

NEXT.io Podcast
NEXT.io
The primary podcast of the iGaming industry. Hosted by Pierre Lindh, it brings you episodes that are packed with expert insights, dynamic discussions, and inspiring stories from industry leaders. Whether you're seeking leadership tips, energy management strategies, or insider knowledge, NEXT.io podcasts are your go-to resource for staying ahead in the industry.
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio
Dive into our website to explore more:
https://next.io/
Check out our YouTube channel for more content:
https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio
Dive into our website to explore more:
https://next.io/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 17, 2024 • 1h 17min
Carolina Estrada: 200 Podcast Episode!
🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #200 with Carolina Estrada Duque, Account Manager at Evolution.
Carolina's story is one that will leave you in awe — despite enduring a tumultuous childhood and adolescence, she has risen above her challenges and transformed into the successful businesswoman she always aspired to be.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - Sponsors
01:23 - 200 episodes!
04:29 - Welcoming Carolina Estrada Duque
06:48 - Carolina's Life Story
10:22 - Overcoming Scarcity and Hunger
14:10 - Cultivating Resilience and a Positive mindset
17:37 - Surviving a Life-Threatening Incident
22:13 - Impact of Childhood on Current Traits
26:12 - Mechanisms for coping with frequent moves
30:15 - Turning Adversity into Motivation for Success
35:45 - First Job and Independence at Age 12
37:38 - Starting a New Chapter in Malta
48:00 - Reflections on Career Opportunities in Malta
52:20 - Supporting Refugee Children in Malta
55:01 - Staying Positive After a Difficult Childhood
57:25 – The Four Agreements Book
01:06:33 - How Childhood Shaped Carolina’s Professional Success
1:10:06 – Gratitude for Reaching Success
01:13:01 - Future Ambitions
01:15:16 - Closing Marks
🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio
CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - https://mt.linkedin.com/company/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/

Sep 12, 2024 • 55min
Daniel "Jungleman" Cates: Poker as a microcosm for life
🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #199 with Daniel "Jungle" Man, professional poker player.
Daniel "Jungleman" Cates, one of the most iconic figures in the #poker world, shares his journey and insights in our latest podcast episode.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - Sponsors
01:47 - Welcoming of Daniel Jungleman Cates
02:55 - Recent poker tournament experiences.
04:00 - "The Durrrr" Challenge"
08:27 - GTO strategies and life analogies.
10:13 - Carrot vs. stick approach and Machiavellian thinking in leadership.
14:00 - Breaking down life like a game
15:53 - The concept of good and evil
20:04 - Cooperation and collective winning in life
25:24 - Defining success and examples from history
29:20 - Life-Lessons learned from Poker
35:39 - Mental fortitude in high-stakes poker games.
40:19 - Risk-taking in poker and life
46:51 - Bots and GTO poker: Threats to online poker.
52:12 - What’s next for Jungleman:
54:55 - Closing marks
🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio
CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - https://mt.linkedin.com/company/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/

Sep 10, 2024 • 44min
Vested Interest #15: Micro-betting Extravaganza with Joey Levy & Tomash Devenishek
🎙️ Welcome to episode #15 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak.
Special Guests:
Joey Levy - Founder, Simplebet & CEO, Betr
Tomash Devenishek - Founder, Kero Sports
In this special micro-betting-focused episode, hosts Benjie Cherniak and Lloyd Danzig are joined by Joey Levy, founder of Simplebet, and Tomash Devenishek, founder of Kero Sports, to discuss the future of micro-betting, the evolution of in-play and the challenges of creating innovative betting products.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:54 - Welcoming Lloyd and Benjie
02:39 - Overview of Micro-Betting
04:02 - DraftKings Acquisition of Simplebet
08:50 - Impact on Competitors
10:30 - Impact on Cura Sports and Competitors
12:33 - Initial Skepticism Around Micro-Betting
17:25 - Welcoming Joey Levy and Tomash Devenishek
18:16 - Early days at Simplebet
24:25 - Future of Micro-Betting
28:46 - Tomash Devenishek on Global Expansion
31:00 - Advantages and Disadvantages on Micro-Betting
35:10 - Joey Levy on Betr
39:00 - Joey Levy’s Entrepreneurial Lessons
41:32 - Tomas on the Future of Sports Betting UX (41:32 - 43:08)
43:08 - Closing Remarks
🔔 LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE...
🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - / next. .
_____
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/

Sep 5, 2024 • 35min
📺 Weekly News: Kambi and Genius Sports deny acquisition rumours
This week on NEXT.io Weekly News, we address Kambi and Genius Sports refuting acquisition rumors and what that means for the market. We also look into the Philippines' intensified actions against illegal online gambling, Betsson's exit from the U.S. B2C market, and RevPanda's acquisition of Leetz Media, exploring how these developments impact the iGaming landscape.
🗞 Read the full stories:
- Kambi and Genius Sports deny acquisition rumours
https://next.io/news/investment/kambi...
- Philippines police ramp up POGOs crackdown after raid
https://next.io/news/regulation/phili...
- Betsson confirms B2C US exit, prepares to halt Colorado operations
https://next.io/news/betting/betsson-...
- Revpanda acquires Leetz Media to create Revpanda Group
https://next.io/news/investment/revpa...
This week's sessions are brought to you by:
Playson: https://playson.com/
Sponsored by:
Hub88: https://hub88.io/
Join Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen every Thursday at 3pm CET across all our social media channels to get the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.
Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

Sep 4, 2024 • 1h 22min
Karolina Pelc: There is no work-life balance as a founder
🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #197 with Karolina Pelc, VP at BEyondPlay, FanDuel
🎧 𝗛𝗼𝘄'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲? Karolina Pelc shares how she balanced intense workloads at a startup and being an entrepreneur while trying to have a personal life.
Karolina gives us the lowdown on the inspiring journey from founding Beyond Play to its acquisition by FanDuel. Don't miss this inspiring interview with Pierre Lindh and Karolina Pelc!
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - Sponsors
01:32 - Karolina's Journey
02:55 - Entrepreneurial Journey & the First Major Exit
06:09 - The process of Selling BeyondPlay
10:10 - Life After the Entrepreneurial Exit
16:09 - Challenges of an Intense Workload
20:39 - The Responsibility as an Entrepreneur
25:01 - The Realities on Mental Health.
31:55 - Adjusting to New Roles and Motherhood
35:55 - Reflections on Productivity and Work-Life Balance
39:06 - Different Scenarios at Entrepreneurship to Be Productive
45:39 - Coping Mechanisms for Efficiency
55:07 - Shadow work vs. Deep-Focus Work Concept
58:00 - Looking to the Future & Investing in Female Founders
01:02:07 - Advice for New Founders
01:09:11 - Investor Perspective and Building Credibility
01:16:10 - The Next Steps for Karolina
01:18:28 - Closing Marks
🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next...
_____
This episode 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.betconstruct.com/

Aug 29, 2024 • 53min
📺 Weekly News: DraftKings acquires Simplebet plus the biggest stories of the week!
Catch this week’s NEXT.io Weekly News for a quick rundown of significant iGaming updates. Highlights include DraftKings' acquisition of Simplebet, enhancing its betting technology. We also cover Evoke's purchase of Winner.ro, aiming for growth in Romania, and BlueBet’s strategic exit from the US market.
🗞 Read the full stories:
– DraftKings to acquire micro-betting specialist Simplebet
– Evoke to acquire Romanian local hero brand Winner.ro for €10m
– BlueBet exits US market to refocus on expanding Australian operations
– Spribe and Flutter’s Adjarabet lose $330m Georgian copyright case
This week's sessions are brought to you by:
Playson: https://playson.com/
Sponsored by:
Hub88: https://hub88.io/
Join Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen every Thursday at 3pm CET across all our social media channels to get the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.
Be cool, be curious, be in the know!

Aug 22, 2024 • 42min
📺 Weekly News: Special Episode with Incentive Games CEO John Gordon
📰 Your go-to source for the latest in iGaming! Tune in as we bring you the hottest news and trends in the industry, featuring in-depth discussions on each topic.
In this week’s NEXT.io Weekly News we are delighted to have a special guest, John Gordon, Co-Founder and CEO of Incentive Games who will guide us through the Prize Matcher launch announcement, a new daily free-to-play game exclusively on bet365.
This week's sessions are brought to you by:
Playson: https://playson.com/
Sponsored by:
Hub88: https://hub88.io/
📅 Every Thursday at 3 PM CET
📍 Streaming across all our social media platforms
🎙️ Hosted by Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen

Aug 20, 2024 • 54min
Brais Pena Sanchez: Stake DEEP DIVE
🎙 NEXT.io Podcast #195 with Brais Pena, Chief Strategy Officer at Easygo.
In this episode, we dive into the world of Stake 🎰 with Brais Pena Sanchez, the visionary Chief Strategy Officer. Brais takes us through Stake's meteoric rise, from its crypto casino roots to becoming a powerhouse in online gambling - trust, innovation, and strategic celebrity partnerships, like those with Drake and the UFC, have fuelled their success.
Brais also shares the secrets behind their vibrant community engagement and future ambitions, including a potential leap into the North American market.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
1:49 - Welcoming Brais Pena Sanchez
02:32 - Brais's Journey with Stake
05:54 - Trust and Security in Crypto Casinos
8:24 - Reasons for Stake's Success
10:21 - Brand Ambassadorship Strategy
15:29 - Partnerships with Sports Organizations (UFC and Formula One)
17:01 - Streaming Partnerships Strategy
18:48 - Responsible Gambling
20:58 - Reaction to Twitch's Gambling Ban and Launch of Kick
23:32 - Growth and Future of Kick
25:04 - Other Ventures within Easygo
27:16 - Managing Hyper Growth
31:16 - Leadership and Company Culture
33:21 - Regulated Markets and Expansion Plans
36:31 - New Generation of Crypto Casinos
37:56 - Community Building and Player Engagement
44:09 - Trends in iGaming, Crypto, and Streaming
46:54 - Ambition for Easygo and Stake
49:05 - Potential Entry into the North American Market
🔔 LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE...
🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next...
_____
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/

Aug 19, 2024 • 53min
Vested Interest #14: DKNG drama, industry trends and Caesars deep dive with Erik Hession
🎙Welcome to episode #14 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak and special guest, Erik Hession, Co-president Caesars Sports & Online gambling - Caesars Entertainment, Inc.
Dive deep into the latest trends shaping the iGaming industry, focusing on the evolving build vs. buy strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and the growing interest in micro-betting. The episode features a special interview with Eric Hession, who shares insights into his career journey, the transition from retail to digital operations, and Caesars' strategic approach to growth and innovation in the competitive online gaming market.
⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:42 - Welcoming Guests
02:23 - Build vs. Buy Strategies
05:21 - Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the Industry
07:09 - Micro-Betting and Pricing Trends
09:00 - Impact on B2B Suppliers
14:11 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Discussion
31:21 - EriK Hession's Professional Journey
34:34 - Transition from Retail to Digital Operations
37:18 - Build vs. Buy Strategy and Zero Flux Acquisition
43:13 - M&A Integration Challenges
46:10 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Reaction
48:10 - Growth Opportunities for Caesars
50:50 - Exploring International Expansion
52:57 - Closing Marks
🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO
✩ Website - https://next.io/
✩ Instagram - @next.io
✩ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next...
_____
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/

Aug 16, 2024 • 50min
📺 Weekly News: Flutter eyes acquisitions worth billions
Join us on NEXT.io Weekly News for a concise update on key iGaming developments. In this episode, Conor and Nico take a look at Flutter Entertainment's reported bids for Betnacional and Snaitech.
This week's sessions are brought to you by:
Playson: https://playson.com/
Sponsored by:
Hub88: https://hub88.io/
Join Conor Mulheir and Nico Jansen every Thursday at 3pm CET across all our social media channels to get the freshest iGaming news and explore the most captivating stories of the week.
Be cool, be curious, be in the know!


