NEXT.io Podcast Tim Heath: Yolo's Strategic Shift to Regulation
🎙 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 plans to bridge the gap between crypto, regulation, and entertainment.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:23 - Sponsors message
01:39 - Welcoming Tim Heath
02:03 - Why Yolo decided to exit grey markets
07:36 - The tightening of global enforcement and regulation
10:56 - Yolo’s new B2B licenses in the UAE explained
16:05 - Restarting Yolo: redefining focus and efficiency
22:04 - Building a 360° player experience and hybrid casino model
24:49 - Facing financial risk and the courage to rebuild
27:34 - “Spring cleaning” the business and cutting organizational fat
31:17 - Leading regulators toward crypto innovation
33:41 - Why regulation must evolve with technology
35:31 - Why the UAE is a perfect testbed for regulated crypto gaming
41:06 - How the UAE licensing model may work (one per Emirate)
48:08 - Yolo’s five-year vision: becoming the “Blackstone of iGaming”
51:33 - The courage to pivot and restart
55:55 - The future of wallets, payments, and hybrid player experience
58:21 - Yolo’s new AI-driven social sports betting concept
01:01:35 - Tim on Yolo’s next chapter and future in regulation
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This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:
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