In no way is this week’s episode a nod to our corporate overlords in any way, shape or form.

That said, first up in this episode there’s a brief chat between Fintan and Jon [0:00 – 10:22], followed by another interview from Jon’s recent visit to Everymatrix’s shiny new London offices, this time with Russell Colvin, Commercial Director, and Mark Wilson, Head of Trading, to talk about the FSB acquisition and more. Jon finds out why they bought FSB then built their own solution, because you’ve got to ask, am I right? [10:23 – 21:50]

Then the hosts welcome Rony Vexelman, VP of Marketing at OptiMove, to discuss their new product, Optimove Engage, designed for modern marketers. The conversation explores the challenges of content creation and management in marketing, the role of AI in optimising marketing efforts, and the importance of maintaining brand consistency across customer journeys. Rony emphasizes the need for quality control in marketing automation and shares best practices for leveraging AI effectively. We get into the importance of customer engagement and optimisation in marketing, introducing Ignite+, a program designed to support emerging operators in the iGaming industry. The discussion emphasises the need for personalisation in CRM strategies while also addressing the philosophical implications of reducing individuals to mere data points. The conversation concludes with reflections on the human element in digital interactions and the importance of community in business.

Choice quotes:

"Creating content is no longer the problem."

"Quality control on steroids."

"Trust but verify, as Reagan said."

"We believe we can help them come and grow."

"This is how we're going to do it."

"The King's English is way behind…"

"You got honey trapped, mate."

Russell Colvin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellcolvin/

Mark Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilson-b1778763/

Rony Vexelman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronyvexelman/

As ever, we thank Optimove for their support, which helps us to keep this podcast ticking over. They turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses work better. Optimove, your support helps us make things that take away the pain. Or create it, I forget which. Oh, and tell them you came via us and you get your first month free!

The cool kids of the podcast are of course OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, every guy wants to be them… and so does every girl.

Clarion Gaming are last but certainly not least, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and the upcoming iGB Live! in London this July. We love you guys, all of you!

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:

In the intro for this episode, we get Jon’s recent interview with Richardt Funch, EveryMatrix’s global commercial director, which was done during the visit to the opening of the firm’s new London offices. It’s worth a listen by itself [0:00 – 20:14], but honestly when we package it with the main event it’s an irresistible bundle of joy!

Our guest this week is the brilliant Steve McAllister who joins us to discuss the current state of the gaming industry in Canada, focusing on the regulatory changes in Ontario and anticipated developments in Alberta. We explore the impact of these changes on operators and players, the booming market in Ontario, and the role of charitable gaming. The discussion also touches on emerging trends and challenges within the industry, highlighting the dynamic nature of gaming regulation and market competition. We get into the evolving landscape of the gambling industry, focusing on legal battles, the integration of cryptocurrency, advertising strategies, and public perception. The speakers discuss the implications of legal resources in gambling disputes, the challenges and opportunities presented by cryptocurrency, and the impact of advertising on consumer attitudes towards gambling. They also explore the future of gambling media and regulation, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to advertising and responsible gambling messaging.

Richardt Funch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardt-funch-7374882/

Steve McAllister on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-mcallister-011a1213/

As ever, we thank Optimove for their support, which helps us to keep this podcast ticking over. They turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses work better. Optimove, your support helps us make things that take away the pain. Or create it, I forget which.

The cool kids of the podcast are of course OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, they’re turning heads every time they walk in the room…

Clarion Gaming are last but certainly not least, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and the upcoming iGB Live! in London this July. We love you guys, all of you!

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:

Fintan’s here! And he’s mocking Jon’s weight! The chaps talk about the wonderful term kummerspeck, which apparently translates from German as ‘grief bacon’, and it's something Jon's been enjoying a little too much. Also, as usual we talk about lots of other things too [0:00 – 18:43].

Our returning guest, Legal Gaming’s Antti Koivula, discusses the evolving landscape of Finnish gambling legislation, highlighting the current status of regulatory changes, the rarity of prohibition orders, and the implications of marketing restrictions. He emphasizes the challenges posed by taxation laws on gambling winnings and the limited enforcement capabilities against black market operations. The discussion provides insights into the complexities of regulating gambling in Finland and the potential impact on operators and players alike. We also get into tax implications for players, marketing restrictions, the role of influencers, and the future of Veikkaus amid new competition [18:44 – 1:04:05].

Choice quotes:

• "Finns still lose a lot of money on gambling."
• "Crypto money just becomes better for me to keep gambling."
• "Anti-social-media concept in Finnish gambling."
• "Influencers are prohibited on their own social media channels."
• "Player acquisition costs will be interesting to see."
• "It will be a good time to be a newspaper, TV channel, or radio station."

Antti on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koivula-antti/

https://legal-gaming.com/

As ever, we thank Optimove for their support, which helps us to keep this podcast ticking over. They turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses work better. Optimove, your support helps us make things that take away the pain. Or create it, I forget which.

The cool kids of the podcast are of course OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, they’re turning heads every time they walk in the room…

Clarion Gaming are last but certainly not least, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and the upcoming iGB Live! in London this July. We love you guys, all of you!

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: