NEXT.io Podcast

Like so many of the people whose lives he touched, we were devastated to hear of the sudden and untimely death of our Weekly News co-host, Nico Jansen, on 9 January. Please join us, alongside a group of Nico’s close friends, as we take some time to reflect on Nico’s life, the impact he had on each of us, and the legacy he leaves behind. This special episode of Weekly News is dedicated to the memory of our beloved friend, Nico Jansen. To make a donation in support of Nico's family, please go to the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfundi... May he forever rest in peace. 🕊💛

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #219 with James Curwen, CEO at Yggdrasil Gaming In this episode, James Curwen, CEO at Yggdrasil Gaming, shares his journey of transforming a company in decline into a thriving, tech-driven industry leader. Discover his strategies for reinvention, leadership, and innovation in the competitive iGaming space. . ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:31 - Sponsors 01:50 - Welcoming James Curwen 02:30 - Tackling the challenges of turning a company around 04:06 - Why rapid action is crucial in a declining business 06:03 - Becoming the largest content aggregator 07:49 - Building a scalable tech platform and innovating with AI 10:46 - Balancing culture and connection 12:22 - The four pillars of transformation: Efficiency, sustainability, disruption, and innovation 18:48 - The risk of complacency: Reinventing before decline 20:08 - Why bravery and risk-taking are essential for leadership success 24:27 - Balancing being friendly vs. being a leader 27:27 - Fostering a culture of engagement and accountability 33:36 - Attributes of great leaders 40:19 - Building a high-performing, skilled team 45:02 - Letting go to move forward 50:18 - From decline to double growth 52:45 - What’s next? James’s vision for the future of the company 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=bf60dedab34e45bc Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we’re diving into the latest legislative developments in the iGaming world, covering major updates on Maryland, Virginia, Ukraine, and Thailand. Elsewhere, Ukraine’s president opts to enact legislation to close down the country’s gambling regulator. 🗞 Read the full stories here: - Maryland legislature to debate online gambling legalization https://next.io/news/regulation/maryland-legislature-to-debate-online-gambling-legalisation/ - Virginia iGaming legislation makes its first appearance https://next.io/news/regulation/virginia-igaming-legislation-make-first-appearance/ - Ukraine President dissolves gambling regulator https://next.io/news/regulation/ukraine-president-dissolves-gambling-regulator/ - Thailand eyes legalizing online gambling https://next.io/news/regulation/thailand-eyes-legalising-online-gambling/ Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week. Be cool, be curious, be in the know! This episode is brought to you by: Hub88.io https://hub88.io/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #218 with Shimon Akad, COO of Playtech In this episode, Pierre Lindh sits down with Shimon Akad, COO of Playtech, to explore the cutting-edge innovations reshaping the iGaming industry. From Playtech’s strategic growth in North America and Brazil to its groundbreaking partnership with MGM Resorts, Shimon reveals how the company is blending land-based and online casinos for the ultimate player experience.  🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO   ✩ Website - https://next.io/   ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio   ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio   ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio  This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:   Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.   https://pragmatic.solutions/  Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.  https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #217 with Joris Dekkers, author of The Las Vegas Book. In this episode, Pierre Lindh sits down with Joris Dekkers to uncover the untold stories and transformations that shaped Las Vegas into the entertainment capital of the world. From its mobster roots and glitzy casino empires to today’s corporate dominance and mega-events, Joris shares insights into the visionaries who built the city—and what its future might hold. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=b3dcb04d35a84057 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. pragmatic.solutions Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #216 with Phil Pearson, Chief Executive Officer at White Label Casinos. In this special episode, Pierre Lindh and Phil Pearson take a deep dive into the biggest trends, challenges, and predictions for the iGaming industry in 2025 and beyond. From regulatory shifts and market fragmentation to the best and worst slot studios and game innovations, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and bold predictions. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

This week on a festive edition of NEXT.io Weekly News, Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen take you on a journey through the biggest stories of the year, month by month. From game-changing mergers to regulatory milestones and emerging markets, we’re wrapping up 2024 with the key moments that defined the iGaming industry. 🎄 Grab a cup of cocoa (or something stronger!) and join us as we celebrate the highlights, surprises, and unforgettable stories of the year. Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week. Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #215 with Max Trafimovich, CCO at SOFTSWISS.  We're back with the annual episode featuring the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends Report! Pierre Lindh welcomes Max Trafimovich, CCO of SOFTSWISS, to uncover the most important trends shaping iGaming in 2025.   Max Trafimovich shares insights on how regulatory fragmentation is shaping global iGaming, the transformative potential of AI in personalization and security, and how operators can unlock new opportunities through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic market entries.    Download the report here 👉🏻 http://bit.ly/49OlyIA ⏰ Timestamps:  00:00 – Introduction  00:23 – Sponsors  01:42 – Welcoming Max Trafimovich back to the podcast  02:00 – Overview of the 2024 iGaming Report   03:08 – Purpose of the report and its goals  05:05 – Research methodology and data sources  06:45 – Key trends and prospects in the iGaming industry for 2025  09:03 – Four key segments in the report  09:24 – UK: grey market growth and its implications for global regulation  13:18 – Preparing for fragmented regulatory landscapes  19:32 – When is the right time for M&A or new market entry?  22:41 – SOFTSWISS’ M&A activities and rationale behind recent acquisitions  25:28 – The rise of sports betting as a central focus for casino platforms  29:12 – The growing potential of eSports betting  31:08 – Trends to avoid in 2025 and the reality of AI applications  33:13 – Opportunities and challenges in 2025  🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE...   Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne...  CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO   ✩ Website - https://next.io/   ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio   ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio   ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio  This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by:   Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.   https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/   Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.   https://pragmatic.solutions/  Episode sponsored by:  https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙NEXT.io Podcast #18 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak. In this episode, we dive into Robinhood’s surprising potential entry into the sports betting industry, the rise of federally regulated prediction markets, and how non-gaming giants like Amazon and X (Twitter) could disrupt the iGaming space. We also review the biggest M&A moves of 2024 and uncover the secrets behind successful exits. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and sponsors. 02:21 - Robinhood’s potential move into the U.S. sports betting sector. 05:10 - How Robinhood could disrupt the industry and potential strategies. 09:55 - The evolution of prediction markets and regulatory considerations. 17:07 - Exploring disruptive forces from outside the iGaming industry. 24:48 - Could companies like Amazon or X (Twitter) enter the gaming space? 30:12 - A year-end review of M&A activity in 2024 and standout deals. 37:15 - Lessons from successful exits: Bootstrapped vs. VC-backed ventures. 45:38 - Closing remarks and predictions for 2025. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/ne... CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website - https://next.io/ ✩ Instagram - / nextdotio ✩ X/Twitter - / nextdotio ✩ LinkedIn - / nextdotio _____ This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider. https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology. https://pragmatic.solutions/ Episode sponsored by: https://www.creedroomz.com/

Join us for a special episode of Weekly News exploring the findings of our new hashtag#SouthAfrica report. Discover the South African hashtag#iGaming landscape, including emerging trends, player preferences, and market forecasts. Check out the South Africa report here 👉 https://next.io/next-igaming-market-in-focus-south-africa-report/ 👤 Special guests Max Tesla from Blask and Sasha Boerma Hang out with Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen on our Weekly News live stream, every Thursday at 3 PM CET across all our social media channels. We’ll dive into the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week. Be cool, be curious, be in the know! This episode is brought to you by: Playson: https://playson.com/ Sponsored by: Hub88.io: https://hub88.io/