The Hottest Trends in Slots Right Now
MaxBet Podcast
If you care about slot floor strategy, which features are actually working, or just want to hear your favorite games and suppliers come up in the conversation, this episode is for you. Brendan Moore from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming joins MaxBet to break down the games, mechanics, cabinets, and features getting real traction on casino floors right now. Brendan gets into the suppliers, the games climbing the charts, the mechanics players are responding to, and the features proving they actually have staying power. We talk about what Konami, AGS, Sega Sammy, Bluberi, IGT, Aristocrat, and Light...
info_outline
WTF?! Is Actually Happening With AI in Gaming??
MaxBet Podcast
Everyone’s talking about AI in gaming. Most of it sounds impressive. Not all of it is real. This is Part 3 of our WTF with IGI series where we bring the data people in to talk to the rest of us. Turns out, having an AI strategy is more than just telling your employees to use ChatGPT like Google. We break down IGI’s latest research and get into what operators and suppliers are actually doing with AI right now. What’s working, what’s not, and where there’s still a pretty big gap between what people say they’re doing and what’s real. We also get into iGaming vs land-based, which is...
info_outline
Top 5 Gaming Stories this Week, According to Everyone Important (Me)
MaxBet Podcast
Here’s what actually happened in gaming this week, minus the polished version. Top 5 Stories for the beginning of May 2026: 1. FanDuel replaces Amy Howe as CEO - What does this mean? 2. What happened with Prediction Markets - still messy but printing $$? 3. UFC betting under the microscope (again) 4. Don't F*** with Canada: a reminder that regulation is not a suggestion 5. Wynn Al Marjan announces moderate delays. (Which in development terms means “everything is fine” said through slightly clenched teeth) IGT is a proud partner of the MaxBet Podcast. They’re celebrating 30 years...
info_outline
Sex, Drugs, and the iGaming Industry… According to Alex Tomic
MaxBet Podcast
This week, Alex Tomic joins MaxBet for a conversation that goes well beyond the usual industry talking points. We get into the growing research around psilocybin as a potential treatment for gambling addiction, how biohacking became part of his routine, and which does he *actually* prefer: SBC or SIGMA? Also in this episode: Ick of the Week (straight from Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow. The ladies will understand) And a new segment: Red Flag or Green Flag? Somewhere along the way, we also ask a very normal question: is Donald Trump being involved in prediction markets… weird? ...
info_outline
WTF?! Why is Freeplay Not Working?
MaxBet Podcast
Freeplay. PAR. Rebates. Lotteries. Tony Lucas has spent years studying all of it, and the verdict is ugly. At best, casinos are misusing these tools. At worst, they are hemorrhaging millions straight off the bottom line. I n this episode, he lays out what the research shows, why the industry keeps pushing back on it, and what's really driving that resistance. If any part of your job touches a promotions budget, this episode is for you. This WTF with IGI mini-series is put together in collaboration with The International Gaming Institute and filmed at UNLV Black Fire.
info_outline
From DEI Pioneer to Startup Champion: Kelly Kehn Is Changing Who Gets to Build Gaming
MaxBet Podcast
From DEI pioneer to startup champion, Kelly Kehn joins the MaxBet Podcast to talk about what it takes to build in gaming right now. Kelly has spent more than two decades in iGaming and co-founded the All-In Diversity Project. She’s now working with Defy the Odds alongside Sue Schneider and Paris Smith, supporting founders and helping open doors that have not always been open. We get into: Building startups in gaming and where people get stuck Managing risk when everything is moving fast Culture, and what happens when people feel comfortable speaking up The difference between...
info_outline
How to Scale a Company Without Breaking Your Culture
MaxBet Podcast
On this episode of MaxBet Podcast, Martina Åkerlund breaks down what actually drives company culture and why so many leaders get it wrong. As CEO of Elevated Edge, Martina works directly with founders and leadership teams to build companies that perform without burning out their people. This conversation gets into the real issues and what actually happens inside teams when leadership avoids hard decisions, not what companies say about culture. In this episode, you’ll find: Why high performers can quietly damage culture The risk of keeping the wrong people for the sake of results Why...
info_outline
WTF?! Why Does Draft Kings Care About UNLV??
MaxBet Podcast
What is DraftKings actually paying attention to right now… and what does that mean for the rest of the industry? In Episode 1 of WTF?! with IGI, MaxBet sits down with a Director from UNLV’s International Gaming Institute to break down the trends shaping gaming behind the scenes. We get into what suppliers should be building over the next 3 years, what is actually working in persistent games, and how student-created ideas are making it onto real casino floors. Some of those same ideas are even catching the attention of DraftKings inside IGI’s innovation lab. If you care about where gaming...
info_outline
WTF Is This Series? Introducing WTF? with IGI (ft. Dr. Brett Abarbanel)
MaxBet Podcast
MaxBet is teaming up with to create a mini-series lovingly and relatably called WTF?! with IGI. Because there are people out there doing incredibly smart research on our industry. So we’re bringing them in to break it down, translate it, and tell us what we probably should’ve known sooner. If you’re an operator or a supplier, you’ll probably want to hear what IGI has been studying… because it probably applies directly to your work. In this episode, we kick off the series with the co-mastermind Dr. and walk through exactly what you can expect from WTF? with IGI. First episode...
info_outline
Why Gambling Should Be Entertainment First | Magnus Olsson
MaxBet Podcast
Magnus Olsson, CCO of Play’n GO, joins MaxBet to discuss the evolving economics of iGaming. From hosting partners in the Formula 1 paddock to building games that players return to for years, Magnus shares how entertainment value and strong storytelling drive long-term retention. The conversation covers U.S. regulatory hurdles, the differences between European and American gaming markets, and why the industry’s future depends on attracting new online-first audiences.
info_outlineIn this episode, Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Director of Research for the International Gaming Institute at UNLV, joins the boys to discuss what exactly is an e-sport, how much money is already being transacted in the e-sports space, and also kicks off a hot debate over which Mario Kart racer is the best...