Business of Betting Podcast E259 - Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos
Oct 10, 2025
Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos, a prominent sports bettor and entrepreneur, shares insights from his dynamic career. He discusses the origins of his nickname and the creation of BetBash, transforming a rooftop gathering into a must-attend betting industry event. Spanky reveals the challenges of the shifting betting landscape and his advocacy with the American Bettor's Voice. He candidly reflects on the life lessons learned from gambling and how they apply to parenting a child with autism, along with his journey from Wall Street to a thriving betting career.
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From Rooftop Meetup To Major Event
- Spanky started BetBash in 2021 as a rooftop meetup after COVID lockdowns and expected 50–100 people.
- About 220–230 attendees showed up and it grew into a multi-day event at Circa with Derek Stevens' support.
Putting Bettors At The Center
- BetBash fills a gap other industry conferences ignore by centering the sports bettor.
- Spanky aims to bring operators and regulators to listen to bettors' perspectives.
Founding An Advocacy Group
- The American Bettor's Voice was conceived by Richard Schutz to complement BetBash and the Sports Gambling Hall of Fame.
- The organization advises regulators and researches issues like tax implications for bettors.