iGaming Real Talk

This episode contains discussion of psychedelics and related substances in the context of personal perspectives and scientific research. The content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice or as an endorsement or encouragement of the use of any controlled substances. Most conversations in iGaming are about products, regulation, or...

Why do so many iGaming games still feel the same? In Episode 61 of iGaming Real Talk, Our host Surya Palli caught up with Dominic Sawyer, CCO of Tequity, to talk about building games that actually stand out. Instead of chasing volume, Tequity is focusing on originals, exclusive branded games, and niche publishing partnerships. Dominic also shares why crypto-inspired products, prediction games, and...

Why do operators lose up to 70% of their players in the first month? In episode 60 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli is with Shahar Attias, CEO of Hybrid Interaction, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in iGaming: retention. The conversation goes beyond CRM tools. Shahar explains why operators and affiliates often blame each other, how that hurts both sides, and what needs to cha...

Prediction markets are everywhere right now. But are they same as iGaming or something entirely different? In this episode 59 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli meet with David Carruthers, Principal & CEO of David Carruthers Consulting Limited, to talk about leadership, regulation, prediction markets, gray markets, and why the industry needs to do a better job of speaking for itself. D...

Brazil's iGaming affiliate market looks very different today than it did a year ago. In episode 58 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli speaks with Manuel Matos, CEO of Super Affiliados, about what has changed since regulation and what affiliates need to do differently now. They talk about why some marketing methods no longer work, how streamers and tipsters are changing the way they create conte...

Is this really the first ever license for Prediction Markets? Are prediction markets the next big shift in iGaming? In episode 57 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli had a talk with Shahar Mor, Exclusive Global Representatives of the Liberia Online Gaming and Casino Commission, to discuss one of the industry's fastest-growing and most debated topics i.e. PREDICTION MARKETS. We discuss the legal...

What does it take to reposition one of the biggest B2B brands in iGaming? In episode 56 of iGaming Real Talk, at iGB London, our host Surya Palli sits down with Miranda Guliashvili, Head of Regional Growth at SOFTSWISS, to discuss why the company decided it was the right time to introduce its positioning beyond being just a technology provider. Operators are looking for more than software products...

Why did SiGMA choose Sri Lanka over Thailand? Why does the company consistently expand into emerging markets before everyone else? And where does Eman Pulis believe the next wave of growth in iGaming is coming from? Recorded live at SiGMA Asia Manila, episode 55 of iGaming Real Talk featured host Surya Palli with Eman Pulis, Founder of SiGMA Group, for a conversation about regulation, market timin...

AI is everywhere. But how much of it is actually happening inside iGaming companies? In episode 54 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli sits down with Viktoriia Grygorenko, CEO of The Playa, to unpack one of the industry's first large-scale research reports on AI adoption in iGaming. Based on responses from more than 80 industry professionals, the conversation looks through the hype and focuses o...

Most operators think throwing more budgets will solve growth. Would it though? In episode 53 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli sits down with Franz Gerhart, CEO of Vyking, to understand one of the biggest problems in affiliate marketing today which includes operators chasing volume while ignoring the fundamentals. It could be broken registration funnels or payment friction or why operators are los...

At SiGMA Asia Manila, in episode 52 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli sits down with Artsemi Karpovich, Head of Sales at Citron, to explore one of the most interesting innovations in crypto iGaming. Citron Analytics is building a blockchain intelligence platform that helps crypto casinos understand player behaviour using publicly available blockchain data. We are enjoying the conversation...

Does affiliate shaving actually happen? In episode 51 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli talks about one of the industry's most controversial topics, and in this conversation, Gor Chatyan, Head of Managed Services & Marketing at PartnerMatrix, doesn't dodge the question. From affiliate fraud and operator mistakes to market localization and the future of affiliate management, this episod...

Has iGaming become too safe? From predictable marketing campaigns to a lack of real innovation in game development, many companies are following the same playbook. But is that holding the industry back? In episode 50 of iGaming Real Talk, host Surya Palli sits down with Dorota, Head of Marketing at Booming Games, to discuss what the industry is getting wrong and where the biggest opportunities lie...

90% of Traffic Comes From THIS... | The Future of Online Gaming ExplainedIs online gaming still growing? Why do markets hit a plateau? And how can operators continue scaling in 2026 and beyond? In episode 49 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli sits down with Dmitry Starostenkov, to deep dive into the business of online gaming, affiliate marketing, player acquisition, and the future of the i...

We love how Simon never misses a chance to thank all the challenges he faced that led to his growth! This was an exquisite episode with Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor at 1xBet. Rather than avoiding difficult topics, Simon shares his perspective on industry criticism, reputation, authenticity, and why not everything is as black and white as it appears from the outside. In episode 48 of iGaming R...

“Yes, there is still an imbalance in pay & opportunity for women in iGaming.” When asked whether women still face unequal opportunities in iGaming, Caroline Björkman, Head of Sales at Cubeia, didn't hesitate. But her perspective goes beyond pay gaps and representation. In episode 47 of iGaming Real Talk, host Surya Palli gladly sits down with Caroline Björkman to discuss her journey into i...

In this powerful interview from BiS SiGMA South America, Roberto Gallo, Founder and CEO of Centurion FC, shares the inspiring story behind one of Brazil’s fastest-rising MMA promotions. From his early connection with the Gracie family to building a global brand, Gallo opens up about:- The real reason MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world- How Centurion FC transforms fighters’ lives and cre...

In this exclusive interview from BiS SiGMA South America, Ramiro Atucha, Founder of Atucha Advisory and former CEO of Vibra Gaming and Leander Games, shares his expert analysis on the current state of the Brazilian iGaming market. With more than 20 years of hands-on experience across Latin America, Ramiro discusses how regulation has affected operator interest, the key challenges with licensing an...

In episode 44 of iGaming Real Talk, Benjamin Truman, Founder of AbsoluteBet, shares interesting insights from building a fully regulated gaming operator in North America. From company setup in 3 days to securing licenses in just 2 months, Ben breaks down: Why building everything in-house (instead of white label) was the only option in regulated markets The brutal reality of North American licensin...

In this episode of iGaming Real Talk, Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief International Relations Officer at SiGMA, breaks down the current state of iGaming regulation in Brazil and Latin America from Sigma Sao Paulo. Key topics discussed:• SiGMA’s journey from a Malta idea to one of the world’s biggest iGaming expos• SiGMA’s international relations work at government and policy level• Why Brazil’s online...

In this exclusive interview from BiS SiGMA South America 2026 in São Paulo, Miranda Guliashvili (Head of Regional Growth at SOFTSWISS) reveals how the company achieved outstanding results in Brazil after regulation. Miranda shares that SOFTSWISS recorded 65% growth in total bets and 64% growth in GGR in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025. This is strong proof that a regulated market can still deliver exc...

In this episode of iGaming Real Talk, recorded live at AIBC Eurasia in Dubai, I sat down with Khrish Kewalramani, Co-Founder & Director of Spade Clipping. We unpacked their powerful organic short-form distribution model that is changing how operators get massive awareness. Khrish shared how they work with over 30,000 faceless creators (Clippers) across TikTok, Instagram, and more. These pages...

Regulation is becoming one of the biggest costs in running an iGaming business and it is only getting stricter. In this episode recorded live at AIBC Eurasia in Dubai, our host Surya Palli sat down with Ivan Nevzorov, CEO of SBSB Fintech Lawyers, for an honest conversation about where iGaming regulation is heading and what operators need to do about it. We covered:- Why gray operators are still ru...

In this episode of iGaming Real Talk, Dominic (VP of Growth at Tequity) breaks down how strong backend infrastructure, seamless execution, and deep customisation are driving the success of originals in the iGaming industry. Key topics discussed:• How Tequity scaled originals to 350+ operator brands• The critical role of RGS in delivering stable, high-performance games• Why cosmetic changes aren’t...

This is an interview series recorded live at AIBC Eurasia Event. In this episode, our host Surya Palli sits down with Keith Zammit CEO of Elevate AI. We discuss how gaming companies are treating AI today the shift from two years ago to now innovation as a service forward deployed teams AI regulation and practical ways operators can prepare. Keith also shares why AI will not take jobs but make ever...