The Betting Startups Podcast

Ep. 206: The journey scaling to 250 million games played w/ Jason White from TallyUp

Ep. 206 features Jason White, founder of TallyUp, a free-to-play global game show platform blending casual gaming, wagering mechanics, and the attention economy.
 
Hear them discuss:
The TallyUp concept: a free-to-play, ad-supported PVP gaming platform where players can win real money without risking their own capital
How exponential growth mechanics (inspired by childhood ping pong bets) shaped the core gameplay model
Building simple, “unbeatable” games that balance skill and chance while preventing bots and ensuring fairness
Why TallyUp sits at the intersection of casual gaming, gamified marketing, and betting-adjacent experiences
Solving the “CAC bloodbath” in real-money gaming with a low-cost, global user acquisition strategy
The power of the attention economy and why attention, not money, is the true base currency
Launching real-money wagering in ~100 countries and what this unlocks for monetization and scale
The hybrid model: free global game show + optional real-money skill wagering
B2B opportunities through branded tournaments for companies like Uber or Airbnb
How TallyUp enables large-scale, global competitions with real engagement (vs. traditional giveaways or sweepstakes)
Lessons from failure, rebuilding, and the importance of patience and perseverance as a founder
Fundraising journey: from seed round to preparing for a $10M Series A
 
SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000.
Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ TallyUp website
➡️ Jason White on Linkedin 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 205: Restoring the winning edge for recreational poker w/ John Caldwell from i3soft

Ep. 205 features John Caldwell, Co-Founder of i3Soft, a gaming technology company building next-generation poker and casino products designed to improve player experience, increase liquidity, and bridge the gap between poker and casino gameplay.
 
Hear them discuss:
John’s unconventional journey from the music industry (Atlantic Records, Stone Temple Pilots, Hootie & the Blowfish) into poker and eventually gambling tech
Building PokerNews into the leading global poker media platform and later transitioning to PokerStars during the online poker boom
The core problem with online poker today: long tournament times and a broken experience for recreational players
The vision behind i3Soft, including AI-assisted tournament formats (“Skip It”) designed to shorten gameplay and restore balance between pros and casual players
“Poker Casino” and the strategy of using poker-adjacent games to improve cross-sell from poker into casino products
Challenges of selling a new category to operators, and why liquidity remains the biggest barrier in online poker
The four-year product development journey, including a failed early build and eventual breakthrough to launch
Funding i3Soft through a mix of self-funding, friends & family, and unconventional “drip” investment structures
The current state of poker: strong live demand but ongoing struggles to translate that momentum online
2026 priorities for i3Soft, including operator adoption, scaling distribution, and expanding poker liquidity networks
 
SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000.
Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ i3soft website
➡️ John Caldwell on Linkedin 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 204: Fixing the blind spots in sports betting marketing w/ Allan Stone from Intelitics

Ep. 204 features Allan Stone, CEO & Co-Founder of Intelitics, a marketing intelligence platform helping betting and iGaming companies better understand the true impact of their marketing spend and optimize performance across the full player lifecycle.Hear them discuss:
Allan’s journey into betting, from online poker to affiliates and founding Intelitics
The origin story of Intelitics and the gap in marketing intelligence within real money gaming
How shifting consumer behavior (desktop → mobile) reshaped marketing opportunities in the industry
What “marketing intelligence” really means and how it connects spend to actual revenue outcomes
Why traditional metrics like deposits or FTDs aren’t enough to measure true ROI
The complexity of attribution across channels, affiliates, and player behavior
How operators can use real-time data to optimize acquisition, retention, and reactivation
The impact of AI on SaaS models and changing expectations around pricing and value
Why betting companies need purpose-built, vertical-specific technology to solve deep industry problems
The evolving marketing mix in 2026, including opportunities in underutilized channels like Yahoo and Reddit
Key differences in marketing strategies between traditional sportsbooks and emerging products like prediction markets
Advice for founders on aligning marketing spend with unit economics and long-term business outcomes
 
SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000.
Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Intelitics website
➡️ Allan Stone on Linkedin 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 203: Bringing the 'Swipe Right' mechanic to fantasy sports w/ Toby Bucsescu from Blitz:Draft

Ep. 203 features Toby Bucsescu, CEO & Co-Founder of Blitz:Draft, which is reimagining the sports gaming experience by combining elements of daily fantasy, betting, and quick-play mechanics into a format built for speed and accessibility.
 
Hear them discuss:
Toby’s path into the sports gaming industry and founding Blitz Draft
The problem with traditional betting and DFS products
How Blitz Draft creates a faster, more engaging user experience
Key differences between draft-style games and conventional formats
Product development insights and early user feedback
Navigating regulation while building an innovative product
Strategies for acquiring and retaining users in a competitive market
The importance of simplicity and reducing friction in gameplay
How Blitz Draft fits into the broader evolution of sports gaming
What’s next for the company and the future of quick-play betting formats
 
SBC Americas First Pitch is back in Fort Lauderdale (June 9–11), bringing together some of the most exciting companies in real money gaming for a chance to win an exclusive prize package valued at $100,000.
Applications are now open. Submit your application before April 17th using this link: https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-americas/first-pitch/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Blitz:Draft website
➡️ Toby Bucsescu on Linkedin 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/
 

Ep. 202: Breaking: Gambly and Unabated merge to create a new powerhouse w/ Cal Spears

Ep. 202 features Cal Spears, founder of Gambly, returning to the Betting Startups Podcast to share an update on the company’s progress since launch, insights from the NEXT Summit in New York, and a major milestone for the business. 
 
Hear them discuss:
Cal’s return to the podcast and what has changed at Gambly since its launch in October 2024
Key takeaways from the NEXT.io Summit in New York and why prediction markets dominated the conversation
The story behind Gambly merging with Unabated and why combining forces made strategic sense for both companies
How Unabated’s advanced betting analytics and pricing models now power Gambly’s tools and insights for bettors
The vision of creating a unified ecosystem that blends AI-driven bet discovery with professional-grade betting data
Lessons learned from building and scaling products in the betting ecosystem
How founders should think about partnerships, consolidation, and product leverage when building betting startups
What’s next for Gambly following the merger and how the team plans to expand its product offering
 
Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Gambly website
➡️ Unabated website
➡️ Cal Spears on Linkedin
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 201: Bootstrapping a niche content empire on quality alone w/ Taylor Caby from Establish the Run

Ep. 201 features Taylor Caby, Co-Founder of Establish The Run, sharing the story behind building the evolution of betting content, the business of premium sports analysis, and why high-quality information products continue to thrive in an increasingly crowded sports betting ecosystem.
 
Hear them discuss:
Taylor’s background in poker, daily fantasy sports, and the path that led to launching Establish The Run
How the DFS boom helped shape the modern sports betting content ecosystem
Why building a subscription-based analysis product requires credibility and long-term trust with an audience
The difference between entertainment betting content and serious analytical work
How Establish The Run approaches projections, modeling, and content production across multiple sports
The realities of running a premium subscription business in a market filled with free picks and influencer content
Why niche expertise and deep analysis still outperform broad “mass-market” betting advice
How sports betting media companies balance education, entertainment, and actionable information
The role of community and loyal subscribers in sustaining independent sports betting media businesses
Taylor’s perspective on where sports betting content and analytics businesses are headed next
Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Establish The Run website
➡️ Taylor Caby on Linkedin
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 200: Announcing the launch of BettingStartups Capital w/ Paris Smith

Ep. 200 marks a major milestone for the Betting Startups Podcast, featuring a special conversation between Jesse Learmonth and longtime industry leader Paris Smith to celebrate the 200th episode and announce a major new chapter for the platform.
 
Hear them discuss:
Jesse and Paris’s shared history at Pinnacle, how a startup acquisition led to a six-year partnership, and the full-circle moment that brings them back together
The official launch of BettingStartups Capital, including its mission to back early-stage real-money gaming startups as one of the first checks in
What they look for in founders, from industry experience and coachability to problem-solving mindset and commercial realism
Lessons Paris has learned as an angel investor, how operator instincts translate to investing, and why availability and honesty matter most
Why ecosystem-building, fast decision-making, and founder support are central to their investment philosophy
The announcement of InsightPlay.ai as the first investment under BettingStartups Capital and why the team stood out
How conferences, networks, and mentorship accelerate startup success in a complex and regulated industry
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Betting Startups Capital is now accepting pitches from early-stage founders looking for their first institutional check, strategic support, and access to a global operator network. If you’re solving a real problem and ready to scale, we want to hear from you. Submit your pitch here: bettingstartups.com/capital
 
Only a few tickets remaining! Use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/
 

Ep. 199: Turning crypto volatility into a pocket prediction game w/ Michael, Evan & Chris from FEEN

Ep. 199 features Michael, Evan and Chris from Feen, to discuss building a next-generation betting product, navigating early-stage product decisions, and finding differentiation in an increasingly crowded wagering landscape. The conversation explores Feen’s origin story, early traction, and how the founders think about product focus, user behavior, and long-term scalability.Hear them discuss:
The founding story behind Feen and the problem the team set out to solve
Why real market volatility beats RNG games and how Feen turns crypto moves into playable races
Macro thesis: finance following content’s shift toward short-form, on-demand, dopamine-driven formats
Community, identity, and lessons learned from NFTs and consumer internet culture
B2C focus vs potential B2B integrations with operators and ecosystem partners
UX challenges in crypto, onboarding “normies,” and passing the ultimate test: the mom test
Early traction, user feedback, and why Feen stayed private during initial iterations
Bootstrapping the company, current fundraising plans, and scaling mobile distribution
State of crypto in 2026, volatility as opportunity, and why builders still have the edge
Five-year vision: becoming a household pocket prediction game
 
If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Feen website
➡️ Michael Chiang on Linkedin
➡️ Evan Luza on Linkedin
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 198: The long road to a breakthrough inflection point w/ Pierre Lindh from Next.io

Ep. 198 features Pierre Lindh, founder of NEXT.io, returning for his fourth appearance on the Betting Startups Podcast. Pierre reflects on NEXT.io’s breakout year, the transition from scrappy startup to growth-stage business, the role of investigative journalism in iGaming media, and why emerging betting products may go global in 2026.
 
Hear them discuss:
How 2025 became a “12-year overnight success” after more than a decade of compounding momentum
The shift from runway preservation to investing aggressively in growth
Why founders inevitably become bottlenecks and how to let go without losing vision
The importance of finding a true operational counterbalance as a visionary leader
Why sustainable scaling beats short-term overexpansion in a cyclical industry
How AI is reshaping media and why human journalism may become more valuable, not less
The commercial trade-offs of integrity-led investigative reporting
Game theory, AI acceleration, and why safety may lose to competitive pressure
The explosive growth of NEXT New York and what makes it a senior-level dealmaking event
His 2026 prediction: emerging products like prediction markets and sweepstakes expanding globally
 
If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Next.io website
➡️ Pierre Lindh on Linkedin
 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/

Ep. 197: Automating savings through betting w/ Benson & Daniel from Regen

Ep. 197 features Benson Bleier and Daniel Prior, Co-Founders of Regen, an automated savings platform built specifically for sports bettors. break down how Regen helps bettors automatically save money on every bet — win or lose — and why they believe savings and investing can become a core part of sustainable gaming.
 
Hear them discuss:
Benson and Daniel’s paths from consulting, VC, and professional poker into building a betting-adjacent fintech startup
How the founders met in Argentina through padel and decided to launch Regen
How poker bankroll management inspired the original idea behind Regen
What Regen does: automated savings triggered every time a sports bet is placed (win or lose)
How the product works, including sportsbook connections, bank integrations, and user-set saving rules
Why users save on both wins and losses and how typical saving percentages are set
How Regen aggregates betting activity across multiple sportsbooks to provide simple performance insights
Why Regen positions itself as a fintech, “gambling-adjacent” product for operators and bettors
How Underdog’s Guard Dog fund discovered Regen and why it invested
Regen’s roadmap, including operator integrations, investing products, and its vision for sustainable betting and financial education
 
If you don't have a ticket for the Next.io Summit in New York event yet, use discount code BETTINGSTARTUPS10 for 10% off your full event pass. Grab your ticket here: https://next.io/summits/newyork/
 
Catch the video version of this episode here.
 
Learn more 👇
➡️ Regen website
➡️ Ben Bleier on Linkedin
➡️ Daniel Prior on Linkedin
 
 
📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/