World Series of Politics

The 25th anniversary of G2E is just weeks away and the American Gaming Association’s Maureen Beddis joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann on the World Series of Politics to give people a taster of what’s on offer at this year’s show.  

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann are joined by David Rebuck, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, who has the proliferation of sweepstakes and predictions markets in the US firmly in his sights. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! After we turned up the heat with Congresswoman Titus in our last episode, we’re talking cooling off with responsible gaming legend Keith Whyte. In his new guise as president of Safer Gambling Strategies, Whyte joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann to discuss the potential for global harmonisation of responsible gambling standards to tech’s role in minimising gambling harms.  There’s also discussion of the National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences (NGAGE), produced by the National Council on Problem Gambling, an authority Whyte led for 27 years. That actually shows problem gambling rates dipping to pre-pandemic levels. There’s also some myth busting about the illegal market, debate on state versus federal approaches, and a call for transparency, all in the latest World Series of Politics!

In this sizzling summer episode, World Series of Politics hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann welcome back one of our favourite guests, Congresswoman Dina Titus, to find out how she’s giving bettors a fair shake with the Fair Bet Act. The ‘big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill’The Fair Bet Act is Congresswoman Titus’ fiery response to a sneaky Senate move that cuts the tax deduction on gambling losses to 90%. Titus pulls no punches as she calls out the “big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill” for cutting the longstanding 100% deduction on gambling losses, effectively taxing players on phantom winnings. And bipartisan momentum is building, including backing from gaming giants, tribes and the American Gaming Association (AGA), for Titus’ bill to reverse the provision before it hits taxpayers in 2026. The Congresswoman’s message is clear: This goes beyond protecting the industry, and it’s vital for players, communities and the future of regulated gambling in the United States. 

The World Series of Politics has turned 50 and for this special episode everyone is on camera, with the dynamic duo of Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann joined by Robin Harrison, to quiz special guest and industry legend Frank Fahrenkopf. Former chair of the Republican National Convention, chair of the Presidential Debates Commission, Caesars board member and the first president of the American Gaming Association, Frank is an iconic figure in the industry. You’ll hear his reflections on establishing the industry’s first association and coordinating player protection efforts, discussions about igaming with Sheldon Adelson, dealings with Tony Blair, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as his thoughts on the current AGA administration. Everything about the industry today, from the man who played a key role in buildings its foundations. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics as Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann take a trip across the point to have Wes Himes discuss the UK Gambling Act white paper. 

It’s a fiery one this week! World Series of Politics goes in hard on the Land of Lincoln, where another tax grab from the legislature puts further pressure on Illinois sports betting licensees. Does the Illinois sports betting tax grab essentially say the state is not a supporter of technological innovation? That’s Brandt’s take, and he warns it goes beyond gaming to target other technology innovators. How is that a sustainable strategy in the long-term?To Brendan, the sports betting tax grab is just further evidence of Illinois as a problem state for the gaming industry, especially in the wake of the Chicago casino project. “Illinois is just not a friendly space to go do business, plain and simple,” he says. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics podcast! This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann saddle up with Jonathon Kinchen to discuss US horse racing and horse race betting. JK to his friends, Kinchen is an experienced handicapper and pundit featured on Fox Sports so there’s no one better to set out the current runners and riders in the race betting game. He tells our dynamic duo about how racing missed the first wave of US gaming expansion, but explains how it could make a comeback. Kinchen unpacks parimutuel wagering and the case for fixed-odds betting on horse racing, as well as explaining how the sport can attract a new generation of fans and bettors.You’ll also hear how JK sees sports betting partnerships with racetracks working, and what international horse racing markets such as Hong Kong and Dubai do better than any other market, and ultimately why a day at the races is a live experience on a par with events like the Super Bowl. We’ve also got some tips on Preakness, but with a shifting field, things may have changed..

Indiana igaming is dead, Nebraska sports betting won't happen until next year and we're not even getting clarity on sports predictions so there's plenty to discuss in the World Series of Politics with your hosts, Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden!

After a quick stopover at the Grand Canyon Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann welcome Ali Bartlett to the World Series of Politics, talking everything Indiana. Fresh from her move to Greenberg Traurig, Ali joins our dynamic duo to talk about Indiana igaming. However it’s not coming in the current session, after a bill sailed through the public policy committee, but failed to get a hearing in ways and means. Are sweepstakes blocking Indiana igaming regulation?What is frustrating, she says, is igaming legislation in Indiana stalled while products such as sweepstakes proliferate. And lawmakers aren’t making a distinction between the two, so Ali is battling concerns about advertising and a lack of consumer protection in this grey market. Ultimately, she says, it’s a matter of consumer protection, and it’s going to be a question of when, not if, Hoosiers can spin the reels online.

This week John Pappas makes his long-awaited debut on the World Series of Politics, joining Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann to talk futures contracts, some of regulated igaming’s more surprising opponents and legislative progress in the current session. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics, where we’re talking developments in Illinois and Hawaii, before welcoming Xace’s chief banking officer Andria Evripidou for a deep dive on crypto’s growing role in gambling. After a whistlestop tour of Illinois, where igaming legislation is in play, and another attempt at sports betting in Hawaii is on the move through the legislature, Andria tells hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann about how cryptocurrency can become a fundamental part of the gambling ecosystem. Is crypto the future of gaming transactions? How can regulators keep up? And could the US finally embrace digital currency in mainstream markets? Andria breaks it all down for the dynamic duo. 

The World Series of Politics is back from its Brazilian break as the business end of the US legislative season gets going, with bills flying across the states!You want sports betting bills? You want some icasino bills? We’ve got them and more, and there’s even an opportunity to stop over in New York for a look at the (down)state of the casino process and touch on tax hikes in Ohio (again) in the latest episode of the World Series of Politics. 

In this episode of the World Series of Politics hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann welcome Aposta Ganga’s Hugo Baungartner to assess the launch of regulated online gambling in Brazil. Since 1 January, Brazil sports betting and gaming has officially launched following a lengthy legislative process, and Hugo has been involved at every step of the way.With Aposta Ganha now offering legal sports betting in Brazil, he talks our dynamic duo through the challenges of complying with the various KYC hurdles, and the last minute rush to secure certification before sports betting and online gaming launched in the market. After years of unregulated activity, they also discuss efforts by the government to stamp out illegal gambling, and leveraging the popularity of local payment solution Pix to effectively curb unlicensed operations. And is the launch of sports betting and igaming the last major development for gambling in Brazil? With plans to legalise land-based casinos, bingo halls and even jogo de bicho, the market could soon become much more competitive. 

This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann are talking all things ICE, as Clarion Gaming’s Stuart Hunter makes his annual pilgrimage to the World Series of Politics to discuss the world’s biggest gambling event. It’s a particularly special edition as the show makes its debut in Barcelona, the culminations of months of hard work behind the scenes to make the industry’s best show bigger and better than ever. There’s tailored show floor zones, there is a wave of new product launches, and even some pretty iconic sportspeople roaming the show floor. Then in the recently rebranded World Gaming Forum, speakers will set the tone for the year ahead, with leading CEOs, lawmakers, politicians and even ex-presidents taking the stage. Johnny Five is even making an appearance. It's always a big show, but this year is going to be even bigger and better than ever before. If you haven't sorted your travel, the clock is ticking. Register here to make sure you don't miss it. It's going to be an 'I was there' moment in years to come. Everyone is so excited we forgot to acknowledge that this is our fortieth episode of the podcast - what started out as a fun little side project among friends has shown remarkable staying power. Brendan’s even joined the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes to mark the occasion.

Welcome back to the final World Series of Politics of 2024! We’ve had some laughs, spilled a few tears, and it’s time to gather round the wireless, celebrate 2024’s wins and look ahead to 2025. It’s a packed final show, kicking off with the big win of 2024. Yes, Washington, D.C. finally has a competitive sports betting market, and revenue is around 15x higher than it was under the previous single-operator model. Anything but a SAFE BetHowever last week’s congressional hearing on sports betting was arguably one of the low points of the year. Before it became truly surreal - apparently Amazon now sells spines, who knew? - it was beset by witnesses peddling outdated misconceptions to prop up their anti-prop bet argument.Heavens alive, it’s (almost) 2025And next we move onto predictions, where Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden pit their wits against one another with a friendly bet on what happens in the 2025 legislative session. It’s everyone’s favourite spectacle and throughout the World Series of Politics’ run ultimately translates to Brendan Bussmann buying Brandt Iden a case of Paul Hobbs pinot. Could this finally be Brendan’s year?

The World Series of Politics is back with two special guests, as Sara Dalsheim and Abbey Block of Ifrah Law join our dynamic duo Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden to talk sweeps, lawsuits and some lessons from the Sunshine State. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann digest last week’s election results, digging into the ballot measures that prevailed and the ones that failed. The top of the ticket is also up for discussion. The Presidency, Senate and most likely the House are all under Republican control. Does that mean the federal regulation bill filed by Democrats Richard Blumenthal and Paul Tonko is dead in the water? Find out in another episode of the World Series of Politics!

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann are doing some crystal ball-gazing in this week's Halloween-slash-election special.We're back from G2E, Brandt is out of his pink suit, and we're getting down to the gritty business of polling, with Harrison Hickman of Hickman Analytics. While the top of the ticket is obviously dominating headlines, for the industry there's a lot more at stake, especially in the state of misery - sorry, Missouri - where Amendment 2 is on a knife edge.Seasoned Democratic strategist Hickman believes it's less about changing minds, and more about zeroing in on the undecideds. Those voters will generally skew to a 'no' vote, he warns.However in Virginia, he's much more bullish on the prospects for a casino in Pittsburg. The make up of the population and the attitudes towards gaming would make that much more of a slam dunk if the question on the ballot was a simple yes/no answer.And then there's the elephant in the room, the ballot at the top of the ticket. If the Harris-Walz ticket prevails, that removes Tim Walz as Minnesota's governor; does that change prospects for gaming advancement in the state? Listen on for Hickman's assessment.

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! This episode Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden are joined by Joe Maloney, senior vice president of strategic communications at the American Gaming Association to get a flavour of what's on offer at this year's G2E.