Shows / MaxBet Podcast
MaxBet Podcast
Whether you're deep in the game or just gaming-curious, this podcast is for you. MaxBet is the #1 podcast in gaming and the longest running B2B show in the industry. Hosted by Hillary McAfee, the podcast brings you real conversations with the people shaping this business; executives, insiders, and the occasional legend. It's not formal, it's not scripted, and it's definitely not stuffy. Just sharp takes, bold ideas, and behind the scenes stories from the gaming world. You'll hear from industry…
Episodes
MaxBet PodcastRickard Vikström of Internet Vikings: The CEO Who Put His Number on a Billboard
What kind of CEO puts his personal cell phone number on a giant billboard at ICE Barcelona? Rickard Vikström, apparently. The Internet Vikings founder and CEO…
MaxBet PodcastPlayer Acquisition, Casino Loyalty & The Cost of Playing it Safe
How do you convince a valuable casino player to try a property they've never visited, especially when they're already getting great offers somewhere else? This…
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Gaming Payments, Fraud & the Cost of Getting to Market | Chelsie Cooper, Approvely
Fraudsters targeting gaming operators on Reddit, startups waiting a year for payment processing, and a company willing to take the financial hit when…
MaxBet PodcastThe App That Predicts Sports With 78% Accuracy
What happens when sports bettors have access to predictions that are more accurate than the sportsbooks themselves? John Hanna, co-founder of XO Sports, joins…
MaxBet PodcastThe G2E Survival Guide + Bluberi's Gucci Row Era
G2E is a marathon disguised as a trade show, and Mike McKiski has some thoughts on how to survive it. Mike is back on MaxBet for our pre-G2E episode to talk…
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The MaxBet Fridge Hall of Fame Awards
The gaming industry has no shortage of lists, and frankly, we didn't want to be left out. So Fiona Power joins Hillary McAfee to hand out honors including Best…
MaxBet PodcastWhat Happened to Innovation in iGaming? | Sue Schneider
Sue Schneider was building the iGaming industry in the mid-90s, before most people had an email address. She's watched it grow from an unregulated frontier…
MaxBet PodcastBuilding the Future of Skill-Based Gaming | Desiree Dickerson, THNDR
What happens when you build a startup in a category most of the industry is still trying to understand? Desiree Dickerson, CEO and Co-Founder of Thunder, joins…
MaxBet PodcastWhy Aren't More States Legalizing iGaming? | Brandt Iden
Subtlety isn't exactly a MaxBet core value, so we start with the obvious question: Why are operators leaving the AGA? After surviving the opening question…
MaxBet PodcastAI in Gaming: Where to Invest and Where to Wait
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…
MaxBet Podcast"Find a Way or Make a Way" | Simon Thomas on Building the Hippodrome
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…
MaxBet PodcastThe Hottest Trends in Slots Right Now
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…
MaxBet PodcastWTF?! Is Actually Happening With AI in Gaming??
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…
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Top 5 Gaming Stories this Week, According to Everyone Important (Me)
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…
MaxBet PodcastSex, Drugs, and the iGaming Industry… According to Alex Tomic
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…
MaxBet PodcastWTF?! Why is Freeplay Not Working?
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…
MaxBet PodcastFrom DEI Pioneer to Startup Champion: Kelly Kehn Is Changing Who Gets to Build Gaming
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…
MaxBet PodcastHow to Scale a Company Without Breaking Your Culture
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…
MaxBet PodcastWTF?! Why Does Draft Kings Care About UNLV??
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…
MaxBet PodcastWTF Is This Series? Introducing WTF? with IGI (ft. Dr. Brett Abarbanel)
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…
MaxBet PodcastWhy Gambling Should Be Entertainment First | Magnus Olsson
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…
MaxBet PodcastThe Long Game of Personal Brand in B2B
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…
MaxBet PodcastNot Your Mother's AGS: Inside the Rebrand of a Gaming Supplier
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…
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From the FBI to NASCAR: A Different View on Sports Betting
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…
MaxBet PodcastHow Aristocrat's CPO Thinks About Product and Life Outside Gaming
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…
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Why Emotional Intelligence Makes Businesses More Money
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…
MaxBet PodcastThe Future of Sports Betting Tech & Prediction Markets w/ Mark Phillip
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…
MaxBet PodcastThe Truth About M&A in Gaming with Marcus Yoder
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…
MaxBet PodcastFrom Black Market to Bill Signed: The Road to Legal iGaming
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…
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Global Gaming: Cultural Progress, Consulting, and Fruit Compliance w/ Julia Weygandt
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…
MaxBet PodcastInside iGaming: Grey Markets, Regulation Pressure, and Market Reality
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…
MaxBet PodcastFrom Double Double Bonus Poker™ to Ultimate X Poker™: How IGT Built Video Poker Legends
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…
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The G2E Survival Guide + The Stories You Won't Hear on Stage
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…
MaxBet PodcastTrue Persistence Slots and Advantage Players: The Casino Industry Red Flag
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…
MaxBet Podcast5 Years of MaxBet with Mike: Favorite Guests, Moments & What's Ahead | S7E1
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…
MaxBet PodcastFrom PR Disasters to the C-Suite w/ Mike Trask | 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…
MaxBet PodcastCasino Cyber Attacks, Ransom Payouts, and Why It's Everyone's Problem w/ Melissa Aarskaug | 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…
MaxBet PodcastThe Slot Game That Made 1,200 Millionaires w/ Jean Venneman | 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…
MaxBet PodcastScammers Are Getting Smarter: Gaming Payments & Fraud Prevention | MaxBet Podcast
Diallo Gordon, President of Pavilion Payments, joins us to discuss how the gaming industry can better tackle fraud and improve responsible gaming through…
MaxBet PodcastDr. Brett Abarbanel on Gaming Research and UNLV's Role in the Casino Industry | MaxBet Podcast
Dr. Brett Abarbanel from UNLV's International Gaming Institute joins the MaxBet Podcast with dinner party facts, bold suggestions for the casino industry, and…
MaxBet PodcastCasey Gonzales (iGaming Threats and Tribal Power Moves) | MaxBet Podcast
This week, Casey Gonzales from @cdcgamingconnect joins us to unpack how tribal operators are navigating the real-world impact of iGaming and sports betting. We…
MaxBet PodcastTrue Persistence: An Operator's Take w/ Oliver Shoemaker | MaxBet Podcast
This week, Oliver Shoemaker, VP of Slot Operations at Cache Creek Casino Resort, joins us to talk persistence games from the operator perspective. We get into…
MaxBet PodcastSan Diego Was Wild (IGA 2025 Recap) | MaxBet Podcast
This week it's just Mike and Hillary debriefing after a whirlwind week in San Diego at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA). Think of it as a giant…
MaxBet PodcastOff the Record (But Not Really) | MaxBet Podcast
No guest? No problem. This week, it's just Mike and Hillary catching up, swapping stories, and pretending there's a plan. In this episode, we talk about: •…
MaxBet PodcastDan Schrementi (Incredible Technologies' comeback) | MaxBet Podcast
Dan Schrementi, President of Incredible Technologies, steps up to the mic to talk about the company's comeback after a few rough years and why true persistence…
MaxBet PodcastDoubling Down on Table Games with Light & Wonder's Matt Booth
This week, we're all in on Double Down Madness, the table game shaking up the casino floor. We've got Matt Booth, the mind behind it, breaking down how it came…
MaxBet PodcastConfetti, Naps, and Slot Awards
Listen. If there's one thing we've learned from the EKG Slot Awards, it's that a tuxedo and a pair of Jordans can absolutely coexist, confetti cannons are not…
MaxBet PodcastFrom Front Desk to President | Lauren Bates on Breaking Barriers & GGW's Future
Madam President has entered the chat and the floor is hers- literally and figuratively. Lauren Bates started at the front desk at Konami and worked her way up…
MaxBet PodcastDiana Bennett on Philanthropy, Charity & Vegas Gaming Stories | MaxBet Podcast
Diana Bennett doesn't want to be called a Vegas legend, but let's be real, she's done more for this city than most. In this episode, we hear incredible stories…
MaxBet PodcastCompany Culture with Andrew Burke
Bluberi's CEO Andrew Burke paid the MaxBet Podcast a visit and shared his insights on company culture, Bluberi's successful hiring hack, and most importantly…
MaxBet PodcastBlockchain Explained with Birkin Bags ft. Cheli Wolf-Kroupp
If you're looking for a crash course on Web3 and blockchain, explained through Birkin bag examples, this is the episode for you! Cheli Wolf-Kroupp came to…
MaxBet PodcastGaming Industry Marketing w/ Erica Kosemund
Erica Kosemund joins the MaxBet Podcast, and let's just say Choctaw's Gaming and Partnerships marketing is next-level creative. We're talking about projecting…
- MaxBet Podcast
Mark Dedeaux on AGS strategy & 911 pager calls
Mark Dedeaux, GM and Senior Vice President of Slots at AGS, joins us on the podcast to discuss gaming supplier strategy, what makes a premium game truly…
MaxBet PodcastHoliday-ish Special
Anyone can drop a holiday special before Christmas, but we'd rather hit you with five minutes of brain rot during no-man's-land: that weird span of time…
MaxBet PodcastHard Launch: Mike & Hillary Kick Off MaxBet 2.0
In this mini-episode, Mike McKiski introduces Hillary McAfee as the new co-host of MaxBet. There's now an area rug in the recording studio, so you could say…
MaxBet PodcastLandon Jones Returns to Talk Podcast Origins, Growth, and Life Beyond The Show
What happened? Did you guys break up? Landon is buying a farm? So many questions. MaxBet's co-founder and former co-host, Landon Jones is back in the studio…
MaxBet PodcastAdvantage Play & True Persistence Slots with Ari Mizachi
Ari Mizachi explains how True Persistence slots are being milked like ATMs by advantage players, creating an unfair playing field that's hitting recreational…
MaxBet PodcastKunal Mishra on iGaming, Youtube Channels & Career Success
In this episode, host Mike McKiski sits down with Kunal Mishra, Chief Strategy Officer at OddsWorks Gaming and creator of the "Watch Me Vibe" YouTube channel…
MaxBet PodcastG2E Brand Winners & Social Media Strategies w/ Hillary McAfee
In this episode of the MaxBet Podcast, host Mike McKiski sits down with the talented Hillary McAfee, who he dubs the 'social media manager to the stars.'…
MaxBet PodcastCasino Player Loyalty Insights with Noah Acres
Join host Mike McKiski in this exciting episode of the MaxBet Podcast as he interviews player loyalty pioneer Noah Acres! Discover the latest trends in real…