On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Casey Hurbis, Chief Marketing Officer of BetMGM, to talk about his path from automotive and mortgage marketing to leading one of the biggest brands in sports betting.
Hear them discuss:
01:00 – Casey’s career journey from Chrysler and Rocket Mortgage to the fast-paced world of gaming
03:00 – The surprising similarities between marketing cars, mortgages, and sportsbooks
05:00 – How BetMGM uses data-driven celebrity partnerships, from Jamie Foxx to Jon Hamm
08:00 – Building a brand rooted in entertainment, trust, and the MGM legacy
11:00 – Differentiating BetMGM in a crowded market through loyalty, experiences, and exclusives
14:00 – Why BetMGM aims to attract an “elevated player” and what “Make It Legendary” really means
17:00 – The growing crossover between sportsbook and iCasino players and how AI personalizes their journeys
22:00 – Marketing within tight regulations and embedding responsible gambling from the start
25:00 – How AI and rapid tech change are transforming marketing faster than ever before
29:00 – What the industry still gets wrong about brand-building and why long-term trust beats short-term promos
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This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting
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31:36
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31:36
E262 - Francesco Borgosano from Huddle
On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Francesco Borgosano, CEO of Huddle.
Hear them discuss:
Francesco's unique journey from academia to the sports betting industry
The evolution of sports betting, particularly in the American market, and the impact of technology on betting practices
Integrity in betting and the need for collaborative efforts to address challenges
The role of data sharing and monitoring in ensuring fair practices within betting
The evolving role of AI in the sports betting industry, addressing misconceptions and the need for proper infrastructure
The growth of prop betting and the coexistence of prediction markets and traditional bookmakers
His outlook on the future of the sports betting industry
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⚡️ Apply to be a guest here
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This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting
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39:09
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39:09
E261 - Daniel Zimmermann from Verse Picks
On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Daniel Zimmermann, CEO and Co-Founder of Verse Picks, the app bringing a “parlay anything” experience to the next generation of bettors.
Hear him discuss:
How his college experience running Barstool Syracuse sparked his entrepreneurial journey
The early days of Verse Gaming and the pivots from DFS to skill games to prediction markets
Why the team spent years building toward a “bet on anything” model — and how legality shaped its evolution
How Verse’s new “Parlay Anything” feature bridges the gap between traditional betting and prediction markets
Lessons from operating under the sweepstakes model and navigating shifting state regulations
His perspective on DraftKings, Kalshi, and the future of CFTC-approved prediction exchanges
The retention challenges facing prediction markets and how Verse plans to gamify the experience
Building a lean, agile startup team — and the value of staying alive through constant pivots
How younger generations see gambling differently, shaped by crypto, trading, and gamified culture
The long-term vision: becoming a top-tier prediction operator within five years
⚡️ Follow BoB on Twitter/X
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This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting
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30:10
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30:10
E260 - Adam Robinson from American Bettor’s Voice
On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by Adam Robinson, CEO of Hireology and board member of the American Bettor’s Voice.
Hear them discuss:
02:00 – Adam’s background building Hireology and how he found his way into gaming policy
04:00 – Why he joined American Bettor’s Voice and how player limits inspired his advocacy
06:00 – The challenges of parenting in an era where gambling ads are everywhere
08:00 – Breaking down the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the real risks of the proposed gambling tax
12:00 – How tax policy could drive bettors offshore and reshape state revenues
14:00 – New data from Massachusetts proving sharp bettors get limited more often
16:00 – The sports betting business model vs. prediction markets — and where regulation may land
18:30 – The “grand bargain” path for prediction markets, following Uber and Airbnb’s playbook
21:00 – Parallels between sports betting, financial markets, and probabilistic thinking
23:00 – Predicting human fit at work vs. predicting outcomes in sports — and how both rely on data
27:00 – How thinking like a gambler can improve decision-making in business and life
Check out Adam's paper here.
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This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting
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30:28
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30:28
E259 - Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos
On this episode of the Business of Betting Podcast, Jeff Edelstein is joined by legendary professional bettor Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos.
Hear them discuss:
02:00 – The origins of Spanky’s nickname and early identity in the betting world
03:00 – The story of Bet Bash: from rooftop meet-up to industry-defining event
06:00 – Founding the American Bettor’s Voice and advocating for players
07:30 – Balancing industry ventures with running a betting team
09:00 – How the betting landscape has changed, from bookies to account limitations
11:00 – Prediction markets: why Spanky hasn’t gone deep (yet)
12:00 – Escaping the Wall Street “rat race” and building a career in betting
16:30 – Lessons from gambling applied to parenting and life with a child with autism
22:00 – Growing up in Jersey City: hustling, losses, and turning points
26:00 – Spanky’s pro wrestling detour and the painful lessons learned in the ring
32:00 – Reflections on Jersey pride, diversity, and raising kids in the suburbs
⚡️ Follow BoB on Twitter/X
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⚡️ Apply to be a guest here
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This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Get your first month free: https://optimove.com/businessofbetting
A podcast covering the sports betting industry from the perspective of bettors, operators, and industry insiders. Hosted by Jeff Edelstein, Senior Analyst at InGame.com. Presented by Optimove.
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