What will the next generation of sports betting actually look like?

Everyone talks about AI, prediction markets, and new products. But what are operators actually preparing for? And where is player behaviour really heading?

We are at episode 66 of iGaming Real Talk. Our host Surya Palli caught up with Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, to discuss the trends shaping the future of sports betting.

From why sportsbooks are now competing with TikTok and Telegram for attention, to the rise of micro-betting, prediction markets, and retention strategies for major sporting events, this conversation looks beyond today's headlines and into what's coming next.

We also explore how BETBY approaches marketing differently, including its partnership with Magnus Carlsen and why strategic thinking has become part of the company's identity.

• Why attention has become the biggest challenge for sportsbooks

• How operators should prepare for the next World Cup

• The rise of micro-betting and changing player behaviour

• Prediction markets and where they fit into the industry

• Why BETBY partnered with Magnus Carlsen

• What the future of sports betting products looks like

  
  

If you're building products, running a sportsbook, or simply curious about where the industry is heading, this episode is worth watching.

Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of iGaming.

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Affiliate management platforms are becoming a critical part of iGaming infrastructure, but what actually makes a modern platform stand out?

In episode 65 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli is with David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko from ReferOn to discuss the philosophy behind building an affiliate management platform that's designed for today's operators and affiliates.

Instead of simply replacing legacy software, ReferOn is rethinking how affiliate management should work.

From reducing unnecessary clicks to creating flexible reward structures and dynamic reporting tools that scale with growing businesses.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- Why many operators are moving towards third

-party affiliate platforms

- The biggest problems with legacy affiliate management systems

- How ReferOn approaches product development differently

- The importance of simplicity in SaaS products

- Flexible commission structures and dynamic reporting

- Why iGaming can learn from other SaaS industries

- How product ideas evolve from real customer problems

Whether you're an operator, affiliate manager, product leader, or simply interested in the future of iGaming technology, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-evolving infrastructure categories.

Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-harris-405a4576/

Connect with Vlad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bondbvs/

Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping the future of iGaming from business and technology to the ideas that influence them.

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This episode contains discussion of psychedelics and related substances in the context of personal perspectives and scientific research.

The content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice or as an endorsement or encouragement of the use of any controlled substances.

Most conversations in iGaming are about products, regulation, or growth.

This one went somewhere completely different.In episode 62 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli caught up with Alexandre Tomic, Founder of Alea, for one of the most unconventional conversations we've ever recorded.

Alexandre shares why he's fascinated by consciousness research, the science behind psychedelics, how studies at Imperial College are changing the way we understand the brain, and why he believes luck is much deeper than most people think.

This isn't a conversation about products or company updates.It's about curiosity, philosophy, science, and asking questions that most people avoid.

In this episode:

• Did psychedelics shape human evolution?

• What brain scans reveal during psychedelic experiences

• What happens during a mushroom journey

• DMT, consciousness and scientific research

• Why Alexandre believes luck deserves deeper exploration

• The intersection of science, philosophy and entrepreneurship

Building iGames might not be the easiest thing but there’s something much harder.

That is building games for BRAZIL.

We are here to learn about this from someone who used to write codes, products and now has built one of the leading gaming studios in Brazil.

In Episode 64 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli had a talk with Fabíola Jaeger, Co-founder & CEO of @caletagaming , to discuss her journey from software developer to building one of Brazil's leading game studios.

The conversation also explores how Brazil's regulated market is evolving, what game providers need to understand about Brazilian players, and why community and local culture are becoming key parts of game development.

We talk about:

- How Fabíola founded Caleta Gaming

- Why poker inspired her career in gaming

- What regulation has changed for game providers in Brazil

- How Brazilian player behaviour differs from other markets

- Why community-driven games perform better

- The importance of localised and customised content

- What's next for Caleta Gaming and Brazil's gaming market

If you're interested in Brazil, game development, localisation, or the future of regulated iGaming, this conversation is worth watching.

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How does SiGMA run 8 events in a year?

We got curious about their marketing machine and the leader running the show so we caught with Lauranne Urban, the CMO at ‪@sigmaworld.official‬ to figure out the SiGMA marketing machine.

As they get closer to their second Americas summit of the year, this time in Mexico, here’s a throwback to the ‪@sigma.world.brasil‬ podcast.

In the episode 63, Lauranne Urban shares part of their secret marketing recipe for generating attention for 8 global summits every year and, more importantly, the talented team that makes it all happen.

We talk about:

• Why B2B marketers shouldn’t rely only on LinkedIn
  

• The marketing strategy behind SiGMA’s global events
  

• Building a world-class creative team
  

• Creating a brand that stays top of mind
  

• The people and processes behind SiGMA’s growth
  

“In B2B, one of the biggest mistakes marketers make is assuming professionals are only on LinkedIn.

Good marketing follows you into your personal life. It shows up naturally, multiple times a day, without you even realising it. You might see a brand five times across different platforms, and by the sixth time, everything connects.”

Building a global brand takes more than great ideas. It requires a world-class team, clear processes, constant innovation, and people who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of marketing and creativity.

Why do operators lose up to 70% of their players in the first month?

In episode 60 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli is with Shahar Attias, CEO of Hybrid Interaction, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in iGaming: retention.

The conversation goes beyond CRM tools.

Shahar explains why operators and affiliates often blame each other, how that hurts both sides, and what needs to change if the industry wants to improve player lifetime value.

They also discuss how real-time CRM, crypto casinos, and streamers are changing the affiliate landscape.

In this episode:

• Why operators lose most players in the first month
• The toxic relationship between operators and affiliates
• Why real-time CRM is no longer optional
• CPA vs Rev Share: what's changing?
• How affiliates can help improve retention
• Are streamers replacing traditional affiliates?
• How player behaviour changes across different traffic sources
• Why communication matters more than ever

If you're an operator, affiliate, CRM manager, or marketer in iGaming, this episode offers practical insights into where retention is breaking down and how to fix it.

Guest: Shahar AttiasCEO, Hybrid Interaction

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Hosted by Surya Palli

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Prediction markets are everywhere right now. But are they same as iGaming or something entirely different?

In this episode 59 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli meet with David Carruthers, Principal & CEO of David Carruthers Consulting

Limited, to talk about leadership, regulation, prediction markets, gray markets, and why the industry needs to do a better job of speaking for itself.

David has seen the industry grow from the very beginning. His views are direct, practical, and shaped by decades of experience across regulated markets around the world.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the iGaming industry deserves more respect
• The biggest mistake operators make with regulators
• Why gray markets are a short-term strategy
• His honest take on prediction markets
• How operators should think about regulation
• Why listening is one of the most important leadership skills
• The problem with modern executive leadership
• The role of gut instinct when building a business
• Advice for young founders entering the industry

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Hosted by Surya Palli Connect with Surya: / suryapalli28

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Why do so many iGaming games still feel the same?

In Episode 61 of iGaming Real Talk, Our host Surya Palli caught up with Dominic Sawyer, CCO of Tequity, to talk about building games that actually stand out.

Instead of chasing volume, Tequity is focusing on originals, exclusive branded games, and niche publishing partnerships.

Dominic also shares why crypto-inspired products, prediction games, and operator customisation could shape the next phase of iGaming.

We Cover:

• Why Tequity is investing in original games over quantity
• The difference between Originals, Exclusives and Publishing
• Crypto trading games and why they're gaining attention
• How operators can create more unique player experiences
• The move into regulated markets with BMM-certified games
• Why customisation could become a bigger competitive advantage

If you're interested in product, game development, crypto gaming, or where iGaming is heading next, this conversation is worth watching.

Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of iGaming.

Brought to you by: Kensho Media: https://www.kenshomedia.com/ Quantum Gaming: https://quantumgaming.com/

Hosted by Surya Palli | For podcast sponsorship and collabs: surya@igamingrealtalk.com

Connect at / suryapalli28

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