The Gambling Files

Former EGR bloke Clark Beecroft comes on the podcast to share his passion for the game of Sh¡thead, a passion that has led to him developing his own custom deck for the game! We also get into Clark’s gambling industry experiences, and his plans to travel the world while promoting the game. This (blockbusting) episode explores innovative ideas for game development, industry insights, and personal stories. And more, of course. Things we talk about, in a list: Clark Beecroft's career at EGR and industry insights The game of shithead and its potential as a gambling product Innovative ideas for game development and monetization Clark's travel plans and global monster project Industry challenges and opportunities in online gambling Chapters, but add a a couple of minutes for the music and that other bit Jon’s added about the sponsors, who we love. Music used with permission of the artist, I should add!: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 02:00 Industry insights and reflections on gambling in Russia and Brazil 03:23 Clark Beecroft's career at EGR and industry experiences 04:22 Leaving EGR and passion for the game of Shithead 07:17 Clark's long tenure in the gaming industry and fond memories 09:12 The evolution of gambling games and the potential of Shithead 11:15 Popularity of Shithead among different demographics 13:34 Modifications to the game for faster play and better experience 15:22 Creating a branded deck of Shithead cards 17:10 Challenges with Amazon and product sales 19:50 Clark's travel plans and projects around the world 23:33 The monster project and cultural exploration 28:19 Organising a Shithead tournament and community engagement 33:44 Potential for digital versions and online tournaments 37:33 Industry attitudes towards gaming and fun 43:26 Favourite movies and cultural interests 45:39 Closing remarks and contact information Clark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clark-beecroft-89539222/ Resources & Links: As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible. Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts. Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In the gambling industry’s favourite podcast*, we meet immaculately-coiffed journalist Nick Devor to discuss the gamblification of collectibles like Pokemon and baseball cards, the parallels with gambling mechanisms, and the regulatory challenges facing the industry. We explore how these trends impact addiction, regulation, and the future of gambling and collectibles. No bloody Fintan again though, the part-timer. *other podcasts are available, but they’re not the favouritest ones Stuff we talk about, in a list: The gamblification of collectibles like Pokemon and baseball cards The psychological mechanisms behind gambling and collecting Regulatory challenges and the lack of federal oversight The link between trading cards and problem gambling The impact of social media on gambling behaviours The rise of prediction markets and their legal implications The role of brands and marketing in gambling and collectibles The influence of regulation and federalism on gambling laws The connection between poverty, gambling, and risky behaviours The importance of industry involvement in research and treatment Choice quotes: "Let the content dictate the format, don't force structure." "Spending money on random card packs is linked to problem gambling." "Opening packs is about the experience, not just the cards." Chapters, but add some time because of our beautiful music, used with permission from Mara Carlyle: 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 12:49 The link between trading cards and problem gambling 24:48 The experience of opening collectible packs 36:30 Market dynamics and regulation challenges 48:02 The role of social media and marketing 59:03 Regulatory landscape and federal oversight Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-devor/ Resources & Links: As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible. Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts. Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this bonus episode, AWARD-WINNING gambling industry journalist Zak Thomas-Akoo shares insights on investigative journalism in the gambling industry, the importance of regulation, and the evolving landscape of gambling markets worldwide. It’s weird that we hadn’t asked Zak on before, given that he won the inaugural Gambling Book Awards prize for industry journalist of the year. But hopefully we have made up for that now! Things we talk about, in a list: The role of investigative journalism in the gambling industry Challenges of balancing commercial interests and journalistic integrity The influence of regulation and independent regulators Gambling markets in Brazil and global trends The importance of long-form journalism and quality reporting The significance of industry awards and recognition The impact of AI and digital transformation on journalism The social harms and gambling addiction issues Choice quotes – no bonus points for guessing who said them, either: "Balancing regulation and commercial interests is tricky" "Regulation should be independent from government influence" "Poverty drives gambling addiction more than anything else" Chapters – but you’re going to need to add a couple of minutes, because Jon added a thing to the front, then there’s the lovely music… 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 03:43 Zach's industry awards and their significance 08:04 Transition to investigative journalism at NEXT.io 11:17 Challenges of sourcing and verifying information 15:34 The importance of source relationships and untangling biases 17:01 Industry bias and media balance in gambling reporting 18:18 Gambling's social harms and regulatory challenges 20:12 Brazil's gambling ban and political landscape 23:30 Global gambling markets and regulatory trends 27:47 The independence of gambling regulators 28:48 Poverty, addiction, and social impacts of gambling 33:55 Proud moments in investigative journalism 36:19 The challenges of regulatory transition and reform 38:27 The separation of user data and treatment data 41:14 The future of quality journalism and AI 43:46 Recognising industry journalists and their contributions 45:11 The importance of long-form journalism and deep reporting 49:33 The evolution of gambling journalism and industry coverage 51:37 The role of niche journalism and specialised reporting Zak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-thomas-akoo-48b570233/ Resources & Links: As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible. Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts. Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode, Greg Knight, CEO of Jenningsbet, a popular British high street bookmaker, discusses the challenges faced by independent bookmakers, the rising costs of media rights, and the broader issues affecting the UK high street and retail betting industry. Discover insights into the economic pressures, industry dynamics, and potential future directions of betting shops and racing. This episode, no Fintan, so there’s much better quality questions and less nonsense. Things we talk about, in list form: Rising costs of media rights and their impact on independent bookmakers The decline of high street betting shops and community impact Industry dynamics between media rights providers and bookmakers The effect of online gambling on retail betting Industry responses to economic and regulatory challenges Choice quotes: "Nobody's really talking about the cost of media rights" "Content is bundled and we can't pick what we want" "Racing is underfunded and costs are rising faster than revenues" Chapters, but add some time because of our beautiful music, used with permission from Mara Carlyle: 00:00 Introduction to Greg Knight and Jenningsbet 01:59 Overview of Jenningsbet and UK retail betting 03:08 Sponsorships and industry partnerships 03:59 The cost of media rights and industry impact 10:06 Comparison of media rights costs over five years 15:12 Content quality and package issues for bookmakers 19:57 Competition and cooperation among media rights providers 25:03 The effect of media rights costs on industry sustainability 29:49 The state of the UK high street and retail challenges 40:01 Community role of betting shops and social impact 50:09 Industry regulation, government policy, and future outlook – I’m not sure why this list ends here though, because there’s a good 20 minutes more of this episode after this point… Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg~knight/ Resources & Links: As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible. Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts. Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

In this episode Fintan and Jon welcome back Keith O'Loughlin, now a best-selling author! Of course he’s also an expert in sports betting and gaming, and in this episode he tells us about his new venture, shares insights on transforming the betting industry, making sports betting more accessible, and the importance of trust and fun in gaming. We explore innovative betting technologies, responsible gambling, and the future of sports and media integration. Stuff we talk about, in a list: The evolution of sports betting over the last 20 years The importance of trust and simplicity in betting platforms Innovations in media integration for sports betting The role of responsible gambling and protecting players The concept of 'fun' in betting and sports engagement The impact of technology and AI on betting experiences The story behind the name 'Funteron' and its mission The future of sports rights and viewer engagement The challenges and opportunities in expanding betting to new markets Keith's insights on the importance of experience over trophies Choice quotes: "The medal is just a piece of metal." "Life is about experiences, not trophies." "Your scoreboard in life is not about money." Chapters, but add 30 seconds or so because of the music which we use with permission by Mara Carlyle: 00:00 Introduction to Keith O'Loughlin and the episode's focus 02:16 Keith shares his recent experiences and insights 09:21 Keith discusses his book about Eddie Jordan 11:48 Upcoming book 'The Medal Is Just Metal' and its themes 16:13 Personal stories about achievements and trophies 18:07 The true scoreboard of success in life 19:29 Challenges in the current global landscape 25:59 Keith's new betting business and industry insights 34:19 Simplifying sports betting and making it fun 40:17 How integration with media works in betting platforms 48:17 Future vision for responsible and fun betting Keith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keitholoughlin/ Resources & Links: As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible. Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And the new-ish-est members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions. For more information, visit gaminglabs.com. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts. Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/