The iGaming Experience

The iGaming Experience

By Samee BhattiBusiness
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The iGaming Experience episodes

  • iGaming 101: Casino Game Categories and Key Concepts

    Host Sam Bhatti records from Zebra Studios in Tivat, Montenegro and gives a beginner overview of casino games on an iGaming platform: slots, table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat), live casino, specialty/instant-win and crash games (including Aviator and Plinko), and poker. He explains player motivations behind different game types, slot pacing and volatility, live casino’s streamed dealers and game-show formats (e.g., Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Deal or No Deal, Lightning Roulette), and why poker is typically player-vs-player with operator rake and is now less common on new platforms.

    He defines RNG as controlled, tested randomness that maps number streams to outcomes, clarifies RTP vs house edge, and outlines how operators source games from suppliers via direct API integrations or aggregators. He also defines RGS (Remote Gaming Server) as backend infrastructure for sessions, bets, wallet debits/credits, outcomes, and reporting.

    00:00 Welcome and Agenda

    01:37 Casino Games Mental Model
    02:50 Slots Basics and Volatility
    06:25 Table Games Overview
    10:20 Live Casino and Game Shows
    13:25 Specialty and Crash Games
    17:09 Poker as Its Own Universe
    19:46 RNG RTP and House Edge
    25:09 Integrations and Aggregators
    28:49 RGS Explained and Recap
    31:21 Wrap Up and Next Steps

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    35 min
  • Strahinja Radman on AI in iGaming Development: Prompts, Tokens, and Why Engineers Still Matter

    Prompted by Tim Heath’s (Yolo Group) LinkedIn post arguing iGaming may no longer need many developers, host Sam Bhatti and Strahinja Radman discuss AI’s impact on iGaming development and tech development in general.

    Radman frames AI as the next abstraction layer in software evolution, explaining LLMs as pattern-recognition systems that generate token-by-token output and often make incorrect assumptions without strong context and constraints. They discuss how effective use requires an expert to conceptualize architecture, define business rules, break work into manageable domains, and test components separately, noting practical limits like token cost and “prompt too long” failures.

    In the context of building BetHero’s proprietary iGaming tech, they discuss why developers favor Claude Code and compare major models Gemini 3, Claude (Opus 4.6), and OpenAI/ChatGPT (Codex 5.3)—with Claude strongest at complete code output, ChatGPT best for high-level architecture and requirements, and Gemini strongest for producing extensive documentation.

    Radman argues AI won’t replace developers, especially due to debugging, maintenance, and the need for specialized roles (QA, frontend, backend, security), emphasizing production readiness requires careful planning and monitoring.

    They close with career advice: don’t fear AI, learn how it works, build high-level design skills first, deepen fundamentals (including databases), and prioritize adaptability and achievement-oriented follow-through as key hiring traits.

    00:00 Cold Open & Getting Set to Record

    00:26 Tim Heath’s Hot Take: Do We Still Need iGaming Developers?
    01:36 From Assembly to AI: Why LLMs Are the Next Abstraction Layer
    03:02 LLMs 101: Pattern Recognition, Context, and How They ‘Think’
    04:27 Can AI Build Complex Apps? Requirements, Assumptions, and Prompting
    08:24 Architecture First: Breaking Work Into Domains & Components
    11:43 Key Terms Explained: Tokens, Monoliths, and Microservices
    15:01 Which AI Tool for What? Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini (and Why)
    20:37 Why AI Won’t Replace Dev Teams: Debugging, Maintenance, and Specialties
    24:21 Career Advice: How Developers Should Learn and Leverage AI
    28:29 Hiring Signals: Adaptability, High Achievement, and Using the ‘Turbocharger’
    31:12 Wrap-Up & Final Message: Don’t Be Afraid to Step Into the Unknown

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    33 min
  • How iGaming Careers Actually Progress (And Why They’re Rarely Linear)

    This episode is all about iGaming careers. 

    Broadcasting from Zebra Studios in Podgorica, Montenegro, Sam provides insights into the non-linear career paths typical in the industry, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, context, and transferable skills over traditional credentials. 

    00:00 Introduction to iGaming Careers

    01:34 Navigating Uncertainty in iGaming
    02:41 Diverse Entry Paths into iGaming
    05:53 Starting Points in iGaming
    09:17 The Importance of Crossover Knowledge
    19:09 Traits of Successful iGaming Professionals
    22:22 Final Thoughts 

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    30 min
  • iGaming 101: Integrations explained with Strahinja Radman

    In this episode of 'The iGaming Experience,' host Sam Bhatti sits down with his business partner, Strahinja Radman, to explore the critical topic of integrations in the iGaming industry. Sam and Strahinja provide a comprehensive breakdown of what integrations involve.

    They delve into specific examples like sportsbook and casino integrations, explaining key components such as APIs, webhooks, and SDKs. They also discuss the challenges and best practices for reliable and secure integrations. Additionally, they highlight the steps taken to make their current project, Bet Hero, highly integrable and user-friendly. This episode aims to demystify technical jargon and provide a clear understanding of iGaming integrations for beginners.

    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Setup

    00:43 Meet the Hosts: Sam and Strahinja
    01:52 Understanding Integrations in iGaming
    03:19 Breaking Down iGaming Platforms
    07:54 Steps to Integrate a Sportsbook
    10:12 Technical Aspects of API Integration
    11:28 Challenges in Reliable Integrations
    17:00 Casino Integrations in iGaming
    17:52 Understanding API Calls and Sessions
    18:33 Aggregators vs Direct Game Suppliers
    21:29 Demystifying Webhooks and Data Formats
    23:22 Explaining iFrames, Webviews, and Direct Integrations
    27:24 Introduction to SDKs
    29:23 Project Bet Hero: Simplifying Integrations
    31:48 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    34 min
  • Sweepstakes & Prediction Markets — What They Are, Why They Exist, and Whether They Last

    In this episode of The iGaming Experience, host Sam Bhatti discusses the emerging trends of sweepstakes casinos and prediction markets, particularly in the United States.

    Broadcasting from Zebra Studios in Podgorica, Montenegro, Sam explains what these platforms are, why they exist, and how they differ from traditional iGaming sites. Sam also touches on the regulatory challenges these platforms face and provides his opinion on their long-term viability in the industry. 

    00:00 Introduction to The iGaming Experience

    03:31 Understanding Sweepstakes Casinos
    06:25 Diving into Prediction Markets
    09:48 The Intersection of Crypto and Prediction Markets
    13:04 Regulatory Challenges and Industry Reactions
    20:43 Future Predictions and Final Thoughts
    26:24 Conclusion and Listener Shoutouts

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    28 min
  • Insights from ICE Barcelona 2026 with Josip Brajkovic

    In this episode of The iGaming Experience, host Sam Bhatti broadcasts live from ICE 2026 in Barcelona, joined by his colleague Josip Brajkovic. They discuss trends and observations from the event, focusing on the importance of player acquisition and retention, the challenges faced by sportsbooks, and the growing significance of prediction markets. Josip shares his extensive background in the industry and elaborates on how their project, BetHero, aims to revolutionize the betting experience by making it more user-friendly and socially engaging. The conversation highlights the dynamic nature of the iGaming industry and the need for innovation to stay competitive. They also tease future episodes that will delve deeper into topics like risk management and prediction markets.


    For more information on BetHero visit bethero.gg and book a demo.


    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    00:14 Live from ICE 2026 in Barcelona
    00:52 Meet Josip Brajkovic
    01:38 Josip's Journey in iGaming
    03:35 Challenges and Innovations in iGaming
    07:35 The Importance of Engagement and UI
    13:20 BetHero's Unique Approach
    19:41 World Cup and Acquisition Strategies
    24:13 Prediction Markets: The Next Big Thing
    32:12 Conclusion and Future Episodes

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    35 min
  • Your First iGaming Conference: Get in the game

    The episode breaks down the significance of attending iGaming conferences, especially for newcomers to the industry. Drawing from his own experiences, host Sam Bhatti emphasizes the power of simply showing up, building familiarity, and forming relationships. He provides insights into large events like ICE and SBC summits, as well as more intimate, focused gatherings. Sam also offers practical advice on making the most of these conferences, including the importance of follow-up and approaching interactions without an agenda. This episode aims to encourage and guide new iGaming professionals in navigating the often daunting world of industry conferences.

    00:00 Introduction to iGaming Conferences

    00:28 Overcoming the Intimidation of First Summits

    02:23 The Importance of Being Present

    07:15 Understanding the Big Events: ICE and SBC

    09:55 The Value of Smaller, Curated Events

    12:46 Building Relationships at Summits

    16:21 What a Successful Summit Looks Like

    18:01 Post-Summit Follow-Up

    19:52 Preparing for the Next Summit

    21:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    24 min
  • The Resources I Use to Learn iGaming

    Host Sam Bhatti shares how he learn’s about the iGaming industry, discussing valuable resources including podcasts, newsletters, online communities, and networking strategies. Sam highlights key podcasts like Next.io and iGaming Daily, provides insights on top newsletters such as those from IGB, and explains the importance of LinkedIn for networking.

    He also offers practical advice on how to reach out to industry leaders and the importance of staying curious to continuously learn and adapt in this dynamic field.

    00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

    00:20 Answering the Big Question: How to Learn About iGaming
    02:05 Top Podcasts for iGaming Insights
    03:42 Exploring Next.io and Its Offerings
    07:55 SBC Media and Its Podcasts
    13:58 Other Noteworthy iGaming Podcasts
    19:32 Newsletters and Online Communities
    23:13 Leveraging LinkedIn for Networking
    30:46 Additional Resources and Final Thoughts
    39:20 Conclusion and Contact Information

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    40 min
  • What Makes a Great Bonus Engine — Timing is everything

    Diving into one of the critical components of an iGaming brand: the bonus engine. Broadcasting from Zebra Studios in Podgorica, Montenegro, Sam explains why effective bonus engines are crucial for player acquisition, retention, and maximizing lifetime value.

    He covers the key aspects of a bonus engine, including triggers, conditions, rewards, restrictions, segmentation, and settlement logic. Sam also discusses the impact of well-designed bonus systems on player experience and trust, illustrating the competitive advantage that a sophisticated bonus engine can provide.

    If you’re new to iGaming or looking to optimize your bonus strategies, this episode offers valuable insights into how to balance rewarding gameplay with protecting operators' revenue.

    00:00 Introduction to The iGaming Experience

    00:17 Understanding the Bonus Engine
    02:45 Importance of Bonus Engines
    05:09 Core Components of a Bonus Engine
    06:53 Triggers: The Decision Center
    10:00 Conditions: Ensuring Fairness
    12:22 Rewards: The Star of the Show
    15:18 Restrictions: Preventing Abuse
    18:44 Segmentation: Personalizing Bonuses
    23:26 Expiration and Settlement Logic
    25:29 Failed Bonus Engines
    28:06 Recap and Conclusion

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    34 min
  • Mastering Your First 90 Days in iGaming

    In this episode of The iGaming Experience, host Sam Bhatti broadcasts from Zebra Studios in Podgorica, Montenegro, to provide newcomers and even seasoned professionals with a comprehensive roadmap for their first 90 days in the iGaming industry.

    Bhatti elaborates on essential practices to transition from feeling overwhelmed to thriving in the sector by focusing on understanding the business structure, the industry vocabulary, product familiarity, and building valuable relationships. He shares actionable tips and common mistakes to avoid, while emphasizing the importance of gaining context, asking strategic questions, and staying curious about the product. Bhatti offers advice on generating personal reports, connecting with mentors, and taking ownership of tasks.

    This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to make a memorable impact in their early days in iGaming.

    00:00 Introduction to The iGaming Experience

    00:30 The Importance of Your First 90 Days
    03:40 Getting the Ball Rolling: First Steps
    06:15 Learning the Landscape: First Month
    08:12 Understanding Industry Vocabulary
    13:10 Diving into the Product
    16:30 Settling In: Second Month
    20:26 Applying Your Skills in Month Three
    20:59 Taking Ownership and Reducing Ambiguity
    21:35 Building Cross-Functional Relationships
    23:13 The Importance of KPIs and Reporting
    26:07 Common Mistakes in the First 90 Days
    30:34 Accelerating Your Learning
    38:04 Winning the First 90 Days
    39:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    Thanks for listening to The iGaming Experience podcast—your spot for learning about the world of iGaming from people in the game.

    Shoutout to our sponsor Zebra Solutions, pushing the boundaries of tech innovation in iGaming. Check them out at zebrasolutions.me to see how they're making life easier for operators.

    Let's connect! Follow Zebra Solutions on LinkedIn for industry updates and to boost our egos: linkedin.com/company/zebra-solutions-me, and connect with me personally on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sambhatti.

    If today's episode provided you any value, please let me know by subscribing, rating, and sharing with your network. That's what all the cool people are doing...

    Need more iGaming in your life? Catch all our episodes here.

    42 min

About The iGaming Experience

From the publisher's feed

An iGaming Podcast that focuses on teaching the ins and outs of the industry. There’s not a lot of places to get inside info on the basic questions. What’s it like to work in iGaming? How do I launch…