🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #257 with James Curwen, CEO of Yggdrasil.

The slot industry is producing more games than ever yet standing out has never been harder.

In this episode, James Curwen joins Pierre Lindh to explain why the era of reskinned slots is coming to an end and what will replace it. From rising production costs and algorithm-driven distribution to player fatigue and creative stagnation, James breaks down why the traditional slot development model no longer works.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - Sponsors message

02:08 - The 3-part journey of transforming Yggdrasil

05:03 - Rebuilding tech: Platform, back office, AWS, scalability

06:59 - The cost of game production and the reskin problem

09:08 - Game in a Box: From 10-month dev cycles to 1 month

12:03 - How the business model is shifting

14:55 - €22K Game in a Box offer

16:04 - Studio in a Box: The €60K turnkey solution

18:06 - Target customers: studios, streamers, affiliates, operators

20:33 - Why this isn’t AI gimmickry

24:22 - Building and refining games faster with full creator control

27:00 - Lower costs, faster ROI, and a new model for suppliers

29:08 - AWS collaboration and scaling without service sacrifice

31:59 - Commercial growth expectations

34:52 - Tool capacity vs. support limits

37:19 - Flooding the market vs. empowering operators

39:59 - Is this killing small studios or saving them?

42:02 - Unity, player data, and creative freedom

43:28 - Going niche

46:40 - Game in a Box available launch

48:02 - Become the world’s biggest game producer

50:01 - Competing with Pragmatic, Play’n GO, and levelling the field

51:21 - Getting visibility and operator positioning

53:44 - New service: Dedicated sales support for small studios

54:36 - Final thoughts

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bc

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #256 with Phil Pearson, iGaming Consultant.

Another year. Another cycle of hype, pressure, pivots, and hard lessons.

In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Phil Pearson joins Pierre Lindh to unpack what really happened across iGaming in the past 12 months beyond the headlines.

Together, they explore the widening gap between innovation headlines and real progress, the pressure leaders are facing behind the scenes, the growing importance of focus over scale, and why many companies are quietly reassessing their priorities.

It’s a grounded conversation about what moved the needle, what didn’t, and what lessons are worth carrying into the year ahead.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Sponsor messages

02:04 - Welcome Phil Pearson

04:06 – Yolo’s move into regulation: why it matters

06:38 - Personal reset: health, sabbatical & perspective

11:55 - Biggest industry stories of the year

14:19 - Charity, Dar Bjorn & responsibility in iGaming

16:17 - Investigative journalism

33:27 - Game Studio Awards: overview

33:33 - Best studio of the year

39:29 - Best newcomer studio

40:39 - Worst studio of the year

44:01 - Most underwhelming game releases

49:56 - Live game of the year

51:21 - RNG game of the year

52:36 - Best industry freebies & swag

57:23 - Grey products explained

58:12 - Sweepstakes, prediction markets & loopholes

01:12:56 - The defining trend of 2026: grey products

01:30:02 - Events review: what worked, what didn’t

01:49:00 - Final outlook: where the industry is heading

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bc

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #255 with Valentina Diaco, Founder at Profit Matches.

AI has officially moved beyond hype. In 2025, it’s reshaping iGaming in real, tangible ways — from CRM and engagement to compliance, marketing, content creation, safe gambling, and game development.

In this episode, Valentina Diaco, one of the industry's most respected marketing and AI strategists, breaks down 10 AI companies that are already transforming iGaming today.

⏰ Timestamps:00:00 -

Intro00:23 - Sponsors message

02:09 - Welcoming Valentina & Profit Matches

04:52 - What AI Match is and why she built it

06:00 - Where AI in iGaming stands today

09:12 - AI: the real value is what you do with it

11:17 - Why AI fails in companies

12:30 - AI-to-AI economy & the future of data infrastructure

15:14 - AI agents & conversational interfaces

18:10 - The 10 AI companies reshaping iGaming

19:09 - Golden Whale: AI for UA, retention & bonus orchestration

23:40 - Field Stream AI: profitability engine for marketers

27:51 - Text.com AI: customer support & proactive assistance

33:15 - Let’s .IO: regulatory intelligence for compliance

38:11 - Gamblitude: AI-powered BI & data warehouse

41:58 - MaxFusion: AI content & UGC generation

46:47 - Mindway AI: responsible gambling detection

51:00 - insightplay.ai: conversational betting assistant

53:37 - Xenia AI: game development & personalisation

56:28 - Bettor Faster AI: development & automation agency

58:20 - Why companies resist AI adoption

01:00:16 - Biggest blockers: lack of capacity & too many tools

01:07:01 - The real cultural barrier

01:10:16 - The future: smaller, smarter, AI-native companies

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Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE&si=R7VbrUspVkL1Jyox

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #254 with Emilie Jirsch, CMO at Dabble.

Dabble has become one of the fastest-growing betting brands on the planet — not by outspending competitors, but by out-innovating them with community, culture, and entertainment-first marketing.

In this episode, Emilie Jirsch, CMO at Dabble, reveals how the purple brand went from a small NSW startup to 1 million+ active customers, explosive US growth, and global expansion across Australia, the US, and the UK.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:29 - Sponsor message

01:50 - Welcoming Emilie Jirsch, CMO at Dabble

02:21 - How Dabble started

04:45 - Launching in Australia & hitting 1M active customers

06:03 - Product differentiation & brand awareness

07:09 - The “purple cow theory” explained

08:32 - Dabble’s growth strategy

11:23 - Creating talkable moments that build brand memory

13:22 - Moderators, culture, and self-policing communities

15:10 - $1M Hole-in-One PGA activation: the story behind it

17:00 - The true definition of disruptive brand marketing

20:49 - The “cool sh*t budget” explained

24:01 - Launching in the US through DFS

29:08 - Why the US embraced Dabble instantly

33:00 - Competitors

36:25 - Inside Dabble’s internal culture

40:06 - What’s next: UK launch, Ireland license, expansion

41:54 - Final thoughts

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE&si=jDpUksylKP-4_8T0

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #253 with Tom Wood, CEO of RAW iGamingRAW iGaming calls itself “the pink shark in a sea of sameness.”

In this episode, CEO Tom Wood joins Pierre Lindh to break down the realities of innovating in an industry releasing 18 new slot games per day and why true originality is harder (and riskier) than it looks.

If you want to understand the future of game development in iGaming, this one is essential.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:29 - Sponsors Message

01:49 - Welcome Tom Wood, CEO of RAW iGaming

02:30 - The mission behind RAW

04:36 - “The pink shark in a sea of sameness” explained

06:07 - Why most studios copy

07:05 - 600 new games released in Sweden in one month

10:06 - Competing in a market flooded with studios

12:53 - How RAW gets operators’ attention

18:07 - RAW’s innovation pillars: slots, arcade & Yahtzee

28:23 - Innovation in live gaming

30:26 - Game’s success: quality vs. positioning

33:27 - The risk: AI lobbies might hide innovative games

38:11 - Designing for local vs. global audiences

42:16 - The next breakout hit: simple, unexpected, left-field innovation

45:14 - How AI may reshape game production itself

47:11 - RAW’s ambition: becoming a Tier-1 supplier

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE

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/

Sponsored by:Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #252 with Tim Heath, CEO and Founder at Yolo Group.

Yolo Group has made one of the boldest moves in iGaming history — exiting grey markets entirely to pursue a regulated future.

In this episode, Tim Heath joins Pierre Lindh to reveal the inside story behind Yolo’s transformation: why the company walked away from massive revenue, what the new UAE gaming license means, and how Yolo plans to bridge the gap between crypto, regulation, and entertainment.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:23 - Sponsors message

01:39 - Welcoming Tim Heath

02:03 - Why Yolo decided to exit grey markets

07:36 - The tightening of global enforcement and regulation

10:56 - Yolo’s new B2B licenses in the UAE explained

16:05 - Restarting Yolo: redefining focus and efficiency

22:04 - Building a 360° player experience and hybrid casino model

24:49 - Facing financial risk and the courage to rebuild

27:34 - “Spring cleaning” the business and cutting organizational fat

31:17 - Leading regulators toward crypto innovation

33:41 - Why regulation must evolve with technology

35:31 - Why the UAE is a perfect testbed for regulated crypto gaming

41:06 - How the UAE licensing model may work (one per Emirate)

48:08 - Yolo’s five-year vision: becoming the “Blackstone of iGaming”

51:33 - The courage to pivot and restart

55:55 - The future of wallets, payments, and hybrid player experience

58:21 - Yolo’s new AI-driven social sports betting concept

01:01:35 - Tim on Yolo’s next chapter and future in regulation

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE&si=0vgjHyIuWQbblEY4

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

NEXT.io News Editor Conor Mulheir is joined by Head of Investigative Content Zak Thomas-Akoo and Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland, for a blow-by-blow account of how public markets and the wider iGaming industry reacted to the explosive news that Playtech was behind an attempted takedown of Evolution. On 21 October, it was finally revealed that the entity behind a short seller report, produced by investigative firm Black Cube in an attempt to take down Evolution, was industry competitor Playtech. After a complex and years-long legal battle to reveal the name behind the report, Evolution finally succeeded and uncovered Playtech as the entity responsible. So, what happens next? For Evolution, Playtech, and the broader industry, the impact of the news is sure to have a lasting impact. Tune in to get the latest!

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #251 with Leah Natuel, Head of Studio at Relax Gaming

Leah Neutel leads one of iGaming’s most creative teams at Relax Gaming, where innovation, empathy, and accountability come together to push the boundaries of modern game development.

In this episode, Leah joins Pierre Lindh to explore what true leadership looks like in creative industries — from building trust and psychological safety to turning failure into fuel for success.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:32 - Sponsors message

01:53 - Welcoming Leah Neutel

02:09 - How Leah’s background shaped her leadership

03:54 - From youth offenders to UN work

06:04 - The principles of leadership

07:32 - Leading with accountability & humanity

09:20 - What it means to lead without authority

10:25 - How to inspire creative teams without control

12:30 - Asking the right questions vs. giving answers

16:39 - Imposter syndrome & redefining leadership

19:20 - How insecurity shows up in poor leadership

20:17 - Training first-time managers

23:10 - Culture at Relax Gaming

25:29 - Can you be friends with your team?

27:46 - Conflict resolution

29:46 - Turning disagreement into progress

31:38 - Embracing diversity & aligning different personalities

34:40 - Should companies take political stances?

38:25 - Why failure isn’t final?

39:42 - How Relax Gaming turns failure into iteration

41:15 - Creating a culture where risk fuels innovation

44:40 - The most important leadership qualities of the future

46:03 - Can anyone become a great leader?

46:39 - Final thoughts

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #250 with Vid Daolio, CEO at Tokacity

Tokacity is reimagining online casinos by creating immersive, social gaming environments that merge gambling with modern gaming culture and younger generation of players. Using Unreal Engine and Pixel Streaming technology, they provide a seamless, no-download virtual world accessible across devices.

Their mission is to engage digital natives who value community, self-expression, and fun by turning the casino into a social, customizable, and safe experience rather than a solitary game lobby.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - What’s missing in online casinos

00:42 - Sponsors: Pragmatic Solutions & Pragmatic Play

02:04 - Welcome: Vid Daolio, CEO of TokaCity

03:46 - Introducing TokaCity and its vision

06:33 - The technology behind immersive casinos (Pixel Streaming)

09:07 - Are players ready for immersive gaming?

10:06 - Generational shifts and new player behavior

13:03 - Why innovation comes from new generations

15:10 - Building safe and expressive digital spaces

17:06 - Merging gaming and gambling worlds

19:44 - How TokaCity’s product actually works

22:42 - Gamification, digital assets & player identity

25:10 - Blockchain integration and the Saatchi MVP

28:15 - From startup to live product launch

29:26 - Partnership with Roshtein and community engagement

33:05 - PvP games and social casino experiences

35:32 - Player identity, self-expression & streaming culture

36:29 - The future of live gaming with AI dealers

37:43 - The cultural shift in gaming audiences

42:21 - Can the metaverse make a comeback?

44:37 - Lessons from crypto and decentralization

48:32 - Combining innovation with trusted content

50:25 - The future vision for TokaCity

🔔 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/

Sponsored by:

Creedroomz - https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #249 with Jake Dovey, CEO and Founder of PayModum

What’s the cost of not accepting something or the cost of not doing it right?

From unpacking the true cost of “cheap” payment methods to exploring PIX in Brazil, open banking in Europe, and the rise of biometric KYC, Jake explains why the path of least resistance always wins.

Jake Dovey is raising money for Chordoma UK, join us in supporting the cause at this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jake-dovey-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:24 - Sponsors Message

01:45 - Welcome back Jake Dovey, CEO of PayModum.

02:32 - Payments as cost vs. opportunity

04:20 - “The customer is always right” explained

06:15 - Why operators shouldn’t focus on cost first

13:32 - Finance vs. product teams: balancing costs and innovation

15:09 - Integration challenges and resource bottlenecks

16:55 - Personal story: legacy vs. modern pension payment experience

18:46 - Why true cost is customer friction, not fees

21:29 - Do operators really understand payments?

22:16 - Brazil & PIX: instant bank payments explained

26:36 - Biometrics and frictionless KYC (Octo example)

29:31 - Shopify & Amazon: lessons for gaming payments

33:42 - How AI is transforming integrations & customer experience

41:34 - Biggest payment bottlenecks in iGaming

50:05 - Too early to innovate? Lessons from Pay n Play, PIX & open banking

53:31 - The challenge of recurring crypto payments

57:15 - Why innovation needs risk-taking (Rory Sutherland’s rule)

01:01:12 - Big vs. small companies: innovation culture (Apple vs. Xiaomi)

01:08:48 - PayModum’s USP: deep customer and payments understanding

01:11:22 - Closing: Jake’s fitness journey & marathon for charity

01:13:26 - Tribute to Jake’s mother & Cordoma Foundation

01:17:11 - Running, friction, and perseverance in life & business

01:21:39 - How to donate: JustGiving link & final thanks

🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bc

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333

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/