On this episode of the Business of Betting podcast, Jason is joined by Manuel Stan, CEO of Catena Media.

Hear them discuss:

01:01 - Manuel’s journey to Las Vegas and what it’s like calling it home

03:07 - An overview of what Catena Media does and its role in the sports betting ecosystem

04:03 - How shifts in the U.S. market are impacting Catena Media’s business

07:21 - How affiliates are evolving and why engagement is becoming more important

08:00 - Why Catena Media doesn’t operate its own sportsbook

09:31 - The challenges of being a publicly listed company

12:28 - Catena Media’s turnaround strategy under Manuel’s leadership

13:30 - Why Catena Media pulled back from a joint AI initiative

15:20 - The long-term viability of CPA models in the U.S. market

16:49 - Jason’s take on affiliates and their role in customer acquisition

20:38 - The balance between product quality and marketing investment

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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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Mark Phillip, CEO and founder of MetaBet and Are You Watching This?!

Hear them discuss:

01:03 - Mark’s take on life in Austin, Texas—Is it worth the hype?

06:30 - The changing landscape of sports media and viewership habits

08:20 - Will younger generations maintain the same level of passion for sports?

09:56 - How sports leagues are adapting to shorter attention spans

14:00 - Why finding where to watch your favorite sports is becoming increasingly difficult

16:15 - The need for better curation in sports broadcasting

19:09 - The challenge of making sports betting odds more user-friendly

21:23 - How sportsbooks can become more engaging for casual fans

24:30 - The opportunity for sportsbooks to differentiate with a fan-centric approach

25:00 - How MetaBet is making sports betting more accessible and engaging

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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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Captain Jack Andrews, Co-Founder of Unabated.

Hear them discuss:

02:20 - How Captain Jack's first trip to Las Vegas ignited his passion for gambling

06:10 - His advocacy for fairness in sports betting inspired by personal experiences with limitations

07:40 - Why he believes sports betting offers more edges than card counting

11:20 - Reflections on missed opportunities to influence early sports betting legislation

15:20 - How politics delayed New Jersey's sports betting legalization in 1994

19:10 - The importance of transparency regarding the house edge in sports betting

23:10 - Whether sports betting is a game of skill or chance

27:40 - The role of greed in the sustainability of the sports betting industry

29:10 - Captain Jack’s work with Unabated

35:40 - His experience in being on Masterclass

43:10 - Thoughts about exchanges becoming the future infrastructure of sports betting

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry, a Canadian company focused on serving a new generation of bettors with a mix of eSports, traditional sports, and gaming products.

Hear them discuss:

01:53 - Steven’s view on Canada’s current state, including challenges in healthcare and housing

02:10 - The cost of living in Canada and its impact on citizens

10:49 - Why Rivalry avoided an RTO and opted for a direct listing

20:05 - The struggles of managing a public company on quarterly reporting cycles

26:40 - Rivalry’s transformation to prioritize profitability and player KPIs

30:30 - The benefits of using crypto as a payment processor in the gambling industry

33:40 - How blockchain analysis tools help Rivalry ensure compliance with crypto transactions

34:40 - Why fiat regulations make payment processing more frustrating than crypto

28:40 - Rivalry's innovative approach to catering to a younger, internet-native demographic

30:47 - The challenges and lessons of building Rivalry's tech from scratch

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason hosts an office hours session to kick off 2025.

Hear him discuss:

03:40 - DraftKings’ latest attempt to monetize through subscription fees and his perspective on the move

05:30 - Bet365’s impressive revenue growth and its controversial market practices

08:50 - Reflections on the U.S. election results and expectations for Trump’s new administration

14:30 - Jason's New Year’s resolutions, including healthier habits and reduced screen time

16:30 - Predictions for the sports betting industry in 2025

Tune in to hear Jason’s candid insights and plans for the year ahead!

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Adam Krejcik, co-founder and partner at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming.

Hear them discuss:

00:50 - How Adam's company name creates lasting impressions

03:20 - The services Eilers & Krejcik Gaming provides and their value to stakeholders

07:16 - Adam’s background and his path into the gaming industry

08:50 - The evolving culture of gaming and sports betting in California

12:10 - Challenges and opportunities in regulating gaming in California

15:00 - The proposition system in California and why sports betting legalization efforts have failed

19:10 - A comparison of regulatory environments in California and Texas

21:50 - The rise of sweepstakes gaming and its implications for the industry

24:20 - Advice for entrepreneurs aiming to enter the U.S. sports betting market

26:50 - The potential for disruption in the U.S. sports betting landscape

29:00 - Adam’s reflections on the current market leaders and their growth trajectory

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Nigel Eccles, founder of BetHog and co-founder of FanDuel.

Hear them discuss:

3:11 - Why the UK startup scene struggles to compete with the US.

8:23 - Founding FanDuel and the challenges of building a billion-dollar company.

14:27 - Why Nigel stayed in the US and the entrepreneurial energy it offers.

21:00 - Raising massive funding rounds at FanDuel and what it taught him.

38:50 - The FanDuel sale to Flutter and why it wasn’t a win for everyone involved.

42:00 - Nigel’s journey after FanDuel, including launching various ventures before BetHog.

47:20 - Reflections on working with a spouse and how it shaped FanDuel's growth.

53:15 - Why BetHog is Nigel’s next big bet and how it’s making sports betting more social.

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Jeff Ifrah, Founding & Managing Partner at Ifrah Law.

Hear them discuss:

01:30 - Jeff’s reaction to U.S. midterm results and their impact on sports betting.

02:13 - Insights into New Jersey legislation and the issue of "skins."

04:00 - Balancing political realities with free-market ideals in regulation.

07:00 - Legal takes on sweepstakes models and their viability.

09:20 - Why regulators are slow to act on sweepstakes issues.

15:18 - Challenges for small operators in markets dominated by giants.

18:40 - Comparing the U.K. gaming model to the U.S. system.

21:00 - Polymarket and Kalshi: Contrasting legal paths for event markets.

30:20 - The current state of using cryptocurrency in U.S. sports betting.

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Rob Davies, COO of PowerPlay.

Hear them discuss:

01:00 - Rob’s unique background in philosophy and his PhD on religious toleration

02:15 - Why Rob will always be a Bolton Wanderers fan, no matter what!

03:00 - The importance of accepting fallibility in business and decision-making

06:10 - How Rob transitioned from academia to the betting industry through William Hill

08:40 - Rob and Jason laugh about always being surprised by the “butler” in mystery plots

10:00 - How Rob’s perspective on the morality of gambling has changed over time

13:47 - What is “palpable error,” and how PowerPlay handles it transparently

15:22 - Jason tests Rob’s philosophy background with a counter-case on bet repricing ethics

20:47 - Why not build PowerPlay on top of an exchange model? Rob shares his insights

24:20 - Rob’s advice for startups: the importance of customer service and query resolution

28:10 - The rise of offshore and crypto casinos and their impact on regulated operators

32:18 - Rob’s reflections on his career and aspirations for the future

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by writer, David Hill to discuss his Rolling Stone feature - "Is the $11 Billion Online Sportsbook Bubble About to Burst?"

Hear them discuss: 

00:51 - David's transition from a union organizer to becoming a writer and how it shaped his immersive storytelling approach.

07:30 - David's upbringing in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a historic gambling hub, and its influence on his interest in gambling.

09:00 - The morality of gambling, societal parallels with alcohol, and reflections on how gambling's perception has evolved.

12:15 - The intertwining history of gambling and sports, including how gambling shaped early sports in America.

15:10 - The industry's current technological challenges, perceived stagnation, and its pricing inefficiencies.

20:30 - The debate around sports betting’s sustainability, public perception, and parallels with other industries.

30:20 - The societal costs of gambling addiction and the industry's responsibility in addressing problem gambling.

37:40 - Broader societal issues, including the impact of social media, and Jason's reflections on the parallels with sports betting.

41:10 - What’s next for David Hill after this in-depth exploration of the gambling industry.

Read David's Rolling Stone feature here -  Is the $11 Billion Online Sportsbook Bubble About to Burst?

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---

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.