MaxBet Podcast

AI has become the answer to just about everything. Need to cut costs? AI. Need to grow revenue? AI. Need to impress your board? AI. The problem is, very few people can explain where the ROI actually is. This week on MaxBet, Hillary McAfee sits down with Cris Kuehl, Chief Data & AI Officer at Continent 8 Technologies, to sort through the questions gaming executives are asking behind closed doors. Where should companies be investing in AI? Where should they absolutely not? Does every company need a Chief AI Officer? What should startups be doing today so they don't get left behind tomorrow? Whether you're building an AI strategy, trying to separate opportunity from distraction, or just looking for a conversation that doesn't sound like it was written by ChatGPT, this episode is for you.     A special thanks to Continent 8 for sponsoring this episode of MaxBet Podcast.

7/8/26 • 39:23

Simon Thomas owns the Hippodrome Casino, one of the most iconic gaming and entertainment venues in the world. Located in the heart of London, the Hippodrome attracts a third of all casino admissions in the city and has become known for doing things differently. In this episode of MaxBet, Simon joins Hillary McAfee to talk about building a business around experiences, why most problems have a solution if you're willing to find it, and how the Hippodrome grew into a destination that combines gaming, sports betting, restaurants, bars, live entertainment, and hospitality under one roof. They also discuss the launch of the UK's first casino sportsbook, testing new products, creating a culture people want to be part of, and why Simon believes the best ideas often come from focusing on how customers feel. Plus: why he hates coat check tickets, the story behind the Hippodrome's newest sportsbook, and the lesson that's guided him through nearly every challenge he's faced: find a way or make a way.

6/18/26 • 34:08

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 & Wonder are doing right now and why certain products are getting attention across the industry. We also get into: The perceived persistence takeover  Popular features What game has been the most copied What falls off the charts fast What operators are paying attention to right now

5/28/26 • 48:22

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 where things start to look very different. There's real data in here, some honest answers, and a few moments where it becomes clear the industry is still figuring this out in real time. This WTF with IGI?!? mini-series is put together in collaboration with The International Gaming Institute and filmed at UNLV Black Fire.

5/21/26 • 28:45

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?   This episode is supported by our partners at IGT and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. We appreciate them being part of the conversation.

4/30/26 • 38:03

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.

4/16/26 • 49:13

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 saying you value diverse perspectives and creating space for them What Defy the Odds is doing behind the scenes

4/8/26 • 31:26

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 culture always starts at the top The leadership habit that can undo years of progress Hiring for potential vs hiring for performance How to make hard decisions without losing respect Why numbers alone are not enough to scale a company What sustainable leadership actually looks like

3/26/26 • 31:37

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 is going next, this is the stuff you want to be paying attention to.

3/19/26 • 20:07

MaxBet is teaming up with UNLV International Gaming Institute 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. Brett Abarbanel and walk through exactly what you can expect from WTF? with IGI. First episode airs 3/19! Also, IGI's International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking is happening May 26–28, 2026 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where a lot of these exact conversations are happening in real time. You can learn more and register here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gnjF2MA9

3/18/26 • 05:22

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.

3/6/26 • 31:43

Hillary sits down with Catie Di Stefano, one of the most genuinely connected people in the gaming industry. With 15 years in gaming (which officially makes her a self proclaimed baby dinosaur), Catie has built a strong reputation for how she approaches both marketing and LinkedIn in a B2B world. It's practical, consistent, and rooted in real relationships. The conversation covers how people can show up on LinkedIn without waiting on their company page to do all the work, how personal credibility grows over time, and why supporting other people in the industry matters more than most realize. If you work in marketing, care about building a personal presence online, or want a clearer sense of how people actually build connection and opportunity in gaming, this episode is for you. 

2/25/26 • 36:12

AGS recently launched a new brand identity at G2E, and this episode unpacks what that evolution represents for the company. Julia Boguslawski and Nikki Davis from AGS share why the rebrand was necessary, what they wanted the market to better understand about who AGS is today, and how the new identity reflects the company's growth across slots, tables, and interactive. The conversation explores the realities of rebranding in gaming, from internal alignment and rollout strategy to how a brand lives on the show floor and in long-term customer relationships. It's an inside look at how a gaming supplier modernizes its brand without losing its edge, paired with an honest perspective on trade show culture and the dynamics of marketing in the industry.

2/10/26 • 46:37

Joe Solosky, Managing Director of Sports Betting at NASCAR, joins the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on what sports betting looks like from a motorsports and league-side perspective. Before helping build out NASCAR's sports betting strategy, Joe spent six years with the FBI, giving him a unique lens on regulation, integrity, and how leagues think about betting partnerships. We talk about how sports betting fits into motorsports, how prediction markets are viewed from the league side, and how quickly "the future" is arriving in this space. It's a practical, thoughtful conversation about where betting, leagues, and regulation are actually intersecting right now.  

1/15/26 • 32:16

Aristocrat CPO Matt Primmer joins MaxBet and gets right into it, including whether he prefers Lightning Link or Buffalo and how he looks at product even when he's off the clock. We chat about his mindset around change and adapting, why doing things the same way as before usually means something is wrong, and how intensity, efficiency, and short meetings shape the way he leads. He also shares why, despite running global product, he is very clear that he is the lowest on the totem pole at home. There is real talk about lessons learned, parenting, club sports, and what balancing product and family actually looks like.

1/7/26 • 44:33

Emily Haruko Life Coach and CEO of Soroca joins the show to talk about what actually improves teams and company culture. Emily works within B2B organizations to help leaders strengthen communication, increase efficiency, and build healthier work environments. A major focus of her work is emotional intelligence. She shares a study where Coca-Cola implemented emotional intelligence training and saw a 15% increase in earnings. We'll have whatever they're having. We also get into how leaders can recognize different employee states, how communication flow impacts performance, and why culture shows up in the "doing". Practical, clear, and relevant whether you lead a team or work within one.

12/19/25 • 35:33

Mark Phillip, CEO of MetaBet and Are You Watching This?!, breaks down the future of sports betting, real-time sports technology, and the rise of prediction markets. An MIT dropout with a brilliant mind for product and data, Mark brings sharp insight and surprising clarity to one of the fastest-moving sectors in gaming. If you work in sports betting, iGaming, trading, or anything tied to real-time sports experiences, this episode is for you.  

12/11/25 • 32:20

Marcus Yoder showed up with clear opinions on M&A in gaming and did not dance around any of them. We talked through a bit of the IGT and Everi merger, how leaders should think about integration, and what actually builds culture once the dust settles. This one leans into people more than deals. How they react. How they stay connected. How you keep a team steady when everything around them is shifting.  If you work with humans in any capacity, this one is for you.

11/26/25 • 29:32

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. It's smart, surprising, and more entertaining than a conversation about legislation has any right to be.

11/12/25 • 31:59

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: Eilers & Krejcik Gaming is one of our sponsors, which means this episode is officially smarter than it sounds, and they have great taste.

10/30/25 • 46:51

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.

10/16/25 • 45:09

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.   IGT is a proud partner of MaxBet Podcast 

10/1/25 • 30:11

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.

9/18/25 • 30:09

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 threat to the casino industry. Love it or hate it, this is the conversation the gaming industry needs.

9/4/25 • 35:00

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.

8/26/25 • 31:55

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 development does the project tend to go sideways. He also walks us through the worst day of his career- a headline moment on Yahoo News that's either a cautionary tale or a badge of honor, depending who you ask. There's button slapping, screen smashing, a certain CEO who spilled red wine on white carpet, and enough name-dropping to qualify as an industry mixer. If you've ever worked with Mike, talked to him, or accidentally passed him in an airport, you're probably mentioned. This episode was made in partnership with Eclipse Gaming

6/25/25 • 35:17

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 straight-shooting, smart as hell, and our favorite UNR grad. If you work in gaming and touch tech in any way, this one's a must-listen.

6/9/25 • 34:25

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" should probably be a jailable offense. Sponsored by IGT, powering today's conversation (and a lot of casino floors). As always, all opinions are our own, for better or worse.

5/20/25 • 34:06

Diallo Gordon, President of Pavilion Payments, joins us to discuss how the gaming industry can better tackle fraud and improve responsible gaming through smarter payment systems. We explore the rise of payment fraud in casinos, why scammers are getting more advanced, and how operators and payment providers can benefit from working together. This episode highlights the connection between secure payments, compliance, and a better player experience. If you work in gaming or fintech, this conversation gets to the root of what needs to change.

5/15/25 • 50:20

Dr. Brett Abarbanel from UNLV's International Gaming Institute joins the MaxBet Podcast with dinner party facts, bold suggestions for the casino industry, and a peek at the research projects that actually get people talking. We cover the science behind dice design, how research in the gaming industry gets funded, and the success of UNLV's student internship program connecting future talent with casino operators. She also shares how she won the biggest hand of her life with a bluff and walked away with a husband. Sparkly shoes included. This episode is for anyone who likes their data with a side of dry wit.

5/6/25 • 47:07