From Black Market to Bill Signed: The Road to Legal iGaming
MaxBet Podcast
The unregulated U.S. gaming market is worth hundreds of billions, and states are finally starting to realize what they’re leaving on the table. This week on the MaxBet Podcast, Shawn Fluharty joins us to talk about how iGaming legislation actually gets passed, who’s shaping the conversation behind the scenes, and why education and relationships are the real shortcuts to getting things signed. We cover the gap between lawmakers and operators, the federal vs. state debate, and how regulation could unlock massive new revenue for states ready to move out of the gray market and into the future....
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Global Gaming: Cultural Progress, Consulting, and Fruit Compliance w/ Julia Weygandt
MaxBet Podcast
Julia Weygandt came ready with stories about gaming culture, consulting, and one very weird German regulation about free fruit. She’s been in this business for more than twenty years and has seen it all; the cultural curveballs, the boardroom dynamics, and the kind of conference stories that only make sense if you’ve worked in gaming. The industry has grown up a lot in recent years, and we talk about what progress really looks like from the inside. If you’ve ever smiled through a networking event and questioned all your life choices, this episode is for you. Quick flex: is one of our...
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Inside iGaming: Grey Markets, Regulation Pressure, and Market Reality
MaxBet Podcast
Online casino is changing and not everyone agrees on where it is headed. Ben Clemes and Seth Young from High Roller Technologies join the podcast to talk honestly about regulation, grey markets, sweeps, prediction markets, payments, and what responsible growth should look like in iGaming. Seth brings a sharp perspective on how legal gaps drive product evolution, and Ben explains how operators can balance business goals with player trust. If you are into the business side of iGaming, this one is for you.
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From Double Double Bonus Poker™ to Ultimate X Poker™: How IGT Built Video Poker Legends
MaxBet Podcast
IGT has shaped video poker for more than 40 years with games like Double Double Bonus Poker™, Triple Double Bonus Poker™, and Ultimate X Poker™. In this episode of MaxBet Podcast, Hillary McAfee talks with Darnell Johnson and Shannon Bloom about how multi-hand play changed the game, why volatility and configuration matter to players, how bartenders influenced the design of the PeakBarTop™ cabinet, and what makes video poker different from slots. It’s the inside story of why video poker remains one of the most iconic and enduring games on the casino floor. ...
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The G2E Survival Guide + The Stories You Won’t Hear on Stage
MaxBet Podcast
Four days. A million steps. Zero chicken tenders. Hillary sits down with Korbi Carrison to talk about what really goes into pulling off the biggest show in gaming. From live animals on the floor to security guards you’d never spot, Korbi has seen it all in her 25 years at G2E, and she's spilling the tea with us. We also cover how to actually survive the week- like for real: keeping your body moving, making networking worth it, and avoiding Hillary’s infamous Uber Eats order fail at the Venetian. First year or 25th, this one’s for you.
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True Persistence Slots and Advantage Players: The Casino Industry Red Flag
MaxBet Podcast
Ari Mizrachi is back and standing on business in this episode on true persistence games and advantage slot play. His first appearance in October was one of our most successful and most controversial episodes. Now, Ari returns to share where we are at now and break down why he believes advantage play is detrimental to every facet of the slot economy: operators, suppliers, and players alike. From the economics of advantage slots to the ripple effects across casinos, Ari does not hold back. To close, he delivers his next red-flag warning, a prediction he believes could become the next major...
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5 Years of MaxBet with Mike: Favorite Guests, Moments & What’s Ahead | S7E1
MaxBet Podcast
Mike is officially signing off after five years behind the MaxBet mic. In this farewell episode, we cover it all. Favorite guests, biggest learnings, funny moments, and the interviews that still get talked about years later. Before he steps away, we talk about what is coming next as Hillary takes the lead and continues building the MaxBet brand. It is a sendoff packed with stories, laughs, and a proper MaxBet vibe from start to finish.
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From PR Disasters to the C-Suite w/ Mike Trask | MaxBet Podcast
MaxBet Podcast
In a MaxBet first, we were handed some top-shelf gaming industry tea. Eclipse Gaming skipped the press release and gave us the exclusive to hard launch their newest C-suite hire. A bold move. We’d say we’re honored, but that feels too mature. Newly appointed Chief Product Officer Mike Trask joins the podcast for his first official interview, sharing his vision for Eclipse and where the company is headed next. We dig into hot topics across the gaming industry like the ethics of perceived persistence in slot design, what makes or breaks a product strategy, and at what point in game...
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Casino Cyber Attacks, Ransom Payouts, and Why It’s Everyone’s Problem w/ Melissa Aarskaug | MaxBet Podcast
MaxBet Podcast
What actually happens when a casino gets hacked? Do they pay the ransom? Who loses their bonus? And how do you protect your own family from cyber threats when you're in the industry spotlight? On this episode, Melissa Aarskaug joins us to talk about cyber risk in gaming, her personal playbook for online safety (complete with a family safe word… which we’re 87% sure is “MaxBet”), and why cybersecurity is not just an IT problem. We cover the GLI Bulletproof report, the ripple effect of digital breaches, and how executives need to lead from the top when it comes to cyber security. She's...
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The Slot Game That Made 1,200 Millionaires w/ Jean Venneman | MaxBet Podcast
MaxBet Podcast
Ever wonder what it was like behind the scenes of the very first Wheel of Fortune slot machine? Spoiler: it involved a Volvo windshield motor, a string, and some serious duct tape energy. We sat down with Jean Venneman from IGT to talk about how a project they hoped would sell a few hundred units turned into a legacy that has made over 1,200 millionaires and changed the casino industry forever. Next year marks 30 years of spinning, winning, and some truly wild jackpot stories. Mike and Hillary also work through some of the worst casino advice people actually give, like why "always split tens"...
info_outlineIn this episode Dallas Orchard, SVP & COO of Asia Pacific for IGT, joins the boys to discuss the current state of gambling in the Australia and Asia regions, his thoughts on building successful regional slot games and scaling them worldwide, and what it was like being a BMX national champion in Oz.