NEXT.io Podcast

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #267 with Martin Martirosyan, CEO of Imagine Live Group & Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer Imagine Live has grown from 7 tables in 2022 to over 150 today — with studios in Armenia, Romania and Spain. But the bigger story is what's coming next. In this episode, Martin and Nadiya break down the AI dealer debate, the operator dependency trap, and why quality is the o...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #26 6 with Way Yuhl, Entrepreneur, Investor and Geopolitical Analyst Are we really living in unprecedented times or have we just forgotten our history? In this episode, Pierre sits down with Way Yuhl, entrepreneur, investor and geopolitical analyst, for one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversations we've had on the NEXT.io Podcast. Way brings a 100-year hi...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #265 with Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution. Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, sits down for an unfiltered conversation covering everything the industry is talking about — lawsuits against Light & Wonder and Playtech, why he thinks AI deepfake live dealers are "dead on arrival," and what Evolution's monster 2026 game roadmap...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #26 5 with Alexander Kane, CEO and Founder of Sporttrade In 2017 - a full year before the US Supreme Court even legalized sports betting - Alex Kane was already building something nobody asked for: a sports exchange. Now, prediction markets are valued higher than Flutter, the world's biggest gambling company. So was Alex just early, or did he see something everyone else miss...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #263 with Kevin Mullally, CEO, International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) In this episode, Pierre sits down with Kevin to break down the current state of the UAE's iGaming market, the global battle against the black market, the fracture inside the American Gaming Association, and why prediction markets may be gambling's next regulatory crisis. Kevin Mullally b...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #262 with Savvas Fellas CEO and Founder of MrQ. UK Tax Shock, Black Market Risk & The Future of Operators In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast , Savvas Fellas, CEO of MrQ , breaks down the real impact of the UK’s upcoming gambling tax changes and what they mean for operators, players, and the wider industry. With tax increases expected to reach up to 40% of revenue , this...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #261 with Jesse Learmonth from The Betting Startups. In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Jesse Learmonth joins us to discuss the current state of the iGaming startup ecosystem, what investors are actually looking for today, and why building new companies in gaming has become significantly harder. As the founder of Betting Startups, Jesse works closely with early-stage compan...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #260 with Congresswoman Dina Titus | US Gaming Policy, Prediction Markets & The Fair Bets Act In this episode, Congresswoman Dina Titus — Representative for Nevada’s 1st District (home to Las Vegas) — discusses the growing regulatory battle around prediction markets and sports event contracts in the United States. As co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus, Titus recentl...

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #259 with Wojciech Stellmach, CEO of BugsyEmpire. In this episode, Wojciech Stellmach CEO of BugsyEmpiere, explains what’s actually working right now across emerging verticals: from sweepstakes (sweeps 2.0) to prediction markets and why “easy money” is a myth. We unpack the shift from talking about grey markets to “grey products”, why payments + marketing access can create real...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #257 with Sargis Poghosyan, CPO at CreedRoomz In this episode, Sargis Poghosyan, CPO at CreedRoomz, joins Pierre Lindh to unpack how one of the industry’s most ambitious live studios is pushing innovation through show games, in-house R&D, and flagship productions like Road to El Dorado. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Meet Sargis Poghosyan from CreedRoomz 00:22 - Sponsors 01:41...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #257 with James Curwen, CEO of Yggdrasil. The slot industry is producing more games than ever yet standing out has never been harder. In this episode, James Curwen joins Pierre Lindh to explain why the era of reskinned slots is coming to an end and what will replace it. From rising production costs and algorithm-driven distribution to player fatigue and creative stagnation, James...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #256 with Phil Pearson, iGaming Consultant. Another year. Another cycle of hype, pressure, pivots, and hard lessons. In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Phil Pearson joins Pierre Lindh to unpack what really happened across iGaming in the past 12 months beyond the headlines. Together, they explore the widening gap between innovation headlines and real progress, the pressure le...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #255 with Valentina Diaco, Founder at Profit Matches. AI has officially moved beyond hype. In 2025, it’s reshaping iGaming in real, tangible ways — from CRM and engagement to compliance, marketing, content creation, safe gambling, and game development. In this episode, Valentina Diaco , one of the industry's most respected marketing and AI strategists, breaks down 10 AI compa...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #254 with Emilie Jirsch, CMO at Dabble. Dabble has become one of the fastest-growing betting brands on the planet — not by outspending competitors, but by out-innovating them with community, culture, and entertainment-first marketing. In this episode, Emilie Jirsch , CMO at Dabble , reveals how the purple brand went from a small NSW startup to 1 million+ active customers , explos...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #253 with Tom Wood, CEO of RAW iGamingRAW iGaming calls itself “the pink shark in a sea of sameness.” In this episode, CEO Tom Wood joins Pierre Lindh to break down the realities of innovating in an industry releasing 18 new slot games per day and why true originality is harder (and riskier) than it looks. If you want to understand the future of game development in iGaming, this...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #252 with Tim Heath, CEO and Founder at Yolo Group. Yolo Group has made one of the boldest moves in iGaming history — exiting grey markets entirely to pursue a regulated future. In this episode, Tim Heath joins Pierre Lindh to reveal the inside story behind Yolo’s transformation: why the company walked away from massive revenue, what the new UAE gaming license means, and how Yolo...

NEXT.io News Editor Conor Mulheir is joined by Head of Investigative Content Zak Thomas-Akoo and Regulus Partners’ Paul Leyland, for a blow-by-blow account of how public markets and the wider iGaming industry reacted to the explosive news that Playtech was behind an attempted takedown of Evolution. On 21 October, it was finally revealed that the entity behind a short seller report, produced by inv...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #251 with Leah Natuel, Head of Studio at Relax Gaming Leah Neutel leads one of iGaming’s most creative teams at Relax Gaming, where innovation, empathy, and accountability come together to push the boundaries of modern game development. In this episode, Leah joins Pierre Lindh to explore what true leadership looks like in creative industries — from building trust and psychologica...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #250 with Vid Daolio, CEO at Tokacity Tokacity is reimagining online casinos by creating immersive, social gaming environments that merge gambling with modern gaming culture and younger generation of players. Using Unreal Engine and Pixel Streaming technology , they provide a seamless, no-download virtual world accessible across devices. Their mission is to engage digital natives...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #249 with Jake Dovey, CEO and Founder of PayModum What’s the cost of not accepting something or the cost of not doing it right? From unpacking the true cost of “cheap” payment methods to exploring PIX in Brazil, open banking in Europe, and the rise of biometric KYC, Jake explains why the path of least resistance always wins. Jake Dovey is raising money for Chordoma UK, join us in...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #2 46 with Ryan Angerami, Head of App Development at Reddit Ryan Angerami, Reddit's Senior Director of App Development, discusses the evolution and future of Reddit. The episode highlights Reddit's commitment to authenticity and community trust as key differentiators in a landscape increasingly dominated by algorithm-driven content and the challenges and opportunities thi...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #248 with Evert Einroos, Managing Director of Yolo Investments. Evert joins us to break down how Yolo Investments scaled from a scrappy operator-led VC to a professional fund with external LPs and over 150 portfolio companies. He explains why warm intros still matter, how to structure a successful fund, and why passion-led founders shine in gaming. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #24 7 with Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO. Magnus, shares how Play N'Go is shaping the future of iGaming through regulation, innovation, and responsible entertainment. From navigating U.S. expansion and entering the land-based casino sector, to rethinking business models and partnering with Formula 1’s Haas team. Magnus explains why sustainability and re...

This episode of Vested Interest delves into the burgeoning prediction markets space, examining its intersection with finance, gambling, and information economics, and how traditional real money gaming operators are entering this arena. Pierre, Benjie and Lloyd analyze the potential for prediction markets to reshape betting and decision-making, while also considering regulatory challenges and the c...

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #2 45 with Brian Christopher Slots, Casino Gaming Content Creator and Founder & CEO at VC Venture. Brian Christopher, a prominent gambling streamer, discusses his journey from uploading casual casino videos to building a multifaceted brand with a strong community focus. He emphasizes authenticity, transparency, and responsible gambling as key elements of his success and futur...