In this episode (The Gambling Files RTFM 186), Leo Judkins, a performance coach and iGaming leader, joins Fintan and Jon to discuss self-care and sustainable performance in iGaming. He also shares practical tips on how to manage distractions, prioritize tasks, and build healthy habits to achieve both personal and professional success. 

Shoutout to EveryMatrix for sponsoring this episode! Check out their OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions! Their accurate and real-time data truly sets them apart in the industry. Whether you’re a business or a bettor, their solutions can elevate your game!

With Optimove’s CRM software, managing customers feels as exciting as a free spin on slot machines! No more pulling the lever and hoping for the best—we’re on a winning streak, and it's all thanks to Optimove. Cheers to keeping things as fun as the games we manage!

Ready for ICE Barcelona 2025? Clarion Gaming certainly are, and our podcast is eternally grateful to them! I mean, who else can keep an industry connected every single day of the year? It’s like having the cheat code to infinite support. You guys are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly, including our ramblings!

In a nutshell:

* Taking breaks and prioritizing your mental and physical health. 

* The impact of distractions on productivity and focus. 

* How to manage your environment to promote better habits. 

* The benefits of setting realistic goals and making small, incremental changes. 

* The power of mindset and self-talk. 

* The role of leadership in promoting a healthy and productive work environment. 

Choice quotes:

* Leo Judkins: “Identifying your biggest roadblocks, then making small changes to them is usually more effective rather than trying to do a full 180.” 

* Fintan Costello: “My rule of thumb is everyone should do therapy and everyone should have a coach. Otherwise, we get too caught up in our own heads.”

* Jon Bruford: “In the middle of things, it's easy to lose perspective. And shit doesn't stop raining down on you, does it? And sometimes, you need outside forces—like a therapist or a coach—to help you restore perspective.”

* Jon Bruford: “I wanted to do some photo stories of a badger living his life as a human. But I couldn’t find a human-sized badger outfit. Weirdest thing.” 

Thanks to Leo Judkins for being on the show! 

Join Leo’s iGaming Leader Mastermind and listen to The iGaming Leader Podcast: https://www.igamingleader.com/ 

Learn more about Leo at https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/ 

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com 

Join us in this episode (The Gambling Files RTFM 185) for a fascinating conversation with Duncan Garvie, a true pioneer in the online gambling industry. From his early days with ThePOGG.com to his current work with Bet Blocker, Duncan talks about the evolving landscape of online gambling, and how we can create a safer and more responsible industry for all.

 A huge thank you to our sponsor, EveryMatrix! They offer a sportsbook platform—OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions—that covers sports and esports, paired with real-time data and unmatched accuracy. Whether you're looking for complete solutions or specific features, EveryMatrix has your back. Thanks for powering our podcast!

Optimove is the ace up your sleeve! When it comes to keeping track of players, promotions, and everything else in iGaming, you couldn’t have better CRM software than Optimove. Thanks for helping us stay ahead of the game! 

Clarion Gaming is like that rare power-up in a game that boosts everything! They fuel businesses, connect the industry, and somehow keep our podcast running like a well-oiled machine. It’s a mystery to us how they do it all—but we’re just here to say a huge thank you! Clarion Gaming makes it all look easy—see you at ICE Barcelona 2025!

In a nutshell:

* The challenges of regulating the black market and the need for a multi-faceted approach.

* The need for greater transparency and accountability from operators and software providers.

* The importance of empowering consumers with the knowledge and tools to make responsible gambling choices.

* The impact of cryptocurrencies and the rise of unregulated online casinos.

* The effectiveness of responsible gambling tools, such as blocking software and deposit limits.

* Addressing the root causes of gambling harm, such as financial distress and social isolation.

Choice quotes:

* Duncan Garvie: “Sometimes, problem gamblers who are vulnerable and most desperately need the support—they’re the least able to access it.” 

* Duncan Garvie: “If a problem gambler has to pay for blocking software, they’ll sometimes gamble that money to try to win back what they've lost.” 

* Fintan Costello: “I love entrepreneurs. I love people who go out and build stuff.” 

* Jon Bruford: “If grey market operators are doing any kind of banking services, then there's leverage. Pressure can be applied. You can say to them either behave or f**k off.” 

* Jon Bruford: “I like to not shit my pants, but it just takes a sneeze at the wrong time.” 

* Jon Bruford: “I don't like admitting that I don't know as much as somebody else, especially people with hair.”  

Thanks to Duncan Garvie for being on the show! 

Learn more about  Duncan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-garvie-588658199/

Get the free gambling blocker software, Bet Blocker: https://www.betblocker.org/ 

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com

Three cheers to the peeps at Optimove and Clarion Gaming for helping The Gambling Files Podcast share our wisdom directly into your earbuds or onto your screens. 

Today’s guest is Malcolm Wilkinson, the founder of We The Bookie, a socially responsible bookmaker. You might ask: How responsible are they? Well, at the end of each month, We The Bookie returns 50% of all gross revenue back to customers. 

In a nutshell:

* Jon learns that he’s got an avoidant attachment type of personality (whatever that is). 

* How Clayton Christensen’s book, The Innovator's Dilemma, relates to the gambling industry and today’s guest’s business, We The Bookie. 

* Launching We The Bookie in Ireland, with the intention of launching in a country that has an established betting market, including Paddy Power, the Irish gambling behemoth. 

* Malcolm explains how incumbent bookmakers may struggle to switch to a new model due to their cost structure and affiliate agreements.

* The challenges of raising funds for a startup in the gaming industry.

Choice quotes:

* Malcolm Wilkinson: “At the end of each month, We The Bookie gives half of the accumulated gross gaming revenue (GGR) back to our losing customers in direct proportion to their loss that month.” 

* Malcolm Wilkinson: “There's nothing really to stop a new company coming in and doing what We The Booking is doing. But incumbents would have a really hard time switching into this model because they weren't designed that way.” 

* Fintan Costello: “With punters, there's a point where odds aren't the most important thing. Convenience, service, and things like that can actually be way more important.” 

* Jon Bruford: “I'm generally optimistic. Otherwise, why would I get out of bed? But I do set the bar quite low.”

* Fintan said to Jon, “I wouldn't call you emotionally distant or unavailable.” And Jon replied, “I don't care.” 

Thanks to Malcolm Wilkinson for being on the show! 

This podcast is presented by Optimove, which is used by 56% of the EGR Power50 to personalize player experiences. Visit Optimove here for more info, not least because it helps to support independent podcasts like ours. Go on, click it! Find out! It’s astonishing.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com 

It's a bonanza this episode! Fintan and Jon discuss the hilarious and sadly oh-so-predictable news out of the UK government regarding less-than-stellar corruption, plus Jon is relieved to learn that hypnotists are sometimes faking and he can go to shows in much greater comfort now [0:00 - 37:17].

Then the chaps are joined by Corporate Overlord Paul Sculpher of Gaming Recruitment Solutions (www.grs-recruit.com, yes it is a hyphen) who, in a wide-ranging conversation, sets Jon straight on the rules in the UK, talks about the perils of an increased number of slots, the benefits of ETGs, and how Waterworld is in fact not a terrible film despite everyone else thinking it is [37:18 - 1:42:13]. Enjoy a very wide-ranging episode!

The new episode – sponsored by Corporate Overlords Gaming Recruitment Solutions (www.grs-recruit.com), and published by Publishing Overlords +More Media – starts with Fintan and Jon talking about stuff, some of which may or may not be gambling related [0:00 - 19:00]. 

Then, thankfully, they're joined by Ros Wade who discusses Asia, with some Philippines specifics, the UAE and its potential impact on Asian revenues, and cake [19:01 - 1:05:46]. 

Fintan and Jon do, sadly, get up to some waffling in this intro; it encompasses the previous episode and how Jon's hair plugs are doing, what happened to Dakky after his op, Joe's birthday, and Heathers: The Musical [0:00 - 30:56].

Then the Very Reverend Melanie Ellis, partner at Northridge Law joins the chaps to discuss both the language of a recent release by the UK Gambling Commission, and the huge fine levied against William Hill this week [30:58 - 1:37:22]. Mel also reveals she bakes her own favourite pastry, which blows Fintan and Jon's minds.

Also, the URL Jon couldn't remember is: https://thegamingboardroom.com/rg-mastermind/

So Jon is off doing some medical tourism stuff in Manila and Fintan is left to press the buttons AND ask questions at the same time.

Kim Lund CEO & Founder of Aftermath Interactive joins fintan to discuss, debate and chat about his thoughts on affiliate marketing and how he thinks things should be done.

Big thank you to Paul and Steven at Gaming Recruitment Solutions for their on-going support of the podcast, check them out for your gambling industry recrutiment needs!

The Gambling Files podcast is part of +More.Media 

It's been a big week. First, Fintan and Jon have agreed a deal to become part of the excellent AndMore Media stable of studs, which is nice. Check out their newsletters if you haven't already - Earnings + More, Compliance + More, and Sharpr. They're all bloody great and that's not bias for our new publishing overlords.

This episode fintan and Jon discuss stuff, including a motoring fine and the merits of Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves [0:00 - 27:05]. THey are then joined by the fascinating David Spragg, of the Casino Collectibles Association, who talks about... well, collectible casino stuff. We learn the scarce, super-valuable chips from the past, what makes a good collectible, and so much more. It's a proper nerd-out, and we also learn a bit about the CCA's forthcoming event in Vegas [27:06 - 1:10:24]. Enjoy the episode!

It's a glorious second episode for the week, with Jon and Fintan on intro duties which take in - somehow - parenting, therapy, and executive recruitment [0:00 - 28:56]. Then they welcome top guest Sebastian Paris, COO of Bwise Media who comes to discuss his recent thought provoking LinkedIn post about ICE and the issues he had there. But as ever, the conversation takes many, many turns [28:57 - 1:32:35]…

This week's first episode sees Fintan and Jon tee off talking about all kinds of stuff, including the recent bonkers Videoslots issue in Netherlands [0:00 - 23:53] before they are joined by the most excellent - nay, venerable - Katherine Sayre of the Wall Street Journal. Katherine talks about the burgeoning not-a-slot-but-looks-a-lot-like-a-slot industry that has sprung up in many US states, issues with sportsbook expansion and tribal gaming, and more. She also explains that her version of coconut cake is probably more coconut than cake [23:54 - 1:16:00].

Also - check out a slot in action, like the ones Katherine describes, here.

An episode with a difference. First, the intro is Jon and Corporate Overlord Paul Sculpher of Gaming Recruitment Solutions (www.grs-recruit.com) who discuss some recruitment stuff, some cake-related things, all sorts [0:00 - 20:53].

Then our guest Fintan turns up, to discuss the news of the day. In this episode we actually explore a subject and research in real time, and you will hear the horror unfold as we look at the Betting And Gaming Council's latest press release [20:54 - 1:05:49]. You can see the release here and you can see the relevant page on the Gambling Commission website here - where you can also download the Excel document Fintan is looking at during the episode. We discuss issues with how information is presented, and how that can help arm industry critics.

It's just Jon this week, Fintan and his hair are away being a Proper Dad. Doing away with the old intro format, Jon gets right into it with guest Scott Longley of the +More media empire, finding out about their newest product, Compliance + More; then they discuss recent events around 888, and the likelihood of iCasino ever appearing in New York State. 

It's another winner. But we miss Fintan.

Well, a second superlative episode in a week. What a time to be alive! Fintan and Jon begin by talking about whether or not hamsters might be delicious, among other things, in a tightly-scripted opening exchange [0:00 - 17:12] before being joined by guest Ed Dickerson. Ed joins us from Greco, a company fighting bonus abuse in the industry and tells us his poacher-turned-gamekeeper tale. It's a great episode, Fintan nerds out and we learn whether Greco is named for former early 90s teen idol Richard Greco, or some more spurious reason [17:13 - 1:22:12].

Behind the scenes with gambling, what happened with the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship and England’s loss to Spain?

One of our wonderful sponsors—Optimove—provided us with this episode’s guest. But that doesn’t mean that we’re any less grateful to Clarion Gaming for also helping us bring you The Gambling Files Podcast. 

Optimove’s Jonathan Collins joins Fintan in the Gambling Files studio today. Our guest is a Strategic Services Team Leader at Optimove, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation platform that we unabashedly recommend to everyone, but especially you. 

(Co-host Jon Bruford missed this episode, but he’ll be back, don’t worry!) 

This episode in a nutshell:

* Yes, England’s heart is broken. Yes, Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, has stepped down. But what happened behind the scenes at Euro 2024 with gambling? 

* Query trends for big football tournaments are generally predictable

* Sports betting trends during the tournament, including deposits and bet amounts, and how the Italians generally don't like to bet on non-Italian teams at tournaments. 

* The popularity of weird Olympic sports like kayaking and canoeing.

* NFL betting trends. 

* HBO's Hard Knocks series and Netflix's Receiver documentary, and how they link with the NFL's popularity in America.

* How there is no clear second sport in America, with multiple sports having significant betting activity, including baseball, basketball, and soccer.

* There is some movement in women's basketball betting, driven by personalities like Caitlin Clark.

* The shift towards mobile-first betting platforms. 

Choice quotes by our guest:

* “We just saw a huge upswell of interest on the final [of Euro 2024]. For example, in Italy, there were 20% more betters on the final than any other day.”

* “Excluding England, we saw a decrease in terms of the average deposit amount and the number of depositors through the [2023 Euro] tournament after group stage games.” 

Choice quotes by Fintan: 

* “Bookies who aren’t official sponsors of the Olympics aren’t allowed to say the word ‘Olympics’ [in marketing and advertisements]. They’ve got to talk about, for instance, sport in Paris. So it’s tricky from a marketing perspective.” 

* “I always like to call the start of the NFL season, the start of gambling season. Everyone’s fired up. They're salivating. The numbers go up. Everything just gets more gambling—I just invented that word.” 

* “I was joking with a friend that I'm going to be watching the Olympics, sitting on my sofa, eating chocolate, and critiquing somebody's gymnastics routine.” 

Thanks to Jon Collins for being on the show! 

This podcast is presented by Optimove, which is used by 56% of the EGR Power50 to personalize player experiences. Visit Optimove here for more info, not least because it helps to support independent podcasts like ours. Go on, click it! Find out! It’s remarkable.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR 

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com

What an episode this week... It kicks off with Fintan and Jon discussing their first-ever in-person meeting, which happened at ICE; they also discuss ICE itself, and how Jon thought Fintan would be taller. Conversation switches to the cost of things for exhibitors/price gouging as highlighted in a recent LI post [0:00 - 26:52]. Then in swishes guest Jamie Salsburg to talk SMACK. We get into the branding of RG, why sometimes it's just completely unsuccessful and what can be done about that; we even get into the role of parenting on the next generation of players could mean. This conversation goes many, many places [26:53 - 1:38:10]. 

Enjoy the episode!

Fintan and Jon kick off by talking about the hot topics going on in the world - this time it's about dishonest politicians being dishonest, among other things [0:00 - 14:09]. Then we meet the honestly excellent Steven DeMar to learn about his also-excellent brother (who invented the arcade game Defender! For real!) and their business, ODDSWorks. The gents have created a gaming conduit for North America, effectively, which allows smaller studios to get their games out to a much, much wider market. It's proper genius, and he's an absolutely lovely man. But does he watch Cobra Kai??? [14:10 - 1:09:16]

This week, Jon manages to alienate two whole British cities in the intro [0:00 - 14:06], before he and Fintan are joined by Dominika and Nicolas Renaux, founders of new RG company NoNoxa. The pair explain how the company came about, their complementary industry backgrounds, their exciting partners (Maris! Karim!) and just how it all works [14:07 - 1:12:23]. Just two questions remain - what's their favourite Christmas film, and have they seen Cobra Kai? Listen and find out.

Fintan and Jon kick off with discussing the recent rumours about Entain and MGM renewing their will they-won't-they dance, plus they probably talk about some other unconnected stuff [0:00 - 23:53]. Then Jay Sayta, the pie-fingered genius himself, swoops in to bring us up to date on some confusing changes to the gaming laws in India and to hopefully clarify some of the more confusing bits for us [23:54 - 53:01]. Enjoy the episode!

No time stamps on this episode as guest Kate Chambers is with us from the beginning. First off, Jon brings us up to date on what he's actually doing at the moment, which brings us nicely to Kate joining the conversation to talk about the new resource she has just launched, The Gaming Boardroom (www.thegamingboardroom.com). It's a unique resource combining L&D, news, wider business insight, online and in-person events, reporting and much more. And Jon's part of it as well. So have a listen!

Jon gets proper told off by Fintan, who explains that the term Insect Overlord is not nearly as flattering as he thinks it is [0:00 - 14:45]. Then, our new overlord joins us from his recruitment castle in the shape of Paul Sculpher of GRS-Recruit.com, to talk about his many years in the industry and the hazards of recruitment [14:46 - 1:01:06]. Jon and Fintan chip in with some horror stories of their years of being headhunted (Fintan) and unemployable (the rest of the team).

It's the start of season 2, episode 70 (or episode 1? I really need to work that out), and we kick off with Fintan and Jon talking some rubbish or other. I mean, having a highly-focussed conversation which is probably about gaming but might be in quite an oblique fashion.

Then we welcome the lovely Jesse Learmonth, host of The Betting Startup Podcast, who talks startups, favourites, what's going on for startups right now and all kinds of stuff. We even get into the top five Canadians *ever*. Enjoy the episode!

Finally we reach the end of season 1 with the 69th episode, as our own small tribute to Bill & Ted. It's a big episode, kicking off with Fintan and Jon discussing all sorts of stuff, and Jon revealing he was once interviewed by the police over a serious allegation [0:00 - 32:24]. We then meet our guest, to discuss 2023 predictions with WhiteLabelCasinos.com CEO Phil Pearson, including what will happen to... well, pretty much everything [32:25 - 1:46:14]. It's a wide-ranging conversation, and Jon has kindly left all of Fintan's technical issues in there for your enjoyment.

Fintan and Jon discuss recent BGC comms [0:00 - 7:52], then we get to the good stuff. Brilliant German gambling lawyer Michelle Hembury, of Melchers Law, brings the latest developments from Germany and explains the ramifications [7:53 - 40:50]. It's all solid gold.

You asked, we listened! We've done an even longer intro this episode thanks to public demand. Fintan and Jon discuss New Year's resolutions (well, Fintan does), then get in to talking Ohio, and potential game changers in the state. Or not [0:00 - 43:17]. Then we're joined by the excellent Antti Koivula to bring us up to date on the big recent news from Finland [43:18 - 1:26:04], so this is an episode not to be missed. Happy new year, here's to 2023 not being rubbish!

Have you clicked on our sponsors yet? Don’t do it. Optimove is here, and Clarion Gaming is here. Whatever you do, don’t click on ’em, thanks. (Please let us know if our reverse psychology worked on you ... or didn’t!) 

The UK’s Gambling Commission recently released some statistics on the prevalence of problem and at-risk gambling. What do these stats mean? And how are these stats different from the results of previous studies? 

Returning to the show to discuss these messy numbers is Melanie Ellis, numbers whiz and gambling regulatory lawyer for Northridge Law. 

In a nutshell:

* Melanie shares insights on UK gambling industry's "sh!tty mess" of statistics and implications for casino operators.

* The Gambling Commission has switched from a phone survey to an online survey to measure problem gambling rates, with the new methodology yielding a rate of 2.5%.

* The Commission has cautioned against comparing the new rate with previous figures, citing risks of inaccuracy.

* The Gambling Commission's survey methodology is flawed and not representative of the gambling industry.

* Melanie expresses caution about new survey results, suggesting they may not accurately represent problem gambling rates.

* Problem gambling is a significant issue and needs actionable insights rather than perfect surveys.

* Will policymakers take action based on these survey results? 

* The gambling industry and the tobacco industry both cause harm and should both be restricted.

Choice quotes:

* “I think the NHS survey gives us a more representative result [on problem gamblers in the UK]. Whereas the Gambling Commission's survey has some self-selection bias, which is an issue.” — Melanie Ellis.

* “I think that policymakers will take the [Gambling Commission's] survey results with a grain of salt.” — Melanie Ellis.

* “The UK Gambling Commission is damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Whenever they release a survey, people always complain that they got it wrong and that it’s flawed.” — Fintan Costello.

* “One of the issues that both the UK Government and the Gambling Commission have had is that, because of bureaucracy, it takes so long for things to happen [to address problem gambling].”  — Jon Bruford.  

* “[The facial recognition tech on my phone] doesn't recognize me if I'm smiling. That tells you about my life, doesn't it?” — Jon Bruford

Thanks to Melanie Ellis for being on the show! 

Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-ellis/

This podcast is presented by Optimove, which is used by 56% of the EGR Power50 to personalize player experiences. Visit Optimove here for more info, not least because it helps to support independent podcasts like ours. Go on, click it! Find out! It’s outstanding.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

The podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

Chapters in this episode: 

8:45 UK casino industry, slot machines, and the upcoming ICE Barcelona 2015 event. 

15:17 Gambling industry statistics and technology. 

22:40 Gambling statistics and methodology changes. 

32:07 Gambling survey potential biases. 

36:47 Problem gambling rates. 

41:24 Gambling harm. 

53:10 Gambling industry's short-term focus. 

58:36 Gambling industry regulation. 

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com

A twisty-turny episode today... Well, it's not really. It's much more straightforward. No intro, straight into a peach of an episode with Oklahoma State University's Associate Professor of Management, John Holden. Jon and John discuss REITs, how they may in fact be a highly flawed and dangerous path for a business to tread in the long term; John also talks about the fairly recent-ish NYT story about dubious marketing practises of gambling companies onto US university campuses, and we also discuss something Jon may have in fact completely dreamt up. Still no Fintan, but his amateur love of Adult Leisure magazines is also discussed. 54 minutes of pure gold. Enjoy the episode, and see you in 2023!

No Fintan this episode, as he's gadding about, gallivanting and doing things 'dads' do around Christmas. Bah, and humbug. Jon keeps the waffle to a minimum (I KNOW RIGHT) in the intro, [0:00 - 2:51] before introducing Brian Smillie, of 2Mee fame. Brian says the company is experiencing huge growth with a relatively simple offering; it's easy to see how it could resonate with users, not least, as Jon suggests, in an RG context. Ben explains how the talent part works, the potential for building a brand's own comms talent, and much more [2:52 - 35:44].

It's time to talk business, but first Fintan and Jon waffle [0:00 - 6:17] before being joined by this episode's guest, Varun Sudhakar of BetDEX fame. Varun explains the concept and execution of the recently-launched blockchain-based betting exchange [6:18 - 47:28].

This episode was scheduled to go out last week, but Jon had to move his office into his house so it was delayed. Sorry about that.

Fintan and Jon, unsponsored as they are, discuss the alleged shortcomings of the UK's Betting and Gaming Council - and invite them onto the podcast if they fancy it [0:00 - 34:52], then they're joined by the excellent Scott Longley of the wildly well-respected Earnings and More newsletter, so Fintan gets a chance to fanboy and we talk industry finance [34:53 - 1:25:14]. Enjoy the episode!

A short one to kick the week off; we begin with Fintan and Jon exchanging pleasantries [0:00 - 13:09], followed by the legendary Jay Sayta who joins Fintan and Jon to discuss the recent G2G event in Goa, plus an update on the status of a few things going on in the India gaming industry [13:10 - 37:13]. And tax! He talks about tax. That bit is important. Enjoy Jay!

In this week's unsponsored bonanza, Fintan and Jon are talking pap [0:00 - 15:28] before being joined by David Bartram, founder of CryptoGamblingNews.com and all-round crypto genius. He explains what happened with the recently-fallen crypto exchange FTX, and the ripples this has caused, including within the world of crypto casinos/gambling [15:29 - 1:07:40]. He's brilliant as ever. Enjoy the episode!

In our first unsponsored episode for quite a while, Fintan and Jon talk in the usual fashion [0:00 - 29:36] before being joined by slot influencer Mike Leuchtenberg. Mike is the man behind YouTube channel Oklahoma Casino Review Slots, a specialist channel for a particular type of slot machine. His channel has been growing since launch just over a year ago; he talks us through the project, issues he has had, and about being an influencer [29:37 - 1:12:32]. DAMMIT WE FORGOT TO ASK ABOUT COBRA KAI

Our last episode with sponsors Sportingtech, and with technical difficulties for Fintan, which Jon has kindly left in so everyone can enjoy. In the intro there is the usual catch-up, everyone seems well [0:00 - 8:19].

The inimitable Harry Lang is on board to discuss marketing, referencing his own experiences of recruiting influencers and how the whole thing works. It's a fascinating look behind the curtain, frankly. Plus we find time to discuss football and the best Guinness in London [8:30 - 59:02].

Brought to you by those folks with pearly white teeth at Sportingtech!

Fintan and Jon babble [0:00 - 22:56] and are then joined in a break from the norm by Per Rangaard, a board member of the Danish Support Group Ukraine, a team dedicated to clearing land mines and munitions from the war in Ukraine. As an industry we have all know people who have been impacted directly by the war - here we speak to someone that explains how we can best help on the ground [22:57 - 1:01].

Steve Ruddock is back, discussing his new work overlords, shedding some light on the decision by Sands to not do online things or something, and discussing the midterm elections in the US before the polls had opened. I guess we will know when you hear this whether Steve is psychic or not, amiright?? Fintan and Jon start off by talking pap [0:00 - 23:00], then it's Steve [23:30 - 1:06:31] talking many North American things indeed.

Thanks to our awesome sponsors Optimove and Clarion Gaming for helping us bring The Gambling Files Podcast to you. 

In this episode, Jon, Fintan, and their guest Björn Nilsson explore options for companies that have no operations or legal footprint in particular regions of the world, yet can still earn revenue related to traffic exchanges between brands in different markets.

With over 20 years in the online gaming industry, Björn is the CEO of FTDx, a platform that converts visits from regions outside your business scope into revenue.

In a nutshell:

* Björn’s background and involvement in currency trading and gambling ventures, including smaller casinos and poker sites. 

* The challenges of normalizing data and using AI tools. 

* Björn's work at Triggy, a hub for development for the interactive betting industry. 

* What is Grace Jones' song "Pull Up to the Bumper" actually about?! 

* Björn's difficulty in getting clients onboarded to FTDx, a company that wants to help businesses earn revenue from regions of the world that are outside their normal operations. 

* Watching “Cobra Kai”! 

* FTDx’s technology and solutions that address unutilized traffic from non-legal jurisdictions. 

* Potential benefits of sending traffic to competitors and learning from their data. 

* The practical aspect of traffic exchange and revenue generation. 

Choice banter #1 between your hosts: Jon started saying, “There was a documentary on Fox where a simple, working-class family in America got their hands on an autodialer. Somebody—” At that point Fintan interrupted and said, “That was an episode of The Simpsons.” 

Choice banter #2 between your hosts: “All songs are about sex,” Fintan said. “No, some songs are about sex and money,” Jon said. 

Choice quotes by our guest:

* “If you send traffic to 4 or 5 different brands [that aren't in your market], and one of them converts much better than the others, then you can dig down into why it converts much better.” — Björn Nilsson. 

* “We've done a proof of concept [of FTDx] in Finland and Brazil, and we converted about 2% of all the visitors. That was much higher than expected. I expected it to be sub 1% or around 1%.” — Björn Nilsson.

Thanks to Björn Nilsson for being on the show! 

Unlocking new revenue streams with FTDx: https://www.ftdx.io/ 

Connect with Björn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B6rn-nilsson-2a98789/ 

This podcast is presented by Optimove, which is used by 56% of the EGR Power50 to personalize player experiences. Visit Optimove here for more info, not least because it helps to support independent podcasts like ours. Go on, click it! Find out! It’s awesome.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast 

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com 

In our rather wonderfully sponsored-by-Sportingtech podcast we welcome back top gambling industry lawyer Jennifer Gaynor to discuss what's been going on in the city, including a discussion of what Tilman Fertitta is up to, sports franchises, and more. The intro is brief this episode [0:00 - 6:30] before they get into the action [6:50 - 42:05]. Enjoy the episode!

Sorry folks, it's been a while, but we explain the absence of the podcast, talk some smack [0:00 - 40:55], then we are joined by guest Leigh Nissim of Future Anthem fame who talks about Future Anthem, and other stuff [41:37 - 1:16:36]. Enjoy the episode! We're back!

Sponsored by those utter legends at Sportingtech, for all your iGaming needs!

The podcast is graced once more by the magnificent Tom Nieman, who joins Jon to update us on Chicago, and talk a little about some other US-based bits and bobs. Fintan is here but only for the intro, in which we discuss his role to Jon's organ-grinder, sobriety, sponsoring athletes, and more. Enjoy the episode!

Sponsored by Sportingtech!

Steve Ruddock, who you may remember from such hits as Wagers.com and currently starring in Props.com, joins Fintan and Jon to talk about the Wire Act and the potential issues for the future of gambling and datat transfer in the US in light of IGT's recent court case. Steve's a total legend, and he really knows his stuff. He also reveals his spiritual dojo, and we discuss Andre the Giant, among other things.

52 episodes - that's a year, kinda. Happy birthday to us! And thanks to our sponsor Sportingtech for, you know, just being you.

First episode this week we talk to the excellent Dario Gimenez, co-founder of Pow Gaming about both his company and what's worth knowing in iGaming in LatAm right now.

Feedback on this format very welcome, enjoy the episode!

Brought to you by the wonderful folks at Sportingtech, for all your igaming platform needs.

This episode, Fintan and Jon welcome back Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association. Paul talks about the recently announced figures, and what we might expect next, and about lots of other stuff that's really interesting and salient. Including, but not limited to, his rumoured tattoo.

Before Paul, there is some talk about things and stuff. Enjoy the episode.

Did you know this podcast is sponsored by Sportingtech? It is! In this new shorter episode format, Jon discusses the big changes in gaming in his 17 years at Casino International. Plus, this episode Jon and Fintan are joined by Her Excellence Melanie Ellis, Partner at Northridge Law. Mel discusses the new English Prime Minister and what the appointment might mean for the industry, then Fintan asks a sensible question and Mel gives another brilliant answer.

Apologies for this episode coming out late, Jon had multiple deadlines this week... Sorry!

We just thought we would try a shorter form this week and see how it goes; feedback appreciated. But somehow we still managed to gas in the intro for nearly 20 minutes... But then how would we ever find out about Jon's history of selling handbags at a poetry festival??? This week Fintan is back a little bit too, but the star is Frank Op De Woerd of CasinoNieuws.nl, he talks about his industry influencing but mostly it's about changes in Curacao, and the recent changes in Netherlands. He's great, but we do also discuss his wallpaper which we couldn't show you on the podcast. Because it's audio. But it was *very* nice. So, shorter episode. Let us know your thoughts.

Did we mention we are presently sponsored by Sportingtech? They're great. But after the chat I just had with the garage, we might need another sponsor. Gah. Anyway, jon keeps chit-chat light but asks for feedback [0:00 - 4:30] then is joined by Jamie Mitchell of Low6 fame to talk, well, Low6 and other stuff. Luckily Fintan emailed some questions in and you should probably listen just to see how that turns out. It's not pretty [4:31 - 1:03:07]. Then Clare Cogan rolls in to discuss the difficulties of recruitment and retaining staff in present times, also candidate ghosting is now a thing, and she's in a book club that sounds pretty decent [1:03:48 - 2:01:14]. Ooooh, shall we have a TGFP book club? Now you're talking.

Boy do we have a surprise for you... In assocation with our most excellent and fabulous sponsors Sportingtech, I mean. Jon kicks off with a seance to try and find Fintan [0:00 - 30:50], then is joined by University of Oklahoma research professor John Holden who discusses the regulatory oversight that's led to player acquisition costs becoming tax write-offs [31:34 - 1:19:06]. Then we're joined by man of many talents Eliot Jacobson who discusses his past life as a card counter and consultant to the industry [1:19:38 - 2:25:16]. Two of the nicest and most interesting guests in our illustrious history, we think you will agree. Oh, and two new ads created for your pleasure.

Thanks to our awesome sponsors Optimove and Clarion Gaming for helping us bring The Gambling Files Podcast to you. 

In this episode, we chat about important stuff, like Dutch clogs, James Bond, secret super yachts, and knitting. Occasionally, we even talk about gambling. Oh, and we’ve also got two guests on today’s show—Paul Sculpher and Harry Lang. 

Paul is a consultant who works on existing and proposed casino projects all around the world. 

Harry is a marketing guru who transforms digital B2C, D2C, and B2B brands. 

In a nutshell: 

* Discussion on layoffs in the gambling industry's marketing sector and their revenue impact.

* Challenges of short CMO tenures and job changes, with advice for job interviews.

* The rise of so-called fractional CMOs and consultancy roles.

* Discussion on ageism in marketing and the need for older professionals to stay updated.

* Lessons for the gambling industry in influencer marketing and in-app advertising.

* Miss Shilling's orifice

* Paul's roles at Gaming Recruitment Solutions (GRS) 

* Harry's positive approach to unemployment.

Choice quotes:

“In offline gaming, there's something yet to be achieved, from the influencer side of things. Somewhere, there's a way of making it work, but  no one's found it yet.” — Paul Sculpher.  

“With sports betting apps and casino apps, there's a huge opportunity for advertising within those kinds of apps.” — Harry Lang.  

“For a marketing leader, you're never the expert. Your team are the experts. You know the benefits, opportunities, costs, and KPIs. But the people [on your team who] execute it are the subject-matter experts.” — Harry Lang. 

“I read David Ogilvy’s book [Ogilvy On Advertising], and he was doing A/B testing with print catalogs. And I'm like, there's nothing new here. I can just do it faster.” — Fintan Costello. 

This podcast is presented by Optimove, which is used by 56% of the EGR Power50 to personalize player experiences. Visit Optimove here for more info, not least because it helps to support independent podcasts like ours. Go on, click it! Find out! It’s awesome.

Thanks to our guests for being on our show! 

Paul Sculpher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sculpher-4054436/ 

Paul’s website: https://www.paulsculpher.com/ 

Gaming Recruitment Solutions (GRS; where Paul works): https://www.grs-recruit.com/ 

Harry Lang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrharrylang/ 

Harry’s website: https://www.marketingbook.co.uk/ 

Get Harry Lang’s book, Brands, Bandwagons & Bullshit: How marketing, advertising, media and PR work - the essential guide for career planning and professional understanding. 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4cD3q52 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3S6yDoU 

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF 

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast  

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ 

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ 

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ 

This episode was produced by Story On Media & Marketing: https://www.SuccessWithStories.com 

Welcome back, another new episode in association with MEGA SPONSORS Sportingtech, for all your iGaming platform needs! Episode kicks off with Jon rambling (still no Fintan, best life etc) but not actually saying much [0:00 - 8:53], then we meet the very nice indeed Antti Koivula of Legal Gaming to learn about the state of Finland's gambling monopoly. It's a strange one, but luckily we got an expert in to discuss [9:52 - 54:59]. Then we welcome back the legend that is Steve Ruddock, and he explains what's going on in Massachusetts, and also look at California's thorny issues. And we decide pretty much on the top five superhero movies ever [55:18 - 1:48:02].

More free-of-charge treats, you lucky people! And all in association with Sportingtech, who we love and stuff. We have some intro burble from Jon - probably best skipped this episode, and that's being generous [0:00 - 10:35] followed by the always wonderful Jennifer Gaynor who joins us to talk Vegas and what's been going on there - bodies in the lake, casinos being demolished, all sorts [10:54 - 46:44]. Then we're joined by hang on that can't be right no it is, Jennifer Gaynor to talk about the weather in Las Vegas last week [46:45 - 1:07:41]. Then it's on to a trio of legends in YGAM's Dan Bliss and Ian Shanahan, and BetKnowMore's Ben Davies to discuss their awesome collaborative RG training project. Very interesting, and all three are Netflix users. But could that mean... Well, listen and find out [1:08:21 - 2:01:49]! Finally we have the lovely Jay Sayta, joining us for a brief chat to announce Gateway2Gaming's inaugural gaming expo and conference in Goa later this year. It's going to be a winner - find out more here [2:01:49 - 2:08:40].

There are also, hidden among the guests, two shiny new Sportingtech ad spots in there, featuring high quality professional standard production and content. Ha.

It's a musical feast this episode, it really is - sponsored by Sportingtech of course! We have Mara Carlyle's excellent Bowlface en Provence as intro music, then Jon muses on smoking bans in casinos, which customers didn't return after covid shutdowns, and his recent car accident; Jon is also joined by top rapper Fur Q who opines on his preferred iGaming platform provider [0:00 - 16:14]. Then we welcome back the always-excellent Frank op de Woerd of CasinoNews.nl to talk about recent developments in the Netherlands, and a bit about iGB Live! too [16:15 - 35:35]; then we have a musical advert (a word from our sponsors!), then it's on to Leo Judkins, who is shaking up the industry's fitness and has a programme running on LinkedIn and online right now. Well worth a listen, though Jon may have overshared [35:50 - 1:31:38]. Finally Jon explains where you can find us online [1:31:40 - 1:32:18]. Enjoy!