🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #172 with James Curwen, CEO at Yggdrasil.

🚀From his early days as a croupier in London to leading one of the iGaming industry's most innovative companies, James brings a wealth of experience and insights. In this episode, James shares his journey and discusses the highs and lows, the innovative strategies, and what lies ahead for Yggdrasil. 

⏰Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:04 - James's Return to Malta and Reflections on his Journey

01:43 - Exploring James's Experience in the iGaming Industry

05:06 - Challenges and Turning Points at Yggdrasil

06:59 - The Strategic Revival and New Direction of Yggdrasil

09:55 - Upcoming Projects and Innovations

13:23 - What's Next for Yggdrasil Games in 2024?

16:09 - Increasing Game Visibility and market strategies

18:11 - Discussing Industry Dynamics 

23:27 - The Role of Disruptive Innovation in iGaming

25:55 - Generative AI's Impact in the Industry 

31:25 - Focusing on Quality over Quantity in Game Development

34:25 - Enhancing Yggdrasil's Brand Presence

36:23 - Exciting Plans for the Upcoming ICE

38:54 - Yggdrasil's Approach to Short-Term Improvements

💼About James Curwen: 

James Curwen's illustrious career began in 1988 as a croupier in London's prestigious casinos. Climbing swiftly up the ranks, he managed renowned establishments like The Ritz Casino and held a directorial role with Ladbrokes. Transitioning to the online realm in 2011, James significantly contributed to William Hill's growth, helping the company earn accolades for innovation. He then played pivotal roles in Superbet and Golden Rock Studios before joining OPAP, where he significantly expanded their online operations. Today, as the CEO of Yggdrasil, James continues to redefine the gaming landscape with his leadership and vision.

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This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder/MD at NEXT.io, and is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

The iGaming NEXT Weekly News is a weekly live stream held every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all of our social media platforms.

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #171 with Tim Heath, CEO and Founder at Yolo Group.

Join us in an enlightening conversation with Tim Heath, General Partner of Yolo Investments and a visionary in the iGaming and emerging technology sectors. With a rich background as the founder and former CEO of Yolo Group, operating leading crypto-gaming brands like Bitcasino.io and Sportsbet.io, Tim is a forerunner in the industry. 

🚀In this episode, we delve into the transformative impact of cryptocurrency and blockchain on iGaming, Yolo Group’s investment strategies, some guidance for entrepreneurs, organizations and start-ups and last but not least, some insights about Tim Heath’s Industry leadership. 

⏰Timestamps 

00 - Introduction

00:56 - Welcoming Tim Heath: The Alpha of the IGaming Industry 

4:14 - Overview of Yolo Group’s First Fund

12:21 - Key Trends in the iGaming Industry by Tim Heath

14:59 -Crypto Ecosystem's Impact on iGaming Product Development

19:15 - Removing friction and coming to simplicity when it comes to money movement / Streamlining Money Movement in iGaming

21:00 - Generative AI within the iGaming ecosystem

27:25 - Prospects of Legalizing Gambling in the Middle East

32:12 - Insights into Yolo Group's Second Fund Launch

36:36 - Criteria for Yolo Group's Investment Selection

41:57 - Process for Attracting External Investment

 47:46 - Benefit of the Networking Dinners 

49:49 - Tim Heath's Approach to Identifying Investment Opportunities 

52:23 - Tips for Entrepreneurs Seeking Yolo Group's Investment

58:55 - Essential Attributes for Successful Startup Founders 

1:04:34 - Tim Heath: Motivations and Aspirations

1:13:43 - Future Vision for Yolo Group 

💼About Tim Heath

Tim specialises in transforming ideas into successful business. Since founding Yolo Investments, the venture capital firm has rapidly grown. It now holds assets in more than 80 businesses, with an AUM in excess of €620 million. A strong believer in the power of crypto to improve the lives of people around the world, he is now increasingly focused on the fintech and blockchain spaces, and where emerging technology can disrupt the traditional banking industry.

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This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder/MD at NEXT.io, and is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

🎙️ Welcome to episode #08 of Vested Interest, hosted by Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak and special guest Charles Gillespie. 

🚀 In this episode, the speakers explore startups and investment strategies for 2024, including exit planning and long-term vision. They discuss venture capital decisions, leverage pitch sessions for investor insights, and analyze common startup failures. The episode highlights 2024's investment opportunities, and current U.S. market trends, and profiles Charles Gillespie's journey with Gambling.com. 

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction  

01:02 - New Year Greetings 

01:51 - Exit Strategies Plan for Startups 

04:38 - The Importance of Long-Term Vision in Early Stages 

11:54 - Founders’ Decisions on Venture Capital

13:09 - Leveraging Pitch Sessions to Prospect Investors 

17:25 - Common Causes of Startup Failures 

22:20 - Discipline in Business: Avoiding Premature Expansion

Book reference: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make The Leap and Others Don't - James Collins

28:06 - Lloyd's Expectations for Startup Updates

29:48 - Investment opportunities in 2024 

36:07 - Current Focus of US Market Operators

39:39 - Emerging Startups: Promising Opportunities

42:32 - Introducing Charles Gillespie: Background Overview

46:29 - Establishing Gamgling.com in China 

48:48 - Transitioning the Business to Europe

52:47 - Leadership Evolution: A Personal Journey

55:42 - The story behind the Galmbing.com domain 

58:43 - Guidance for Selecting the Right Domains

01:01:15 - Acquisitions: Identifying Suitable Company Fits

01:04:49 - The Future of SEO and Affiliate Marketing within Generative AI

💼 ABOUT Charles Gillespie

Charles Gillespie is the Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder and Director at Gambling.com, a position he has held since the Company’s inception in 2006. Through his tenure, Mr. Gillespie has overseen the Company’s operations across multiple jurisdictions including Europe and the United States. Under his leadership, the Company has prioritized technological investments and has completed four acquisitions to expand the breadth of the Company’s portfolio. He has built a reputation as a recognized leader and was named Sports Betting Community Leader of the Year in 2019. Mr. Gillespie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Entrepreneurship from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder/MD at NEXT.io, and is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

Morgan Stanley forecasts rapid growth for US online gaming sector.

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #169 with Phil Pearson,CEO and Co-Founder at White Label Casinos. 

🚀Explore the dynamic world of iGaming in our latest episode, where we delve into the high-stakes legal battles of Swedish companies, review Evolution's adventurous leap into slot games, and celebrate the groundbreaking Phil Pearson Awards. We also weigh the value of in-person versus online networking in the industry and share insights on the future of legacy operators. Concluding with a special segment on the MSPCA Charity Drive made by Phil Pearson, this video is a treasure trove of information for enthusiasts and professionals keen on the latest trends and shifts in iGaming.

⏰ Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

0:57 - Betsson and Swedish iGaming: The Court Battle Unfolds

6:00 - Navigating Legalities in Gambling Cases

11:53 - Legacy Operators: The Changing Impact

14:28 - The Phil Pearson Awards

17:07 - Game-Changing Innovations in iGaming

34:25 - Networking Value at ICE 

40:12 - In-Person vs. Online Meetings

42:44 - Spotlight Story: Denise Coates from BET365

45:06 - Unveiling the Best Christmas Hampers

51:54 - 2023's Missed Marks

59:22 - Evolution's Growth Predictions

1:04:37 - A Fresh Start for Evolution: Necessity or Choice?

1:07:58 - "Evolution’s Slot Games: Triumph or Trial?"

1:09:53 - Play'n GO and Haas Formula 1 Partnership

1:13:48 - Taylor Swift and the iGaming Boys Band

1:20:26 - Kick vs Twitch Predictions

1:23:46 - Online Poker Players Controversies

1:34:32 - Psychedelics in Gambling Addiction Treatment

1:38:20 - Deutsche Regulatory Landscape

1:46:55 - General Predictions for 2024

2:07:27 - The Charity Drive for MSPCA

💼 ABOUT Phil Pearson

Phil is the CEO and co-founder of White Label Casinos, the world's only independent casino White Label Company. WLC offers clients the freedom of choice in casino back office, games, and payments, and can handle as much or as little of the day-to-day casino management as the client requires. Not one to shy away from controversy, Phil is outspoken on LinkedIn and other platforms, pushing for a fairer and more transparent iGaming community. Outside of work, Phil enjoys NFL, visiting as many random and remote holiday destinations as possible, and now has 39 rubber ducks in a pool for some tranquillity.

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🎙 Podcast with Michael Pedersen and Jon Bowden, CMO at PlayStar.

How does an online casino with no brick-and-mortar presence and no sports betting product succeed when going up against the US giants in a sports-dominated market? Apart from courage, CMO Jon Bowden takes us through the marketing strategy and product philosophy they have deployed when dealing with Uncle Sam.

00:00 - Introduction

00:50 - Jon’s Background at PlayStar

3:10 - US Market vs. European Market

8:00 - The US Online Casino Market

11:53 - Reeducating New Casino Players

15:00 - Building Trust in Online Casinos

18:35 - Possibilities for Smaller Casinos Entering the US market 

22:35 - Funnel Marketing Strategies

26:12 - Reverse Funnel Marketing Technique

28:18 - Jon's Approach to Budget Management

32:27 - Traffic Leads from Mobile Apps

34:06 - Product Philosophy at PlayStar

37:20 - Strong Loyalty and VIP Systems in the US

40:19 - The Importance of Personalization

43:03 - New Tools for Better Personalization

46:10 - Organization and Related Teams

51:16 - Predictions for the Future of the US Online Casino Market

💼 About Jon Bowden:

Jon Bowden is CMO at PlayStar. Jon has amassed over a decade’s worth of experience managing and developing iGaming brands. He has a proven track record of launching and reinventing brands in the sector and overseeing aggressive market share and revenue growth. Before joining PlayStar, Jon was with Entain where he was responsible for the Gala and Foxy suite of brands, delivering record revenues, leading to the brands becoming some of the fastest-growing in the sector.

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This episode of the NEXT.io Podcast is hosted by Michael Pedersen, CCO at Livespins and is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #168 with Megan Easey, Director of Operations at Wizard Games. 

🚀 In this insightful episode, you’ll uncover Megan's inspirational books, her effective performance management strategies, the harmony between personal authenticity and professional roles in the iGaming industry, and delve into the ups and downs of remote work and AI." Join Pierre Lindh as he engages in a captivating conversation with Megan Easey, Director of Operations at Wizard Games. 

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:52 - Influential Books: "Little Prince" & "Seagull"

05:07 - Megan’s Industry Background

08:54 - Inspired by Nelson Mandela

11:09 - Megan’s Leadership Philosophy

13:50 - Leadership Feedback Methods

19:05 - Balancing Feedback Types

21:15 - Successful Leadership Traits

26:00 - Friendships vs. Professional Bonds

30:03 - Personal vs. Professional Persona

37:13 - Authenticity in Leadership

41:40 - Performance Management Insights

44:10 - Importance of Strong KPIs

49:10 - Measuring Team Success

57:02 - Dealing with Toxic Leadership

1:02:31 - Megan's Inspirational Leaders

1:04:59 - Remote Work Pros & Cons

💼 About the Guest:

Megan Easey, with her extensive background in performance management, brings a unique perspective on leadership, team dynamics, and operational excellence. Her experiences growing up during the Nelson Mandela era have influenced her professional ethos and leadership style.

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