iGAMINGFM

In Episode 70 of iGaming FM, Nick Tunney speaks to 3 Oaks Gaming’s CCO, Yuriy Muratov, about the distributor’s plans for worldwide expansion as 2024 progresses. Yuriy shares his insights into his new role, recently awarded licences from the UK, Portugal and Romania and how the company is set to target LatAm.

A busy year awaits for 3 Oaks Gaming!

In episode 68 of iGaming FM, LinaSennvall speaks to Mark Taffler, Commercial Director at Hub88, about everything from LatAm to crypto to AI and the company’s new strategy to become an all-encompassing provider and how it helps its customers to succeed by solving their problems. Oh, and there might be some news about a new proprietary studio launch. You heard it here first!     

In the run-up to the Indian Gaming Association's tradeshow and convention in Anaheim from April 8-11, iGFM sat down with Everi's SVP of product management, Richard Sagman. From a supplier that has been active in tribal gaming for many years, we learn what the sector and its flagship event has to offer in 2024 and how Everi makes the most of the huge opportunities in Indian country.

Slot enthusiasts and game creators Johan Granberg and Michael Collins kick episode 67 of iGaming FM up a gear.

Speaking of the numerous upcoming titles on Thunderkick’s roadmap, the industry veterans discuss their personal favourites and what draws them to a slot when playing. Johan and Michael also chat about exciting new IPs, sequels and fresh hits launching this year with Square In The Air’s Influencer Manager (B2B) Aidan Cliff.

Sportingtech's new CEO Tom Ustunel joined us ahead of ICE to share his hopes for the iGaming platform provider's future, and explain why the company has one of the best teams in the industry. Sophie Norris spoke with Tom about what he learnt while working alongside Sportingtech as a consultant, his career of more than two decades, and the company's high hopes for LatAm in the coming year.  

After experiencing a period of record growth, we spoke to Gaming Realms’ recently appointed Chief Product Officer, Suki Sandhu, about the changing face of the studio’s content. Suki details how Gaming Realms’ Slingo titles have become a genre in their own right and sheds light on the numerous new mechanics that will evolve the games throughout 2024, as well as the provider’s primary target audience and its localisation practices.

The collective zipping of suitcases and panicked shopping trips await with ICE set to kick off next week. Looking ahead to the event, Alejandro Cazorla, Sales Manager at Altenar, joins iGamingFM to share what 2024 has in store for the sports betting software provider, as it prepares to demonstrate its expanded product portfolio at the show. Alejandro discusses the provider's enhanced Trading Notification Channel and Altenar's ambitions for LatAm expansion. 

So, you want to enter the US? Lina Sennevall spoke to Compliable’s Greg Ponesse about the biggest pain points that slow operators and suppliers down as they’re trying to launch in North America, how reg tech can help, and what to expect from the US market in 2024. Oh, and we also find out what Compliable is excited about as they fly across the pond to attend ICE London!

January is a time to explore fresh challenges, look ahead, and put some lofty goals in place. For Omnigame, 2024 is set to be its biggest year yet. The Danish business not only develops slot titles, it also runs its own online casino, and has cast an eye on global expansion for the first time. Co-CEO, Mia Nyland-Evers, sat down with iGFM to talk about the company’s philosophy towards game development, and why players deserve the very best.

It’s the start of another year and for most slot studios, it’s an opportunity to re-energise their output and drive their brands to fresh heights. None more so than Push Gaming.

It has seen great success with several big titles and armed with its premium content, has plans to expand not only in terms of the strength and diversity of its games but the markets in which players can enjoy them.

The slot supremo’s Director of Studios, George Fil, told iGFM more about where it is going, why and with what.

Gambling advertising remains in the spotlight, with 2024 set to see increased restrictions put in place by regulators across Europe. With inevitable changes on the horizon and the need to deliver increased responsible messaging in a safer manner, we could see operators further embrace advanced advertising solutions to deliver brand visibility more efficiently. 

Square in the Air’s Senior Account Director, Lewis Phillips, caught up with Epom’s Sales Executive, Sergey Shchelkov, to discuss how ad tech solutions can lead to greater sophistication, and ultimately help operators to navigate their way through a changing media landscape.

As a leading aggregator, our friends at Pariplay have been very busy over the past 12 months. In fact, their speed in getting content to market is only matched by the pace at which new deals are signed. North America has been a key region and in the light of the wider NeoGames group’s impending acquisition by industry behemoth Aristocrat, new and existing regulated states will continue to be a major focus in 2024. Square in the Air’s Matt Chambers sat down with Andrew Maclean, VP of Sales at Pariplay, to talk through all things commercial at the start of a new year that carries plenty of promise.

If you've been following the news you'll have seen that our good friends at Relax have today announced they are making their much anticipated US debut as they touch down in New Jersey alongside BetMGM. 

But wait... That's not all! In addition to finally moving into the rapidly growing US market, Relax has also announced that they'll officially be known as RLX Gaming in the States. Square in the Air's very own Stewart Darkin sat down with CEO Simon Hammon to discuss the monumental news and what it means for the company as they begin their pursuit of the American dream.

Things are changing for Simon Westbury, CEO of Sports Generate. Wedding bells are in the air and the move to Armenia has become permanent. With a commercial and revenue-focused background, the leadership skills of a CEO have been a fresh challenge to Simon, as he reveals in this candid chat with our Robin Hutchison. Simon also speaks in depth about business culture and the exciting future for Sports Generate.

Join us for this latest episode from iGFM where Square in the Air’s Lewis Phllips catches up with HungryBear Gaming CEO and Founder Justin Chamberlain. With 1.6 million unique players and 1.3 billion spins in just 12 months, it's clear that players have a huge appetite for HungryBear’s SlotMasters. Justin details how multiplayer slots are transforming the industry, and how SlotMasters is at the forefront of this innovation. Later in the episode we also get to hear about Justin's preparations for the upcoming SBC Boxing Championship.

Who’d have guessed it, Jon Arnold - CEO of Arnold Ash - is also an experienced and accomplished boxer? iGFM gets the low-down from Jon, from setting up a boxing club for Southampton Solent and ending up in the university’s Hall of Fame, to training the brave fighters taking part in November’s SBC Boxing Championship. Jon discusses the heart, skill and dedication needed to be involved in this event, and how the industry is coming together for a fantastic cause, despite being opponents in the ring.

After finding himself working in the industry as a cashier, Robert Mabbett is now changing the betting industry one step at a time with Better Change, harnessing the power of positive play to help make the environment safe for players. SITA’s Director Robin Hutchinson speaks to the Engagement Director about the importance of responsible gambling, the impact on mental wellbeing, and discusses how a personal tragedy drove him to try and make a change. Listen to Robert’s story and discover how Better Change is taking a fresh approach, built on clinical science, to help rebuild lives.

It is time to celebrate five years of BETBY - so who better to catch up with than the supplier’s CEO Leonid Pertsovskiy! Square in the Air’s Account Manager Shaun Frackleton and Leonid discuss all things BETBY, from the team's sheer motivation to set the business up to crucial partnerships for the brand's development. With its new hub in sunny Barcelona, which will be home to BETBY’s research and development activity, Leonid delves into the reasons behind this location, and the creativity it holds for BETBY. All of that in under 20 minutes, aren’t you lucky!

SBC’s Boxing Championship kicks off in just over a month, with another glitzy affair in London’s sparkling Park Lane. Ahead of the big night, we caught up with two of this year’s fighters - in the left corner, Ally McIvor, and, in the right, Anna Mackney. The duo, the first female boxers to take part in the event, discuss their hectic and intense training regime (and how it is very definitely not the same as boxercise), and how they feel about getting punched in the face. Seconds out…  

Ahead of the GamingTECH CEE Summit in Budapest, who better to talk to than founder Zoltán Tűndik. Zoltán shares some valuable industry insight, like the evolution of gaming technology from simple 2D games to the all-new and popular immersive virtual reality experiences. We also hear about the importance of pushing boundaries and the impact mobile gaming has had on industry opportunities! Let’s see what the future holds for gaming technology.

With less than one week until we jet off to sunny Spain for SBC Barcelona, Square in the Air’s Account Manager Sophie Norris caught up with Laura Main, Event Manager at Sportingtech, Kate Artsimenia, Brand Manager at BGaming and Yuriy Muratov, Chief Business Development Officer at 3 Oaks Gaming. The fantastic four chat secrets behind the stands including the important decisions that make them successful AND fun! From the marketing teams' new ad campaigns to incorporating sustainable measures and of course, the bars.

The launch of a new game is always something to look forward to, so when it is the fourth and final release of Relax Gamings Money Train collection, could it get more exciting? SiTA’s New Media Director Stewart Darkin caught up with CEO of Relax Gaming’s Simon Hammon to chat about the new game release, four years since the original. So, September 20th, it is an important date. Keep your eyes and ears open and prepare for what they say to be the best Money Train release yet…

In our latest episode of iGamingFM, Sam Gascoyne sits down with Ian Tibot, Chief Product Officer at Future Anthem, to discuss the future of personalised AI experiences. Ian shares his extensive industry experience, having worked in multiple roles across betting and gaming with multiple roles across betting and gaming. He also sheds light on how Future Anthem is revolutionising the sports betting space with their AI-powered platform that leverages vast amounts of data to personalise the player journey. Tune in to get insights into player behaviours and understand how AI is the future of sports betting.

In this episode of iGFM, Wayne Kimmel and Jason Angelides discuss the potential for artificial intelligence and machine learning to personalise and differentiate product offerings in the gaming industry. They address ethical concerns around responsible gambling and maintaining balance but also emphasise the opportunity for a more engaging and customised experience for users. The conversation also touches on the investment landscape for companies in this space and Epoxy.ai's vision for the future.

EvenBet Gaming CEO Dmitry Starostenkov talks to iGamingFM about the new interactive features launched for its poker platform. The features aim to enhance player engagement and entertainment value, making the online poker landscape more welcoming and community-driven. EvenBet Gaming will showcase these features at SBC Barcelona in September.

With the new NFL season fast approaching, Square in the Air’s Senior Account Director, Lewis Phillips, caught up with OpenBet’s SportCast Trading Manager, John Crowley, to find out how the company is preparing for another busy campaign. 

John delves into the new types of content the sports betting provider is delivering to operators, and why competitive pricing and platform stability are key factors. We also hear all about John’s predictions - and who he hopes will win!

The latest iGamingFM podcast episode sees more NFL content with the new season very fast approaching. Square in the Air’s Nick Tunney is joined by Amelco’s Director of Trading Mark Hill to chat all things American Football, from this coming season to Super Bowl LVIII. Mark discusses the importance of data-driven decision-making in the gaming industry, how Amelco is leading the way and how their platform is helping operators make informed choices and drive growth. Not only that, but Mark also shares his predictions in what promises to be a thrilling campaign.

In this upcoming iGamingFM podcast episode, Robin Hutchison hosts Maureen Beddis, Senior Vice President at the American Gaming Association, and Korbi Carrison, Event Vice President at G2E, RX USA. They discuss why G2E, the gaming industry's annual event in Las Vegas, is enduringly popular, and delve into the latest changes in the US gaming industry five years on from the repeal of PASPA. Listeners can learn about the iGaming Zone and the G2 Networking Lounge, where they can connect with other industry professionals and attend education sessions. The episode concludes with a reminder to register for G2E, which showcases the latest and greatest in the gaming world and is the place to be this Fall.

NFL season is finally upon us, so we hear from Simplebet’s COO Mark Nerenberg to discuss the upcoming season, and Simplebet’s innovative approach to sports betting. Mark tells all with insights into sports betting trends and how to capitalise on them, alongside the role of analytics and data in the sports betting industry. It wouldn’t be a sports podcast episode without some predictions of course, so Mark discusses his season picks and why he is so excited about the fast-approaching event.

With ICE on the move in 2025, we ask Hipther’s Zoltán Tűndik for his hot take, while Our Matt is talking esports with Harri and Jacob at SIS and discussing the Wizard Games USP with new MD Ben McDonagh. In-between, and as the company marks its 10th anniversary, Sam Goodall catches up with Yggdrasil CEO Björn Krantz to talk slot mechanics. You can call it what you like, but we call it episode 36.

We take a deep dive into the world of slot streamers, many of whom have quickly become some of the best established affiliates in the industry with iGamingFM’s jam-packed streamer special. During iGB Live! in Amsterdam, Aidan also chatted to a variety of more traditional affiliates about the event, offering their hot takes from the showfloor. Back in the studio, Aidan caught up with some of Europe’s fastest growing slot streamers, speaking to AzziGambling, BobSlots and Angry Slots before chatting to one of the most famed influencers in the slot streaming world, ChipmonkzSlots.

Fresh from SBC’s Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto, we talk Ontario (and beyond) with Kunal Mishra of Bragg Gaming, Altenar’s Alejandro Cazorla, Swintt CEO David Mann and Georgina Lott, of Mkodo. Back in the UK, Robin Hutchison is picking a path through the affordability-checks minefield, and more, with William Woodhams of Fitzdares and Martin Burt of Clearstake. It’s episode 34.

BGaming’s formative years have featured a global pandemic, political instability in the company’s homeland and war in Ukraine - CEO Marina Ostrovtsova explains how these experiences have shaped the supplier. Pierre Lindh discusses how iGaming NEXT Valletta has cemented its place in the busting igaming events diary. Finally, Rhi Burns of Zimpler talks candidly about the circumstances and realisations that led her to request a voluntary demotion, ultimately stepping down from a C-level post. All aboard. 

Last week’s SBC Summit North America kicked off another hectic period of travel and networking for the industry’s executives, a number of whom spoke to iGFM in New Jersey - notably SportsHandle, Greentube, Chalk + Dog, Bragg Gaming and BettorTakes. Back in the studio, the deeper dives in this episode are with Sportingtech, ParlayBay and Thunderkick, chatting LatAm, bet discovery and company culture, among much, much more.

Industry events mean many different things to those that attend. For organisers, such as Dennis Algreen at SBC, it is a seemingly never-ending challenge to keep the events relevant and engaging. So, we asked Dennis just how he and the growing SBC team do it. For newcomers like box-fresh payments platform Paytently, events are representative of the huge value of networking and targeted business development activity. We speak to the vastly experienced leadership team of Nick Tucker, Sam Barrett and Laurent Reysbosch as Paytently makes its mark.

Light and Wonder’s three regional leads from the US, UK and EU markets, Dana Jackel, Lauren Caruana and Magdalena Podhorska Okolow, quiz one another about their backgrounds, about work-life balance and differing market perspectives, and Lewis Phillips talks to Dr Eyal Loz, CPO at RubyPlay, about his globetrotting experience of the igaming sector and the impressive gains RubyPlay is making. And that time Eyal filmed a TV show with a donkey.

UConn’s peerless run to the Championship, three first-timers in the Final Four, Princeton’s Cinderella run… This year’s NCAA college basketball season and March Madness finale was, once again, hugely entertaining and, at times, unpredictable. We sat down with Mark Hill of Amelco and Simplebet’s Ryan Keur to reflect on a memorable month and to gain an insider view of the betting trends and headlines from March Madness 2023.

Next week, nearly 300,000 racegoers will pour through the gates at Prestbury Park for the #CheltenhamFestival.

As @Cheltenham Racecourse prepares for the showpiece, iGamingFM spoke to @City Bet Club co-founder @David Brown, himself a veteran of the Festival both as a punter and a bookie, about his recollections of Cheltenham's glorious racing history - and a look forward to next week's staging.

David really is a great storyteller. Enjoy.

Simon Westbury, the new CEO of Digitain group company Sport Generate, chats to Robin Hutchison about his Digitain journey and the route to his new role, via Armenia. Ryan Keur of Simplebet explains how the North American operator is evolving to offer players more choice than ever. And Walter Bugno, something of an industry legend and now at the helm of Games Global, talks about the company’s rich heritage and bright future. OH, AND IT’S ICE NEXT WEEK.

In the first episode of 2023, iGamingFM is resisting the industry-wide panic that ICE is UNDER THREE WEEKS AWAY and instead remaining loyal to our cool, calm curation of a wide range of content. From the continuing evolution of poker, with Dimtry Starostenkov of Evenbet, to market and tax (yes, TAX) chat with David Kicks of e-Technologies, as well as Mobinc, who are heading to ICE to build on their first-mover creds in Ontario.

In this bonus episode, we hear from David Brown, director and co-founder of expert tipster service City Bet Club. Via a whistle-stop tour of the betting headlines around previous World Cups, David offers a betting perspective on Qatar 2022 and what the ‘best ever World Cup for bookies’ actually represents for operators.

We also look ahead to the second half of the interrupted Premier League season and the likely impact of the winter World Cup.

Which team will have a big cup run and can Arsenal hold on for the title - or will the Gunners end up fighting it out for 4th place (again)?

In the new episode of iGamingFM, the last of 2022, we speak with Jo Purvis of Blueprint Gaming, to Mkodo’s Will Whitehead and with Joey Hurtado of Wizard Games. There’s also a little bonus racing content from City Bet Club’s David Brown, offering listeners some Christmas tips.

Following a jam-packed autumn schedule, SiGMA, the final event in the conference calendar, is complete and thoughts turn, inevitably, to ICE London. But we’re not done with 2022 just yet, with Thanksgiving and Christmas still to come. And what is more Christmassy than a winter World Cup?

The best gift many of us will receive this year is being able to cosy up with family and scream at the TV as we watch our picks in the company sweepstake fail to register even a shot on target.

Although there’s still hope for a few underdogs as signified by yesterday’s humbling of Argentina, who many have as favourites for the trophy, by the low-ranked Saudi Arabia (we still reckon Argentina will be in the mix at the business end of the tournament.)

The World Cup is the topic of our first chat, with ESA Gaming’s Thomas Smallwood speaking with our very own Sam Goodall, looking at, among other things, how operators can retain the customers it receives during traffic-spiking events such as the World Cup and how they can offer different services to traditional football fans.

Also on the show, Kristoffer Cassell, CEO at onboarding specialist checkin.com chats to Stewart Darkin about the company’s growth and the invaluable support it offers to online betting and gaming operators entering new markets.

Finally, Matt Chambers speaks with Daniel Broda of Checkd Media about the affiliate landscape, notably the US opportunity and the role micro-influencers can play there.

Did your company have a World Cup sweepstake? Who did you get and how do you think they’ll fare?

#WorldCup #Football #ItsComingHome

Everyone loves a freebie, especially here at iGamingFM Towers - and that’s why we’ve produced a very special bonus episode of the pod, straight from the floor at SBC Summit Barcelona. So enjoy hearing Garen Mouradian talk about the challenges (and successes) of Technamin’s first year and Ben Scobie-Trumper talking about the future of AI and outlining the Future Anthem offer. Finally, SBC’s very own Dennis Algreen lifts the lid on what the 2023 Barcelona event will look like. Think BIG. All aboard the Barcelona Special!