iGaming Daily

In today's episode of iGaming Daily SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by SBC News Editor Ted Orme-Claye and iGaming Expert Business Journalist Christian Lee as the trio discuss Andrew Rhodes’ decision to step down as Chief Executive of the UK Gambling Commission, reflecting on his “tough sheriff” tenure, the regulatory transformation under his watch, and what his departure means for the future direction of UK gambling governance.

Tune in to today's episode to find out:

• Why Rhodes has chosen to leave now and whether the timing signals stability or unfinished business
• How the industry has reacted to his resignation, from praise for firm enforcement to criticism of regulatory overreach
• What fundamentally changed at the UKGC during his leadership, including enforcement strategy and political visibility
• Whether his exit could slow key reforms such as the Single Customer View and land-based modernisation
• What kind of leadership the Commission needs next, continued hardline enforcement or a recalibration towards market stability and dialogue

Host: Fernando Noodt
Guests: Ted Orme-Claye & Christian Lee
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalised CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by Editor of SBC News Ted Orme-Claye and Alan Heuston, Partner at McCann FitzGerald LLP and member of IMGL, as the trio discuss Ireland’s landmark overhaul of gambling regulation, the launch of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and what this means for operators, players, and the wider industry.

Tune in to today's episode to find out:

• The Core Shift: How the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) will centralize regulation, replace outdated laws, and introduce a public health focus to protect vulnerable players.
• Licensing Timeline: What operators need to know about the phased rollout of betting licenses in July 2026 and gaming licenses later in the year.
• Marketing & Advertising Rules: The strict new restrictions on social media, broadcast watersheds, and content bans aimed at safeguarding minors and reducing gambling promotion.
• Mandatory Player Protections: How compulsory tools like spending limits, self-exclusion, and social responsibility funds will transform player safety standards.
• Industry Friction Points: The challenges operators face with technical standards that have yet to be published, even as licensing goes live.

Host: Charlie Horner
Guests: Ted Orme-Claye & Alan Heuston
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalised CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

Gamification is one of the most powerful tools iGaming operators have to build real player loyalty, but only if it’s implemented correctly.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, Charlie Horner is joined live at ICE by Kalev Karpuk, Optimove’s Director of Gamification, to break down what’s changed in gamification, what operators still get wrong, and how new tools are making it easier to build creative, configurable loyalty mechanics at scale. 

Kalev explains why modern gamification is moving beyond “points and badges” into deeper experiences like missions, tournaments, public profiles, and broader loyalty systems, and why he believes gamification should be public by default to unlock the social layer that drives real engagement.

Tune in to find out:

• Why gamification in 2026 is no longer “missions and badges”, and what’s replaced it
• The most common mistakes operators make (and how to avoid them)
• Why gamification should be public, not hidden
• How gamification fits into CRM, email, SMS, and on-site engagement
• What Optimove is launching next, and why March is a key moment for rollout

Host: Charlie Horner
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Luke Walters
Guest: Kalev Karpuk, Director of Gamification (Optimove)
Location: ICE (Optimove stand)

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalised CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, we launch a brand-new Road to Rio series, inviting guest speakers who will be taking to the stage at our upcoming SBC Summit Rio.

In our first episode, SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by SBC researcher Ana Maria Menezes and special guest Hugo Baungartner, Chief Business Officer at Grupo Esportes Gaming Brasil, who will be speaking on the panel The Tax Game: Who Plays, Pays, as the trio discuss whether Brazil’s newly regulated market is ready for prediction markets and who should really be calling the shots.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why Brazil’s stock exchange (B3) is eyeing prediction markets as early as March or April
• Whether prediction markets belong under betting regulation or financial oversight
• How recent court rulings could limit regulators from overstepping their authority
• The critical role of Pix, banks, and the Central Bank in enabling or blocking new verticals
• Why operators are taking a cautious “wait and see” approach before entering Brazil

Don’t forget to catch Hugo at:

The Tax Game: Who Plays, Pays
Stage 1 – Leadership

Launched at 12% GGR under Law 14.790/2023, Brazil’s market is already testing the resilience of operators. With R$30 million licence fees, shifting SPA ordinances, and whispers of higher or even retroactive taxes, the pressure is mounting. In a landscape that changes by the week, clarity is power: know the rules, read the moves, and stay two steps ahead to weather the next regulatory shake-up.

Get tickets now !!!

Host: Fernando Noodt
Guests: Ana Maria Menezes & Hugo Baungartner
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalised CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and iGaming Expert Editor Joe Streeter as the trio discuss Genius Sports’ shock acquisition of Legend, and what it reveals about the future of sportstech, media ownership, and data-driven betting ecosystems.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why Genius Sports’ acquisition of Legend could mark a turning point for the sportstech and sports betting data market
• What the shift toward combining media, audience, and data means for traditional sports data licensing models
• How valuable owned media audiences have become as rights costs continue to rise
• Whether media ownership now offers a safer long-term strategy than exclusive data deals
• How this move could reshape competition, partnerships, and operator planning around major global sporting events

Host: Fernando Noodt
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Joe Streeter
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalised CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC’s Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir is joined by CEO of Betsson AB Pontus Lindwall as the pair discuss Betsson’s financial resilience, navigating regulatory and tax headwinds, and the strategic outlook for M&A and growth heading into a pivotal 2026.

Stay tuned to the second half of the podcast where SBC Media Manager Fernando Noodt is joined by Ted Menmuir to debrief the week’s biggest industry stories, including major M&A moves and what shifting investor sentiment means for European gaming PLCs.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why Betsson continues to deliver record-level revenues and double-digit margins despite rising regulatory and tax pressures
• How Lindwall views taxation as a competitive filter between regulated and unregulated markets
• What Betsson’s €150m+ net cash position signals about its M&A ambitions
• Why Betsson is seen as a bellwether for European gaming stocks and what that means for the wider industry
• How investor expectations are shifting from cost-cutting to smarter, more enterprising leadership ahead of 2026

Host: Fernando Noodt
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Pontus Lindwall
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalized CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, host and SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir alongside a special guest, Tamsin Blow, Partner in the Litigation and Arbitration Group at CMS and a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), to break down the landmark Betfair Court of Appeal ruling and what it means for duty of care, player protection, and the future legal responsibilities of UK gambling operators.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why the UK Court of Appeal rejected the argument that operators owe a common-law duty of care to gambling customers
• How negligence, breach of statutory duty, and breach of contract were assessed in the Gibson vs Betfair claim
• Where the legal boundary now sits between LCCP regulatory obligations and civil liability
• Whether failures in safer gambling practices could ever lead to compensation claims in future cases
• What this ruling means for both operator compliance strategies and consumer responsibility going forward

Host: Charlie Horner
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Tamsin Blow
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalized CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and SBC News Editor Ted Orme-Claye as the trio delve into the Betting and Gaming Council’s latest research on declining advertising spend, unpacking what it reveals about operator confidence, political pressure and the wider impact on the UK’s media and sports ecosystem.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• What the BGC’s research actually tells us about falling marketing spend and who commissioned, funded and shaped the report
• Why a reduction in advertising may signal deeper uncertainty across UK-licensed operators
• Whether lower gambling visibility is really a “win” for critics of the industry’s media presence
• How cuts to gambling advertising could ripple through sports, marketing and broadcast sectors
• If reduced legal advertising risks creating space for illegal operators and more work for the new Illegal Gambling Taskforce

Host: Charlie Horner
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Joe Streeter
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalized CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Editor-at-Large Ted Menmuir and iGaming Expert Editor Joe Streeter as the trio discuss the UK government’s latest crackdown on illegal gambling and what it really means for the fight against the black market.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• What the new Illegal Gambling Taskforce is, how it will operate, and what powers it’s expected to have
• Whether the Taskforce represents a serious escalation or another symbolic regulatory move
• How much of the UKGC’s £26m black-market budget could be absorbed by this initiative
• Why suppliers and payment providers may be the real pressure points regulators need to target
• What rising UKGC licensing fees signal about the state of UK gambling regulation in 2026

Host: Charlie Horner
Guests: Ted Menmuir & Joe Streeter
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalized CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today’s episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by SBC Managing Editor Jessica Welman as the duo discuss the growing uncertainty around Maine’s proposed online casino market, the wider implications of prediction markets regulation in the US, and reflect on key industry moments in Jessica’s final episode as Managing Editor as she sadly departs SBC.

Tune in to today’s episode to find out:

• Why Churchill Downs is taking the Maine regulator to court and what’s really behind the lawsuit
• Whether Maine’s online casino plans are now in serious jeopardy
• Churchill Downs’ complicated history with iGaming and why it continues to resist expansion
• What the legal challenge could mean for other US states considering iCasino regulation
• How shifting federal sentiment around prediction markets could reshape the US gambling landscape

Host: Charlie Horner
Guest: Jessica Welman
Producer: Anaya McDonald
Editor: Anaya McDonald

Learn how Optimove’s Positionless Marketing is changing how iGaming teams operate. Discover how operators are using Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform to launch personalized CRM campaigns, dynamically change casino lobbies and bet slips, and create engaging gamified experiences. Learn more at optimove.com.

To see how this approach comes to life, Optimove Connect returns to London on March 11 and 12, 2026. It is the only user conference where marketers from around the world share real-world results of Positionless Marketing driving efficiency and ROI. Register at connect.optimove.com.

Remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

And finally, we wish Jessica all the very best in her new endeavours, she’ll be hugely missed, but we can’t wait to see what she does next.