - while also still providing utility  Why they see brand as a differentiator within the betting tools category, and how they plan to leverage that to acquire users The state of U.S. betting culture in 2025, the rise of prediction markets, and why they feel they're in the right place at the right time with Golden Camel Their go-to-market strategy in Arizona, and why authentic content + in-person community building is their biggest growth engine Why they think that Silicon Valley VC's have largely been absent from the sports betting industry, and how they see that evolving   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇   ➡️ Golden Camel website ➡️ Artie Baxter on Linkedin ➡️ Ben Ramirez on Linkedin ➡️ Ryan Magrum on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

Ep. 188 features James King, CEO & Co-Founder of Flows, for a deep dive into building a no-code automation platform powering some of the biggest operators in global gaming. Hear him discuss: His 16-year industry journey across iGB Affiliate, Clarion Events, and Gaming Innovation Group and how industry-wide tech frustration inspired the founding of Flows What Flows actually is: a no-code automation layer that ingests real-time data and lets teams build alerts, bonus engines, jackpots, omnichannel loyalty, and more all without developers How operators integrate Flows, the speed of deployment, and why its Zapier-like interface is built to handle billions of gaming events The company’s commercial model, recent traction, and major U.S. launches Why the U.S. remains the biggest long-term opportunity despite slow sales cycles, and how Flows is navigating sweeps, prediction markets, and regulated operators Why Flows sees itself as a tech company in gaming and how its technology can extend to fintech, retail, and other enterprise verticals The rationale behind choosing a strategic investment from Light & Wonder over traditional VC, and how the partnership has helped accelerate growth A candid look at the overloaded conference landscape, which events actually deliver ROI, and which ones startups should prioritize What’s coming in 2026, new products, AI-driven innovation tools, expanded U.S. growth, and deeper empowerment for teams to build and automate faster than ever   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇   ➡️ Flows website ➡️ James King on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   --- 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.

This special episode features Seb Butterworth from Flutter and Dan O’Sullivan from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), for a deep dive into the future of horse racing — and how the sport is preparing to engage a new generation of fans.   Hear them discuss: The origins and findings of Project Beacon, and what the research reveals about younger and casual audiences Why horse welfare, race education, race day experience, and behind-the-scenes access are the four critical innovation themes How behind-the-scenes content can build emotional connection and improve understanding of horse welfare Why racing struggles with context and “the why” for non-core audiences — and how narrative and storytelling can change that Flutter’s approach to modernizing a tradition-rich sport while preserving what makes racing special How simplifying the race card (without removing complexity) can make the sport more accessible to newcomers The role of technology, wearables, and data in creating richer fan experiences and improving equine welfare Early signals from other sports and how innovations like ref-cam, jockey cam, and training-yard content could shape racing’s future Why digital platforms will be essential to reaching the next generation of fans Details of the Future of Racing startup program: application window, pitch event, evaluation criteria, and potential commercial opportunities Applications for the program are open until November 23, culminating in a Shark Tank style pitch at York Racecourse in February 2026. Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ Daniel O'Sullivan on Linkedin ➡️ Sebastian Butterworth on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

The Gamble & The Glory showcases founders that built their companies into category leaders in the betting and gaming industry. In S2 E2, we speak with John Levy, founder and former CEO of theScore. John shares the remarkable 25+ year journey behind one of Canada’s most iconic sports media and betting brands from its roots in cable television to becoming a digital powerhouse and ultimately exiting for over $2 billion. Hear him discuss: The early days of Sportscope and how it evolved into theScore How selling the TV network unlocked theScore’s digital transformation Selling the media assets to bet the future of the company on digital media and technology Why Penn’s acquisition derailed early and what went wrong with the integration Lessons from scaling a family-run business and defining clear leadership roles His candid thoughts on ESPN BET, Barstool, Dave Portnoy, and partnership misalignment How theScore Bet could have continued to grow under an independent model The future of sports betting across AI, microbetting, and next-gen fan behavior How theScore was able to punch above its weight, and John's advice to startup founders on how to do the same Why authenticity, resilience, and focus define long-term winners What’s next for John Levy, and whether another venture is on the horizon For more of John's comments on the recent ESPN Bet news, check out his recent podcast with Steve McAllister on Gaming News Canada: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uocQx14rRzS92YF8wlnqC?si=ce3b2267cfad4a57 Video version of this episode can be viewed here. Learn more 👇 ➡️ theScore website ➡️ John Levy on Linkedin     The Gamble & The Glory is made possible by Segev LLP, a full solutions law firm purpose-built for the gaming and betting industry. To learn more, visit: www.segev.ca.