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🎙️NEXTPredict Podcast #5 with Rebecca Kossnick, Co-founder & CEO at Hypernatural Before Kalshi. Before Polymarket. Before prediction markets were on the front page of every newspaper, Meta built one. In 2020, a small team inside Facebook launched a product called Forecast. No real money, just points and public reputation. Every forecast was made public. And it was, by any measure, remarkably accurate. Rebecca Kossnick joins Pierre on the NEXTPredict Podcast to tell the full inside story and to explain why Meta is now building a second one, called Arena. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Welcoming Rebecca Kossnick 01:30 - How Forecast got started inside Facebook's team 03:30 - Launching in April 2020 and the first wave of users 07:29 - The status problem Forecast was solving 10:52 - The challenges: explaining probabilities to users in 2019 15:47 - The grand vision 18:30 - Why Forecast didn't survive 23:48 - Hypernatural: the AI video company Rebecca and Taylor built next 25:43 - Where prediction markets and AI video collide 27:36 - Opportunity or problem? 30:18 - Where does Rebecca see Hypernatural in three years? NYC Summit - NEXTPredict October 22 - 23, 2026 at Convene 30 Hudson Yards. 🎟 Get your tickets here: https://nextpredict.io/summits/the-worlds-prediction-markets-summit/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=06a0ceb6be594746 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333?l=en-GB CONNECT WITH NEXTPredict ✩ Website: https://nextpredict.io/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #268 with Michael Pedersen, CEO of Swivel Gaming In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Michael Pedersen — CEO of Swivel Gaming and one of the most experienced operators in the emerging verticals space — maps out the four products quietly reshaping the iGaming industry: sweepstakes, card rips, prediction markets and ADW. Swivel has been building in this space for five years. Michael took over as CEO in March and relaunched the business around exactly these verticals. In this conversation he goes through each one in depth: what it is, where the opportunity is, and where it falls short. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Sponsors 03:41 - Welcoming Michael Pedersen 03:50 - Why Swivel doubled down on emerging verticals 06:26 - How many emerging verticals actually exist? 08:19 - Legal opinions vs. regulators 11:08 - Sweepstakes:dying or still growing? 16:15 - The sweepstakes player vs. the iGaming player 20:04 - Can sweepstakes work outside the US? 23:22 - Card rips: what is it and why is it blowing up? 31:55 - How complex is card rips for operators? 39:26 - Prediction markets: the iGaming operator perspective 44:39 - The ProphetX partnership explained 52:27 - ADW explained: a slot machine powered by a real horse race 56:08 - The challenges with ADW margins 01:00:15 - Are there more emerging verticals on the horizon? 01:06:12 - Emerging verticals are like social media platforms 01:07:37 - "iGaming now feels old school" 01:08:17 - Where will Swivel be in three years? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=dcdf9b8d400e479a Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333?l=en-GB CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: https://www.hardrockgames.com/ Creedroomz: https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙️NEXTPredict Podcast #4 with Chuck Todd on the 2026 Midterms, Prediction Market Blind Spots & the Future of Political Forecasting Chuck Todd spent three decades at NBC News as political director and moderator of Meet the Press. He now runs The Chuck ToddCast independently. He is also the official ambassador for NEXTPredict New York, taking place October 22-23. In this episode, Pierre sits down with Chuck to do something very few people are qualified to do: speak to both the political reality and the prediction market picture at the same time and point out exactly where the two come apart. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - Welcoming Chuck Todd 01:51 - Are we really living in unprecedented times? 06:03 - What actually unites American politics 11:46 - The midterms: pattern repeating or something different? 13:25 - "Blue wave or blue tsunami?" 15:48 - The agricultural tariff story nobody is covering 17:42 - The Trump voter tunes in much later 19:00 - Texas: the race that could reshape American politics 24:21 - The youth turnout problem 29:05 - Trump making it about himself — mistake or only play left? 31:30 - The Iran war: fractures inside the Republican coalition 34:24 - Unpopular wars as political undoing 36:38 - The Pete Hagseth impeachment vote 38:34 - The Democratic Party: no leader, no alignment 39:45 - Michigan as the decider 44:04 - The rise of the democratic socialist movement 45:05 - The K-shaped economy 47:46 - Will the midterms happen on time? 49:40 - The real risk is not the election. It's the certification. 51:12 - Leaving NBC: the pressure from corporate boardrooms was real 56:07 - What Chuck wants to learn at NEXTPredict NYC NYC Summit - NEXTPredict October 22 - 23, 2026 at Convene 30 Hudson Yards. 🎟 Get your tickets here: https://nextpredict.io/summits/the-worlds-prediction-markets-summit/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE06IKPhZzhDIDpH3?si=06a0ceb6be594746 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333?l=en-GB CONNECT WITH NEXTPredict ✩ Website: https://nextpredict.io/

🎙️NEXTPredict Podcast #3 with JB Mackenzie, General Manager & VP Futures & International at Robinhood. Two years ago, Robinhood launched one prediction market on one election night. Today it's their second biggest revenue line — bigger than crypto, bigger than equities. Over 2 million customers have traded a prediction market on Robinhood, and the industry has gone from 3 CFTC-regulated exchanges to over 22 in the same period. JB Mackenzie, VP and General Manager of Futures and Prediction Markets at Robinhood, joins Pierre on the NextPredict Podcast to go under the hood on how this happened — and where it goes next. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:34 - JB welcome 01:47 - The Sunday in London that started it all 03:09 - When did this stop being a feature and start being a business? 04:49 - Why Robinhood chose not to vertically integrate 09:23 - From 3 exchanges to 22 11:19 - The crypto.com and OG partnership explained 16:22 - The customer is the secret sauce. 18:21 - It feels like a Sprint but it's a Marathon 19:52 - Prediction markets: now Robinhood's second biggest revenue line 22:26 - "Prediction markets wasn't the plan" 24:23 - Sports is the headline. 27:17 - Will prediction markets replace the insurance industry? 30:29 - The #1 thing holding prediction markets back 33:31 - The midterms: Robinhood's election hub explained 35:04 - Where does this space look in 2029? 36:02 - Prediction markets as financial education NYC Summit - NEXTPredict October 22 - 23, 2026 at Convene 30 Hudson Yards. 🎟 Get your tickets here: https://nextpredict.io/summits/the-worlds-prediction-markets-summit/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... CONNECT WITH NEXTPredict ✩ Website: https://nextpredict.io/

🎙️NEXTPredict Podcast #2 with Jan Czarnocki, Chief of Staff and General Counsel at Elastics In this episode of the NextPredict Podcast, Jan Czarnocki — Chief of Staff and General Counsel at Elastics, and one of the first angel investors in the company — shares a ground-level view of what prediction markets actually look like from the inside. Elastics is building an AI-powered trading terminal for prediction markets, designed to give serious traders one place for research, execution, automation and portfolio management across Polymarket, Kalshi and beyond. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Who is Jan Czarnocki and what is Elastics? 01:28 - The biggest structural problem 03:37 - Sharps vs. fish: who is actually on prediction markets? 06:12 - The poker boom parallel 08:20 - Losing money on geopolitics markets 10:57 - How Next.io hedged its own conference on a prediction market 12:37 - Prediction markets vs. insurance 15:39 - AI trading assistant for everyone 18:29 - Are AI bots actually profitable on prediction markets? 22:26 - Why Elastics augments sharps instead of replacing them 23:51 - Is the playing field levelling between retail and institutional traders? 26:23 - The vibe coding debate 31:53 - What will be Elastics' killer feature? 34:50 - Prediction market space in 3 years 39:47 - The big vision: one terminal for all serious traders 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/409DefE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... CONNECT WITH NEXTPredict ✩ Website: https://nextpredict.io/

🎙️NEXTPredict Podcast #1 with Robin Hanson, Assoc. Professor, Economics at George Mason UniversityRobin Hanson has been arguing we should "bet on what's true" since the late 1980s — decades before Kalshi and Polymarket turned prediction markets into a billion-dollar industry. A physicist-turned-economist who helped invent the market-making math running under today's biggest betting platforms, Hanson joins the show to explain why prediction markets are having their moment now, what's next for the space, and why he thinks the real prize isn't sports betting. It's "decision markets" that could change how governments, companies, and the Fed make decisions?⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Intro: who is Robin Hanson01:40 - What is a prediction market?04:06 - Why now: the regulatory shift behind the boom06:32 - Decision markets: paying for better information13:50 - Governments, the Fed, and antitrust by market17:40 - Diverse perspectives and trader bias21:50 - Insider trading and the "Rounders" problem26:54 - Gambling addiction and who should regulate prediction markets30:54 - Wisdom of crowds vs. first principles: the Nokia/iPhone test34:55 - Futarchy: replacing shareholder votes with markets35:43 - Where is this space heading in three years?38:35 - Final thoughts: keeping companies honest40:11 - Sign-off🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYoutube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFqA5f5TsdM0&si=nrKerx5GXu4mDYI4Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...CONNECT WITH NEXTPredict✩ Website: https://nextpredict.io/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #267 with Martin Martirosyan, CEO of Imagine Live Group & Nadiya Attard, Chief Commercial Officer Imagine Live has grown from 7 tables in 2022 to over 150 today — with studios in Armenia, Romania and Spain. But the bigger story is what's coming next. In this episode, Martin and Nadiya break down the AI dealer debate, the operator dependency trap, and why quality is the one thing they refuse to discount. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Sponsors 01:41 - Meet Nadiya Attard & Martin Martirosyan 02:14 - Nadiya's move to Imagine Live: what impressed her 03:24 - Imagine Live's origin story: from 7 tables to 150+ 04:33 - AI live dealers: hype or the future? 06:18 - Will AI replace real dealers? Martin's honest take 08:30 - Are players actually asking for AI dealers? 09:44 - How Imagine Live uses AI: infrastructure, not a gimmick 16:30 - Localization in live casino: why one Spanish doesn't fit all 24:00 - The Armenia advantage: talent, speed and studio quality 31:00 - Breaking into new markets: the operator relationship challenge 38:00 - The operator dependency trap: why 40%+ from one supplier is a risk 41:15 - The Playtech monopoly lesson and what's repeating now 44:25 - Transparent commercial pricing: Nadiya's philosophy 46:21 - Imagine Live's USPs: quality, speed and technology 50:31 - Predictions: where is live casino in three years? 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333⁠ CONNECT WITH ⁠NEXT.IO⁠ ✩ Website: ⁠https://next.io/⁠ This episode of ⁠NEXT.io⁠ is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology ⁠https://pragmatic.solutions/⁠ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider ⁠https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/⁠ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: ⁠https://www.hardrockgames.com/⁠ Creedroomz: ⁠https://www.creedroomz.com/⁠

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #266 with Way Yuhl, Entrepreneur, Investor and Geopolitical Analyst Are we really living in unprecedented times or have we just forgotten our history? In this episode, Pierre sits down with Way Yuhl, entrepreneur, investor and geopolitical analyst, for one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversations we've had on the NEXT.io Podcast. Way brings a 100-year historical lens to the chaos of 2026 and makes a case that is equal parts sobering and surprisingly optimistic. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Sponsors 01:34 - Welcoming Way Yuhl 02:49 - How cultural geography shapes geopolitics 04:30 - Why prediction markets beat expert analysts 07:07 - The wisdom of the crowds: how it actually works 10:27 - The limits of prediction markets 12:28 - Way's method: how he reads where the world is heading 16:09 - Are we really living in unprecedented times? 19:20 - The 100-year cycle: where does 2026 fit? 26:15 - Trump vs Iran: a culture clash 33:10 - Prediction markets and geopolitical forecasting 39:28 - Putin's endgame: does he want all of Europe? 47:31 - The dragon theory: why China is not the enemy 55:00 - The US-EU relationship and what comes next 01:11:30 - Why World War 3 won't happen 01:13:58 - The nuclear red line that collapses Russia 01:16:00 - Way's optimism: what the next 10 years actually look like 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: https://www.hardrockgames.com/ Creedroomz: https://www.creedroomz.com/ NOTE: This episode was recorded before the US-Iran MOU was signed on June 17, 2026. Way's read on the conflict proved accurate.

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #265 with Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution. Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, sits down for an unfiltered conversation covering everything the industry is talking about — lawsuits against Light & Wonder and Playtech, why he thinks AI deepfake live dealers are "dead on arrival," and what Evolution's monster 2026 game roadmap looks like. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Sponsors 01:34 - Todd & Pierre: back together 03:28 - Two years at Evolution: what's really changed 04:46 - Suing Light & Wonder over Lightning Roulette 06:25 - The Playtech dossier: how industrial espionage works 13:55 - Is Evolution becoming a value stock? 19:12 - AI-generated games: threat or noise? 20:34 - Deepfake live dealers: why Todd calls it a catastrophic failure 36:20 - Brands vs. AI slots: who wins when games are infinite? 44:26 - The Hasbro deal and the brand-first strategy 52:19 - Competition in live casino: is the iron grip loosening? 58:48 - Aviator: the most impressive success story in iGaming 01:03:51 - Acquisition rumours and Evolution's M&A strategy 01:14:01 - The $2 billion share buyback explained 01:19:18 - Cybercrime in Asia: what can actually be said 01:22:10 - European regulatory headwinds and revenue pullbacks 01:28:01 - Prediction markets: where does Evolution fit? 01:34:13- The investment case for Evolution right now 01:42:20 - Todd's 3 predictions for the next 3 years 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhXvQfFm7GE&list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE CONNECT WITH ⁠NEXT.IO⁠ ✩ Website: ⁠https://next.io/⁠ This episode of ⁠NEXT.io⁠ is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology ⁠https://pragmatic.solutions/⁠ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider ⁠https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/⁠ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: ⁠https://www.hardrockgames.com/⁠ Creedroomz: ⁠https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #265 with Alexander Kane, CEO and Founder of Sporttrade In 2017 - a full year before the US Supreme Court even legalized sports betting - Alex Kane was already building something nobody asked for: a sports exchange. Now, prediction markets are valued higher than Flutter, the world's biggest gambling company. So was Alex just early, or did he see something everyone else missed? ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Sponsors 01:33 - Who is Alex Kane and what is Sporttrade? 02:28 - The Robinhood moment that sparked the idea 04:40 - Why Betfair failed and why the US is different 08:11 - The early years: building a sports exchange before it was legal 11:35 - Where Sporttrade fits in the prediction market boom today 16:56 - Why the boom happened now and not before 22:06 -The impossible debate: is this gambling or a financial tool? 28:21 -Both things can be true 31:46 -Exchange model vs. house model and responsible gambling 37:08 - Market manipulation: the hardest unsolved problem 41:18 - Kalshi at $22B vs Flutter: bubble or breakthrough? 45:00 - What are perpetual futures and why do they matter? 49:31 - Prediction markets as a top-of-funnel product 56:08 - What happens to DraftKings and FanDuel? 01:01:44 - Alex's 3 predictions for the industry in 3 years 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhXvQfFm7GE&list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: https://www.hardrockgames.com/ Creedroomz: https://www.creedroomz.com/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #263 with Kevin Mullally, CEO, International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) In this episode, Pierre sits down with Kevin to break down the current state of the UAE's iGaming market, the global battle against the black market, the fracture inside the American Gaming Association, and why prediction markets may be gambling's next regulatory crisis. Kevin Mullally built one of the most closely watched new gaming regulators in the world from scratch, in under six months. As the former CEO of the UAE's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and now CEO of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), Kevin brings a rare perspective on what modern regulation should look like and what the global industry is getting dangerously wrong. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - Sponsor messages 02:01 - Introduction: Kevin Mullally & UAE market overview 02:59 - Building the UAE regulator from scratch 05:31 - Rethinking regulation: compliance vs enforcement 08:46 - Policy goals: why the UAE regulates gaming 10:13 - UAE strategy: ecosystem over revenue 13:43 - Land-based market structure (Emirates approach) 16:47 - Licensing progress: Wynn, lottery & early milestones 18:32 - Online market structure & licensing model 22:25 - B2B opportunity: “technology should lead” 25:02 - Case study: Yolo & entering the UAE market 30:14 - Relationship-first approach to market entry 33:29 - IAGR: global regulation & role of collaboration 37:06 - The black market problem (global perspective) 39:14 - Regulation vs illegal markets: growing tension 44:43 - What works in fighting the black market 46:04 - Need for global collaboration 48:25 - Prediction markets vs regulation 50:01 - State rights, consumer protection & policy conflict 53:03 - Future of regulation: need for global dialogue 56:00 - Closing thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/ Sponsored by: Hard Rock Games: https://www.hardrockgames.com/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #262 with Savvas Fellas CEO and Founder of MrQ. UK Tax Shock, Black Market Risk & The Future of Operators In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Savvas Fellas, CEO of MrQ, breaks down the real impact of the UK’s upcoming gambling tax changes and what they mean for operators, players, and the wider industry. With tax increases expected to reach up to 40% of revenue, this conversation explores how operators are adapting, where margins are being squeezed, and why the next 12 months could reshape the UK market. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - Sponsors message 01:48 - Welcoming Savvas Fellas 03:48 - Building MrQ & company philosophy 07:40 - Impact of the 40% tax increase 12:17 - Crisis vs opportunity: how companies respond 16:20 - Cost cuts across the industry (RTP, suppliers, structure) 19:18 - Acquisition, affiliates & marketing challenges 22:00 - Black market risk and player behaviour 25:16 - Trust vs value: why players choose operators 30:09 - Market consolidation & economies of scale 33:59 - Survive vs thrive: strategy for MrQ 36:31 - Focus vs expansion: staying in the UK 39:05 - Regulation, UKGC & industry responsibility 44:43 - The future of the UK market 48:44 - Consolidation: fewer, larger operators 51:50 - How to build a strong gaming brand 53:49 - Final thoughts: winners vs losers 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #261 with Jesse Learmonth from The Betting Startups. In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Jesse Learmonth joins us to discuss the current state of the iGaming startup ecosystem, what investors are actually looking for today, and why building new companies in gaming has become significantly harder. As the founder of Betting Startups, Jesse works closely with early-stage companies and investors across the industry. In this conversation, we explore how the funding environment has changed, why distribution and partnerships are critical for growth, and what skills founders need to succeed when launching new gaming businesses. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:28 - Jesse Learmonth returns to the NEXT.io Podcast 01:15 - The role of Betting Startups in the ecosystem 03:10 - The current state of iGaming startups 07:45 - Why building startups is harder today 11:10 - Funding environment & investor expectations 14:00 - What makes a startup investable 18:00 - Innovation in iGaming 22:30 - Where startups can still win 27:00 - Scaling challenges for gaming startups 31:00 - Partnerships, distribution & market access 35:30 - The biggest mistakes founders make 40:00 - Why distribution is everything 44:30 - The role of networks & industry relationships 48:30 - Advice for founders entering iGaming 52:30 - The future of gaming startups 55:30 - Closing thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G826Guf8uHM&list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technologyhttps://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content providerhttps://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #260 with Congresswoman Dina Titus | US Gaming Policy, Prediction Markets & The Fair Bets Act In this episode, Congresswoman Dina Titus — Representative for Nevada’s 1st District (home to Las Vegas) — discusses the growing regulatory battle around prediction markets and sports event contracts in the United States. As co-chair of the Congressional Gaming Caucus, Titus recently introduced the Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act, a bill designed to prevent prediction market operators from offering sports-based contracts outside established state gaming frameworks. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:26 – Sponsors message 01:45 – Welcoming Congresswoman Dina Titus 02:37 – Titus’ background and representing Las Vegas 03:49 – The Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act 05:29 – Prediction markets vs regulated sportsbooks 06:42 – Why the CFTC shouldn’t regulate sports contracts 08:26 – The political fight over prediction markets 09:53 – Real risks for players and the industry 11:12 – Could prediction markets expand across gaming? 13:09 – Industry divisions and the role of the AGA 16:07 – Innovation vs regulation debate 18:03 – The Fair Bets Act and the 90% tax deduction issue 20:31 – What happens next in Congress 22:16 – Engagement with prediction market operators 23:01 – Closing thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/ This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology https://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #259 with Wojciech Stellmach, CEO of BugsyEmpire. In this episode, Wojciech Stellmach CEO of BugsyEmpiere, explains what’s actually working right now across emerging verticals: from sweepstakes (sweeps 2.0) to prediction markets and why “easy money” is a myth. We unpack the shift from talking about grey markets to “grey products”, why payments + marketing access can create real advantage, and what operators must get right in marketing tech, tracking, and foundations before spending big. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:31 - Sponsors message 01:50 - Welcome Wojciech 04:15 - Why BugsyEmpire moved into sweepstakes and emerging verticals 06:55 - The real USP: platform relationships + deep product/tech checks 09:23 - “Grey products” vs grey markets 10:53 - Sweepstakes hype vs reality 11:17 - What “grey products” means 14:43 - Other emerging verticals: prediction markets, DFS, pari-mutuel + more 20:41 - Ad rules tightening (Google/TikTok) 23:28 - Why emerging verticals can beat black market brands 28:53 - Why most operators fail at paid media 39:13 - Paid media breakdown: social vs search vs brand/programmatic 01:06:10 - Winning operators checklist: focus, tech, payments, lean teams 01:07:49 - NEXT New York + Emerging Verticals Summit (9 March) 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCASTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nextdotio/podcasts CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technologyhttps://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content providerhttps://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/