Explore every episode of the podcast MaxBet Podcast

What happens when sports bettors have access to predictions that are more accurate than the sportsbooks themselves? John Hanna, co-founder of XO Sports, joins MaxBet to talk about the technology behind an app reporting externally audited prediction accuracy as high as 78%, compared with sportsbook predictions around 64–67%. And that raises a much more interesting question: what happens when the bettor gets smarter?

John and Hillary get into how a group of technologists built XO Sports to process millions of streams of data, continuously learn and improve its predictions, and put technology traditionally held by sophisticated operators directly into the hands of everyday sports bettors.

They also get into the questions investors keep asking: What do sportsbooks think about it? What happens if bettors start winning too much? Can the technology work across different sports, brands and markets? And if you can build a system to predict sports this accurately, what else could you use it to predict?

Host: Hillary McAfee

Guest: John Hanna CEO, XO Sports

This episode of MaxBet is sponsored by XO Sports. As always, sponsorship gets you a seat at the table, not easier questions.

Want to be on the podcast or partner with us? Hello@maxbetpodcast.com

G2E is a marathon disguised as a trade show, and Mike McKiski has some thoughts on how to survive it.

Mike is back on MaxBet for our pre-G2E episode to talk about the advice he gives G2E rookies, dinners vs. parties, pacing yourself, getting enough sleep and the deeply suspicious people who somehow manage to do all of it and rally again the next morning. 

We also get into Bluberi's "Gucci Row" era, how the company has grown to ten studios with double-digit year-over-year growth, and what they've been working on ahead of this year's show. That includes Sir Mix-A-Lot games, massive fedoras, a bigger focus on sound and creating the kind of signature audio players immediately associate with a game or brand.

 And yes, we discuss the peaches wearing tiny thongs. This is an important industry podcast.

If you're headed to G2E, consider this your pregame.

A big thanks to Bluberi Gaming for partnering with us on this episode.

The gaming industry has no shortage of lists, and frankly, we didn't want to be left out.

So Fiona Power joins Hillary McAfee to hand out honors including Best Industry Feud, Industry Badass, Best Booth, the Get Shit Done Award, Best After Party, Best Dressed, Industry Mom, Industry Dad, and several other categories of enormous cultural importance.

The criteria were simple: preferably someone who hasn't already won everything, ideally not C-suite (two people snuck past us on that one, but the rest of you have had your moment in the sun), and absolutely no assholes.

The winners receive the highest honor MaxBet can bestow: a very underwhelming fridge magnet.

The prize is modest. The list, we feel, delivers.

Sue Schneider was building the iGaming industry in the mid-90s, before most people had an email address. She's watched it grow from an unregulated frontier into the highly regulated global industry it is today, and she has some thoughts about what we gained and what we may have lost along the way.

Sue joins MaxBet to talk about the early days of online gaming, the rise of regulation and whether the industry has made it too difficult for new companies and new ideas to break through.

We also get into prediction markets, sweepstakes, state vs. federal regulation, why she never thought U.S. sports betting would be legalized, and the time she sat down with Steve Wynn to explain iGaming.

Plus, Sue shares a few stories from gaming's wilder years, including an FBI appearance and a white tiger, and explains why she's now focused on helping the next generation of gaming startups succeed.

Thirty years of iGaming gives you a lot to talk about.

Featuring: Sue Schneider, iGaming industry pioneer
Topics: iGaming, online gambling, U.S. gaming regulation, gaming startups, innovation and the future of the industry

What happens when you build a startup in a category most of the industry is still trying to understand?

Desiree Dickerson, CEO and Co-Founder of Thunder, joins MaxBet to break down skill-based gaming, how Thunder solves player liquidity through cross-operator matchmaking, and why operators, lotteries, sportsbooks, and sweepstakes companies are paying attention. We also discuss startup pivots, product-market fit, industry education, and the realities of building a business where the rules are still being written.

Plus: rapid fire, conference pet peeves, tarantulas, business cards, and an unexpected conversation about beta blockers.

Whether you're hearing about player vs. player gaming for the first time or have been following the space for years, this episode offers a practical look at one of gaming's fastest-growing and most misunderstood business models.

Subtlety isn't exactly a MaxBet core value, so we start with the obvious question: Why are operators leaving the AGA?

After surviving the opening question, Brandt Iden, VP of Government Affairs at Fanatics Betting & Gaming and former Michigan State Representative, sticks around to talk about why more states still haven't legalized iGaming, what's keeping legislation from moving, the tax revenue states may be leaving on the table, and why prediction markets have become one of gaming's biggest debates.

As always, we wrap things up with a rapid-fire round covering everything from Google Meet vs. Teams to the worst conference habit. (Brandt had that answer locked and loaded.)

This episode of MaxBet is brought to you by Approvely, the payment infrastructure partner built for gaming. From payment processing and pay-by-bank to compliance and risk management, Approvely helps operators navigate complex payments with confidence. Learn more at Approvely.com.

AI has become the answer to just about everything.

Need to cut costs? AI.
Need to grow revenue? AI.
Need to impress your board? AI.

The problem is, very few people can explain where the ROI actually is.

This week on MaxBet, Hillary McAfee sits down with Cris Kuehl, Chief Data & AI Officer at Continent 8 Technologies, to sort through the questions gaming executives are asking behind closed doors.

Where should companies be investing in AI? Where should they absolutely not? Does every company need a Chief AI Officer? What should startups be doing today so they don't get left behind tomorrow?

Whether you're building an AI strategy, trying to separate opportunity from distraction, or just looking for a conversation that doesn't sound like it was written by ChatGPT, this episode is for you.

A special thanks to Continent 8 for sponsoring this episode of MaxBet Podcast.

Simon Thomas owns the Hippodrome Casino, one of the most iconic gaming and entertainment venues in the world. Located in the heart of London, the Hippodrome attracts a third of all casino admissions in the city and has become known for doing things differently.

In this episode of MaxBet, Simon joins Hillary McAfee to talk about building a business around experiences, why most problems have a solution if you're willing to find it, and how the Hippodrome grew into a destination that combines gaming, sports betting, restaurants, bars, live entertainment, and hospitality under one roof.

They also discuss the launch of the UK's first casino sportsbook, testing new products, creating a culture people want to be part of, and why Simon believes the best ideas often come from focusing on how customers feel.

Plus: why he hates coat check tickets, the story behind the Hippodrome's newest sportsbook, and the lesson that's guided him through nearly every challenge he's faced: find a way or make a way.

If you care about slot floor strategy, which features are actually working, or just want to hear your favorite games and suppliers come up in the conversation, this episode is for you.

Brendan Moore from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming joins MaxBet to break down the games, mechanics, cabinets, and features getting real traction on casino floors right now.

Brendan gets into the suppliers, the games climbing the charts, the mechanics players are responding to, and the features proving they actually have staying power.

We talk about what Konami, AGS, Sega Sammy, Bluberi, IGT, Aristocrat, and Light & Wonder are doing right now and why certain products are getting attention across the industry.

We also get into:

The perceived persistence takeover

 Popular features

What game has been the most copied

What falls off the charts fast

What operators are paying attention to right now

Everyone's talking about AI in gaming. Most of it sounds impressive. Not all of it is real.

This is Part 3 of our WTF with IGI series where we bring the data people in to talk to the rest of us.

Turns out, having an AI strategy is more than just telling your employees to use ChatGPT like Google.

We break down IGI's latest research and get into what operators and suppliers are actually doing with AI right now. What's working, what's not, and where there's still a pretty big gap between what people say they're doing and what's real.

We also get into iGaming vs land-based, which is where things start to look very different.

There's real data in here, some honest answers, and a few moments where it becomes clear the industry is still figuring this out in real time.

This WTF with IGI?!? mini-series is put together in collaboration with The International Gaming Institute and filmed at UNLV Black Fire.

Here's what actually happened in gaming this week, minus the polished version.

Top 5 Stories for the beginning of May 2026:

1. FanDuel replaces Amy Howe as CEO - What does this mean?

2. What happened with Prediction Markets - still messy but printing $$?

3. UFC betting under the microscope (again)

4. Don't F*** with Canada: a reminder that regulation is not a suggestion

5. Wynn Al Marjan announces moderate delays. (Which in development terms means "everything is fine" said through slightly clenched teeth)

IGT is a proud partner of the MaxBet Podcast. They're celebrating 30 years of Wheel of Fortune Slots with a collaboration alongside Wheel of Fortune and Carnival Cruise Line—featuring their newest games on stage during a fully integrated week of shows from May 18–22.

This week, Alex Tomic joins MaxBet for a conversation that goes well beyond the usual industry talking points.

We get into the growing research around psilocybin as a potential treatment for gambling addiction, how biohacking became part of his routine, and which does he *actually* prefer: SBC or SIGMA?

Also in this episode:
Ick of the Week (straight from Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow. The ladies will understand)
And a new segment: Red Flag or Green Flag?

Somewhere along the way, we also ask a very normal question: is Donald Trump being involved in prediction markets… weird?

This episode is supported by our partners at IGT and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. We appreciate them being part of the conversation.

Freeplay. PAR. Rebates. Lotteries. Tony Lucas has spent years studying all of it, and the verdict is ugly. At best, casinos are misusing these tools. At worst, they are hemorrhaging millions straight off the bottom line. I

n this episode, he lays out what the research shows, why the industry keeps pushing back on it, and what's really driving that resistance. If any part of your job touches a promotions budget, this episode is for you.

This WTF with IGI mini-series is put together in collaboration with The International Gaming Institute and filmed at UNLV Black Fire.

From DEI pioneer to startup champion, Kelly Kehn joins the MaxBet Podcast to talk about what it takes to build in gaming right now. Kelly has spent more than two decades in iGaming and co-founded the All-In Diversity Project.

 She's now working with Defy the Odds alongside Sue Schneider and Paris Smith, supporting founders and helping open doors that have not always been open.

 We get into:

Building startups in gaming and where people get stuck

Managing risk when everything is moving fast

Culture, and what happens when people feel comfortable speaking up

The difference between saying you value diverse perspectives and creating space for them

What Defy the Odds is doing behind the scenes

On this episode of MaxBet Podcast, Martina Åkerlund breaks down what actually drives company culture and why so many leaders get it wrong. As CEO of Elevated Edge, Martina works directly with founders and leadership teams to build companies that perform without burning out their people.

This conversation gets into the real issues and what actually happens inside teams when leadership avoids hard decisions, not what companies say about culture.

In this episode, you'll find: Why high performers can quietly damage culture The risk of keeping the wrong people for the sake of results Why culture always starts at the top The leadership habit that can undo years of progress Hiring for potential vs hiring for performance How to make hard decisions without losing respect Why numbers alone are not enough to scale a company What sustainable leadership actually looks like

What is DraftKings actually paying attention to right now… and what does that mean for the rest of the industry?

In Episode 1 of WTF?! with IGI, MaxBet sits down with a Director from UNLV's International Gaming Institute to break down the trends shaping gaming behind the scenes.

We get into what suppliers should be building over the next 3 years, what is actually working in persistent games, and how student-created ideas are making it onto real casino floors.

Some of those same ideas are even catching the attention of DraftKings inside IGI's innovation lab.

If you care about where gaming is going next, this is the stuff you want to be paying attention to.

MaxBet is teaming up with UNLV International Gaming Institute to create a mini-series lovingly and relatably called WTF?! with IGI.

Because there are people out there doing incredibly smart research on our industry. So we're bringing them in to break it down, translate it, and tell us what we probably should've known sooner.

If you're an operator or a supplier, you'll probably want to hear what IGI has been studying… because it probably applies directly to your work.

In this episode, we kick off the series with the co-mastermind Dr. Brett Abarbanel and walk through exactly what you can expect from WTF? with IGI.

First episode airs 3/19!

Also, IGI's International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking is happening May 26–28, 2026 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where a lot of these exact conversations are happening in real time. You can learn more and register here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gnjF2MA9

Magnus Olsson, CCO of Play'n GO, joins MaxBet to discuss the evolving economics of iGaming.

From hosting partners in the Formula 1 paddock to building games that players return to for years, Magnus shares how entertainment value and strong storytelling drive long-term retention.

The conversation covers U.S. regulatory hurdles, the differences between European and American gaming markets, and why the industry's future depends on attracting new online-first audiences.

Hillary sits down with Catie Di Stefano, one of the most genuinely connected people in the gaming industry. With 15 years in gaming (which officially makes her a self proclaimed baby dinosaur), Catie has built a strong reputation for how she approaches both marketing and LinkedIn in a B2B world. It's practical, consistent, and rooted in real relationships.

The conversation covers how people can show up on LinkedIn without waiting on their company page to do all the work, how personal credibility grows over time, and why supporting other people in the industry matters more than most realize.

If you work in marketing, care about building a personal presence online, or want a clearer sense of how people actually build connection and opportunity in gaming, this episode is for you. 

AGS recently launched a new brand identity at G2E, and this episode unpacks what that evolution represents for the company.

Julia Boguslawski and Nikki Davis from AGS share why the rebrand was necessary, what they wanted the market to better understand about who AGS is today, and how the new identity reflects the company's growth across slots, tables, and interactive. The conversation explores the realities of rebranding in gaming, from internal alignment and rollout strategy to how a brand lives on the show floor and in long-term customer relationships.

It's an inside look at how a gaming supplier modernizes its brand without losing its edge, paired with an honest perspective on trade show culture and the dynamics of marketing in the industry.

Joe Solosky, Managing Director of Sports Betting at NASCAR, joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on what sports betting looks like from a motorsports and league-side perspective. Before helping build out NASCAR's sports betting strategy, Joe spent six years with the FBI, giving him a unique lens on regulation, integrity, and how leagues think about betting partnerships.

We talk about how sports betting fits into motorsports, how prediction markets are viewed from the league side, and how quickly "the future" is arriving in this space. It's a practical, thoughtful conversation about where betting, leagues, and regulation are actually intersecting right now.

Aristocrat CPO Matt Primmer joins MaxBet and gets right into it, including whether he prefers Lightning Link or Buffalo and how he looks at product even when he's off the clock.

We chat about his mindset around change and adapting, why doing things the same way as before usually means something is wrong, and how intensity, efficiency, and short meetings shape the way he leads. He also shares why, despite running global product, he is very clear that he is the lowest on the totem pole at home.

There is real talk about lessons learned, parenting, club sports, and what balancing product and family actually looks like.

Emily Haruko Life Coach and CEO of Soroca joins the show to talk about what actually improves teams and company culture. Emily works within B2B organizations to help leaders strengthen communication, increase efficiency, and build healthier work environments.

A major focus of her work is emotional intelligence. She shares a study where Coca-Cola implemented emotional intelligence training and saw a 15% increase in earnings. We'll have whatever they're having.

We also get into how leaders can recognize different employee states, how communication flow impacts performance, and why culture shows up in the "doing".

Practical, clear, and relevant whether you lead a team or work within one.

Mark Phillip, CEO of MetaBet and Are You Watching This?!, breaks down the future of sports betting, real-time sports technology, and the rise of prediction markets. An MIT dropout with a brilliant mind for product and data, Mark brings sharp insight and surprising clarity to one of the fastest-moving sectors in gaming.

If you work in sports betting, iGaming, trading, or anything tied to real-time sports experiences, this episode is for you.

Marcus Yoder showed up with clear opinions on M&A in gaming and did not dance around any of them. We talked through a bit of the IGT and Everi merger, how leaders should think about integration, and what actually builds culture once the dust settles. This one leans into people more than deals. How they react. How they stay connected. How you keep a team steady when everything around them is shifting.

 If you work with humans in any capacity, this one is for you.

The unregulated U.S. gaming market is worth hundreds of billions, and states are finally starting to realize what they're leaving on the table.

This week on the MaxBet Podcast, Shawn Fluharty joins us to talk about how iGaming legislation actually gets passed, who's shaping the conversation behind the scenes, and why education and relationships are the real shortcuts to getting things signed.

We cover the gap between lawmakers and operators, the federal vs. state debate, and how regulation could unlock massive new revenue for states ready to move out of the gray market and into the future.

It's smart, surprising, and more entertaining than a conversation about legislation has any right to be.

Julia Weygandt came ready with stories about gaming culture, consulting, and one very weird German regulation about free fruit. She's been in this business for more than twenty years and has seen it all; the cultural curveballs, the boardroom dynamics, and the kind of conference stories that only make sense if you've worked in gaming.

The industry has grown up a lot in recent years, and we talk about what progress really looks like from the inside.

If you've ever smiled through a networking event and questioned all your life choices, this episode is for you.

Quick flex: Eilers & Krejcik Gaming is one of our sponsors, which means this episode is officially smarter than it sounds, and they have great taste.

Online casino is changing and not everyone agrees on where it is headed. Ben Clemes and Seth Young from High Roller Technologies join the podcast to talk honestly about regulation, grey markets, sweeps, prediction markets, payments, and what responsible growth should look like in iGaming.

Seth brings a sharp perspective on how legal gaps drive product evolution, and Ben explains how operators can balance business goals with player trust.

If you are into the business side of iGaming, this one is for you.

IGT has shaped video poker for more than 40 years with games like Double Double
Bonus Poker™, Triple Double Bonus Poker™, and Ultimate X Poker™.

In this episode of MaxBet Podcast, Hillary McAfee talks with Darnell Johnson and Shannon Bloom about how multi-hand play changed the game, why volatility and configuration matter to players, how bartenders influenced the design of the PeakBarTop™ cabinet, and what makes video poker different from slots.

It's the inside story of why video poker remains one of the most iconic and enduring games on the casino floor.

IGT is a proud partner of MaxBet Podcast 

Four days. A million steps. Zero chicken tenders.

Hillary sits down with Korbi Carrison to talk about what really goes into pulling off the biggest show in gaming. From live animals on the floor to security guards you'd never spot, Korbi has seen it all in her 25 years at G2E, and she's spilling the tea with us. 

We also cover how to actually survive the week- like for real: keeping your body moving, making networking worth it, and avoiding Hillary's infamous Uber Eats order fail at the Venetian.

First year or 25th, this one's for you.

Ari Mizrachi is back and standing on business in this episode on true persistence games and advantage slot play. His first appearance in October was one of our most successful and most controversial episodes.

Now, Ari returns to share where we are at now and break down why he believes advantage play is detrimental to every facet of the slot economy: operators, suppliers, and players alike. From the economics of advantage slots to the ripple effects across casinos, Ari does not hold back.

To close, he delivers his next red-flag warning, a prediction he believes could become the next major threat to the casino industry.

Love it or hate it, this is the conversation the gaming industry needs.

Mike is officially signing off after five years behind the MaxBet mic. In this farewell episode, we cover it all. Favorite guests, biggest learnings, funny moments, and the interviews that still get talked about years later.

Before he steps away, we talk about what is coming next as Hillary takes the lead and continues building the MaxBet brand. It is a sendoff packed with stories, laughs, and a proper MaxBet vibe from start to finish.

In a MaxBet first, we were handed some top-shelf gaming industry tea. Eclipse Gaming skipped the press release and gave us the exclusive to hard launch their newest C-suite hire. A bold move. We'd say we're honored, but that feels too mature.

Newly appointed Chief Product Officer Mike Trask joins the podcast for his first official interview, sharing his vision for Eclipse and where the company is headed next. We dig into hot topics across the gaming industry like the ethics of perceived persistence in slot design, what makes or breaks a product strategy, and at what point in game development does the project tend to go sideways.

He also walks us through the worst day of his career- a headline moment on Yahoo News that's either a cautionary tale or a badge of honor, depending who you ask.

There's button slapping, screen smashing, a certain CEO who spilled red wine on white carpet, and enough name-dropping to qualify as an industry mixer. If you've ever worked with Mike, talked to him, or accidentally passed him in an airport, you're probably mentioned.

This episode was made in partnership with Eclipse Gaming

What actually happens when a casino gets hacked? Do they pay the ransom? Who loses their bonus? And how do you protect your own family from cyber threats when you're in the industry spotlight? On this episode, Melissa Aarskaug joins us to talk about cyber risk in gaming, her personal playbook for online safety (complete with a family safe word… which we're 87% sure is "MaxBet"), and why cybersecurity is not just an IT problem.

We cover the GLI Bulletproof report, the ripple effect of digital breaches, and how executives need to lead from the top when it comes to cyber security. She's straight-shooting, smart as hell, and our favorite UNR grad.

If you work in gaming and touch tech in any way, this one's a must-listen.

Ever wonder what it was like behind the scenes of the very first Wheel of Fortune slot machine? Spoiler: it involved a Volvo windshield motor, a string, and some serious duct tape energy.

We sat down with Jean Venneman from IGT to talk about how a project they hoped would sell a few hundred units turned into a legacy that has made over 1,200 millionaires and changed the casino industry forever. Next year marks 30 years of spinning, winning, and some truly wild jackpot stories.

Mike and Hillary also work through some of the worst casino advice people actually give, like why "always split tens" should probably be a jailable offense.

Sponsored by IGT, powering today's conversation (and a lot of casino floors). As always, all opinions are our own, for better or worse.

Diallo Gordon, President of Pavilion Payments, joins us to discuss how the gaming industry can better tackle fraud and improve responsible gaming through smarter payment systems. We explore the rise of payment fraud in casinos, why scammers are getting more advanced, and how operators and payment providers can benefit from working together. This episode highlights the connection between secure payments, compliance, and a better player experience. If you work in gaming or fintech, this conversation gets to the root of what needs to change.

Dr. Brett Abarbanel from UNLV's International Gaming Institute joins the MaxBet Podcast with dinner party facts, bold suggestions for the casino industry, and a peek at the research projects that actually get people talking. We cover the science behind dice design, how research in the gaming industry gets funded, and the success of UNLV's student internship program connecting future talent with casino operators. She also shares how she won the biggest hand of her life with a bluff and walked away with a husband. Sparkly shoes included.

This episode is for anyone who likes their data with a side of dry wit.

This week, Casey Gonzales from  @cdcgamingconnect  joins us to unpack how tribal operators are navigating the real-world impact of iGaming and sports betting. We get into what's at stake when 10% of your floor disappears overnight, why Oklahoma's compact strategy is still a masterclass, and how Class II games became the industry's quiet power move.

At the end, Mike and Hillary go off-script with a very scientific breakdown of the most unnecessary slot features no one asked for — including slow-motion spins, unnecessary voiceovers, and a Dance Dance Revolution bonus round that should never see the light of day.

 If you're advising, operating, or building for tribal markets, or just need a laugh, this one's for you.

This week, Oliver Shoemaker, VP of Slot Operations at Cache Creek Casino Resort, joins us to talk persistence games from the operator perspective. We get into what suppliers overlook, how these mechanics play out on the floor, and what it takes to hand a guest $1.7M in cash.

If you're building persistence games, selling them, or running a floor full of them — this one's for you.

This week it's just Mike and Hillary debriefing after a whirlwind week in San Diego at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA). Think of it as a giant family reunion you didn't know you were invited to... If that reunion involved nightclubs full of business casual blazers and trick-or-treating booths for swag. We also crown our very unofficial winner of Best Booth 2025 and discuss why soft pretzels might be the unofficial inflation indicator of the gaming industry.

No guest? No problem. This week, it's just Mike and Hillary catching up, swapping stories, and pretending there's a plan.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Decoding corporate jargon

• Hillary's big move & Mike's career change

• Our time in NYC at Next.io

• LinkedIn's most embarrassing feature

• Where we're headed next

Dan Schrementi, President of Incredible Technologies, steps up to the mic to talk about the company's comeback after a few rough years and why true persistence slot games deserve more respect in the gaming industry. We also cover what IS a true persistance game vs. perceived, because some listeners (Hillary) may need to know. In true Chicago grit fashion, Dan isn't here to sugarcoat anything. Plus, he shares how he earned the coveted title of Sausage King of Chicago.

This week, we're all in on Double Down Madness, the table game shaking up the casino floor. We've got Matt Booth, the mind behind it, breaking down how it came to life and why players can't get enough. Mike McKiski met Matt back in their Light & Wonder table games days, and now they're back together talking shop. Stack your chips, place your bets, and hit play.

Listen. If there's one thing we've learned from the EKG Slot Awards, it's that a tuxedo and a pair of Jordans can absolutely coexist, confetti cannons are not to be trusted, and yes—someone did take a full-on nap mid-awards show. We're recapping the biggest wins, the boldest fashion choices, and the moments that had us questioning everything. Plus, we're officially volunteering for the nominating committee because we have some strong opinions on the award categories that need to exist next year. Buckle up—it's a good one.

Madam President has entered the chat and the floor is hers- literally and figuratively. Lauren Bates started at the front desk at Konami and worked her way up to VP at Light & Wonder and President of Global Gaming Women.

She learned her numbers on a mini roulette wheel, built her career from the ground up, and now she's helping thousands of women do the same. In this episode, Lauren talks about the rapid global expansion of GGW, the Harvard-accredited programs launching soon, and why mentorship and peer networking are game changers in the industry.

Also, Mike may have gotten himself into something big. If GGW hits 10,000 members by G2E 2025, he's sponsoring something at Kick Up Your Heels. It's on record now. Ladies, you know what to do.

Diana Bennett doesn't want to be called a Vegas legend, but let's be real, she's done more for this city than most. In this episode, we hear incredible stories from the mob days, her inspiring work giving back to Las Vegas, the phone call that cost her dad $4.9 million, and some classic gaming stories you won't want to miss.

Diana is deeply involved in supporting these amazing organizations that are making a real difference in Las Vegas:

💜 The Shade Tree – https://www.theshadetree.org

🐾 Noah's Animal House – https://noahsanimalhouse.org

🥫 Three Square – https://www.threesquare.org

👩‍💼 empowHER – https://www.rebelsempowher.org 

Bluberi's CEO Andrew Burke paid the MaxBet Podcast a visit and shared his insights on company culture, Bluberi's successful hiring hack, and most importantly, what his AOL instant messenger screen name was. Spoiler alert: It does not disappoint. Plus, Hillary and Mike interpret gaming industry buzzwords for regular humans.

If you're looking for a crash course on Web3 and blockchain, explained through Birkin bag examples, this is the episode for you! Cheli Wolf-Kroupp came to break it down for us like we're five, and for that, we thank her for her service.

Cheli is the COO at Uplandme, Inc. Upland is an immersive layer 1 gaming platform that uses virtual properties of the real world to engage players, creators, entrepreneurs, developers, and brands like FIFA or the NFL PA.

Erica Kosemund joins the MaxBet Podcast, and let's just say Choctaw's Gaming and Partnerships marketing is next-level creative. We're talking about projecting messages on failed imploded buildings like it's a Tuesday. Erica shares her favorite marketing stories, some huge wins for Choctaw, and how she somehow knows every celebrity (She didn't outright say this, but the vibe was palpable, which, naturally, makes us all question our life choices.)

At the end, Hillary and Mike get into their Super Bowl bets, predictions, and the truly ridiculous things they'd actually bet on for the big game. In short, it's a rollercoaster of bad ideas. Stick around!

Mark Dedeaux, GM and Senior Vice President of Slots at AGS, joins us on the podcast to discuss gaming supplier strategy, what makes a premium game truly premium, and to share a his favorite gaming story from his time in Tunica, Mississippi, involving a 911 page, an interim casino manager, and a rowdy craps table.