Episodes

  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Rob Davies, COO of PowerPlay.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:00 - Rob’s unique background in philosophy and his PhD on religious toleration

    02:15 - Why Rob will always be a Bolton Wanderers fan, no matter what!

    03:00 - The importance of accepting fallibility in business and decision-making

    06:10 - How Rob transitioned from academia to the betting industry through William Hill

    08:40 - Rob and Jason laugh about always being surprised by the “butler” in mystery plots

    10:00 - How Rob’s perspective on the morality of gambling has changed over time

    13:47 - What is “palpable error,” and how PowerPlay handles it transparently

    15:22 - Jason tests Rob’s philosophy background with a counter-case on bet repricing ethics

    20:47 - Why not build PowerPlay on top of an exchange model? Rob shares his insights

    24:20 - Rob’s advice for startups: the importance of customer service and query resolution

    28:10 - The rise of offshore and crypto casinos and their impact on regulated operators

    32:18 - Rob’s reflections on his career and aspirations for the future


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by writer, David Hill to discuss his Rolling Stone feature - "Is the $11 Billion Online Sportsbook Bubble About to Burst?"


    Hear them discuss: 

    00:51 - David's transition from a union organizer to becoming a writer and how it shaped his immersive storytelling approach.

    07:30 - David's upbringing in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a historic gambling hub, and its influence on his interest in gambling.

    09:00 - The morality of gambling, societal parallels with alcohol, and reflections on how gambling's perception has evolved.

    12:15 - The intertwining history of gambling and sports, including how gambling shaped early sports in America.

    15:10 - The industry's current technological challenges, perceived stagnation, and its pricing inefficiencies.

    20:30 - The debate around sports betting’s sustainability, public perception, and parallels with other industries.

    30:20 - The societal costs of gambling addiction and the industry's responsibility in addressing problem gambling.

    37:40 - Broader societal issues, including the impact of social media, and Jason's reflections on the parallels with sports betting.

    41:10 - What’s next for David Hill after this in-depth exploration of the gambling industry.


    Read David's Rolling Stone feature here -  Is the $11 Billion Online Sportsbook Bubble About to Burst?


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Jeff Benson, Director of Operations at Circa Sports.


    Hear them discuss:

    02:10 - How Jeff got started in the sports betting industry

    03:30 - What brought Jeff to Circa Sports and his early impressions of the company

    06:40 - The growth strategy for Circa Sports and its approach to expansion

    08:05 - The unique aspects of Circa’s sportsbook operation model

    10:50 - How Circa approaches customer service and client relations

    12:35 - Circa’s philosophy on offering high betting limits and customer-friendly policies

    15:10 - The challenges of balancing profitability with bettor-friendly practices

    17:50 - Circa’s stance on responsible gambling and its approach to player protections

    21:00 - The impact of sports betting legislation on Circa’s business

    24:15 - Jeff’s perspective on the future of the sports betting industry and exchanges


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by his coach, Liam Forde, Founder and CEO of The Zone.


    Hear them discuss:

    03:00 - How Jason first met Liam and began coaching with him

    05:20 - Liam’s views on when strict coaching models may or may not work

    06:30 - How to motivate employees without anger, and why clarity and responsibility matter

    09:20 - How Jason’s coaching helped him shift from an “angry coach” approach

    11:00 - The concept of “flow” and why rest is crucial to reach a flow state

    12:20 - Why balance between work intensity and mental relaxation improves productivity

    14:40 - Jason’s shift in perspective on health and wellness after working with Liam

    20:10 - How Liam encouraged Jason to prioritize health through gentle accountability

    24:00 - Balancing the demands of being a CEO with family life, and the impact on productivity

    30:10 - Jason’s reflections on how being a CEO impacts his employees and their families

    33:30 - The “superpowers” and challenges different types of CEOs typically face

    36:00 - The ripple effects of a CEO’s energy and attitude on company culture



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Sue Schneider, Co-Founder at Defy the Odds.


    Hear them discuss:


    03:15 - How Sue got started in the betting industry


    07:42 - The early days of online gaming and betting


    12:33 - Challenges Sue faced in building an industry presence


    16:50 - The evolution of regulatory frameworks in online gambling


    21:17 - Key milestones in the global expansion of sports betting


    27:20 - Sue’s role and experiences working at SBC


    29:30 - The role of technology in transforming betting experiences


    30:45 - Co-Founding Defy the Odds and setting its goals


    34:12 - Differences in gambling regulations across regions


    39:45 - Advice for those entering the gaming and betting industry today



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Adam Small, founder of Third Planet Affiliates.


    Hear them discuss:


    02:01 - Adam’s background and entry into the betting industry


    02:40 - Election mania and its impact on business sentiment


    03:24 - The role of affiliates in the betting industry


    04:23 - Industry insights and trends impacting affiliates


    13:44 - Reflecting on the affiliate sector's recent challenges


    14:31 - Examining examples of affiliate revenue "baskets"


    16:22 - Shifts in cost-per-click and SEO strategies


    17:40 - Adam's journey into the affiliate industry


    28:00 - Why Adam chose not to become a betting operator


    29:30 - The appeal and challenges of being an affiliate


    34:08 - The future of growth and potential reckoning in affiliates


    37:00 - What’s next for affiliate marketing in betting



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason answers listener-submitted questions and shares his insights on the latest developments in the industry, including the proposed UK gambling tax, sweepstakes models, and NCAA player prop markets.


    Hear him discuss:


    01:26 - His recent trip to Vegas and G2E conference highlights


    03:30 - Impact of proposed UK gambling tax increase


    08:00 - Sweepstake models and their rise in the United States


    10:45 - Industry optimism from recent G2E and SBC conferences


    16:53 - NCAA’s consideration of banning player prop markets due to social

    media abuse


    22:41 - Why PolyMarket and Kalshi predict Trump as the 2024 election favorite, despite traditional polls showing a close race




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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Stuart Simms, the CEO of FairPlay Sports Media, recorded live at G2E in Las Vegas.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:10 - The strategic shift from OddsChecker to Fairplay Sports Media

    04:10 - Stuart’s personal health journey and diagnosis with cancer

    08:20 - The impact of diet on health and cancer treatment

    12:00 - Key takeaways from G2E and networking insights

    13:30 - The changes in OddsChecker’s business model

    16:40 - Acquisition of Quarter4 and integrating AI for predictive models in sports betting

    19:30 - How AI and real-time data impact tools like Bet Builder

    22:00 - The challenges of balancing transparency for consumers and relationships with bookmakers

    25:40 - The pricing margins in sports betting

    30:10 - Consumer price sensitivity in sports betting

    32:00 - The future of betting exchanges and the role of user experience in adoption

    33:50 - U.S. market opportunities for data-driven tools in sports betting


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Dean Sisun from ProphetX.


    Hear them discuss:


    02:04 - The overview of ProphetX and the sweepstakes model

    04:12 - Postmortem on why ProphetX moved away from the betting exchange model

    08:40 - Challenges with regulatory models in the betting industry

    10:00 - Exploring the novelty factor and customer acquisition

    11:25 - Predictions for the future viability of betting exchanges in the U.S.

    13:32 - Understanding how sweepstakes stacks up to traditional sports betting

    14:00 - Legality of the sweepstakes model

    16:00 - The mechanics of turning sweepstakes into a cash prize

    18:40 - Companies operating in the sweepstakes sports betting market

    25:53 - The challenges of implementing the peer-to-peer model

    26:51 - Managing a remote team, while moving to Miami



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Bill Pascrell, III (BP3) at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:20 Pascrell’s Journey and Industry Insights shared

    02:32 Debating the morality of gambling practices

    04:09 Personal reflections and upcoming ethics debate preview

    11:32 The Intersection of politics and gambling industry

    15:00 Advice on how to engage in political advocacy

    18:04 Challenges in legalizing sports betting across states

    27:24 Discussing state dynamics and tribal sovereignty issues

    29:54 The New Jersey compromise and casino concerns raised

    31:57 The role of tribes in political coalitions building

    32:27 Public perception and media Influence on gambling

    35:22 Political betting and regulatory challenges explained

    42:05 Federal vs. state regulation of gambling industry

    46:08 Election perspective and political divisions discussed


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason returns after a summer break with his first solo "Office hours" episode, where he tackles questions surrounding regulation, prediction markets, bettor limits, the US presidential election, and the latest from within Smarkets.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:00 - Jason’s summer break and family reflections

    02:30 - Differences in French vs. American culture

    05:00 - Kalshi's prediction markets and CFTC regulation

    09:15 - Massachusetts Gaming Commission on limiting bettors

    15:00 - The US presidential election race, and what the Smarkets markets are saying 45 days from the election

    19:30 - Attending conferences like the upcoming SBC Summit and G2E

    23:00 - Smarkets' current projects and updates


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Dustin Gouker, Founder of Closing Line Consulting, and Joe Brennan Jr., Executive Chairman from Prime Sports.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:35 - DraftKings' new winning surcharge announcement

    02:45 - The states affected by the surcharge

    03:20 - The stock market's reaction to the announcement

    04:05 - Comparison of U.S. and international tax rates

    06:30 - The potential impact on DraftKings' profitability

    07:55 - The price sensitivity of American bettors

    09:00 - Historical context of high tax rates in the industry

    10:15 - Implications for competitors like FanDuel and Smarkets

    12:50 - The adjusted EBITDA and financial metrics analysis

    16:00 - Potential impact on VIP customers and betting volume

    18:20 - Product comparison between sportsbooks and exchanges

    20:00 - Broader implications for the sports betting industry

    22:00 - Predictions on if DraftKings will implement the surcharge


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Jamie Hart from Conquer Technology.


    Hear them discuss:


    1:10 - The recent UK elections and environmental concerns

    2:22 - Climate change and the role of government in solving big issues

    4:16 - Jamie's background in horse racing and initial experiences with betting

    7:10 - Early internet betting and its evolution at William Hill

    8:28 - The challenges of manual betting systems and early online betting

    10:05 - The impact of regulatory changes on sports betting innovation

    12:36 - The importance of knowing every aspect of your business operations

    14:43 - Jamie's perspective on technology and customer interaction in betting

    18:00 - Discussing the stagnation in the betting industry due to regulatory pressures

    20:36 - Potential future changes and innovations in the betting industry

    23:18 - The challenges and potential of horse racing in modern betting

    27:00 - The importance of making betting more accessible and enjoyable

    31:10 - Comparing horse racing to Formula One in terms of theater and excitement

    34:34 - The difficulty of selling horse racing due to high costs and outdated practices

    37:20 - Potential strategies for revitalizing horse racing and attracting a younger audience


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Sam Sadi from LiveScore Group.


    Hear them discuss: 


    1:52 - Sam's life after leaving Turkey, and then returning to start a sportsbook in 1998 

    2:36 - Understanding inflation in Turkey and historical economic comparisons

    3:53 - The history of how the LiveScore Group came together

    8:26 - How LiveScore Group is differentiate itself from other UK sportsbooks

    10:11 - Developing an in-house sportsbook platform, and current efforts to migrate to it

    11:35 - Sam's definition of being a world-class sportsbook product

    20:29 - How Sam think about buying versus building core pieces of the technology stack

    26:02 - Sam's take on the state of sports betting in 2024

    28:18 - How Sam views unregulated markets 

    31:08 - Insights on the role of exchanges in the future of sports betting

    35:45 - Regulation, the push for transparency, and consumer empowerment

    42:39 - What Sam wants to be when he grows up


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Joe "Tall" Bunevith from GLI.


    Hear them discuss: 


    01:25 - What GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) does and their global reach.

    02:31 - The presidential debate and the relevance of political debates in modern media.

    03:29 - Joe's take on the impact of political debates and the change in political dynamics over the years.

    10:11 - Poker, Joe's career shift, and his experience in the poker industry.

    13:16 - Joe's journey from Massachusetts to Southern California and launching a poker training company.

    17:41 - Insight into professional poker life, the importance of emotional control, and the rise of poker solvers.

    22:49 - Joe’s role at GLI and the regulatory process for sports betting applications.

    25:36 - The GLI 33 certification process and discusses regulatory challenges.

    31:38 - The difficulties startups face in the current regulatory environment and the impact on innovation.

    34:31 - Joe’s perspective on the lack of new entrants in the sports betting industry and the role of big players.


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Jake Williams.


    Hear them discuss:


    02:00 -Jake’s experience in fatherhood and raising daughters as Jason shares his family dynamics.

    04:15 - Jason's focus on health, exercise, and therapy; benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

    11:15 - Jason’s reasons for not drinking alcohol and its positive impact on his life.

    14:10 - Jake's thoughts on drinking culture and its role in social and professional settings.

    16:55 - The current state of the sports betting industry and significant events.

    20:55 - Analysis of fluctuating GGR numbers and the impact of VIP players.

    23:10 - The regulatory environments and their impact on businesses.

    26:45 - Moral implications of operating in unregulated markets.

    30:50 - Jason's frustrations with the regulatory landscape and compliance challenges.

    32:36 - Summer plans and work-life balance with taking time off to enjoy family vacations and relaxation.



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Scott Sadin from US Integrity.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:00 - The recent conviction of former President Donald Trump, and how that will affect his current candidacy


    05:27 - What it means to have 'integrity' in professional and collegiate sports, and how US Integrity is ensuring it


    08:37 - How insider information can be used for nefarious purposes


    10:32 - The role that sports properties play in ensuring integrity of their events and stakeholders


    13:32 - How US Integrity responds to alerts of anomalies or irregularities


    17:37 - Public perception of betting-related scandals, the role that media plays in it, and conflating 'outrage' with 'surprise'


    23:55 - Scott's perspective and experience as a "picks and shovels" business within the regulated betting industry


    25:54 - The consolidation of B2B companies within the industry, including US Integrity's recent merger with Odds On Compliance


    27:15 - Additional verticals that US Integrity is considering expanding its business into


    30:48 - The business risk associated with being a B2B provider during a time of consolidation and declining customers


    32:27 - How Scott is feeling as an impending first-time parent


    36:50 - What Scott wants to be when he grows up


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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Adam Bjorn from Plannatech.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:11 - Adam's recent travels throughout the US


    03:37 - Adam's past experience in the offshore betting industry, and how it's similar/different to regulated markets 


    06:30 - The difficulty for regulators and prosecutors to enforce action against offshore operators


    11:15 - What made Adam want to push for moving the unregulated to the regulated


    14:03 - The jurisdictions that Adam sees as having the most favorable operating models


    17:16 - Whether Adam sees himself as a professional bettor first or sportsbook operator first


    19:16 - The relationship between Plannatech and Prime Sports


    20:19 - What changes and innovations Adam is trying to bring to the industry 


    23:29 - Adam's take on the role that exchanges play, and what the future of them looks like


    28:14 - Whether the low margin model can work in the regulated US market


    30:33 - What Adam wants to be when he grows up





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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Joe Asher from IGT.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:35 - The background of IGT, Joe's role at the company, and where sports betting fits within the IGT business

    07:12 - Nevada's head start with legal mobile betting, and how its model is different from other states

    10:45 - The dynamic between brick-and-mortar and online operators, and the threat of cannibalization 

    14:36 - The state of horse racing, and whether track owners should benefit from legislative protections 

    18:20 - The role of government subsidies in regulated gaming, and in private industry more broadly 

    20:11 - Morality and ethics for operators of real-money gaming products 

    25:14 - Joe's appointment by President Biden to Chair of the Wilson Center

    31:00 - Remaining non-partisan when debating policy matters

    34:10 - What Joe wants to be when he grows up



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  • On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jason is joined by Joe Dunnigan from ALT Sports Data.


    Hear them discuss:


    01:22 - The genesis of ALT Sports Data, and the problem they set out to solve in the market

    05:25 - Why alternative sports don't historically have a culture of betting despite their popularity 

    07:21 - The target customer persona for betting on alternative sports

    09:12 - How alternative sports are segmented, and which are the most popular ones

    13:15 - Why ALT Sports Data is securing official data rights instead of aggregating data themselves

    16:25 - Why they are building an owned B2C media platform in addition to provisioning odds on a B2B basis

    17:29 - Funding background and team composition of ALT Sports Data

    19:36 - The future of the relationship between data rights holders and sportsbook operators, and the sustainability of the existing model

    23:47 - The appeal of live sports content with younger generations and demographics 

    26:07 - Being an entrepreneur in the later career stage, and the benefits that brings

    29:15 - Focusing on a niche versus being everything to everybody 

    31:08 - What Joe wants to be when he grows up



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