This week on a festive edition of NEXT.io Weekly News, Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen take you on a journey through the biggest stories of the year, month by month. From game-changing mergers to regulatory milestones and emerging markets, we’re wrapping up 2024 with the key moments that defined the iGaming industry.

🎄 Grab a cup of cocoa (or something stronger!) and join us as we celebrate the highlights, surprises, and unforgettable stories of the year.

Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.

Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #215 with Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS. 

We're back with the annual episode featuring the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends Report! Pierre Lindh welcomes Max Trafimovich, CCO of SOFTSWISS, to uncover the most important trends shaping iGaming in 2025.  

Max Trafimovich shares insights on how regulatory fragmentation is shaping global iGaming, the transformative potential of AI in personalization and security, and how operators can unlock new opportunities through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic market entries. 

  Download the report here 👉🏻 http://bit.ly/49OlyIA

⏰ Timestamps: 

00:00 – Introduction 

00:23 – Sponsors 

01:42 – Welcoming Max Trafimovich back to the podcast 

02:00 – Overview of the 2024 iGaming Report  

03:08 – Purpose of the report and its goals 

05:05 – Research methodology and data sources 

06:45 – Key trends and prospects in the iGaming industry for 2025 

09:03 – Four key segments in the report 

09:24 – UK: grey market growth and its implications for global regulation 

13:18 – Preparing for fragmented regulatory landscapes 

19:32 – When is the right time for M&A or new market entry? 

22:41 – SOFTSWISS’ M&A activities and rationale behind recent acquisitions 

25:28 – The rise of sports betting as a central focus for casino platforms 

29:12 – The growing potential of eSports betting 

31:08 – Trends to avoid in 2025 and the reality of AI applications 

33:13 – Opportunities and challenges in 2025 

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST 

 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... 

 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... 

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO 

 ✩ Website - https://next.io/ 

 ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio 

 ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio 

 ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio 

This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: 

 Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. 

 https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ 

 Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. 

 https://pragmatic.solutions/ 

Episode sponsored by: 

https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #18 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak.

In this episode, we dive into Robinhood’s surprising potential entry into the sports betting industry, the rise of federally regulated prediction markets, and how non-gaming giants like Amazon and X (Twitter) could disrupt the iGaming space. We also review the biggest M&A moves of 2024 and uncover the secrets behind successful exits.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and sponsors.

02:21 - Robinhood’s potential move into the U.S. sports betting sector.

05:10 - How Robinhood could disrupt the industry and potential strategies.

09:55 - The evolution of prediction markets and regulatory considerations.

17:07 - Exploring disruptive forces from outside the iGaming industry.

24:48 - Could companies like Amazon or X (Twitter) enter the gaming space?

30:12 - A year-end review of M&A activity in 2024 and standout deals.

37:15 - Lessons from successful exits: Bootstrapped vs. VC-backed ventures.

45:38 - Closing remarks and predictions for 2025.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE...

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne...

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

✩ Instagram - / nextdotio

✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio

✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio

_____

This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Episode sponsored by:

https://www.creedroomz.com/

Join us for a special episode of Weekly News exploring the findings of our new hashtag#SouthAfrica report.

Discover the South African hashtag#iGaming landscape, including emerging trends, player preferences, and market forecasts.

Check out the South Africa report here 👉 https://next.io/next-igaming-market-in-focus-south-africa-report/

👤 Special guests

Max Tesla from Blask and Sasha Boerma

Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.

Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

This episode is brought to you by:

Playson: https://playson.com/

Sponsored by:

Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #213 with Nick Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO of Radar.

In this episode, Pierre sits down with Nick Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO of Radar, to dive into the transformative role of geolocation technology in iGaming and beyond. From Radar’s roots at Foursquare to its cutting-edge solutions for fraud detection and compliance, Nick shares the story of how his team is redefining location-based services.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction 

00:02 – Sponsors

03:03 – Founding Radar: From Foursquare to geolocation innovation

05:28 – Tackling geolocation challenges and the cat-and-mouse game

07:44 – Regulatory fines and VPN detection in Europe

08:55 – Current and future technology for VPN detection

13:48 – Understanding location spoofing and its implications

16:24 – The ongoing battle between geolocation providers and bad actors

19:04 – How operators detect VPN usage and its limitations

22:13 – Lessons from other industries: Retail, restaurants, and logistics

26:10 – Opportunities for geolocation in sports stadiums and live venues

28:32 – Radar’s international expansion plans and focus areas

31:22 – Emerging trends in geolocation and innovative solutions

35:57 – Improvements in GPS accuracy and indoor positioning

36:10 – Radar’s vision for the next three years

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE...

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne...

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

✩ Instagram - / nextdotio

✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio

✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio

This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

Episode sponsored by:

https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #213 with Pierre and Ashley Lang, CEO of Pragmatic Solutions

Ashley shares insights on how platform technologies drive innovation, the transformative role of real-time data in player engagement, and how operators can unlock new opportunities by leveraging AI, flexible integrations, and a customer-first approach. 

From game content curation to building a scalable business in regulated markets, Ashley offers a masterclass in what it takes to thrive in an ever-complex iGaming landscape.

⏰ Timestamps:

01:10 – Ashley’s journey in iGaming

02:20 – How iGaming has changed since the 1990s

06:30 – Early challenges in iGaming platforms

09:45 – Impact of the shift to mobile

12:50 – Role of marketing in iGaming growth

15:30 – Real-time data and player retention

24:12 – AI in iGaming: Opportunities and realities

33:50 – How shared wallets changed the game

41:30 – Game content curation with metadata

52:00 – Pragmatic Solutions’ operator approach

01:00:00 – What is the Connected Series?

01:05:00 – Importance of vendor collaboration

01:10:30 – Flexibility through integration

01:15:20 – Challenges in adopting new tech

01:20:45 – Data-driven insights for players

01:30:10 – Trends in platform technology

01:40:50 – Advice for operators today

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is brought to you by:

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re diving into the latest developments in the iGaming world, covering major updates on BC.Game, Cirsa, Rivalry, and Cbet.

BC.Game has shut down its UK operations, raising questions about the platform's future in key markets. Meanwhile, Cirsa's parent company, Blackstone, has announced plans for a 2025 IPO, signaling a bold move for the gaming giant. Rivalry’s Q3 2024 financial results are in, showcasing impressive growth amid fierce competition. Finally, Cbet faces a new challenge as PSG Curaçao files a bankruptcy claim, adding to the complexity of the jurisdiction’s gaming ecosystem.

🗞 Read the full stories here:

- BC.Game closes UK site

https://next.io/news/casino/bc-game-closes-uk-site/

- Blackstone plans 2025 IPO for Cirsa

https://next.io/news/investment/blackstone-plans-2025-ipo-for-cirsa/

- Rivalry Q3 2024 results

https://next.io/news/results/rivalry-q3-2024-results/

- PSG Curaçao bankruptcy claim against Cbet

https://next.io/news/marketing/psg-curacao-bankruptcy-claim-cbet/

Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.

Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

This episode is brought to you by:

Playson: https://playson.com/

Sponsored by:

Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #212 with Tania Johannisson, Founder of Amplific

In this episode, we sit down with Tania Johannisson, founder of Amplific and former Director of Risk at Evolution, to explore her journey from building a billion-dollar iGaming powerhouse to launching her own venture. 

Tania opens up about the challenges of balancing high achievement with well-being, overcoming burnout, and the neuroscience behind resilience. She also shares how her new company helps businesses turn risk and compliance into opportunities for innovation and growth.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:26 – Sponsor

01:53 – Tania’s Background: From Latvia to Evolution

03:03 – The start of Tania’s career and the journey to Evolution

06:14 – Reflections on building Evolution’s risk department

07:18 – Experiences and challenges while working at Evolution

10:11 – The ways Evolution shaped Tania’s professional identity

13:31 – Identifying the onset of burnout and its initial signs

18:02 – The symptoms of burnout and the difficulty in recognizing them

22:29 – Turning points in managing and recovering from burnout

29:34 – Insights into the neuroscience of stress and burnout recovery

36:39 – The journey of learning to slow down and create balance

39:08 – Transitioning to entrepreneurship and the vision behind Amplific

46:24 – Amplific’s mission and how it stands out in the industry

51:04 – Tania’s vision for herself and Amplific in the next three years

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

_____

This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Episode sponsored by:

https://www.creedroomz.com/

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re covering major developments in Curaçao’s gambling industry. BC.Game is under fire as its licence may be revoked following bankruptcy and regulatory scrutiny.

Meanwhile, allegations of fraud and embezzlement involving key industry figures cast a shadow over the jurisdiction’s efforts to reform its licensing process. With Curaçao’s role as a global licensing hub, these stories could signal big changes ahead for operators worldwide.

🗞 Read the full stories here:

- BC.Game declared bankrupt amid regulatory review

https://next.io/news/regulation/bc-game-declared-bankrupt/

- Curaçao regulator moves to revoke BC.Game licence

https://next.io/news/casino/curacao-gambling-regulator-revoke-bc-game-licence/

- Fraud allegations spark reform in Curaçao licensing

https://next.io/news/regulation/silvania-galea-fraud-embezzlement-allegations-new-gambling-licences/

Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.

Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

This episode is brought to you by:

Playson: https://playson.com/

Sponsored by:

Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #211 with Ruzanna Elchyan, Head of Gaming at BetConstruct.