Revpanda LIVE

The 2026 World Cup is a massive operational milestone. ⚽ With the move to 48 teams, the challenge for operators has shifted—it’s no longer just about being live, but about being optimal under unprecedented global demand.

Paula Murphy, Head of Commercial at Mindway AI; Gareth Crook, SVP of Sports at Pragmatic Play; and Kiryl Liudvikevich, Head of Product at Tonybet, joined us to discuss how to turn World Cup hype into long-term value, breaking down strategies across product, smart retention, and sustainable growth beyond the tournament.

Key takeaways:

• Handling massive traffic spikes without breaking platforms or odds
• Turning World Cup bettors into long-term, high-value users
• Using micro-betting and gamification to drive engagement
• Managing first-time bettors with zero behavioral data
• Balancing aggressive growth with real player protection

The third episode of the Revpanda LIVE World Cup 2026 series is brought to you by StatsDrone, Pateplay and TrafficStars.

World Cup 2026 is the biggest commercial opportunity in iGaming this year, but what actually separates the operators who win from those who just barely survive? Giovanni Bertoli, Co-Founder & CEO at WSF Odds, Ivan Shumilov, Regional Head of Sales for Asia at EvenBet Gaming and Pitileac Mihai-Gavril, CCO at Oddsgate, joined Faruk Aydin to explore  how operators can turn World Cup traffic into long-term revenue.

Key takeaways:

• Learn how to prepare your platform for unprecedented capacity without sacrificing security or performance.
• Discover how to use Spins Poker and micro-betting to keep fans engaged during halftimes and blowout games.
• We analyze the 30, 60, and 180-day retention curves for World Cup players and the best ways to fix them.
• Explore why social gaming and player props are the ultimate hooks for the next generation of bettors.
• Get bold predictions on how AI and technology will redefine the World Cup experience over the next decade.

The second episode of the Revpanda LIVE World Cup 2026 series is brought to you by Betinvest, GammaPlus and Oddin.gg.

🎙️ Fake games are no longer glitchy knock-offs. They are pixel-perfect, AI-generated counterfeits that steal revenue and damage player trust. 🛡️ In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, James Elliott, Founder of Gamecheck, joins Faruk Aydin to discuss how operators can protect their brands from fake games, what Gamecheck does to verify platforms, and how its seal helps build player trust.

Key takeaways:
✅ How pixel-perfect counterfeits steal operator revenue and provider IP
✅ Why verified sites see higher conversion from browsing to depositing
✅ How AI allows pirates to copy games “pixel for pixel” to deceive players
✅ A deep dive into the highest-threat regions across LATAM, Asia, and Europe

This episode is brought to you by Esimatic.App.

As the World Cup approaches, preparation becomes the real competitive advantage. ⚽
Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, CCO at Shufti, Vitalii Semeniuk, Esports Product Growth Partner at BETER, and Oliver De Bono, Founder at Quantum Gaming, joined Faruk Aydin to discuss what iGaming operators should focus on to stay ahead during the biggest football tournament.

Key takeaways:

• Neutralise AI deepfake attacks and maintain smooth bettor onboarding
• Identify tech bottlenecks before the first whistle
• Embed eLeagues into your core product to bridge the engagement gap between games
• Adapt LTV profiles early to cross-sell and prevent the post-tournament player drop-off

The first episode of the Revpanda LIVE World Cup 2026 series is brought to you by Tonybet, WSF Odds, and ReferOn.

Are you spending more time managing affiliate dashboards than growing your business? In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, Faruk Aydin talks to Vlad Bondarenko, Head of Product at ReferOn, about how modern affiliate platforms solve this problem — giving managers clarity, speed, and intelligent tools so they can focus on relationships and growth.

Key takeaways:
• How “Lazy Intelligence” frees managers from mundane tasks

• Practical tips to reduce admin time and focus on growth metrics like LTV

• Why transparency and clear reporting are crucial for trust and efficiency

• How an API-first approach enables scaling and automation

• How seamless migrations unlock new potential without friction

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.

What’s behind the shift from simple content accumulation towards smarter curation? In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, Faruk Aydin sits down with Jordi Sendra, CEO at Alea, to explore the evolution of player behaviour, identify “sleeper” markets in LATAM and Africa, and discuss how tools like their new Jackpot Engine are redefining player loyalty.

What’s on the agenda?

• Beating Content Fatigue: Why “more” isn’t always “better” and how to curate a content library that actually performs.• Navigating Hyper-Abundance: Strategies for standing out in a crowded global market.• Retention Over Acquisition: A deep dive into Alea’s new Jackpot Engine and how it is reshaping player loyalty and long-term value.• The 2026 Roadmap: Exploring untapped potential in new regions and the tech trends worth watching.

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.

How are the smartest affiliates adapting to new regulations and scaling traffic in 2026? In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, Faruk Aydin sits down with Oleksandr Hloza, Team Lead Affiliate at PIN-UP Partners, to discuss how top affiliates are diversifying their traffic strategies and reallocating budgets back to premium markets.

Key takeaways:

• Balancing the right GEO ratio for fast cash-flow markets with long-term stability

• Why top media buyers are shifting budgets back to “expensive” T1 markets for ultimate predictability

• How to stop fighting strict advertising regulations and turn them into a massive competitive advantage

• The hidden financial dangers of relying solely on cheap, sensitive niche markets without diversification

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.

The Poker Lobby isn't going anywhere. But now, players have a choice. In this episode, Faruk Aydin sits down with Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, to discuss how offering an "instant play" mode alongside the classic lobby can help operators capture a completely new audience of casino players without alienating the core poker community.

What's on the agenda?

• How “One Click” complements the classic lobby to serve both casuals and pros

• Turning slot players into poker players by simplifying the interface

• How instant poker access helps fill tables faster on the backend

• The roadmap for Africa in 2026 and the latest updates on Brazil

• Dmitry’s lessons on managing 250+ employees while staying innovative

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.

The UK tax hike is brutal. Anjouan is under fire. Now what? 🎙️ In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, recorded directly from the expo floor at ICE Barcelona, we discuss how regulatory shifts, tax updates, and stricter oversight are reshaping the rules for operators.

Hosted by Faruk Aydin, this conversation brings together two industry experts helping global operators navigate increasing complexity: Mike de Graaff, Co-Founder & CCO at BetComply, and Steven Armstrong, Founder & CEO at FRL Compliance Solutions.

In this episode, we cover:

• Immediate actions for operators on “shaky” ground and the reality of the Curaçao identity crisis

• Can smaller operators still compete after the UK tax hike, or is it time to pivot?• Why you are likely underestimating the GRAI in Ireland and the shift in Finland

• Why 50-person compliance teams still get hit with massive fines — and how to fix the “bureaucratic silence”

• A realistic look at whether AI is a threat to the Compliance Officer role or the ultimate scaling tool

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.

Is the “Crypto Casino Gold Rush” officially over? In this episode of Revpanda LIVE, recorded right on the expo floor during ICE Barcelona, we break down why the “easy mode” in Crypto iGaming is turned off for 2026. The new winners are building Trust, Community, and verifiable on-chain value.
Revpanda LIVE host Faruk Aydin is joined by two industry veterans to reveal the new operator playbook:

• Martin Varrand: Founder of Verifluence.io & CMO at Bitcoin VIP
• Adar Ziv: Founder of Fam

In this episode, we cover:

• The 2026 Shift: Why acquisition costs are skyrocketing and how to pivot your casino marketing strategy.
• Trust vs. Reach: Moving budget from generic shout-outs to high-ROI micro-influencers.
• Fundraising Guide: What investors and VCs are actually looking for in a Seed Round this year.
• Player Retention: Why most crypto casino communities fail and how to build one that lasts.
• Predictions: Which geography is the next sleeping giant for crypto operators

Revpanda LIVE is brought to you by Alea.