iGaming Daily

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by Optimove's Ben Tepfer, Director of Product Marketing, as the duo discuss how gamification is evolving as a powerful player retention tool and what operators should focus on heading into 2026.Tune in to today's episode to find out:How operators can turn longer player sessions into genuine loyaltyHow to identify which gamification tools work best for different player segmentsHow Optimove develops its library of more than 40 gamification gamesWhy real-time triggers are essential for effective gamificationHow gamification insights can shape wider CRM and marketing strategiesRelevant articles:https://www.optimove.com/resources/blog/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-gamificationhttps://www.optimove.com/resources/blog/ai-gamification-next-level-player-engagementhttps://www.optimove.com/resources/blog/gamification-strategies-to-drive-player-engagementHost: Charlie HornerGuest: Ben TepferProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

After the Chancellor confirmed Remote Gaming Duty will rise to 40% and Remote General Betting Duty will rise to 25%, iGaming Daily assesses how UK gambling will bounce back from the setback.Host Charlie Horner and SBC News editor Ted Orme-Claye are joined by Dan Waugh, Partner at Regulus Partners to dissect what operators might do next, how the black market is inevitably going to grow and why Reeves' judgements are far from the end of the debate.Host: Charlie HornerGuests: Dan Waugh & Ted Orme-ClayeProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldAudio Source: bbc.co.uk (Rachel Reeves)iGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In today's episode of iGaming Daily, SBC Media Manager Charlie Horner is joined by Alex Cohen, the COO and co-founder of Kalamba Games, as the duo explore the major shifts shaping the global iGaming landscape.Tune in to today’s episode to find out:Why operators moving into fully regulated markets need stronger, future-proof technologyHow suppliers can evolve from game providers to true strategic partnersKalamba Games’ go-to-market approach across multiple jurisdictionsThe opportunities emerging in the U.S. through ADW and Class II gamingWhat Kalamba Games is planning and preparing for as we head into 2026Host: Charlie HornerGuest: Alex CohenProducer: Anaya McDonaldEditor: Anaya McDonaldiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

Martyn Elliot, SBC Media Director and astute commentator on gambling trends, joins Joe Streeter, iGaming Expert Editor with deep insights into the sector, to discuss the hot topic of UK gambling advertising. They dive into a controversial £2bn advertising study, questioning its reliability and implications. The duo highlights risks of reduced ad spending, potentially boosting the black market and impacting safer gambling efforts. They also examine the broader consequences for media and sports should advertising revenues decline.

In the latest episode of iGaming Daily, host Fernando Noodt is joined by Charlie Horner and Joe Streeter, to analyse William Hill's monumental decision to exit markets including Nigeria, Vietnam, and Bolivia, a move described as "cold hard business". Parent company Evoke is scaling down the UK's oldest gambling brand, choosing to focus Hills on its domestic presence. The trio discuss the reasons behind this shift, including navigating regulatory turbulence and political volatility in global markets, and how Evoke plans to leverage William Hill's strong UK retail portfolio (over 1,300 locations) while relying on the 888 and Mr. Green brands for international online expansion. Additionallly, the three explore whether prioritising the brick-and-mortar segment over international online growth marks a new chapter for the brand.To read more about what was discussed on today's episode, click on the following links:- https://sbcnews.co.uk/europe/2025/11/21/william-hill-13-exit/- https://igamingexpert.com/regions/asia/william-hill-africa-asia-exits/Host: Fernando NoodtGuests: Charlie Horner & Joe StreeterProducer: James RossEditor: James RossiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In this episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, Charlie Horner, Ted Orme-Claye, and Joe Streeter, discuss Sky Bet’s decision to relocate key commercial and marketing decision-making roles from Leeds to Malta.The primary motivation is tax efficiency. The move is estimated to save Flutter tens of millions in tax. Independent estimates calculate corporation tax savings alone at approximately £31m, moving from the UK’s 25% rate to Malta’s 5% rate. Further savings of £15m to £20m annually may come from joining an EU VAT group.The timing of the announcement, just ahead of the Labour budget, has sparked controversy, fuelling trepidation about the UK economy among operators. Although the Leeds office remains open, the relocation of roles is seen as a setback for the northern tech hub. The practice of shifting domicile has received political scrutiny, including being raised at Prime Minister's Questions, where it was framed as a move to dodge tax. The trio question whether Sky Bet, a "very British institution" due to its EFL sponsorship and Sky Sports links, is simply late to adopt the low-tax jurisdiction model used by many major operators.To read more on the discussions had in today's episode, click on the following links: - https://sbcnews.co.uk/featurednews/2025/11/19/flutter-sky-bet-malta/- https://igamingexpert.com/features/flutter-sky-bet-uk-malta/Host: Charlie HornerGuests: Joe Streeter & Ted Orme-ClayeProducer: James RossEditor: James RossiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

In this engaging discussion, Jessica Welman, a managing editor and industry reporter, breaks down the split between FanDuel and DraftKings from the American Gaming Association. She highlights the operators' pursuit of prediction markets, emphasizing how this reflects deeper industry divides. Additionally, the podcast delves into Baltimore's lawsuit against the two companies for overzealous advertising practices, shedding light on the legal ramifications for the industry's future. Welman’s insights illuminate the evolving landscape of sports betting and consumer protection.

The latest episode of iGaming Daily, supported by Optimove, tackles the imminent UK autumn statement and the anticipated tax hike set to impact the gaming sector.Host Fernando Noodt welcomes iGaming Expert and SBC News's Senior Journalists Conor Porter and Viktor Kayed, to analyse the uncertainty surrounding the figures, noting that the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) proposed a jump in the Machine Gaming Duty (MGD) from 20% to potentially 50%. This potential hike has already sparked alarm across the gambling and hospitality industries. The experts discuss how chains like JD Wetherspoon warn that such a change could see their post-tax profits fall by almost 50%.The conversation delves into why evidence from firms like PWC, which suggests jurisdictions with online tax rates above 25% produce lower overall tax revenue, may be ignored by Treasury officials. The team also debates the industry’s campaign against the increases, focusing on warnings from the BGC about potential job losses and the growth of the unregulated black market if the licensed sector loses its competitive edge.Tune in to analyse the vulnerability of the UK market and discuss whether the industry can maintain a working relationship with the government beyond the budget statement on November 26th.Host: Fernando NoodtGuests: Conor Porter & Viktor KayedProducer: James RossEditor: James RossiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

This episode of iGaming Daily explores why Europe is preparing to introduce stricter gambling regulations in 2025. Host Charlie Horner is joined by Ted Menmuir, SBC Media’s Editor-at-Large, and iGaming Expert's Editor, Joe Streeter, to unpack major regulatory shifts across two key markets: Italy and Romania.The team first examines Italy’s overhaul of its online gambling industry, driven by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. Central to the reform is a significantly higher entry barrier, with a new nine-year concession priced at €7 million, resulting in fewer available licences. Italy aims to streamline the sector, strengthen oversight, phase out the fragmented skins model, and position itself as Europe’s most secure and tightly regulated market. The episode also touches on new compliance requirements, including mandatory digital ID verification for player account registration.Attention then shifts to Romania, where the Liberal Party is pushing to increase the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. The guests debate whether this measure meaningfully enhances player protection, especially given the stark contrast between Romania’s relatively volatile regulatory landscape and Italy’s push for structured control.This episode is supported by Optimove, the creator of positionless marketing and the leading player engagement platform.Host: Charlie HornerGuests: Ted Menmuir & Joe StreeterProducer: James RossEditor: James RossiGaming Daily is also now on TikTok. Make sure to follow us at iGaming Daily Podcast (@igaming_daily_podcast) | TikTok for bite-size clips from your favourite podcast. Finally, remember to check out Optimove at https://hubs.la/Q02gLC5L0 or go to Optimove.com/sbc to get your first month free when buying the industry's leading customer-loyalty service.

Tom Nightingale, a Senior Journalist at SBC Americas with deep insights into betting and regulatory affairs, joins to discuss the surge of prediction markets in the US gaming industry. He highlights how major players like FanDuel and DraftKings are pivoting to sports contracts as a strategic entry into new states, notably California and Texas. The conversation dives into the implications of this move, integrity risks amid recent scandals, and the contentious exit of big operators from Nevada. Will regulators challenge these giants or let the market thrive?