The Gambling Files

Another great episode, and we are delighted to share this with you. It may shock you to know that there may be some waffle at the start, but it’s only because Jon had a particularly bizarre Saturday night.

In this episode, the legendary Michael Baker-Mosley shares his insights on marketing, AI, and the importance of authenticity in business, along with personal stories that highlight human connection and decision-making.

As ever, thanks to our sponsors for making this possible: World Gaming, Optimove, and GLI. We love you all like something that’s loved a lot.

Things we talk about, in list form:

• The role of AI in marketing and content creation
• The disconnect between marketing and business strategy
• The importance of authenticity and honesty in business
• The challenges of B2B marketing and standing out
• Personal stories illustrating human connection and decision-making

Chapters, but you might want to add 40 seconds or so. Just in case, like:

• 00:00 Introduction and episode overview
• 01:57 The influence of Bill Hicks and perspectives on giving to the homeless
• 04:07 A rural encounter with a distressed woman and the importance of help
• 06:47 Police intervention and understanding mental health crises
• 10:05 Men's perception of threat and gender dynamics
• 11:59 Marketing team structures and the importance of strategic alignment
• 14:58 Sponsorships and industry insights from GLI and other companies
• 19:48 Industry acquisitions and personal anecdotes from the gambling industry
• 24:56 Michael Baker-Mosley's background and marketing expertise
• 30:09 The challenges of B2B marketing and standing out in a crowded market
• 34:54 The importance of team culture and avoiding the 'family' analogy
• 39:57 The impact of AI on marketing, creativity, and production
• 49:58 Honesty, transparency, and the future of marketing and AI
• 59:51 Personal reflections on life, work, and the influence of AI
• 01:04:54 Closing thoughts and gratitude

Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosleymichael/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Former EGR bloke Clark Beecroft comes on the podcast to share his passion for the game of Sh¡thead, a passion that has led to him developing his own custom deck for the game! We also get into Clark’s gambling industry experiences, and his plans to travel the world while promoting the game. This (blockbusting) episode explores innovative ideas for game development, industry insights, and personal stories. And more, of course.

Things we talk about, in a list:

• Clark Beecroft's career at EGR and industry insights
• The game of shithead and its potential as a gambling product
• Innovative ideas for game development and monetization
• Clark's travel plans and global monster project
• Industry challenges and opportunities in online gambling

Chapters, but add a a couple of minutes for the music and that other bit Jon’s added about the sponsors, who we love. Music used with permission of the artist, I should add!:

• 00:00 Introduction and guest background
• 02:00 Industry insights and reflections on gambling in Russia and Brazil
• 03:23 Clark Beecroft's career at EGR and industry experiences
• 04:22 Leaving EGR and passion for the game of Shithead
• 07:17 Clark's long tenure in the gaming industry and fond memories
• 09:12 The evolution of gambling games and the potential of Shithead
• 11:15 Popularity of Shithead among different demographics
• 13:34 Modifications to the game for faster play and better experience
• 15:22 Creating a branded deck of Shithead cards
• 17:10 Challenges with Amazon and product sales
• 19:50 Clark's travel plans and projects around the world
• 23:33 The monster project and cultural exploration
• 28:19 Organising a Shithead tournament and community engagement
• 33:44 Potential for digital versions and online tournaments
• 37:33 Industry attitudes towards gaming and fun
• 43:26 Favourite movies and cultural interests
• 45:39 Closing remarks and contact information

Clark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-beecroft-89539222/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In the gambling industry’s favourite podcast*, we meet immaculately-coiffed journalist Nick Devor to discuss the gamblification of collectibles like Pokemon and baseball cards, the parallels with gambling mechanisms, and the regulatory challenges facing the industry. We explore how these trends impact addiction, regulation, and the future of gambling and collectibles. No bloody Fintan again though, the part-timer.

*other podcasts are available, but they’re not the favouritest ones

Stuff we talk about, in a list:

• The gamblification of collectibles like Pokemon and baseball cards
• The psychological mechanisms behind gambling and collecting
• Regulatory challenges and the lack of federal oversight
• The link between trading cards and problem gambling
• The impact of social media on gambling behaviours
• The rise of prediction markets and their legal implications
• The role of brands and marketing in gambling and collectibles
• The influence of regulation and federalism on gambling laws
• The connection between poverty, gambling, and risky behaviours
• The importance of industry involvement in research and treatment

Choice quotes:

"Let the content dictate the format, don't force structure."

"Spending money on random card packs is linked to problem gambling."

"Opening packs is about the experience, not just the cards."

Chapters, but add some time because of our beautiful music, used with permission from Mara Carlyle:

00:00 Introduction and episode overview

12:49 The link between trading cards and problem gambling

24:48 The experience of opening collectible packs

36:30 Market dynamics and regulation challenges

48:02 The role of social media and marketing

59:03 Regulatory landscape and federal oversight

Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-devor/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this bonus episode, AWARD-WINNING gambling industry journalist Zak Thomas-Akoo shares insights on investigative journalism in the gambling industry, the importance of regulation, and the evolving landscape of gambling markets worldwide. It’s weird that we hadn’t asked Zak on before, given that he won the inaugural Gambling Book Awards prize for industry journalist of the year. But hopefully we have made up for that now!

Things we talk about, in a list:

• The role of investigative journalism in the gambling industry
• Challenges of balancing commercial interests and journalistic integrity
• The influence of regulation and independent regulators
• Gambling markets in Brazil and global trends
• The importance of long-form journalism and quality reporting
• The significance of industry awards and recognition
• The impact of AI and digital transformation on journalism
• The social harms and gambling addiction issues

Choice quotes – no bonus points for guessing who said them, either:

• "Balancing regulation and commercial interests is tricky"
• "Regulation should be independent from government influence"
• "Poverty drives gambling addiction more than anything else"

Chapters – but you’re going to need to add a couple of minutes, because Jon added a thing to the front, then there’s the lovely music…

• 00:00 Introduction and episode overview
• 03:43 Zach's industry awards and their significance
• 08:04 Transition to investigative journalism at NEXT.io
• 11:17 Challenges of sourcing and verifying information
• 15:34 The importance of source relationships and untangling biases
• 17:01 Industry bias and media balance in gambling reporting
• 18:18 Gambling's social harms and regulatory challenges
• 20:12 Brazil's gambling ban and political landscape
• 23:30 Global gambling markets and regulatory trends
• 27:47 The independence of gambling regulators
• 28:48 Poverty, addiction, and social impacts of gambling
• 33:55 Proud moments in investigative journalism
• 36:19 The challenges of regulatory transition and reform
• 38:27 The separation of user data and treatment data
• 41:14 The future of quality journalism and AI
• 43:46 Recognising industry journalists and their contributions
• 45:11 The importance of long-form journalism and deep reporting
• 49:33 The evolution of gambling journalism and industry coverage
• 51:37 The role of niche journalism and specialised reporting

Zak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-thomas-akoo-48b570233/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode, Greg Knight, CEO of Jenningsbet, a popular British high street bookmaker, discusses the challenges faced by independent bookmakers, the rising costs of media rights, and the broader issues affecting the UK high street and retail betting industry. Discover insights into the economic pressures, industry dynamics, and potential future directions of betting shops and racing. This episode, no Fintan, so there’s much better quality questions and less nonsense.

Things we talk about, in list form:

• Rising costs of media rights and their impact on independent bookmakers
• The decline of high street betting shops and community impact
• Industry dynamics between media rights providers and bookmakers
• The effect of online gambling on retail betting
• Industry responses to economic and regulatory challenges

Choice quotes:

• "Nobody's really talking about the cost of media rights"
• "Content is bundled and we can't pick what we want"
• "Racing is underfunded and costs are rising faster than revenues"

Chapters, but add some time because of our beautiful music, used with permission from Mara Carlyle:

• 00:00 Introduction to Greg Knight and Jenningsbet
• 01:59 Overview of Jenningsbet and UK retail betting
• 03:08 Sponsorships and industry partnerships
• 03:59 The cost of media rights and industry impact
• 10:06 Comparison of media rights costs over five years
• 15:12 Content quality and package issues for bookmakers
• 19:57 Competition and cooperation among media rights providers
• 25:03 The effect of media rights costs on industry sustainability
• 29:49 The state of the UK high street and retail challenges
• 40:01 Community role of betting shops and social impact
• 50:09 Industry regulation, government policy, and future outlook – I’m not sure why this list ends here though, because there’s a good 20 minutes more of this episode after this point…

Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg~knight/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode Fintan and Jon welcome back Keith O'Loughlin, now a best-selling author! Of course he’s also an expert in sports betting and gaming, and in this episode he tells us about his new venture, shares insights on transforming the betting industry, making sports betting more accessible, and the importance of trust and fun in gaming. We explore innovative betting technologies, responsible gambling, and the future of sports and media integration.

Stuff we talk about, in a list:

• The evolution of sports betting over the last 20 years
• The importance of trust and simplicity in betting platforms
• Innovations in media integration for sports betting
• The role of responsible gambling and protecting players
• The concept of 'fun' in betting and sports engagement
• The impact of technology and AI on betting experiences
• The story behind the name 'Funteron' and its mission
• The future of sports rights and viewer engagement
• The challenges and opportunities in expanding betting to new markets
• Keith's insights on the importance of experience over trophies

Choice quotes:

"The medal is just a piece of metal."

"Life is about experiences, not trophies."

"Your scoreboard in life is not about money."

Chapters, but add 30 seconds or so because of the music which we use with permission by Mara Carlyle:

• 00:00 Introduction to Keith O'Loughlin and the episode's focus
• 02:16 Keith shares his recent experiences and insights
• 09:21 Keith discusses his book about Eddie Jordan
• 11:48 Upcoming book 'The Medal Is Just Metal' and its themes
• 16:13 Personal stories about achievements and trophies
• 18:07 The true scoreboard of success in life
• 19:29 Challenges in the current global landscape
• 25:59 Keith's new betting business and industry insights
• 34:19 Simplifying sports betting and making it fun
• 40:17 How integration with media works in betting platforms
• 48:17 Future vision for responsible and fun betting

Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keitholoughlin/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode of the industry's shiniest five-year-old podcast, Robert Lenzhofer discusses the innovative Hizi platform, a self-service operating system for iGaming studios that simplifies game development, deployment, and management, aiming to revolutionize the industry with cloud-based solutions. Hosts Fintan Costello and Jon Bruford welcome Robert – a returning guest! – as they discuss the usual mish-mash of topics alongside Robert’s innovation.

As ever, we thank our superb sponsors – you can find out more about Optimove, World Gaming, and GLI further down this page…

Choice quotes:

• "This is more like an operating system for studios"
• "Allows you to create any RNG game directly in the back office"
• "It's like AWS for the gambling industry"
• “The RGS all grown up. The operating system for studios.”
• “If you still have to code into the backend, then it’s not self-service.”
• “We just give you the best tool that possibly can be built.”

Chapters (but add 30 seconds or so because of our beautiful music, which is copyright Mara Carlyle…)

• 00:00 - Opening banter and the challenge of recording multiple episodes
• 01:02 - Moving house, lampshades, and the magnetic knife rack
• 03:18 - Holiday talk, hustle culture, and the death of downtime
• 04:04 - The world’s best theme park in Devon: Diggerland, and possibly the best jingle for a theme park ever.
• 10:29 - Robert’s summer chaos and building a point-and-click adventure with his daughter
• 12:20 - Introducing Robert Lenzhofer and the move beyond Holle Games
• 13:01 - What Hizi means and why it is about more than an RGS
• 14:43 - What the platform is for in practical studio terms
• 15:48 - Why RGS infrastructure should be treated like a commodity
• 16:29 - Self-service signup and instant dedicated instances
• 18:14 - Pricing tiers and what’s included in the basic package
• 19:20 - The no-code, AI-assisted Hizi engine
• 21:02 - Early traction, partner growth, and game deployments
• 23:36 - What studios actually do inside the platform
• 24:34 - Why billing and back-office tooling matter for small teams
• 26:15 - Migration paths for existing studios and hybrid deployments
• 27:40 - How Hizi compares with Stake’s model and game-upload systems
• 29:00 - The “end of RGS” idea and B2C engine support
• 31:12 - Could a simple card game or pub machine be built on Hizi?
• 33:15 - How the platform reduces startup friction and contract pain
• 35:07 - What onboarding looks like and the learning curve
• 36:06 - Why Hizi’s challenge is broader than a single-operator system
• 37:43 - Scaling with a lean team and moving from beta to wider onboarding
• 41:39 - Distribution as the bottleneck for smaller studios
• 44:05 - Starting a game studio and the “Doctor Hour” joke
• 45:16 - Bamboo Guerillas arrives
• 47:56 - Closing thanks and an invitation to revisit the project in 12 months

Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlenzhofer/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode, Jordan Lea from Deal Me Out discusses the evolving landscape of gambling regulation, black market impacts, prediction markets, and industry challenges. We explore how regulation, industry reputation, and consumer safety are interconnected and what future steps are needed.

This episode is brought to you thanks to the auspices of our Mighty Sponsors: GLI, Optimove, and World Gaming. More on their magnificence after the bit where you can see what’s in the podcast.

Things we talk about, but in a sexy list:

• Gambling regulation and its evolution
• Impact of black market gambling on the industry
• Prediction markets and their perception as safer alternatives
• Industry reputation and media portrayal of gambling
• Regulatory challenges and government engagement
• Black market gambling's influence on consumer behaviour
• Strategies for industry self-regulation and public trust
• The role of education and community engagement in harm prevention
• Future trends in gambling technology and regulation
• The importance of industry unity and advocacy

Choice quotes:

"The industry has improved significantly over the years"

"Illegal gambling is a growing problem we must address"

"Prediction markets are being mistaken for safer alternatives"

Chapters – but add 30 seconds or so because of our beautiful music, which the rights holder – Mara Carlyle – has allowed us to use:

• 0:01 — Intro and film chat
• 1:10 — John’s cinema rundown
• 3:09 — Nirvanna the Band, the Show, the Movie
• 5:52 — Catching up and sponsor banter
• 8:00 — Fintan’s podcast charts success
• 9:39 — GLI sponsor read
• 11:00 — Guest intro: Jordan Lea from Deal Me Out
• 14:06 — What Deal Me Out does
• 15:19 — Funding changes and shifting priorities
• 16:17 — Pivot to illegal gambling
• 19:15 — Offshore vs licensed markets
• 23:57 — First report findings
• 27:12 — Youth gambling, gaming, and Roblox
• 31:12 — Second report findings
• 34:09 — Regulation, taxation, and industry politics
• 37:11 — Why the industry isn’t the only messenger
• 42:24 — What the industry should do differently
• 46:29 — Grassroots brand building and good causes
• 48:15 — Media narratives and image change
• 52:25 — Prediction markets and investment behaviour
• 57:49 — What young people are seeing
• 60:29 — What Deal Me Out is doing next
• 64:31 — Parliament and industry representation
• 66:01 — Where to find Deal Me Out

Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-l-6160391b9/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Just Jon in the driving seat this episode, so what could possibly go wrong? He’s joined by Ryan Robey from Staicy.win, who shares insights into AI-driven sports betting, community building, and the US gambling landscape. Discover how data, human oversight, and community engagement are transforming betting strategies and industry perceptions.

This episode is brought to you by the titans at Gaming Laboratories International, Optimove, and World Gaming, plus the letters X and T, and the number 28.

Stuff we talk about, in list form:

• AI-driven sports betting models
• Community building in betting platforms
• Data sources and analytics in sports predictions
• Human oversight and AI collaboration
• US gambling laws and market dynamics
• Arbitrage betting and market edges
• Community engagement and social aspects of betting
• Impact of sports events like World Cup on betting trends

Choice quotes:

• "We identify where Vegas is lagging behind"
• "Our community is what sets us apart"
• "All the colour in bourbon comes from the wood"
• “The reason that people go to sports bars is not because they have this burning desire to go spend money to do something they could otherwise do for free. They do it because they love community.”

Chapters, but add 40 seconds maybe because of our beautiful music:

• 00:00 - Fintan’s new podcast and today’s sponsor rundown
• 02:27 - Why Optimove and GLI are supporting the show
• 05:00 - Introducing Ryan Robey and Staicy.win
• 06:38 - Why the company spelling includes an “I” for AI
• 07:35 - How Staicy.win builds betting predictions from data and models
• 09:40 - Arbitrage betting versus finding real edge in player props
• 11:40 - Where the data comes from: Stat feeds, betting lines, and APIs
• 15:08 - Why human oversight still matters in an AI betting platform
• 17:08 - Building guardrails around a custom betting LLM
• 18:24 - The team behind Staicy.win and why Ryan avoids “goobers”
• 24:12 - Strange office interactions and the Delaware mailbox story
• 26:11 - How the subscription model works and where the revenue comes from
• 28:09 - From crypto community project to a real betting business
• 31:21 - Transparency, ROI, and why community is the core differentiator
• 36:03 - World Cup betting, Spain futures, and soccer learning curves
• 39:01 - Leicester City in Vegas and the power of sports fandom
• 43:40 - Scottish supporters, St. Patrick’s Day, and sports-bar chaos
• 45:18 - Ryan’s day job as a trial lawyer in Lexington, Kentucky
• 49:28 - A courtroom case involving a horse-drawn carriage in a Christmas parade
• 51:35 - Bourbon, Kentucky, and the difference between whiskey and bourbon
• 56:27 - Why lawyers hate John Grisham and legal fiction gets law wrong
• 61:17 - How Grisham may have changed the portrayal of lawyers in media
• 64:14 - Gambling stigma, legal betting, and the US college sports problem
• 67:44 - College player props, integrity concerns, and Kentucky’s rules
• 69:05 - Getting into the Apple App Store and coming back during football season
• 70:19 - Closing thoughts on disappointing your family and trial catchphrases

Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-robey-3b092356/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode, Nick Papagorgio, CEO of DEDPRZ Casino, shares insights into the world of crypto gambling, the importance of player trust, and the future of online casinos. Discover how innovative strategies and community engagement are shaping the industry. Hosts Fintan Costello and Jon Bruford explore the evolving landscape of gambling streaming, the challenges of streamer marketing, and innovative approaches to engaging audiences in the gambling industry. Our guest Nick shares insights on responsible gaming, licensing, and the future of casino content.

Stuff we talk about, but in a list:

• Crypto casino licensing and regulation
• Player trust and community engagement
• Use of NFTs and blockchain technology
• Impact of AI and provably fair systems
• Future trends in online gambling
• The evolution of gambling streaming and its impact
• Challenges of streamer marketing and fake statistics
• Building long-term relationships with streamers
• Legal and licensing considerations in different markets
• Responsible gaming tools and player protection
• Innovative casino game development and provably fair systems
• The potential of private tables and unique dealer content
• The role of energy and entertainment in casino streams

Choice quotes:

• "Streaming slots is quite compelling"
• "Gambling streamers now make more than athletes"
• "Gambling streaming is like a mind sport"

Chapters, but add 30 seconds or so because of our lovely music:

• 00:00 - Cold open and banter
• 03:04 - Weight loss, gym talk, and summer energy
• 09:08 - Optimove sponsor read
• 12:41 - GLI sponsor read and guest intro
• 15:55 - DEDPRZ Casino origin story
• 18:02 - Crypto, fiat, and licensing
• 21:03 - Building trust in a crypto casino
• 23:38 - Support, payouts, and player experience
• 29:54 - What makes DEDPRZ different
• 38:06 - Why gambling streams work
• 46:24 - How Nick vets streamers
• 55:52 - Responsible gambling tools and self-exclusion
• 58:52 - Nick’s recovery story
• 66:21 - Streaming as a business model
• 73:33 - Closing thoughts and wrap-up

Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-papagorgio-38b2b6274/

Resources & Links:

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International.

GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.

For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/