iGaming Real Talk

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  Could Regulation Be the Better Path for Asia’s Online Gaming Markets? | Paul Fox, Claymore Solutions 16.09.2026 13dk

  The Philippines has become one of the most important regulated online gaming markets in Asia, and Paul Fox believes other countries in the region can learn from how the market has developed.Paul, Founder of Claymore Solutions, speaks with Surya about why the Philippines has become a natural base for gaming operations and back-office teams, particularly for larger and publicly listed companies that need to operate carefully around regulation.The conversation also looks at where online gaming in Asia could go next. Paul describes the Philippines as a regional trailblazer, pointing to the growth of licensed online gaming alongside the country's established land-based casino market.For markets such as Thailand, he believes the Philippines offers a more relevant comparison than Europe or the United States because of the similarities within the region. Malaysia and Indonesia may face more complicated paths because of religious and cultural factors.Paul's wider argument is that gambling demand already exists across Asia, whether it is legal or not. His preference is for clear legislation that allows governments to regulate the activity properly, create safer operating conditions and collect tax revenue.
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  Why iGaming Companies Struggle to Enter Asian Markets | Pierre Wuu 15.09.2026 11dk

  Asia's iGaming market has changed significantly over the years, but entering the region is not as simple as treating Asia as one market.In Episode 83 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at SiGMA Asia in Manila, our host Surya Palli sits down with Pierre Wuu, Board Advisor at SiGMA Group, to discuss the development of the Philippine market, regulatory stability and what international companies need to consider before entering Asia.Pierre explains why stability from regulators is important for companies investing in the region, and why the Philippines has been able to build a stronger regulated online market than many other countries in Southeast Asia.The conversation also looks at Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and the UAE, including why some markets have struggled to put clear regulatory frameworks in place and what Thailand needs to do before it can fully develop its gaming opportunity.Pierre also talks about why international operators need to get closer to the markets they want to enter. For him, having people on the ground and understanding local marketing, payments and compliance is essential.The discussion ends with a simple point: Asia is not one market. Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries all have their own rules, habits and opportunities.
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  Can Casinos Bring the Online Experience Back to the Floor? | Joe Pasiono, Jade Entertainment 10.09.2026 13dk

  The Philippines has one of Asia's most developed gaming markets, but Joe from Jade Entertainment believes licensed operators are still competing for only a fraction of the total opportunity.Speaking with Surya at SiGMA Asia, Joe looks back at a career in gaming that started in 1988 and covers the market's move from land-based casinos into sports betting, remote gaming and today's growing online sector. His view is that online gaming has now surpassed land-based gaming, creating a new challenge for traditional casinos: how to bring the online and physical experience together.A major part of the conversation is channelisation. Joe says legal gaming in the Philippines represents only 22% of revenue, with the rest going elsewhere. For him, licensed operators should not see each other as the main competition. The bigger challenge is moving players away from illegal and grey-market alternatives.The discussion then widens to Asia and other emerging markets. Joe sees further potential in Sri Lanka, East Africa, Vietnam and Malaysia, while remaining much more cautious about markets such as Thailand. He also argues that governments should consider regulation not only as a source of tax revenue, but as a way to introduce player protection, responsible gambling and KYC.Surya and Joe also discuss crypto casinos, tax structures and the importance of making regulated products competitive. Joe's wider point throughout the conversation is consistent: demand for gaming does not disappear because legal options are removed. If regulated gaming is not available, illegal alternatives will continue to exist.
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  Why Is Trust Breaking Down Between Affiliates and Operators? | John Wright, Nousviz 09.09.2026 18dk

  Trust between affiliates and operators is becoming harder to maintain, and John Wright believes better access to data could force both sides to become more accountable.John, Co-founder of Nousviz, returns to iGaming Real Talk to speak with Surya about affiliate shaving, aggressive commercial deals, traffic quality and why the problem is not always one-sided. He argues that operators can lack transparency, but affiliates can also take advantage of operators through deals or placements that do not deliver what was promised.A large part of the conversation looks at whether industry-wide benchmarking could help. John explains how anonymised affiliate data could be used to show conversion rates, player value and operator performance more clearly. His view is that once affiliates can compare where their traffic actually performs best, operators will have more pressure to fix weak CRM, VIP programmes, payments and other parts of the player experience.They also discuss the technology behind affiliate management. John talks about fragmented APIs, the StatsDrone Affiliate Software Report, the number of affiliate platforms in the market and why standardised data is still missing. Nousviz is being built around bringing information from different systems into one place rather than trying to replace every individual tool.The final part turns to AI agents. John sees 2026 as the year agents become more important, particularly for companies that want better data, customer support and analysis without building large BI or engineering teams. But AI also creates a new problem for SaaS companies: if software becomes easier to build, every product needs a clearer moat and stronger reason for customers to stay.
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  Are CPA and RevShare Models Starting to Change? | Paul Puolakka 07.09.2026 6dk

  Affiliates can spend time and money bringing in players, but what happens after that traffic reaches the operator?Surya speaks with iGaming Marketing Executive Paul Puolakka about the changing affiliate and operator relationship, especially as traffic becomes more expensive and player retention becomes harder.Paul explains that affiliates currently have limited control once they deliver the click. If the operator fails to retain the player, the value of that traffic is also lost for the affiliate. He believes this could lead to closer cooperation around CRM, retargeting, reactivation and the wider player lifecycle.The conversation also looks at the future of CPA, RevShare and hybrid deals, along with how affiliation may move beyond traditional SEO. Paul expects affiliates to work more like media businesses across different channels, while AI becomes part of areas such as testing, tracking and retargeting.
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  Is Overregulation in Sports Betting Giving the Black Market an Advantage? | Eric Su, DigiPlus 03.09.2026 11dk

  Sports betting in the Philippines is growing, but Eric Su believes the next phase cannot simply be about chasing faster revenue.In Episode 79, Joining Surya on iGaming Real Talk, the former Head of ArenaPlus at DigiPlus explains why the market needs to move towards more sustainable growth, stronger compliance and responsible gambling without making the regulated product so restrictive that players move elsewhere.Eric argues that banning or heavily restricting betting does not remove demand. Black market operators are already present, and overregulation can give them a stronger position if legal operators become less attractive or harder to access.The conversation also looks at the large gap between sports fans and sports bettors in the Philippines. Eric explains why education and better fan engagement matter, and how ArenaPlus used its NBA partnership to connect betting content with the way people already follow basketball.Surya and Eric also discuss prediction markets, micro betting and the future of sportsbooks. Eric does not expect prediction markets to replace traditional sportsbooks, but believes different products could increasingly overlap as technology and player behaviour continue to change.
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  Is Cheap CPA Costing Operators Better Players? | Prash Patel 02.09.2026 12dk

  In Episode 78 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with Prash Patel, Founder of DMR Strategic, about how the relationship between operators and affiliates needs to change as acquiring players becomes harder and more expensive.Prash has experience on both sides of the relationship. He previously built and sold an affiliate business and has also worked on the operator side. One of the biggest mistakes he sees is operators treating every affiliate and traffic source in the same way. SEO, PPC, social, streamers and communities all work differently, with their own costs, audiences and business models.The conversation also questions the industry's focus on cheap CPA. Prash argues that acquiring a player for less money does not automatically make that player more valuable. An affiliate that looks expensive initially may deliver players who generate far more value over the following months. For him, operators need to decide whether they are building around short-term acquisition costs or longer-term player value.Another major topic is communication. Prash says affiliates are often treated simply as traffic sources, with little personalization or understanding of how their businesses work. He believes stronger operator and affiliate relationships will become increasingly important as quality traffic gets harder to find.The episode then moves into AI and what it means for affiliates. Prash believes AI has made it much easier to launch websites and produce content, but that also makes it harder to stand out. His view is that trust, brand, personality and community will become more important, while the strongest affiliates will use AI for localization, personalization and translation rather than simply generating more content.
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  Are Crypto Casinos Chasing Volume Over Quality? | David Khutsishvili, FortuneJack 01.09.2026 9dk

  In Episode 77 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with David Khutsishvili, CMO at FortuneJack, about why chasing bigger acquisition numbers does not always create a stronger casino business.FortuneJack has been operating since 2014 in a crypto casino market where new brands continue to appear. David says trust has been one of the main reasons the company has been able to keep players over time. The team focuses on player relationships, VIP management, loyalty programmes and creating an experience that encourages customers to stay rather than simply acquiring more users.The conversation also looks closely at streamers and affiliate traffic. David explains why views and screenshots cannot always be taken at face value. Fake views, bots and recycled promotional funds make verification important. FortuneJack uses a dedicated streamer management team, research tools and manual checks before deciding whether a partnership makes sense.For David, audience size is also not enough. A successful streamer still needs to fit the positioning of the brand. FortuneJack prefers longer-term streamer partnerships and looks at the audience, market and promotional approach before building a deal.The episode closes with the future of affiliate relationships. David does not believe CPA and RevShare will disappear, but he thinks the relationship between operators and affiliates needs to move beyond individual transactions. His view is that operators should understand the a
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  Can New Live Casino Suppliers Disrupt the Market? | Nadiya Attard | ImagineLive 31.08.2026 12dk

  In Episode 76 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with Nadiya Attard, CCO at ImagineLive, about whether newer live casino suppliers can challenge the companies that have dominated the vertical for years.Nadiya sees a clear difference between live casino and the RNG space. Slots have become crowded with thousands of suppliers, while live casino is still led by a relatively small number of major companies. For her, that leaves room for newer suppliers that can offer strong product quality, modern technology, competitive commercials and faster delivery.A big part of the conversation is about flexibility. Nadiya explains why listening to operators becomes even more important as a supplier grows. When larger companies become slower or less willing to adapt, startups and newer operators may begin looking for providers that can respond faster and work around their needs.The episode also looks at localization and emerging markets. Nadiya highlights LATAM, Africa and Asia, explaining why local language and player behaviour need to be considered when building a live casino product. ImagineLive recruits local dealers in certain markets as part of that localisation strategy.Surya and Nadiya also discuss AI dealers and whether replacing human dealers could remove one of the main reasons people choose live casino. Nadiya explains how AI can instead work behind the scenes to monitor dealer behaviour and improve engagement. The conversation ends with ImagineLive's plans to bring new game formats and concepts to younger generations of live casino players.
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  Are Celebrity IP Games the Next Big Thing? | Celebrity Games, Player Engagement & The Next Generation of iGaming | Simone Bacchin, Kerma Games 27.08.2026 7dk

  In episode 75 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli was with Simone Bacchin, Head of Sales at Kerma Games.We discuss what makes a game stand out in an increasingly competitive iGaming market, why player experience matters more than releasing large volumes of titles, and whether celebrity IP games could be the next big thing.Simone explains why Kerma Games approaches game development more like entertainment, and why using a celebrity in a game needs to go beyond simply putting their face on the product.What the industry is facing:- Game studios competing in an increasingly crowded market- Players expecting more from the overall gaming experience- Celebrity IP becoming a new way for games to differentiate- Simply putting a celebrity's face on a game not being enough- A new generation of players changing expectations- Operators and studios looking for new ways to build player engagementWhat this conversation explores:- Why Kerma Games focuses on quality over quantity- How celebrity personality can become part of the game experience- How Snoop Dogg's personality is built into the Snoop Dogg Blackjack experience- Why celebrity communities can give games an existing audience and level of trust- Kerma Games' work with artists including Lil Baby- Why differentiation is becoming increasingly important in iGaming- How changing player generations could influence the next decade of the industry- What's next for Kerma Games and its celebrity game roadmap-------Brought to you by:Evoverse - https://evo-verse.com/ Wicked Games - https://www.wicked.games/ --------Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: [email protected] out igamingrealtalk.com--------Chapters00:00 - What Makes Kerma Games Different?01:02 - What Are Celebrity IP Games?02:25 - How Snoop Dogg Becomes Part of the Game03:56 - Kerma Games' Celebrity Lineup04:39 - Why Differentiation Matters05:03 - The Next Generation of Players05:30 - What's Next for Kerma Games?05:45 - Closing Thoughts
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  SiGMA Poker Tour | Women in Poker, Live Events & Emerging iGaming Markets | Ivonne Montealegre 26.08.2026 28dk

  In episode 74 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya sits down with Ivonne Montealegre from SiGMA Poker Tour to discuss poker, business, failure, women in poker and the growth of live poker across emerging markets.Ivonne shares how she went from psychology and radio in Los Angeles to iGaming and eventually building a career around poker. She explains what poker has taught her about failure, risk-taking and business, and why the lessons from the table can apply far beyond the game.What the industry is facing:Live poker going through a new wave of growth after the pandemicWomen still needing more confidence and opportunities to enter pokerEmerging poker markets facing regulatory and jurisdiction challengesOnline poker needing to keep players entertained and socially engagedOperators looking for stronger ways to connect with players and communitiesA new generation of players changing how poker is experiencedWhat this conversation explores:Why poker teaches people how to deal with failure and take risksThe growth of the SiGMA Poker Tour across Brazil, Malta and ManilaWhy Africa could become an important emerging market for live pokerHow poker events bring players, affiliates, operators and influencers togetherWhat to expect from the SiGMA Poker Tour in Sri LankaThe future of online poker, streaming and AIIvonne's vision for the future of the SiGMA Poker TourBrought to you by:Thunderspin--------Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: [email protected] out igamingrealtalk.com--------Chapters00:00 - What Can Poker Teach You About Failure?01:10 - Meet Ivonne Montealegre02:26 - From Psychology & Radio to iGaming06:08 - What Poker Teaches Us About Failure07:38 - How Poker Empowers Women08:29 - The Growth of the SiGMA Poker Tour15:00 - Where Is Poker Growing Next?20:07 - AI & the Future of Online Poker23:05 - Ivonne's Vision for the SPT25:18 - Ivonne's Message to the iGaming CommunityEpisode of iGaming Real Talk with Ivonne Montealegre from SiGMA Poker Tour.
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  What Makes a Brand Unforgettable? | Marketing, Campaigns & Strategy | Irina Veselkova, Endorphina 24.08.2026 8dk

  In episode 73 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at iGB Live London, our host Surya Palli was with Irina Veselkova, Head of Marketing at Endorphina, to discuss creative B2B marketing, event campaigns, LinkedIn engagement and what actually makes people remember a brand.Irina explains the thinking behind Endorphina Kingdom, why interactive experiences can make a campaign more memorable, and how Endorphina adapts its marketing approach to different markets.What the industry is facing:Brands competing for attention at crowded iGaming eventsB2B marketing becoming harder to stand out withDifferent markets responding to different creative conceptsbLinkedIn's changing algorithm making performance harder to predictB2B audiences engaging more with people and personal contentBrands needing to test different formats to understand what worksWhat this conversation explores:Why Endorphina Kingdom is built around interaction rather than just brandingHow Endorphina adapted its campaign for the LATAM marketWhy a strong creative idea can be more memorable than a big exhibition standWhy people and faces matter in B2B contentHow LinkedIn engagement is influenced by relationships and communitiesWhy marketers need to keep testing different content formatsWhat's next for Endorphina's events and marketing plansWhat the company has planned for the rest of 2026-------Brought to you by:St8: https://st8.io/Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/--------Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: [email protected] out igamingrealtalk.com--------Chapters00:00 - What Makes People Remember a Brand?01:18 - Meeting Irina at the Endorphina Stand01:32 - What Is Endorphina Kingdom?03:50 - Adapting Campaigns for Different Markets05:12 - What's Happening With B2B Marketing on LinkedIn?05:30 - LinkedIn's Changing Algorithm06:21 - Why Content With People Works06:38 - Do People Engage With the Content or the Person?07:27 - Endorphina's Plans for 2026
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  Self-Exclusion Isn’t Enough: The Future of Player Safety | Alec Gehlot, PlaySignal 20.08.2026 8dk

  In Episode 72 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at iGB Live in London, our host Surya Palli was with Alec Gehlot, Founder & CEO of PlaySignal, to discuss the problems around self-exclusion, responsible gaming and what operators can do before players reach the point of self-exclusion.Alec explains why self-exclusion may not be the safety net the industry thinks it is, why players can fall through the gap, and how operators can identify behavioural changes earlier.What the industry is facing:Self-exclusion numbers are rising rapidlyPlayers can fall through the gap before reaching self-exclusionOperators often have limited tools around the journey towards self-exclusionPlayers who self-exclude can become targets for the black marketResponsible gaming interventions can feel like a short-term revenue riskOperators need to focus more on sustainable players and lifetime valueWhat this conversation explores:How PlaySignal identifies behavioural signals before self-exclusionWhy responsible gaming interventions should be protective, not punishingHow early intervention can support long-term player valueWhy regulated operators need to think differently from the black marketWhy building trust with players could become a competitive advantage for regulated operatorsWhat the future of responsible gaming could look likeBrought to you by:St8: https://st8.io/Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/
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  Fake Streamers, Bad Traffic & iGaming Marketing | Part 2 | Levon Nikoghosyan, AffPapa 17.08.2026 36dk

  In Episode 71 of The Real Roadshow and In Part 2 of our conversation with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO of AffPapa, we get into the problems behind affiliate marketing, fake streamer numbers, creative campaigns, team building and what it actually takes to scale an iGaming business.Levon explains why relying on one marketing channel is risky, why operators need to verify streamer traffic before spending money, and why traditional B2B marketing is becoming harder to stand out with.What the industry is facing:Fake streamer numbers and inflated trafficOperators relying too heavily on one marketing channelAffiliate fraud and unverified trafficB2B gaming marketing becoming repetitiveCompanies playing too safe with creative campaignsTeams scaling faster than their internal systems and remote teams struggling without clear KPIsWhat this conversation explores:Why operators need a multi-channel marketing strategyHow AffPapa is verifying streamers and their trafficWhy iGaming brands need to experiment with marketingHow AffPapa deals with affiliate and operator complaintsWhy responsibility and curiosity matter when building teamsHow clear KPIs make remote work possibleWhy success is a process, not a final numberWhat keeps Levon building AffPapa for the long termEpisode 71 of iGaming Real Talk. NOW LIVE on YouTube.Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/--------Hosted by Surya Palli Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/ For podcast sponsorship and collabs: [email protected] out igamingrealtalk.com  --------Chapters00:00 – Fake Streamers & Inflated Numbers01:26 – Why One Marketing Channel Isn't Enough03:03 – How AffPapa Handles Streamers05:18 – The Philosophy Behind AffPapa's Marketing06:18 – Why Traditional B2B Marketing Isn't Working07:25 – Learning From Other Industries08:18 – When Marketing Trends Become Mainstream09:32 – Why iGaming Marketing Is Still Old-School11:36 – Why Brands Need to Experiment12:29 – Building AffPapa From the Ground Up13:39 – Fighting Affiliate Fraud & Bad Traffic15:23 – Building a 40+ Person Team17:23 – What Makes a Good Leader?20:00 – Building Teams in Armenia21:13 – Remote Work vs Office Culture22:00 – Why KPIs Matter23:31 – The Problem With Scaling Too Fast24:08 – What Does Success Mean?25:56 – Is There a Number That Means "Enough"?27:22 – Why Small Wins Keep Us Going28:16 – What Keeps Levon Building?Part 2 of our conversation with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO of AffPapa.
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  Are There Too Many iGaming Events? | Alex Pratt, Clarion Gaming | iGaming Real Talk 12.08.2026 23dk

  Are there too many iGaming events and how should companies decide which ones are worth attending?Flexing an initial milestone of Episode 70 of iGaming Real Talk, we are here with Alex Pratt,Managing Director at Clarion Gaming, about the changing landscape of iGaming events.Alex shares his perspective on iGB Live, ICE, event ROI and return on objectives, measuring valuethrough data, the role of technology and fintech, and why an event should be treated as part of a widermarketing campaign.We talked about how the industry is facing:- Too many events competing for the same budgets- Rising costs for exhibitors and attendees- Difficulty proving the real value of events- Smaller suppliers competing with huge exhibition stands- Limited time for follow-ups between events- Growing pressure to measure attendee and buyer behaviourWhat this conversation explores:- Why iGB Live gives smaller suppliers a level playing field- Why London gives iGB Live a unique advantage- How ICE is expanding beyond the traditional gaming event- Why event success should be measured by clear objectives- How data can help prove the value of events- Why events need to be part of a wider marketing campaignEpisode 70 of iGaming Real Talk. NOW LIVE on YouTube.Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/
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  The biggest Mistake Companies Make with AI | David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko | ReferOn 10.08.2026 34dk

  AI can build an app. But can it understand an iGaming business?In Part 2 of iGaming Real Talk, David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko from ReferOn go beyond affiliate tracking to talk about AI, product development, legacy systems, migrations, and what it really takes to build B2B software for iGaming.The industry is moving fast, but some problems are still very familiar:Legacy affiliate platforms that are difficult to move away fromLarge operators stuck with old workflows and systemsLong and complex platform migrationsProduct teams building features users may not actually needAn iGaming industry that can be slow to adopt ideas from other industriesThe growing pressure to use AI without simply adding it because it's the latest buzzwordFinding the balance between automation and human relationshipsBuilding software that feels simple in an industry full of complex systemsThis conversation looks at how ReferOn is tackling some of these problems.Using AI for real tasks like QA, prototyping and creating tracking linksLooking outside iGaming to find better product ideas, with examples from crypto, finance and gamingBuilding around real customer problems instead of guessing what users wantMaking migrations easier by understanding how operators actually work day to dayShowing users how the product fits their workflow, rather than forcing them to learn a completely new way of workingKeeping the human side of iGaming alive, even as more parts of the business become automatedUsing automation to make work easier, rather than using AI simply for the sake of saying a product has AIThe conversation also gets personal, with Vlad sharing his approach to hiring, why he looks for the “spark in the eyes,” and why David believes relationships and human connection still matter in iGaming.They also discuss ReferOn's management buyout, the future of affiliate management platforms, and where the space could be heading next.Whether you're an operator, affiliate manager, product leader, or simply interested in the future of iGaming technology, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-evolving infrastructure categories.--------Brought to you by: My Gaming License: https://www.mygaminglicense.com/ 9th Street Games: https://9thstreet.games/
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  Regulated iGaming Explained: ST8's Strategy for UK, Ontario & Alberta | David Fall | St8 06.08.2026 10dk

  Every game aggregator says they have great content. So what actually makes operators choose one over another?David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8 addressed our curiosity here. The game aggregation market is crowded. Almost every company says they have the best platform, the best technology and the best content. But operators today are dealing with much bigger challenges than choosing another API.In this episode, we talk about:Why regulated markets are becoming the biggest focus for aggregatorsWhat operators actually need from a game aggregation partnerWhy personalization still matters in a technology businessThe biggest challenges operators face in regulated marketsExpanding into Ontario, Alberta, the UK and other licensed jurisdictionsHow St8 plans to compete with larger, established aggregatorsWhy trust and transparency matter when working with operatorsThe future of casino game aggregationOne thing I found interesting was David's mindset. St8 doesn't try to be the biggest company in the room. They openly call themselves the underdog. Their focus is building long-term relationships with operators and growing market by market.If you work with casino platforms, game aggregation, regulated markets or operator partnerships, this conversation gives a good look into how one of the newer players is approaching the industry.Guest David Fall : https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fall-5a3875158/ Business Development Manager, St8About St8St8 is a fully licensed casino game aggregator and full-service technology provider helping operators launch, manage and scale in regulated markets. To learn more about St8, please visit https://st8.io/ Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina : https://endorphina.com/
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  AI, Fraud & Affiliate Marketing: What Operators Need to Know | Levon Nikoghosyan | AffPapa 04.08.2026 36dk

  Affiliate Marketing Has a Bigger Problem Than Traffic.The more people I speak to in this industry, the more I realise that the biggest risk isn't finding affiliates.Because let’s assume you find 10 good affiliates, are you sure that all their past results are their own and not some fake screenshots, AI-generated reports or maybe edited screenshots? Presenting you Episode 67 with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO of  @affpapa  ,where we understand how affiliate marketing is changing, and whether the industry is actually keeping up.In this episode, we discuss:- Why affiliate fraud is becoming more sophisticated- How AI is making fake reports look real- Operators getting scammed repeatedly- The debate around affiliate listing fees- Why trust is becoming harder to build- Where affiliate marketing is heading nextOne thing I liked about this conversation is that he didn't pretend there was one perfect solution. Levon has seen these problems from every angle, as a platform, working with operators, affiliates, and brands. He made this discussion practical instead of theoretical.If you work with affiliates, manage affiliate partnerships, or run an iGaming business, this episode will help you think about:- How operators can better protect themselves- What affiliates should expect from platforms- Where AI is helping and where it's creating new risks- What needs to change if the industry wants stronger partnershipsFollow Levon’s Journey (https://www.linkedin.com/in/levon-nikoghosyan/)Affpapa (https://affpapa.com/)Subscribe to iGaming Real Talk for honest conversations with the people building the iGaming industry.Hosted by Surya Palli.Sponsored by:MyGamingLicense and 9th Street Media.--------Brought to you by: My Gaming License: https://www.mygaminglicense.com/ 9th Street Games: https://9thstreet.games/
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  Are prediction markets the future of sports betting? | Chris Nikolopoulos | BETBY 31.07.2026 17dk

  What will the next generation of sports betting actually look like?Everyone talks about AI, prediction markets, and new products. But what are operators actually preparing for? And where is player behaviour really heading?We are at episode 66 of iGaming Real Talk. Our host Surya Palli caught up with Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, to discuss the trends shaping the future of sports betting.From why sportsbooks are now competing with TikTok and Telegram for attention, to the rise of micro-betting, prediction markets, and retention strategies for major sporting events, this conversation looks beyond today's headlines and into what's coming next.We also explore how BETBY approaches marketing differently, including its partnership with Magnus Carlsen and why strategic thinking has become part of the company's identity.Why attention has become the biggest challenge for sportsbooksHow operators should prepare for the next World CupThe rise of micro-betting and changing player behaviourPrediction markets and where they fit into the industryWhy BETBY partnered with Magnus CarlsenWhat the future of sports betting products looks likeIf you're building products, running a sportsbook, or simply curious about where the industry is heading, this episode is worth watching.Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of iGaming.—-Brought to you by: Kensho Media: https://www.kenshomedia.com/ Quantum Gaming: https://quantumgaming.com/
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  Lazy Intelligence: A Smarter Way to Build B2B Products | David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko | ReferOn 29.07.2026 35dk

  Affiliate management platforms are becoming a critical part of iGaming infrastructure, but what actually makes a modern platform stand out?In episode 65 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli is with David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko from ReferOn to discuss the philosophy behind building an affiliate management platform that's designed for today's operators and affiliates.Instead of simply replacing legacy software, ReferOn is rethinking how affiliate management should work. From reducing unnecessary clicks to creating flexible reward structures and dynamic reporting tools that scale with growing businesses.In this conversation, we discuss:- Why many operators are moving towards third-party affiliate platforms- The biggest problems with legacy affiliate management systems- How ReferOn approaches product development differently- The importance of simplicity in SaaS products- Flexible commission structures and dynamic reporting- Why iGaming can learn from other SaaS industries- How product ideas evolve from real customer problems Whether you're an operator, affiliate manager, product leader, or simply interested in the future of iGaming technology, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-evolving infrastructure categories.Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-harris-405a4576/Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bondbvs/Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of iGaming from business and technology to the ideas that influence them.--------Brought to you by: My Gaming License: https://www.mygaminglicense.com/ 9th Street Games: https://9thstreet.games/