iGaming Real Talk

Surya Palli

iGaming Real Talk is a podcast where real conversations take centre stage. We speak with founders, creators, and leaders. Most of them come from the iGaming world, and some from beyond. We talk openly about what it really takes to grow, lead, and keep going. If you're building something of your own, leading a team, or simply figuring things out, you'll find something here that resonates. Hosted by Surya Palli, suryapalli.com Join our community on WhatsApp igamingrealtalk.com

  1. 5 hr ago

    Is Overregulation in Sports Betting Giving the Black Market an Advantage? | Eric Su, DigiPlus

    Sports betting in the Philippines is growing, but Eric Su believes the next phase cannot simply be about chasing faster revenue. In Episode 79, Joining Surya on iGaming Real Talk, the former Head of ArenaPlus at DigiPlus explains why the market needs to move towards more sustainable growth, stronger compliance and responsible gambling without making the regulated product so restrictive that players move elsewhere. Eric argues that banning or heavily restricting betting does not remove demand. Black market operators are already present, and overregulation can give them a stronger position if legal operators become less attractive or harder to access. The conversation also looks at the large gap between sports fans and sports bettors in the Philippines. Eric explains why education and better fan engagement matter, and how ArenaPlus used its NBA partnership to connect betting content with the way people already follow basketball. Surya and Eric also discuss prediction markets, micro betting and the future of sportsbooks. Eric does not expect prediction markets to replace traditional sportsbooks, but believes different products could increasingly overlap as technology and player behaviour continue to change.

  2. 1 day ago

    Is Cheap CPA Costing Operators Better Players? | Prash Patel

    In Episode 78 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with Prash Patel, Founder of DMR Strategic, about how the relationship between operators and affiliates needs to change as acquiring players becomes harder and more expensive. Prash has experience on both sides of the relationship. He previously built and sold an affiliate business and has also worked on the operator side. One of the biggest mistakes he sees is operators treating every affiliate and traffic source in the same way. SEO, PPC, social, streamers and communities all work differently, with their own costs, audiences and business models. The conversation also questions the industry's focus on cheap CPA. Prash argues that acquiring a player for less money does not automatically make that player more valuable. An affiliate that looks expensive initially may deliver players who generate far more value over the following months. For him, operators need to decide whether they are building around short-term acquisition costs or longer-term player value. Another major topic is communication. Prash says affiliates are often treated simply as traffic sources, with little personalization or understanding of how their businesses work. He believes stronger operator and affiliate relationships will become increasingly important as quality traffic gets harder to find. The episode then moves into AI and what it means for affiliates. Prash believes AI has made it much easier to launch websites and produce content, but that also makes it harder to stand out. His view is that trust, brand, personality and community will become more important, while the strongest affiliates will use AI for localization, personalization and translation rather than simply generating more content.

  3. 2 days ago

    Are Crypto Casinos Chasing Volume Over Quality? | David Khutsishvili, FortuneJack

    In Episode 77 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with David Khutsishvili, CMO at FortuneJack, about why chasing bigger acquisition numbers does not always create a stronger casino business. FortuneJack has been operating since 2014 in a crypto casino market where new brands continue to appear. David says trust has been one of the main reasons the company has been able to keep players over time. The team focuses on player relationships, VIP management, loyalty programmes and creating an experience that encourages customers to stay rather than simply acquiring more users. The conversation also looks closely at streamers and affiliate traffic. David explains why views and screenshots cannot always be taken at face value. Fake views, bots and recycled promotional funds make verification important. FortuneJack uses a dedicated streamer management team, research tools and manual checks before deciding whether a partnership makes sense. For David, audience size is also not enough. A successful streamer still needs to fit the positioning of the brand. FortuneJack prefers longer-term streamer partnerships and looks at the audience, market and promotional approach before building a deal. The episode closes with the future of affiliate relationships. David does not believe CPA and RevShare will disappear, but he thinks the relationship between operators and affiliates needs to move beyond individual transactions. His view is that operators should understand the a

  4. 3 days ago

    Can New Live Casino Suppliers Disrupt the Market? | Nadiya Attard | ImagineLive

    In Episode 76 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya speaks with Nadiya Attard, CCO at ImagineLive, about whether newer live casino suppliers can challenge the companies that have dominated the vertical for years. Nadiya sees a clear difference between live casino and the RNG space. Slots have become crowded with thousands of suppliers, while live casino is still led by a relatively small number of major companies. For her, that leaves room for newer suppliers that can offer strong product quality, modern technology, competitive commercials and faster delivery. A big part of the conversation is about flexibility. Nadiya explains why listening to operators becomes even more important as a supplier grows. When larger companies become slower or less willing to adapt, startups and newer operators may begin looking for providers that can respond faster and work around their needs. The episode also looks at localization and emerging markets. Nadiya highlights LATAM, Africa and Asia, explaining why local language and player behaviour need to be considered when building a live casino product. ImagineLive recruits local dealers in certain markets as part of that localisation strategy. Surya and Nadiya also discuss AI dealers and whether replacing human dealers could remove one of the main reasons people choose live casino. Nadiya explains how AI can instead work behind the scenes to monitor dealer behaviour and improve engagement. The conversation ends with ImagineLive's plans to bring new game formats and concepts to younger generations of live casino players.

  5. 27 Aug

    Are Celebrity IP Games the Next Big Thing? | Celebrity Games, Player Engagement & The Next Generation of iGaming | Simone Bacchin, Kerma Games

    In episode 75 of iGaming Real Talk, our host Surya Palli was with Simone Bacchin, Head of Sales at Kerma Games.We discuss what makes a game stand out in an increasingly competitive iGaming market, why player experience matters more than releasing large volumes of titles, and whether celebrity IP games could be the next big thing.Simone explains why Kerma Games approaches game development more like entertainment, and why using a celebrity in a game needs to go beyond simply putting their face on the product.What the industry is facing:- Game studios competing in an increasingly crowded market- Players expecting more from the overall gaming experience- Celebrity IP becoming a new way for games to differentiate- Simply putting a celebrity's face on a game not being enough- A new generation of players changing expectations- Operators and studios looking for new ways to build player engagementWhat this conversation explores:- Why Kerma Games focuses on quality over quantity- How celebrity personality can become part of the game experience- How Snoop Dogg's personality is built into the Snoop Dogg Blackjack experience- Why celebrity communities can give games an existing audience and level of trust- Kerma Games' work with artists including Lil Baby- Why differentiation is becoming increasingly important in iGaming- How changing player generations could influence the next decade of the industry- What's next for Kerma Games and its celebrity game roadmap-------Brought to you by:Evoverse - https://evo-verse.com/ Wicked Games - https://www.wicked.games/ --------Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: surya@igamingrealtalk.comCheck out igamingrealtalk.com--------Chapters00:00 - What Makes Kerma Games Different?01:02 - What Are Celebrity IP Games?02:25 - How Snoop Dogg Becomes Part of the Game03:56 - Kerma Games' Celebrity Lineup04:39 - Why Differentiation Matters05:03 - The Next Generation of Players05:30 - What's Next for Kerma Games?05:45 - Closing Thoughts

  6. 26 Aug

    SiGMA Poker Tour | Women in Poker, Live Events & Emerging iGaming Markets | Ivonne Montealegre

    In episode 74 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya sits down with Ivonne Montealegre from SiGMA Poker Tour to discuss poker, business, failure, women in poker and the growth of live poker across emerging markets. Ivonne shares how she went from psychology and radio in Los Angeles to iGaming and eventually building a career around poker. She explains what poker has taught her about failure, risk-taking and business, and why the lessons from the table can apply far beyond the game. What the industry is facing: Live poker going through a new wave of growth after the pandemic Women still needing more confidence and opportunities to enter poker Emerging poker markets facing regulatory and jurisdiction challenges Online poker needing to keep players entertained and socially engaged Operators looking for stronger ways to connect with players and communities A new generation of players changing how poker is experienced What this conversation explores: Why poker teaches people how to deal with failure and take risks The growth of the SiGMA Poker Tour across Brazil, Malta and Manila Why Africa could become an important emerging market for live poker How poker events bring players, affiliates, operators and influencers together What to expect from the SiGMA Poker Tour in Sri Lanka The future of online poker, streaming and AI Ivonne's vision for the future of the SiGMA Poker Tour Brought to you by:Thunderspin --------Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: surya@igamingrealtalk.comCheck out igamingrealtalk.com-------- Chapters 00:00 - What Can Poker Teach You About Failure? 01:10 - Meet Ivonne Montealegre 02:26 - From Psychology & Radio to iGaming 06:08 - What Poker Teaches Us About Failure 07:38 - How Poker Empowers Women 08:29 - The Growth of the SiGMA Poker Tour 15:00 - Where Is Poker Growing Next? 20:07 - AI & the Future of Online Poker 23:05 - Ivonne's Vision for the SPT 25:18 - Ivonne's Message to the iGaming Community Episode of iGaming Real Talk with Ivonne Montealegre from SiGMA Poker Tour.

  7. 24 Aug

    What Makes a Brand Unforgettable? | Marketing, Campaigns & Strategy | Irina Veselkova, Endorphina

    In episode 73 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at iGB Live London, our host Surya Palli was with Irina Veselkova, Head of Marketing at Endorphina, to discuss creative B2B marketing, event campaigns, LinkedIn engagement and what actually makes people remember a brand. Irina explains the thinking behind Endorphina Kingdom, why interactive experiences can make a campaign more memorable, and how Endorphina adapts its marketing approach to different markets. What the industry is facing: Brands competing for attention at crowded iGaming events B2B marketing becoming harder to stand out with Different markets responding to different creative concepts bLinkedIn's changing algorithm making performance harder to predict B2B audiences engaging more with people and personal content Brands needing to test different formats to understand what works What this conversation explores: Why Endorphina Kingdom is built around interaction rather than just branding How Endorphina adapted its campaign for the LATAM market Why a strong creative idea can be more memorable than a big exhibition stand Why people and faces matter in B2B content How LinkedIn engagement is influenced by relationships and communities Why marketers need to keep testing different content formats What's next for Endorphina's events and marketing plans What the company has planned for the rest of 2026 ------- Brought to you by:St8: https://st8.io/Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/ -------- Hosted by Surya PalliConnect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/For podcast sponsorship and collabs: surya@igamingrealtalk.comCheck out igamingrealtalk.com -------- Chapters 00:00 - What Makes People Remember a Brand? 01:18 - Meeting Irina at the Endorphina Stand 01:32 - What Is Endorphina Kingdom? 03:50 - Adapting Campaigns for Different Markets 05:12 - What's Happening With B2B Marketing on LinkedIn? 05:30 - LinkedIn's Changing Algorithm 06:21 - Why Content With People Works 06:38 - Do People Engage With the Content or the Person? 07:27 - Endorphina's Plans for 2026

  8. 20 Aug

    Self-Exclusion Isn’t Enough: The Future of Player Safety | Alec Gehlot, PlaySignal

    In Episode 72 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at iGB Live in London, our host Surya Palli was with Alec Gehlot, Founder & CEO of PlaySignal, to discuss the problems around self-exclusion, responsible gaming and what operators can do before players reach the point of self-exclusion. Alec explains why self-exclusion may not be the safety net the industry thinks it is, why players can fall through the gap, and how operators can identify behavioural changes earlier. What the industry is facing: Self-exclusion numbers are rising rapidly Players can fall through the gap before reaching self-exclusion Operators often have limited tools around the journey towards self-exclusion Players who self-exclude can become targets for the black market Responsible gaming interventions can feel like a short-term revenue risk Operators need to focus more on sustainable players and lifetime value What this conversation explores: How PlaySignal identifies behavioural signals before self-exclusion Why responsible gaming interventions should be protective, not punishing How early intervention can support long-term player value Why regulated operators need to think differently from the black market Why building trust with players could become a competitive advantage for regulated operators What the future of responsible gaming could look like Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/

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About

iGaming Real Talk is a podcast where real conversations take centre stage. We speak with founders, creators, and leaders. Most of them come from the iGaming world, and some from beyond. We talk openly about what it really takes to grow, lead, and keep going. If you're building something of your own, leading a team, or simply figuring things out, you'll find something here that resonates. Hosted by Surya Palli, suryapalli.com Join our community on WhatsApp igamingrealtalk.com

Information

  • Creator
    Surya Palli
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Surya Palli
  • Show Website
    iGaming Real Talk

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