🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #236 with Kyle Welcher, CEO of TESTA

Kyle Wiltshire has spent over 15 years embedded in Asia’s iGaming infrastructure.

In this episode, hosted by Pierre Lindh, he shares what it really takes to succeed in Southeast Asia, a region full of opportunity, complexity, and massive cultural nuance.

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

00:33 - Sponsors message

01:48 - Welcoming Kyle Wiltshire

04:44 - Kyle’s background & the origin of TESTA

08:41 - How iGaming evolved in Asia

10:22 - Cultural differences SEA

13:01 - First entry into the market tips

22:09 - Etiquette, hierarchy & saving face

26:14 - Doing business as a woman in SEA

28:54 - Contracts, negotiations & expectations

31:53 - The importance of senior leadership in SEA sales

34:35 - SEA: country-specific breakdowns

41:01 - Regulation outlook: where is SEA heading?

42:18 - Player psychology & live casino dominance

44:33 - Infrastructure challenges in the region

46:51 - What TESTA does & how they help operators adapt

51:19 - Macro view: will Asia dominate the global economy?

53:36 - Closing remarks

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

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

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Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

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M&A activity continues to have a huge impact on the iGaming sector, and acquisition news never fails to grab people’s attention. But what happens after the negotiations are finished, the money is handed over, and the deal is complete? The truth is, that’s when the real work begins. In this episode of NEXT In-Depth, host Conor Mulheir asks EveryMatrix CEO Ebbe Groes to explain how his company has integrated recent acquisitions — like FSB Technology, Fantasma Games and DeepCI — in order to deliver a return on its investments. Groes explores what has gone well (and what hasn’t) when integrating these businesses into his own, and gives a teaser of where EveryMatrix’s appetite for acquisition could go next. Don’t miss out on the first of this two-part special on the art of integrating acquired businesses!

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #21 of Vested Interest with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig and Benjie Cherniak.

In this episode, Pierre, Lloyd, and Benjie break down the biggest questions facing iGaming investors today:

-How do you invest during uncertain, disruptive times?

- Is AI in gaming hype or truly transforming the industry?

- Has the classic B2B “picks and shovels” strategy held up or is it time to rethink?

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:39 - Sponsors message03:33 - Investing in iGaming during uncertain times

06:28 - Early-stage investment strategy v.s macro volatility

08:38 - Regulatory risk v.s macro risk

10:02 - Trump presidency and prediction markets

13:24 - Lipstick index v.s lottery index

17:19 - AI in gaming – hype or commercial reality?

22:13 - Challenges: long sales cycles and limited proof points

25:26 - What’s still missing in AI innovation

26:41 - Spotlight: Blask and AI-powered black market insights

28:14 - Can AI accurately measure offshore activity?

30:22 - The problem with AI auditability

32:06 - B2B vs B2C: risk-adjusted returns and market consolidation

36:07 - The realities of bootstrapping and long integration timelines

38:35 - Why sales cycles are so long in North America

41:05 - Internal complexity and product prioritization at large operators

43:05 - Closing remarks

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

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🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #235 with Jason March, VP of Gaming at DraftKingsJason March built DraftKings' iGaming division from scratch and in this episode, hosted by Pierre Lindh, he takes us behind the scenes of how it's become a tech-first, content-driven casino powerhouse.⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:18 - Sponsors message01:38 - Welcoming Jason March02:10 - Why Jason joined DraftKings and built the iGaming division04:58 - How DraftKings became a tech-first casino operator07:36 - Trends in U.S. iGaming: live dealer, jackpots, social and multiplayer10:04 - Building in-house content and launching a game studio11:20 - What makes a hit game? Risk, failure, and unexpected winners15:04 - The importance of player choice and interaction16:25 - Sneak peek: new interactive games coming soon18:25 - Jason’s personal casino favorites20:57 - Live casino evolution and the rise of game shows23:37 - Challenges of state-by-state ring-fencing for live game content26:31 - How to approach DraftKings with a new game or product27:27 - Why entering the U.S. is hard and worth it28:04 - Balancing in-house games vs third-party content30:34 - Strategy behind DraftKings’ proprietary game studio31:50 - Lottery and Jackpocket: cross-sell strategy and player acquisition33:47 - The future of U.S. iGaming and why more states will legalize35:19 - The black market problem and the push for regulation36:20 - Responsible gaming and why regulation matters36:56 - Closing marks🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: 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/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #234 with Erik Nyman, President EveryMatrix Americas

What does it take to double your revenue, double your EBITDA, and break into some of the hardest gaming markets?

Pierre Lind sat down with Erik Nyman, President, North America at EveryMatrix, to uncover the strategy behind their global growth.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:38 - Sponsors message

01:58 - Welcoming Erik Nyman

03:05 - The incredible growth numbers of EveryMatrix

05:36 - Erik’s career journey: from NetEnt to EveryMatrix

10:15 - Entering the U.S.: licenses, strategy, and clean-slate building

12:16 - Inside EveryMatrix’s modular, product-centric structure

16:00 - Major milestones: landing lottery clients and breakthrough deals

22:38 - When the business really took off: EBITDA surge

25:20 - EveryMatrix's Financial Transparency

29:30 - The challenges and opportunities in global lotteries

34:15 - The U.S. lottery market: why it’s tricky and where it’s headed

40:34 - U.S. iGaming landscape44:46 - Canada: Ontario’s rise, Alberta’s potential

47:22 - Latin America: Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and the Brazil play

51:10 - Emerging markets and operator types of the future

52:54 - Why tribal gaming in the U.S. is a huge untapped opportunity

56:03 - Where Erik sees EveryMatrix in the next 3 years

57:29 - Closing marks

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✩ Website - https://next.io/

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

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In this episode of NEXT In-Depth, Conor Mulheir invites Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland to explain how he approaches the analysis of publicly listed companies’ financial reports. With Q1 reporting season now upon us, the pair will explore the best ways to understand what public companies are telling us – and what they aren’t. As an example, they will take a closer look at Evolution’s Q1 report, which bucked the firm’s trend of consistent growth as it showed a sequential decline in quarterly EBITDA.

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #233 with Akhil Sarin, CMO of Stake.

Akhil Sarin, the marketing mastermind behind Stake, breaks down the blueprint behind Stake’s viral rise from streamer-led growth and global sports deals to launching KICK and going head-to-head with Twitch.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:34 - Sponsors

01:51 - Welcoming Akhil Sarin03:35 - Akhil's Journey to CMO

05:57 - The Early Days of Stake

08:54 - The Streaming Strategy

13:31 - Key Partnerships and Brand Elevation

15:22 - The Drake Partnership Story

20:02 - The Formula 1 Partnership

24:02 - Company Culture and Team Dynamics

26:30 - Measuring Success in Partnerships

29:05 - Evaluating Sponsorships & Marketing Decisions

32:36 - The Founder Mentality

35:36 - The UFC Brand Partnership

40: 02 - Leadership Culture42:50 - Building Kick: Strategies for Success

47:23 - Future Aspirations and Market Expansion

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✩ 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 #231 with Justin Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Betty.

How do you build a successful casino gaming brand in a highly competitive market? Justin Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Betty, shares his insights on launching and scaling a challenger brand in the regulated iGaming space.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:46 - Sponsors

02:06 - Welcoming Justin Park

06:09 - Betty Initials: startup journey & early ventures

12:19 - Raising capital: relationships vs. pitch decks

16:38 - Betty's business model: online casino

18:09 - Understanding personas: slots vs. table players

22:23 - How Betty stands out: brand differentiation

24:55 - Ontario: a strategic launch market

26:43 - Net revenue growth & success

29:15 - Transparency & publishing results publicly

33:12 - The McDonald's of iGaming franchise approach

36:52 - Market expansion strategy

39:00 - What it takes to be a founder

41:07 - Scaling challenges & leadership growth

43:11 - Book recommendations: Rockefeller & Andy Warhol

45:35 - Where Betty will be in 3 years

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

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🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #225 with Tom Light, Co-Founder and Group CEO at FIRST - Best in Sports

In this NEXT.io Podcast episode, Tom Light, CEO & Founder of FIRST - Best in Sports, breaks down five major industry trends. These include the decline of easy profits in iGaming, the power of gamification, and the rise of AI-driven odds-making.

⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction

00:36 - Sponsors

01:54 - From SBTech to First – Best in Sports

04:53 - Building a New Platform From Scratch

07:54 - Analysing Today’s Sports Betting Landscape

09:27 - Competing With Betano & bet365 as a B2B Provider

13:06 - Tools, Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making

14:17 - Trend #1: The Industry Isn’t Printing Money Anymore

20:07 - Trend #2: Feature Fatigue & Sportsbook Advancements

41:22 - Trend #3: Gamification as a Retention Strategy

55:27 - Trend #4: The Rise of Brazil & Emerging LATAM Markets

59:23 - Solving the “Saturday Problem” in Brazil

01:00:02 - Brazil Case Study

01:04:39 - Trend #5: AI’s Role in the Future of Sports Betting

01:13:09 - What’s Next for First? Vision for B2B & Global Growth

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✩ 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 #230 with Jake Dovey, CEO & Founder of PayModum.

What’s next for payments in the iGaming industry? Jake Dovey from PayModum, explores the current state of payment innovation, emerging trends, and the impact of evolving financial technologies on operators and suppliers.

⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction00:38 - Sponsors02:08 - Why payments and innovation aren’t always connected04:26 - Lessons from Apple Pay, Klarna & adoption timelines08:30 - The real reason innovation sticks: user experience14:58 - Why crypto hasn’t delivered on its payment promise18:00 - Stablecoins & the path to real-world usability21:00 - How gaming operators adopted crypto before anyone else25:19 - USDC vs USDT: why some stablecoins gain trust27:57 - Monetary systems, inflation & the future of currency33:31 - Global economic shifts & crypto’s potential role39:39 - The political side of payments & decentralisation44:30 - Deglobalisation, instability & the rise of local payment models47:29 - Fragmented regulation: why licensing differs globally49:00 - Cross-border payments & where payment providers thrive50:45 - What’s next in payments: stablecoins, M&A, and new rails56:56 - IPOs, fintech cycles & the pressure to innovate58:02 - What payment companies can actually do better59:00 - The role of strategic partnerships in driving change1:00:15 - Why micro-payments haven’t scaled (yet)1:06:08 - Reducing friction in iGaming payments1:08:59 - What PayModum does differently: code-free integration1:13:05 - Helping global operators enter new markets1:16:46 - Growing without VC: challenges and philosophy1:18:08 - Vision for PayModum & Masato over the next 3 years1:20:02 - Closing thoughts

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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/