Following a jam-packed autumn schedule, SiGMA, the final event in the conference calendar, is complete and thoughts turn, inevitably, to ICE London. But we’re not done with 2022 just yet, with Thanksgiving and Christmas still to come. And what is more Christmassy than a winter World Cup?

The best gift many of us will receive this year is being able to cosy up with family and scream at the TV as we watch our picks in the company sweepstake fail to register even a shot on target.

Although there’s still hope for a few underdogs as signified by yesterday’s humbling of Argentina, who many have as favourites for the trophy, by the low-ranked Saudi Arabia (we still reckon Argentina will be in the mix at the business end of the tournament.)

The World Cup is the topic of our first chat, with ESA Gaming’s Thomas Smallwood speaking with our very own Sam Goodall, looking at, among other things, how operators can retain the customers it receives during traffic-spiking events such as the World Cup and how they can offer different services to traditional football fans.

Also on the show, Kristoffer Cassell, CEO at onboarding specialist checkin.com chats to Stewart Darkin about the company’s growth and the invaluable support it offers to online betting and gaming operators entering new markets.

Finally, Matt Chambers speaks with Daniel Broda of Checkd Media about the affiliate landscape, notably the US opportunity and the role micro-influencers can play there.