🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #242, Mathias Larsson, Commercial Director in Europe at Awager.

Live slot machines are here: how Awager is changing online casino? Is this the next big leap in real-money gaming?

In this episode, Pierre interviews Mathias Larsson, Commercial Director at Awager, the company turning physical slot machines into live-streamed online games. It's not just innovation it could be the future of online slots, live casino, and omni-channel iGaming.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - Sponsors

02:08 - Welcoming Mathias Larsson

03:20 - The story behind Awager and its evolution

06:16 - Is Awager the next Evolution-style disruptor?

08:25 - Why players prefer live-streamed slot machines

11:33 - Can the model scale if it’s one player per machine?

13:50 - Why FanDuel and U.S. operators backed Awager early

16:07 - Choosing markets with strong land-based culture

18:39 - The real roadblocks to innovation in iGaming

23:26 - The innovator’s dilemma in iGaming

25:15 - Cracking the sales cycle for a product no one knows

29:57 - Biggest challenges: logistics, regulation & timing

32:57 - Awager’s business model explained

36:29 - Superstition, trust & the psychology of land-based play

38:40 - Target markets for 2025–2026 expansion

40:42 - Where Awager will be in 3 years

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

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

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #241, Johan Strand, CEO of Zimpler.

Johan Strand, CEO of Zimpler, discusses the company's journey from startup to a leading payment provider in the Nordics, emphasizing the importance of focusing on a specific niche and building strong relationships with customers. He also shares insights on leveraging AI and adapting to the evolving payments landscape, particularly within regulated industries like iGaming.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - Sponsors

02:03 - Welcoming Johan Strand

03:04 - From startup to leading Nordic Payments Providers

09:03 - Why size doesn’t matter and how focus beats scale

11:23 - The importance of finding your own niche

16:24 - The next wave: payments innovation and AI

20:42 - Back-office automation and AI

23:26 - How Zimpler is embracing AI internally

28:14 - Could the payment landscape could be at risk?

31:47 - Relationships matter more than product

35:11 - Post-COVID relationships and real connection

37:53 - Sales cycles, trust, and human moments

42:01 - Final remarks: Where will Zimpler be in 3 years?

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #23 of Vested Interest with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig and Benjie Cherniak.

In this episode, we discuss the evolving landscape of collectibles and mystery boxes, drawing parallels to gambling mechanics. They explore the regulatory challenges these new products face, the recent shifts in the venture capital landscape, and the current headwinds for North American operators in the gaming industry.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:43 - Sponsor Messages

02:02 - Welcoming Lloyd & Benjie

03:06 - Mystery Boxes: Gambling in Disguise?

06:26 - Digital Buybacks and Market Liquidity

08:44 - Slot Mechanics in Collectibles

10:14 - Legal Risks & Regulatory Grey Zones

13:38 - Market Volatility & Platform Liquidity

15:11 - How Regulated Operators Might React

18:14 - Physical vs. Digital Collectibles Landscape

20:25 - Scaling Problems: Supply Chains & Pricing

24:12 – Why Most Gaming Funding Isn’t Broad-Based

26:19 – AngelList Trends & New LP Appetite

28:42 – The Category Leader Obsession

31:13 – Regulated Operator Headwinds in North America

35:44 – Regulatory Moats vs. Challenger Agility

38:45 – Long-Term Strategy: Fight or Join?

40:31 – Can There Be a National RMG Framework?

41:02 – Final Thoughts

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

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

In this episode of NEXT In-Depth, host Conor Mulheir explores the growing trend of reselling bets on secondary markets in the US. Guest speaker Travis Geiger, the co-founder and CXO of betting and fantasy sports marketplace WagerWire, explores the emergence of this novel vertical and the driving forces behind why US bettors choose to participate in it. From cultural attitudes towards sports betting to the kinds of bets which attract the most attention for resale, the pair explore the developing trend of bet reselling and how it’s shaping the US market today.

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #240, Kasra Ghaharian & Simo Dragicevic

Kasra Ghaharian, IGI Director of Research, and Simo Dragicevic , research at AiR Hub, discuss AI in the gaming industry, highlighting the need for trust and benchmarking. They introduce Air Hub, a research hub focused on AI ethics and governance in gaming.

Key projects include a state of AI in gaming report, consumer protection measures, and developing benchmarks for AI algorithms, particularly in responsible gambling.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:42 - Sponsors message

03:00 - Reflecting on Predictions from 5 Years Ago

05:27 - Introducing AIR Hub: The AI Research Initiative

08:42 - AIR Hub’s Flagship Projects

13:40 - How regulators can use AI benchmarks

16:45 - The full scope of AI in iGaming

22:30 - The State of AI in the Industry Today

26:30 - Generative AI and infinite content

30:02 - The Infinite Slot Era: What Wins When Anything Can Be Built?

34:00 - Explainable AI: The Next Essential Layer

35:00 - Autonomy, Agents, and the Limits of AI in iGaming

38:43 - The Risks of Poor Training Data and Output Guardrails

40:48 - Will AI Replace Your Job?

46:02 - The Future Vision for AIR Hub

49:40 - Final remarks

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #239, Denys Parkhomenko, CPO at GR8 Tech

More features don’t always mean more value. In this NEXT.io Podcast episode, Pierre Lindh sits down with Denys Parkhomenko, Chief Product Officer at GR8 Tech, to unpack why "less but better" is becoming the winning mindset for the next generation of iGaming platforms.

With a legacy in B2C and deep experience scaling complex sportsbook products, Denys shares a clear-eyed view on what operators really need from their platforms and what they should avoid at all costs.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:21 - Sponsors message

01:38 - Welcoming Denys Parkhomenko

02:31 - GR8 Tech’s approach: less but better

04:32 - Why sports betting platforms all look the same and how to stand out

06:11 - How to stand out in the market

09:03 - Balancing client requests with product strategy

12:07 - GR8 Tech’s “extendable platform” mindset

14:15 - What true scalability looks like in platform infrastructure

16:14 - Casino CoPilot, internal automation, and writing code with AI

18:01 - How new operators should evaluate platforms

19:33 - Why reputation, results, and transparency matter most

21:08 - Trust-building through onboarding & long-term collaboration

23:52 - Conferences vs coffee lines: where real conversations happen

27:25 - What’s next for GR8 Tech

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

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

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #238 Denis Romanovskiy, Deputy CTO at SOFTSWISS

In this episode, Pierre Lindh is joined by Denis Romanovskiy, Deputy CTO at SOFTSWISS, to unpack the findings from their latest 50-page report and dive deep into the technical, financial, and strategic factors new operators need to consider before launching their brand.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:00 - Why SOFTSWISS released a build vs buy report

04:30 - Key findings: who should build, who should buy

07:27 - Biggest mistakes new operators make

09:35 - Why testing & tracking matter from day one

12:33 - When should operators consider building in-house?

15:12 - How to choose the right platform partner

18:30 - The importance of cultural alignment & service

21:16 - Scalability: it’s not just tech, it’s people

24:00 - The advantage of ecosystem-level integration

28:10 - Products in the SOFTSWISS suite

31:04 - Time to market: build vs buy

34:06 - What’s next: SOFTSWISS roadmap & modular infrastructure

36:00 - AI-generated code and fully autonomous tech teams?

38:16 - Closing marks

🔗 Download SOFTSWISS report here: https://www.softswiss.com/reports/igaming-software-development-playbook/

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST\

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

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

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #236 Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore GroupSam Sadi sits down with Pierre Lindh to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the online sports betting industry, emphasizing the need for innovation and strategic advantages to compete with established brands, particularly in regulated markets.⏰ Timestamps 00:00 - Intro00:17 - Sponsors message01:38 - Sam’s 30-year journey03:31 - Building Bwin Interactive Entertainment06:07 - The origins of LiveScore09:58 - Why LiveScore launched its own sportsbook15:27 - Competing in the UK18:00 - Why most media-betting integrations fail20:32 - Simplicity vs complexity: is betting too confusing for new users?23:35 - Why customers adapt faster than you think25:31 - Why niche sportsbooks rarely succeed in regulated markets29:58 - DFS as the starting point33:11 - LiveScore’s product philosophy: match 80%, innovate the rest34:37 - The capital and access problem in U.S. regulation37:18 - Trend 1: Southeast Asia’s unspoken potential44:49 - Trend 2: The real AI transformation57:30 - Trend 3: Innovation vs Incrementalism01:09:54 - Trend 4: The black market problem01:21:41 - Can cutting off suppliers beat the black market? Why it’s short-term thinking01:26:34 - Why the industry’s future might mirror the AI arms race01:32:04 - Closing remarks🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO✩ Website - https://next.io/This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.https://pragmatic.solutions/Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

The rules of online marketing are changing fast, and the iGaming industry is feeling the impact like never before. In this episode of NEXT In-Depth, ShieldHub founder Ulrich Gilot dives into the seismic shift away from traditional SEO and affiliate models driven by Google’s evolving search landscape, where zero-click results and AI-driven answers are reshaping player acquisition. We’ll explore what this means for iGaming marketers, the rising importance of brand building, and how new measurement frameworks like attention metrics can unlock smarter growth. Plus, hear insights on navigating stricter regulations and emerging strategies for future-proofing marketing in a competitive, privacy-focused world. Whether you’re an operator, affiliate, or marketer, this is your guide to adapting and thriving in the zero-click era.

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #22 of Vested Interest with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig and Benjie Cherniak.From summer slumps to AI disruption, the trio returns to unpack three high-stakes themes shaping the future of gaming startups:👇 Here’s what they cover:- How to keep growing through the summer slowdown- Why skill-based games are booming (again) and what’s different this time- The state of affiliate businesses and how AI, SEO, and chatbots are reshaping the model⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:18 - Sponsor messages01:38 - Welcoming Benjie and Lloyd02:10 - Can you grow during summer? Founders vs. excuses07:42 - How NEXT.io handles seasonality with strategic summer planning13:52 - Skill-Based Gaming14:30 - The evolution and new wave of real-money skill games16:21 - Triumph, FanDuel, Bring It On and global market potential22:14 - Regulatory arbitrage and go-to-market benefits24:44 - What happens when operators join in? M&A and mainstream interest26:58 - The Affiliate Collapse27:35 - Market dip, SEO crashes & winners like Gambling.com31:04 - Fewer state openings, changing user behavior32:52 - Why SEO isn't enough anymore 35:56 - Lessons from Catena Media and the danger of single-market bets39:29 - What affiliate SEO looks like in the LLM era40:44 - Final thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio

CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO✩ Website - https://next.io/This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.https://pragmatic.solutions/Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/