Connected with Pragmatic Solutions

Pragmatic Solutions

Connected with Pragmatic Solutions is a B2B iGaming podcast covering technology, platforms, and innovation, featuring expert insights from technology providers, ecosystem partners, and industry leaders to deliver practical value for iGaming operators, in collaboration with Next.io.  Hosted by Ashley Lang, CEO of Pragmatic Solutions, the podcast is shaped by his more than two decades of iGaming leadership, bringing deep expertise in platform technology, operator needs, and the delivery of scalable, compliant, and client-centric solutions for the global iGaming industry. Check out our website for more content: https://pragmatic.solutions/connected

  1. 8H AGO

    iGaming Leadership: What Boards Want from the C-Suite | Connected Podcast Ep. #19: Odgers

    Odgers Partner Andrew Bulloss draws on 16 years of senior executive search in iGaming to explain what boards, investors, and founders are now asking for from their senior leadership teams, how AI is entering executive briefs, and what separates the candidates who succeed at C-suite level from those who don't. Odgers is one of the world's leading executive search firms, with a dedicated global gaming and gambling practice focused on senior leadership appointments for operators, B2B suppliers, and investment-backed organisations worldwide. In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang speaks with Andrew Bullos about what effective senior leadership hiring looks like in iGaming in 2026, including: - How regulated markets have changed what boards and investors expect from senior leaders, and why rigour now matters as much as ambition. - Why the most effective iGaming CEOs combine commercial drive with emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and data-led decision-making. - How to match the right leader to the stage a business is at, and why the skills needed for each phase differ. - The difference between B2B and B2C leadership requirements, and where the core traits overlap. - How AI is beginning to appear in C-suite job specifications, and what AI fluency is starting to mean in practice for operators and suppliers. - Where out-of-sector talent works in iGaming, and why onboarding strategy determines whether those hires succeed or fail. - The five behavioural traits that define successful iGaming CEOs, drawn from 25 to 30 conversations with chief executives in the sector. - What aspiring senior executives can do now to prepare for C-suite roles, including finding a mentor, gaining board exposure, and seeking honest feedback. Episodes: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:00 Welcome and about Andrew Bulloss 00:02:22 What boards and investors look for in senior leaders 00:05:04 How leadership demands have evolved over the last decade 00:08:59 B2B vs B2C leadership: are the skill sets different? 00:11:56 Matching the right leader to the stage of the business 00:14:48 Culture fit vs culture change: how to approach the hire 00:17:36 The impact of AI on executive briefs and leadership requirements 00:23:57 Bringing talent into iGaming from outside the industry 00:29:02 What makes iGaming attractive (and off-putting) to outside candidates 00:32:59 What organisations should look for when hiring senior leaders 00:33:47 The five behavioural traits of successful iGaming CEOs 00:38:05 What candidates should ask in a senior interview 00:43:18 How to prepare for a C-suite role: three practical steps 00:47:53 Closing remarks and how to contact Andrew Bulloss The Connected with Pragmatic Solutions podcast brings you the latest insights in iGaming technology and innovation. Produced in collaboration with NEXT.io — The World's iGaming Community. More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected #igaming #podcast #igamingleadership #executivesearch #igamingtalent

    49 min
  2. iGaming CRM Strategy: Retention, VIPs and AI | Connected with Pragmatic Solutions Ep. #18: Kyborg

    MAY 6

    iGaming CRM Strategy: Retention, VIPs and AI | Connected with Pragmatic Solutions Ep. #18: Kyborg

    iGaming CRM specialist Kyborg explains how operators can move beyond deposit-focused campaigns to build behavioural-based retention strategies, manage VIP churn proactively, and integrate AI without losing strategic control. Brigitta Szenczy is Co-Founder of Kyborg, a specialist CRM and player lifecycle agency with a decade of iGaming experience. She works with operators to diagnose CRM weaknesses, design lifecycle strategies, and execute across retention, VIP management, and player engagement. This conversation covers the full scope of iGaming CRM strategy, from goal-setting and tooling selection to personalisation, VIP warning signals, and the practical role of AI in day-to-day operations. Some of the topics covered are: - Why treating deposit conversion as the primary CRM success metric leads operators to optimise for the wrong outcome. - How to diagnose business weak points before setting KPIs, rather than building campaigns first and measuring results after. - The difference between behavioural-based real-time CRM and campaign scheduling, and why these are frequently confused. - How to select CRM tooling based on platform integration, compliance requirements, and market-specific functional needs. - When generic campaigns outperform personalised ones, and how to judge which approach is appropriate at each stage of the player relationship. - How CRM functions as an early warning system for VIP churn by tracking behavioural signals before revenue impact becomes visible. - Where AI adds genuine value in CRM operations, and where human expertise remains necessary. The importance of product and operational alignment for CRM to function effectively. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Kyborg and CRM Strategy 00:01:36 What is Kyborg: Agency Services and Approach 00:04:14 Identifying Problems and Setting Strategy 00:06:06 Platform Requirements and Tooling Selection 00:08:40 Setting Goals and Avoiding Common Pitfalls 00:15:03 Beyond CRM: Product Alignment and UX Issues 00:17:13 Generic vs Personalized Campaigns: When to Use Each 00:20:31 Key Focal Points: Retention and Conversion First 00:24:58 AI in CRM: Ally Not Enemy 00:29:56 VIP Strategy: Personalization and Early Warning Systems Kyborg is a specialist CRM and player lifecycle agency serving iGaming operators across multiple markets, providing strategy, execution, and ongoing optimisation across the full player lifecycle.The Connected with Pragmatic Solutions podcast brings you the latest insights in iGaming technology and innovation. Produced in collaboration with NEXT.io — The World's iGaming Community. More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected #igaming #podcast #igamingcrm #playerretention #igamingmarketing

    35 min
  3. AI-Powered Market Intelligence for iGaming. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions. Episode #17: Blask

    APR 29

    AI-Powered Market Intelligence for iGaming. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions. Episode #17: Blask

    Do you have a clear view of player behaviour across markets? What if the data behind your decisions is only telling part of the story? In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang speaks with Max Tesla, CEO and Co-Founder of Blask, about how iGaming businesses can access real-time competitive intelligence to make better-informed market decisions. Blask is a market intelligence platform built specifically for iGaming, tracking more than 5,000 brands across 126 countries. It provides operators, game providers and investors with daily visibility into where player attention is moving, how brands are performing relative to each other, and how markets are evolving in real time. The conversation explores how this data is used in practice, from benchmarking performance and shaping acquisition strategy to evaluating market entry and supporting M&A due diligence. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Blask and Market Intelligence 00:02:52 The Blask Index: Measuring Player Attention 00:04:03 Brazil Case Study: Timing Market Entry Decisions 00:06:30 Game Provider Intelligence and Lobby Visibility 00:09:14 Platform Demo: Real-Time Market Analytics 00:11:24 Understanding the Blask Index Methodology 00:12:58 Competitive Benchmarking and Market Positioning 00:14:48 M&A Intelligence and Competitive Earnings Baseline 00:16:56 Growth Without Context: The Tesla and CPG Examples 00:21:03 Regulated vs Offshore Market Analysis 00:25:46 Industry Trends: US Market Underestimation 00:29:14 Africa: The Fastest Growing Opportunity 00:31:13 Market Share Trajectory vs Absolute Growth 00:32:32 Future Predictions: AI Agents and Prediction Markets 00:34:02 UAE Emergence and US State-by-State Window Closing 00:36:22 Getting Started with Blask: Access and Pricing Some of the topics covered include: • Blask Index insights into player attention shifts and its reliability compared with revenue and deposit data. • How operators and studios use attention data and lobby analytics to understand visibility and performance across markets. • The use of competitive earnings baselines as an independent check on revenue claims in M&A transactions and investment due diligence. • What the data reveals about emerging opportunities in markets such as the US, Africa and prediction markets. • Differences between offshore and locally regulated market share across Brazil, Germany, and the UK. • The impact of AI on how market intelligence is consumed and applied across the industry. The Connected with Pragmatic Solutions podcast brings you the latest insights in iGaming technology and innovation, in collaboration with NEXT.io — The World’s iGaming Community. More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected #igaming #podcast #competitiveintelligence #marketintelligence #igamingdata

    39 min
  4. M&A in iGaming: How to Build Business Value. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions. Ep. #16: Tekkorp

    APR 22

    M&A in iGaming: How to Build Business Value. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions. Ep. #16: Tekkorp

    How does the investment market view your iGaming business and what creates value? In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang speaks with Crispin Nieboer, Partner at Tekkorp Capital, about how iGaming operators and B2B providers can build, protect, and realise value. Crispin brings decades of experience in the industry, having served in C-Level roles from start-ups to Tier-1 operators. At Tekkorp, he advises companies and founders across the buy and sell side, with a focus on helping businesses structure for long-term value before any transaction process begins. This in-depth interview explores the journey from early-stage capital decisions to exit strategy, drawing on current examples from multiple jurisdictions across the industry. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to M&A in iGaming 00:02:09 What is Tekkorp Capital: Advisory Services Explained 00:03:56 The Best Time to Sell Your Business 00:08:30 Primary Value Drivers in B2C and B2B Businesses 00:12:52 Brazil Case Study: Unregulated to Regulated Market Transitions 00:15:05 Flutter's M&A Success Story and Acquisition Strategy 00:16:01 Early Stage Courtship: Building Buyer Relationships 00:17:11 Crypto and Unregulated Markets: Value and Risk Assessment 00:20:46 Innovation Gap: Why Crypto Brands Lead in User Experience 00:25:28 Capital Raising Strategy: Equity, Debt, and Alternative Structures 00:31:39 Combating Low Valuations and Controlling the Narrative 00:32:58 M&A as a Growth Strategy: When to Buy vs Build 00:35:35 Common M&A Pitfalls: Beyond Price and Overpaying 00:38:40 Earn-Outs and Founder Retention Strategies 00:40:49 Market Opportunities: Finland, New Zealand, and Emerging Territories 00:43:06 Africa and Canada: Growth Markets with Different Challenges 00:44:36 UK Market Impact: Tax Changes and Consolidation Pressures 00:46:22 The Future: Recreational Gaming and Social-to-Real Money Bridge 00:48:28 Emerging Products: Sweepstakes, Prediction Markets, and DFS 2.0 00:51:31 Deal Analysis: Flutter and FanDuel Masterclass vs Penn and Barstool Lessons 00:55:42 Tekkorp's Approach: Operator Experience and Long-Term Partnerships Tekkorp Capital advises operators, founders, and investors across the global gambling sector on buy-side and sell-side transactions, strategic partnerships, and corporate development. The Connected with Pragmatic Solutions podcast brings you the latest insights in iGaming technology and innovation. Produced in collaboration with NEXT.io — The World's iGaming Community. #igaming #podcast #mergersandacquisitions #igamingstrategy #corporatedevelopment

    59 min

  5. JAN 8

    How MarTech and AI are Reshaping iGaming in 2026. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions: Expert Focus.

    How can your marketing teams get full value from their technology stack? Are your acquisition and engagement strategies keeping pace with rising costs and competition? In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang speaks with Simon Gatenby, a marketing and technology leader who has played a key role in transforming the digital marketing capabilities of some of the industry’s largest operators. They discuss how the marketing tech ecosystem in iGaming is evolving and what it takes to create a data-driven, compliant, and agile marketing function in today’s regulated markets. The candid in-person interview includes: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Marketing Technology in iGaming 00:01:51 Why Marketing Technology Defines Business Success 00:05:08 The Marketing Funnel: Awareness and Acquisition 00:07:00 Conversion Optimization and Landing Page Experience 00:09:44 Multi-Channel Engagement and Retention Strategy 00:12:15 Real-Time Personalization and Content Assembly 00:19:47 The PAM Platform: Data Integration and Signal Processing 00:24:52 Attribution Challenges and Privacy-Safe Marketing 00:25:48 Player Protection and Regulatory Compliance in MarTech 00:32:33 Channel Selection: Push, Email, SMS, and Context 00:35:17 Real-Time Marketing and Bad Session Recovery 00:40:39 Bonus Optimization and Incrementality Measurement 00:43:23 The Evolution of Marketing Teams and Roles 00:45:33 AI Revolution: From Copywriting to Campaign Execution 00:52:17 Brand Building vs Performance Marketing Balance 00:56:40 Auditing Your MarTech Stack: Two Critical Questions 00:58:27 Why iGaming Leads in Marketing Innovation Produced by @PragmaticSolutionsPlatform in partnership with‪ @nextdotio More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected #martech #igaming #igamingindustry

    1h 1m

  6. 12/02/2025

    Fake Casino Games Exposed. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions Episode #14: Gamecheck

    There's a problem impacting the iGaming industry that you may not be aware of, and that is eroding trust and credibility. It's pirated, fake games content. The problem is bigger than you may think, and we all have a part to play in eliminating it. In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO, Ashley Lang, sits down with James Elliott, Founder of @Gamecheckcom to discuss the growing issue of copied and manipulated casino games present across the industry. James explains how Gamecheck is working with operators, suppliers, and players to verify the authenticity of game content across websites. The conversation outlines the risks for operators and the practical steps they can take to protect their environments. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Game Piracy in iGaming 00:01:16 What is Game Check: Fighting Fake Casino Games 00:02:23 The Scale of the Problem: Why Players Are Being Cheated 00:05:05 The Game Check Seal: Authentication for Players 00:07:03 Building Trust: The New Standard for Authenticity 00:08:30 Why Legitimate Operators Should Participate 00:11:58 Affiliates and Industry Stakeholders: Everyone Has a Role 00:13:46 Continuous Monitoring: Detecting Game Switching Tactics 00:15:53 How It Works: Operator Enrollment and Player Experience 00:19:01 Game Provider Support and Industry Impact The Connected Series spotlights innovative providers in the industry, delivering practical solutions to real-world iGaming challenges. Produced by @PragmaticSolutionsPlatform, in partnership with@nextdotio All about @Gamecheckcom: www.gamecheck.com More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected #playerprotection #igaming #igamingindustry #compliance #onlinecasino

    23 min

  7. 09/30/2025

    99.9% Login Success Explained. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions. Episode #12: MIRACL

    How secure is your login process? Are passwords costing you players? In this episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang speaks with Rob Griffin and Michael Tanaka, co-founders of MIRACL. They discuss how MIRACL is transforming authentication for iGaming operators by eliminating passwords, streamlining multi-factor login, and delivering a secure, two-second sign-in experience that works seamlessly across all devices and browsers. MIRACL’s cloud-based authentication technology offers operators a 99.9% login success rate, significantly higher than traditional passwords or SMS-based 2FA. By reducing friction, cutting costs, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements, MIRACL helps operators protect customer accounts while enhancing the user experience—keeping players engaged and reducing support burdens. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to MIRACL and Authentication Challenges 00:01:17 What is MIRACL Trust: Passwordless Authentication Explained 00:02:17 The Problem: Security, Regulation, and User Experience 00:03:47 Why Legacy Authentication Methods Fail 00:04:59 Live Demo: The MIRACL Login Experience 00:06:34 Advanced Cryptography and Zero-Knowledge Proof 00:08:22 Registration Process and Seamless Integration 00:10:50 The 99.9% Login Success Rate Advantage 00:12:52 PIN Reset and Customer Support Integration 00:16:31 Regulatory Compliance Across Global Markets 00:18:17 Competitive Landscape: SMS, Passkeys, and Alternatives 00:20:49 Unified Experience Across All US Regulators 00:22:07 100% Compatibility: The Technical Differentiator 00:22:35 Closing Remarks and Next Steps The Connected Series spotlights innovative providers integrated with our Player Account Management (PAM) platform, delivering practical solutions to real-world iGaming challenges. Produced in partnership with @nextdotio #igaming #igamingindustry #businesspodcast More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected

    24 min

  8. 09/09/2025

    Boosting iGaming Performance with Amazon Web Services. Connected with Pragmatic Solutions.

    How can you scale your business to a new regulated market 3x faster? Could a 4x performance boost be hiding in your infrastructure? In this special episode of Connected with Pragmatic Solutions, our CEO Ashley Lang sits down for an in-depth conversation with Sergey Kurson and Serhii Avramchuk, part of the founding team of the iGaming vertical at Amazon Web Services (AWS). They explore how AWS established a dedicated iGaming division, the unique needs of regulated operators, and the consultative role AWS plays in helping operators scale faster, stay compliant, and deliver more personalised player experiences. AWS is more than a cloud hosting provider. Their iGaming-focused teams work hands-on with operators to optimise infrastructure, reduce latency, enhance security, and support multi-jurisdictional compliance. Through deep technical expertise and global infrastructure, AWS empowers operators to move faster, cut costs, and focus on what matters most: building better player experiences. At Pragmatic Solutions, we’ve built a strong, collaborative partnership with AWS to power our PAM platform globally. By working closely with AWS’s specialist iGaming team, we ensure our infrastructure is optimised for high availability, low latency, and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. This partnership allows us to co-consult with operators, identify performance and cost efficiencies, and jointly support market expansion strategies, giving our clients access to world-class technology and proven operational guidance. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to AWS and the iGaming Industry 00:01:33 The Origin Story: Building AWS's iGaming Division 00:04:03 Amazon's Culture: Bias for Action and Leadership Principles 00:08:18 Overcoming Cloud Adoption Barriers in iGaming 00:13:26 AWS as an Innovation Accelerator 00:15:48 Beyond Infrastructure: Business Consultation and Ecosystem Support 00:21:29 Key Industry Priorities: Performance, Security, and Global Expansion 00:27:29 Security and Regulatory Compliance Tools 00:40:52 Real-Time Personalization and Data-Driven Decision Making 00:49:19 The AI Revolution: Talking to Your Data 00:50:28 The AWS Ecosystem Effect and Future Trends 00:59:50 Cost Optimization and Getting Started with AWS Each episode of Connected highlights technology providers shaping the future of iGaming. Brought to you in collaboration with @Next.io #igaming #aws #igamingindustry #igaming #igamingindustry #businesspodcast #igaming #igamingindustry #businesspodcast #igaming #igamingindustry #businesspodcast More at www.pragmatic.solutions/connected

    1h 5m
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About

Connected with Pragmatic Solutions is a B2B iGaming podcast covering technology, platforms, and innovation, featuring expert insights from technology providers, ecosystem partners, and industry leaders to deliver practical value for iGaming operators, in collaboration with Next.io.  Hosted by Ashley Lang, CEO of Pragmatic Solutions, the podcast is shaped by his more than two decades of iGaming leadership, bringing deep expertise in platform technology, operator needs, and the delivery of scalable, compliant, and client-centric solutions for the global iGaming industry. Check out our website for more content: https://pragmatic.solutions/connected

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