The Betting Startups Podcast

By BettingStartups.com

Meet the people building the most promising startups competing for a piece of the multi-billion dollar real-money gaming industry. Presented by Optimove.... more

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FAQs about The Betting Startups Podcast:

How many episodes does The Betting Startups Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 212 episodes available.

The Betting Startups Podcast episodes:

December 12, 2025Ep. 190: Inside the Retention Shift w/ Irakli “Marcus” Davarashvili from Promofy
Ep. 190 features Irakli “Marcus” Davarashvili, Founder & CEO of Promofy, for a deep dive into the global rise of AI-powered gamification and how operators are rethinking loyalty, engagement, and retention.

Hear him discuss:
His 13-year journey across advertising, brand building, and iGaming leadership and how operational pain points at scale inspired him to build Promofy
What Promofy is: an AI-driven, no-code gamification platform that lets operators launch loyalty systems, missions, sports predictors, prize drops, kiosks, and full-page engagement experiences in minutes
How Promofy’s rapid traction and product innovation led to winning “Launch of the Year” at the Starties, and why that recognition validated the team’s vision and executio
Why global operators misunderstand “gamification,” and how true gamified ecosystems differ from simple bonuses, cashbacks, and tournament
The massive market shift away from bonus-led retention to personalized and behavior-driven engagemen
Regional adoption trends across LATAM, Europe, Asia, CIS, and North America plus why gamification is becoming “must-have” instead of “nice-to-have
How Promofy differentiates itself with AI design tools, content generators, sports prediction engines, casino loyalty, and a full library of mechanics that operators can test and optimiz
The challenges and realities of fundraising as a first-time founder, why saying “yes” and “no” matter equally, and what kinds of investors Promofy is seeking today
The transition from operator to entrepreneur expectations vs. reality, resilience, failure tolerance, and why agility is a survival skil
Why 2026 will be a breakout year driven by global expansion, new product launches, and massive demand heading into the World Cup

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Promofy website
➡️ Irakli Davarashvili on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
31min
December 03, 2025Ep. 189: Bringing the fun back to sports betting w/ Artie, Ben & Ryan from Golden Camel
Ep. 189 features the three co-founders of Golden Camel, Artie, Ben, and Ryan, for a lively deep dive into building a sports-betting lifestyle app rooted in community, fun, and authenticity.

Hear them discuss:
How a series of career pivots led them to partner up on Golden Camel a number of years after the original idea was sparked
Why Golden Camel rejects “beat the house” culture, instead leaning into fun and community - while also still providing utility
Why they see brand as a differentiator within the betting tools category, and how they plan to leverage that to acquire users
The state of U.S. betting culture in 2025, the rise of prediction markets, and why they feel they're in the right place at the right time with Golden Camel
Their go-to-market strategy in Arizona, and why authentic content + in-person community building is their biggest growth engine
Why they think that Silicon Valley VC's have largely been absent from the sports betting industry, and how they see that evolving

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Golden Camel website
➡️ Artie Baxter on Linkedin
➡️ Ben Ramirez on Linkedin
➡️ Ryan Magrum on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
37min
November 26, 2025Ep. 188: Building 'Zapier for iGaming' w/ James King from Flows
Ep. 188 features James King, CEO & Co-Founder of Flows, for a deep dive into building a no-code automation platform powering some of the biggest operators in global gaming.

Hear him discuss:
His 16-year industry journey across iGB Affiliate, Clarion Events, and Gaming Innovation Group and how industry-wide tech frustration inspired the founding of Flows
What Flows actually is: a no-code automation layer that ingests real-time data and lets teams build alerts, bonus engines, jackpots, omnichannel loyalty, and more all without developers
How operators integrate Flows, the speed of deployment, and why its Zapier-like interface is built to handle billions of gaming events
The company’s commercial model, recent traction, and major U.S. launches
Why the U.S. remains the biggest long-term opportunity despite slow sales cycles, and how Flows is navigating sweeps, prediction markets, and regulated operators
Why Flows sees itself as a tech company in gaming and how its technology can extend to fintech, retail, and other enterprise verticals
The rationale behind choosing a strategic investment from Light & Wonder over traditional VC, and how the partnership has helped accelerate growth
A candid look at the overloaded conference landscape, which events actually deliver ROI, and which ones startups should prioritize
What’s coming in 2026, new products, AI-driven innovation tools, expanded U.S. growth, and deeper empowerment for teams to build and automate faster than ever

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Flows website
➡️ James King on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
37min
November 19, 2025Special Episode: The future of racing w/ Daniel O' Sullivan & Sebastian Butterworth
This special episode features Seb Butterworth from Flutter and Dan O’Sullivan from the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), for a deep dive into the future of horse racing — and how the sport is preparing to engage a new generation of fans.

Hear them discuss:
The origins and findings of Project Beacon, and what the research reveals about younger and casual audiences
Why horse welfare, race education, race day experience, and behind-the-scenes access are the four critical innovation themes
How behind-the-scenes content can build emotional connection and improve understanding of horse welfare
Why racing struggles with context and “the why” for non-core audiences — and how narrative and storytelling can change that
Flutter’s approach to modernizing a tradition-rich sport while preserving what makes racing special
How simplifying the race card (without removing complexity) can make the sport more accessible to newcomers
The role of technology, wearables, and data in creating richer fan experiences and improving equine welfare
Early signals from other sports and how innovations like ref-cam, jockey cam, and training-yard content could shape racing’s future
Why digital platforms will be essential to reaching the next generation of fans
Details of the Future of Racing startup program: application window, pitch event, evaluation criteria, and potential commercial opportunities

Applications for the program are open until November 23, culminating in a Shark Tank style pitch at York Racecourse in February 2026.

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Daniel O'Sullivan on Linkedin
➡️ Sebastian Butterworth on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/
...more
13min
November 18, 2025The Gamble & The Glory: S2 E2 - John Levy from theScore
The Gamble & The Glory showcases founders that built their companies into category leaders in the betting and gaming industry.

In S2 E2, we speak with John Levy, founder and former CEO of theScore. John shares the remarkable 25+ year journey behind one of Canada’s most iconic sports media and betting brands from its roots in cable television to becoming a digital powerhouse and ultimately exiting for over $2 billion.

Hear him discuss:
The early days of Sportscope and how it evolved into theScore
How selling the TV network unlocked theScore’s digital transformation
Selling the media assets to bet the future of the company on digital media and technology
Why Penn’s acquisition derailed early and what went wrong with the integration
Lessons from scaling a family-run business and defining clear leadership roles
His candid thoughts on ESPN BET, Barstool, Dave Portnoy, and partnership misalignment
How theScore Bet could have continued to grow under an independent model
The future of sports betting across AI, microbetting, and next-gen fan behavior
How theScore was able to punch above its weight, and John's advice to startup founders on how to do the same
Why authenticity, resilience, and focus define long-term winners
What’s next for John Levy, and whether another venture is on the horizon

For more of John's comments on the recent ESPN Bet news, check out his recent podcast with Steve McAllister on Gaming News Canada: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uocQx14rRzS92YF8wlnqC?si=ce3b2267cfad4a57

Video version of this episode can be viewed here.

Learn more 👇
➡️ theScore website
➡️ John Levy on Linkedin

The Gamble & The Glory is made possible by Segev LLP, a full solutions law firm purpose-built for the gaming and betting industry. To learn more, visit: www.segev.ca.
...more
45min
November 11, 2025Ep. 187: Finding a forever home as a prediction market w/ Jake Benzaquen from ProphetX
Ep. 187 features Jake Benzaquen, Co-Founder and CEO of ProphetX, for a deep dive into the company’s latest evolution from regulated exchange to sweepstakes model, to now filing with the CFTC to operate as a fully regulated marketplace for sports event contracts.

Hear him discuss:
The journey from launching in New Jersey as an OSB to building a national presence under the sweepstakes model
Why ProphetX is now pivoting to the CFTC model and what it means for the future
Lessons from scaling a sports betting exchange across multiple states
How product validation and customer feedback shaped ProphetX’s direction
Building an RFQ (Request for Quote) system for parlays, and why it’s a game-changer
Why ProphetX will focus on sports-first markets, and why it's not launching with political or pop culture markets
The two primary reasons why they decided to launch without an affiliated trading arm
Competing with industry giants like Kalshi, Polymarket, and DraftKings through product innovation
The growing cultural influence of prediction markets
How distribution partnerships and B2B integrations will drive user acquisition
Jake’s reflections on seven years of startup grit, team growth, and finding motivation for the next phase

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ ProphetX website
➡️ Jake Benzaquen on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
31min
November 06, 2025Ep. 186: The esports betting infrastructure layer w/ Marek Suchar from Oddin.gg
Ep. 186 features Marek Suchar, Co-founder and Managing Director at Oddin.gg, a leading B2B provider of end-to-end esports betting solutions for global bookmakers.

Hear him discuss:
His journey from nearly a decade in finance at Citibank to co-founding one of the industry’s fastest-growing esports betting platforms
How an early pivot from B2C to B2B set Oddin.gg on the path to success
Why esports audiences are fundamentally different, and how authenticity and community are key to engaging them
The challenges of building a live in-play esports betting product, from latency to constantly evolving game metas
How Oddin.gg differentiates itself with a one-stop-shop offering, including data feeds, odds models, risk management, simulators, and marketing support
Why Oddin acquired a marketing agency to help partners connect with esports fans through influencers, teams, and content
The company’s focus on profitability, M&A opportunities, and building a larger tech-driven group beyond esports betting
What Marek sees as the next wave of growth for esports betting and why consolidation is accelerating across the sector
Lessons learned transitioning from startup survival to scale-up leadership and the importance of process and structure as the team grows past 300 people

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Oddin.gg website
➡️ Marek Suchar on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
32min
October 23, 2025Ep. 185: Productizing a passion for baseball w/ Adam Rosenberg
Ep. 185 features Adam Rosenberg, co-founder of HandiGraphs, a betting analytics platform built by and for baseball fans.

Hear him discuss:
His journey from political fundraising and brand strategy to PR and marketing in the sports betting industry
How a friendship in the Outlier Discord led to co-founding HandiGraphs with CJ Buskey
Why baseball’s intimidating data landscape inspired the creation of a simpler, more visual analytics tool
How HandiGraphs identifies edges using proprietary plate appearance metrics (30/60/90 PA splits)
Lessons learned from building a sticky, subscription-based product with near-zero churn
Why education and “over-teaching” users became central to their go-to-market strategy
Balancing side project and startup life — and what comes next for HandiGraphs in 2025
The role his podcast Dads Bet Baseball plays as both creative outlet and marketing engine
Common mistakes early-stage founders make in PR and how to tell a clear, differentiated story
Why Adam lives by the philosophy “Be helpful” — and how generosity and curiosity drive success in this industry

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇

➡️ Handigraphs website
➡️ Adam Rosenberg's socials

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

---
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
34min
October 14, 2025Ep. 184: Fantasy football puzzles for the masses w/ Brian Birt from Griddy
Ep. 184 features Brian Birt, founder of Griddy, the fantasy football puzzle game bringing year-round engagement to sports fans.

Hear him discuss:
His journey from childhood sports fanatic to building products at Sleeper and launching Griddy
How Griddy turns fantasy football into a strategic, bite-sized mobile game playable 365 days a year
Solving the seasonality problem in fantasy sports with an innovative “chemistry” team-building mechanic
Why he intentionally built Griddy as a free-to-play game without real money components
How a community-driven approach led to 30,000 users and 3M+ games played with zero ad spend
The role of Reddit and storytelling in driving organic, founder-led growth
Lessons from Sleeper: building trust and community before monetization
Finding product–market fit through retention and user obsession, not growth hacks
Getting early believers on the cap table, including Joel Simkins from XST Capital, and why he seeks to preserve optionality for future capital needs
How psychological resilience and consistency fuel startup success
What’s next for Griddy, from new game modes and rewards to expansion into other sports and fandoms

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇
➡️ Girddy website
➡️ Brian Birt on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

--
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
36min
October 01, 2025Ep. 183: Bringing gamified avatars to iGaming w/ Tom Lemke of Savage Tech
Ep. 183 features Tom Lemke, founder of Savage Tech, the world's first true gamified retention engine for the iGaming industry.

Hear him discuss:
His review of the recent SBC Summit conference in Lisbon
How his experience co-founding esports teams shaped his understanding of player engagement
How avatars, achievements, and progression systems improve retention and customer loyalty
Why being likeable is an underappreciated quality when it comes to B2B sales
The importance of continuing to show up "on the circuit" at iGaming industry events and conferences
Why he decided to retire from participating in industry startup pitch competitions
Lessons learned from Adar Ziv, the self-proclaimed "Chief Linkedin Officer"
His experience having just closed a seed round, and the importance of smart money over just money
How Savage Tech is approaching localization for markets like Asia, Brazil, and Africa

Catch the video version of this episode here.

Learn more 👇
➡️ Savage Tech website
➡️ Tom Lemke on Linkedin

📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

--
This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.
...more
34min

FAQs about The Betting Startups Podcast:

How many episodes does The Betting Startups Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 212 episodes available.

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