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!

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.

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...

In this episode (The Gambling Files RTFM 184), Jon Bruford and Fintan chat with Kate Chambers to discuss the science behind trade shows in the gaming industry. They explore the importance of evaluating trade show effectiveness, the changing landscape of events, and the power of partnerships and community.

We'd like to give a special shoutout to our sponsor, EveryMatrix, and to their OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions! If you're in the world of sports betting, their top-notch coverage and reliable data are second to none. With a wide range of markets and an unparalleled level of accuracy, they offer everything you need to enhance your betting experience. Thanks for supporting our show!

Some companies roll the dice when it comes to CRM software, but not us. With Optimove, we’ve landed on a winning streak that’s turned every interaction into a jackpot. Thank you Optimove for making customer relationship management feel as thrilling as a high-stakes roulette spin (and for sponsoring our show)!

Kate Chambers, founder of the Gaming Boardroom, is a seasoned professional in the gaming industry, known for her expertise in events and trade shows.

In a nutshell:

* Evaluating trade show effectiveness and setting clear objectives.

* The changing landscape of gaming industry events, with a focus on smaller, more targeted events.

* The need for accountability and feedback loops in trade show planning and execution.

* The role of trade shows in building brand awareness and generating leads.

* The challenges of measuring the ROI of trade show participation.

* The need for better communication and collaboration between marketing and sales teams.

* The future of trade shows in the gaming industry and the rise of silent exhibiting.

Choice quotes:

* Kate Chambers: “In the gaming industry, marketing campaigns are about brands, visibility, and selling stuff. And there’s no doubt that events are an essential part of a marketing mix.”

* Kate Chambers: “There's a lot of talk in the gaming industry about how there are too many events and conferences. And yet people still turn up to all of them.”

* Fintan Costello: “With B2B sales, there's a long lead time—6 months, 12 months, years to close a deal. So with gaming industry events, it’s difficult to evaluate whether to invest in them as an exhibitor.”

* Jon Bruford: “Smaller, more targeted events are undoubtedly the future of the gaming industry.”

* Fintan Costello: “You can run empires on spreadsheets.”

Thanks to Kate Chambers for being on the show!

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katechambers/

Check out The Gaming Boardroom: https://thegamingboardroom.com/

Check out our previous chat with Kate: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/kate-chambers-launches-the-gaming-boardroom-the-gambling-files-rtfm-72/

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:...

In this episode (The Gambling Files RTFM 183), Jon and Fintan talk with the CEO of Transform Gaming. They discuss the company's mission to create safer, free-to-play casino-style games for problem gamblers. They also explore how new technology could be used to detect risky gambling behaviors and offer solutions that promote responsible gaming.

Today’s guest is Sina Azeri, a man on a mission to help problem gamblers by creating safer gaming environments. With a passion for innovative technology, Sina is reshaping the gaming industry, one player at a time.

Thanks to our new sponsor EveryMatrix and their OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solutions! Their cutting-edge platform provides competitive sports and esports coverage, real-time betting data, and industry-leading accuracy. Whether you're looking for a full sportsbook solution or just data feeds, they have you covered. We’re proud to have them supporting the podcast!

And thanks to our sponsor Optimove! If CRM software were a game of poker, Optimove would be holding a royal flush. You've taken us from folding under pressure to calling all the shots with your system. Thank you!

This episode in a nutshell:

* The growing problem of gambling addiction in the UK and worldwide.

* Sina and Transform Gaming’s free-to-play alternative for problem gamblers.

* Using touchscreen data to monitor emotional states and prevent risky behavior.

* A vision for social casino games that engage without aggressive monetization.

* How social casino gaming differs from real-money gambling in terms of user spending.

* The challenges of preventing relapses for self-excluded gamblers.

* Transform Gaming’s strategy of acquiring and consolidating social casino companies.

* Developing a fun and innovative gaming experience for free-to-play users.

* The importance of maintaining customer loyalty over quick profits.

Choice quotes:

* Sina Azeri: “Solutions [to problem gaming] won't just present themselves. You need to create them and test them to see if they work.”

* Sina Azeri: “We aim to work with gambling operators. When they determine that a user is showing problematic gaming behaviors, the operator can then promote our product, a free-to-play social casino game.”

* Jon Bruford: “My beauty is on the inside.”

Thanks to Sina Azeri for being on the show!

Learn more about Sina at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sina-azeri/

Learn more about Transform Gaming: https://transformgaming.com/

This podcast is presented by EveryMatrix. If you’re looking for sports data feeds and a feed aggregator, look no further than OddsMatrix Sports Betting Software Solution!

This podcast is also 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 frickin’ 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: