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. 3d ago

    Just Play the Game | Alexandre Tomic | Alea

    Alexandre Tomic, Founder of Alea, returns to iGaming Real Talk for a conversation that begins with the business he has built and gradually moves into much bigger questions around purpose, identity and what success actually means. Surya and Alexandre first catch up on what has changed at Alea since their last conversation. They talk about the company's jackpot product, the very different models operators are asking for, and why building something flexible enough to serve both sides has become part of the challenge. The conversation then moves into sweepstakes, the US market and the new formats starting to appear around skill, P2P and multiplayer mechanics. Alexandre also reflects on how his own view of sweepstakes changed as the market developed, and why he thinks gambling may be moving closer to certain parts of the video game world. There is also a closer look at the reality behind aggregation. Alea sits between operators and game studios, which means trust, payments, technology and risk all have to work together. Alexandre explains why community, partnerships and strong technology have mattered so much to the company's growth, especially in a market where much larger competitors were already established. But the conversation changes when Surya asks a much more personal question: what would be left if Alea was removed from Alexandre's story? From there, the episode becomes less about building a company and more about why we build anything in the first place. Alexandre talks about how closely Alea has become tied to his life, why selling the company no longer feels like the obvious end goal, and how he has started thinking about business as one of the ways we learn about ourselves. That opens the door to a much deeper discussion around happiness, purpose, perception, consciousness and whether success is really something you eventually reach. They also talk about Alexandre's support for research into psychedelic-assisted therapy and gambling addiction, his own curiosity around consciousness and ego, and why he believes some of the value created by the gambling industry should find its way back toward helping gamblers. The episode eventually returns to more familiar industry territory with conversations around conferences, LinkedIn, AI and sobriety. But by that point, even those topics feel slightly different. Because this episode is not only about where Alea is going next. It is also about what keeps someone building after the obvious goals begin to matter less.

  2. 5d ago

    Can You Really Curate Connections?

    In Episode 88 of iGaming Real Talk, Surya Palli speaks with Louise Mouton Tingager, Head of SiGMA Nexus Elite, about the community SiGMA is building for senior executives and industry decision-makers. Nexus Elite is an invite-only executive network built around curated connections and experiences. Louise talks about getting to know the people behind the companies, understanding the markets they are interested in, the challenges they are facing and the people who could be relevant for them to meet. That approach also shapes the experiences around SiGMA events. Members come together through smaller gatherings, dinners, golf and dedicated spaces, with the Nexus team also helping with the practical side of the event experience. Louise believes this becomes increasingly important as industry events grow. A bigger floor and more attendees give people more opportunities to meet, but they do not automatically make those meetings relevant. As she puts it, “You can’t automate a connection.” The conversation also looks ahead to SiGMA Rome, taking place 2–5 November, and what Nexus Elite is preparing around the event. Louise discusses plans around member experiences, including dedicated spaces, transport support, accommodation, golf and smaller gatherings. Pasted markdown For executives interested in becoming part of Nexus Elite, You can reach out to Louise.

  3. Sep 25

    Why the Cheapest Gaming License Can Cost You More Later | Khristina Karanskaia, My Gaming License

    Operators often start the licensing conversation with one simple question: “Which is the best licence?” Khristina Karanskaia from My Gaming License believes that is the wrong place to start. In this episode, Surya and Khristina discuss why the right licence depends on the operator's target markets, business model, taxation expectations, compliance requirements and long-term plans. An offshore licence may still work for one company, while another operator may need a local regulated licence as it scales. The conversation also looks at the UK market. With affordability checks, higher compliance demands and heavier taxation for B2C operators, the market has become much harder to enter. Khristina argues that the UK can still make sense for the right operator, but it is no longer a licence that should be chosen simply because of its reputation. They also discuss one of the most common mistakes operators make when choosing licensing and compliance partners: focusing too heavily on the initial price. A cheap offer can become expensive once additional signatures, documents and other hidden costs begin to appear. Khristina's wider point is that licensing should be treated as part of the operator's business strategy rather than as a standalone certificate. The right process starts with understanding where the company wants to operate, how it plans to grow and what regulatory framework fits that journey.

  4. Sep 23

    How Tequity is Innovating Game Development & Distribution

    Game development and distribution are often treated as two separate parts of the business. Tequity is connecting them with their full suite products: Originals, RGS, Publishing, and Exclusives. Alex Scott had joined Tequity as CPO only four days before this conversation with Surya. One of the things that attracted him to the company was its reputation for being fast, responsive, decisive and innovative. A big part of the conversation looks at how Tequity’s RGS, Originals, Publishing and Exclusives work together. Rather than building each vertical separately, the company has developed them as connected parts of the business, with each one building on the technology, experience and distribution created by the previous one. The RGS gives studios the infrastructure to build games. Originals helped Tequity develop its own content and distribution channels. Publishing then opened those channels to studios using the RGS, while Exclusives uses Tequity’s development and distribution capabilities to create bespoke content for individual brands. The conversation also looks at what comes next. Alex discusses the thinking behind Tequity’s product roadmap, keeping the company fast as it grows, and preparing to enter more regulated markets based on customer demand, commercial value and market requirements.

  5. Sep 21

    He Risked 5 Years of Profit & £22M on ONE Product | Paul Dolman-Darrall | G.Games

    Paul Dolman-Darrall does not describe G.Games as a company that followed an existing iGaming playbook. His view is that there was never really a playbook to follow. In this long-form conversation with Surya, the CEO of G.Games talks about coming into gambling as an outsider, why relationships still have enormous influence over who gets deals in iGaming, and why trying to build something genuinely different can take years of failure before the idea starts to work. A major part of that story is G.Games' multiplayer slot project. Paul says the company has spent years and around £22 million developing the idea, effectively putting years of company profit behind one product. The original vision was always built around competition and multiplayer, but getting there required Paul to challenge his own bias against slots and learn why players actually enjoy them. The conversation also goes deeper into product design. Paul argues that customers usually cannot tell a company what product should be invented, but they know very quickly whether they want something once they see it. He also gives a deliberately provocative view on game engagement, addiction and responsible gambling, arguing that a product designer's job is to create the strongest possible experience within rules set by operators and regulators. But the thread running through the full conversation is persistence. Paul talks openly about unsuccessful products, an acquisition that came extremely close to completion, being an outsider in a relationship-driven industry and the difficulty of building an independent iGaming company today. His advice to would-be founders is simple: there is no playbook. If you want to build something, you need to start and keep going long enough to find your own route.

  6. Sep 16

    Could Regulation Be the Better Path for Asia’s Online Gaming Markets? | Paul Fox, Claymore Solutions

    The Philippines has become one of the most important regulated online gaming markets in Asia, and Paul Fox believes other countries in the region can learn from how the market has developed. Paul, Founder of Claymore Solutions, speaks with Surya about why the Philippines has become a natural base for gaming operations and back-office teams, particularly for larger and publicly listed companies that need to operate carefully around regulation. The conversation also looks at where online gaming in Asia could go next. Paul describes the Philippines as a regional trailblazer, pointing to the growth of licensed online gaming alongside the country's established land-based casino market. For markets such as Thailand, he believes the Philippines offers a more relevant comparison than Europe or the United States because of the similarities within the region. Malaysia and Indonesia may face more complicated paths because of religious and cultural factors. Paul's wider argument is that gambling demand already exists across Asia, whether it is legal or not. His preference is for clear legislation that allows governments to regulate the activity properly, create safer operating conditions and collect tax revenue.

  7. Sep 15

    Why iGaming Companies Struggle to Enter Asian Markets | Pierre Wuu

    Asia's iGaming market has changed significantly over the years, but entering the region is not as simple as treating Asia as one market. In Episode 83 of iGaming Real Talk, recorded at SiGMA Asia in Manila, our host Surya Palli sits down with Pierre Wuu, Board Advisor at SiGMA Group, to discuss the development of the Philippine market, regulatory stability and what international companies need to consider before entering Asia. Pierre explains why stability from regulators is important for companies investing in the region, and why the Philippines has been able to build a stronger regulated online market than many other countries in Southeast Asia. The conversation also looks at Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and the UAE, including why some markets have struggled to put clear regulatory frameworks in place and what Thailand needs to do before it can fully develop its gaming opportunity. Pierre also talks about why international operators need to get closer to the markets they want to enter. For him, having people on the ground and understanding local marketing, payments and compliance is essential. The discussion ends with a simple point: Asia is not one market. Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries all have their own rules, habits and opportunities.

  8. Sep 10

    Can Casinos Bring the Online Experience Back to the Floor? | Joe Pasiono, Jade Entertainment

    The Philippines has one of Asia's most developed gaming markets, but Joe from Jade Entertainment believes licensed operators are still competing for only a fraction of the total opportunity. Speaking with Surya at SiGMA Asia, Joe looks back at a career in gaming that started in 1988 and covers the market's move from land-based casinos into sports betting, remote gaming and today's growing online sector. His view is that online gaming has now surpassed land-based gaming, creating a new challenge for traditional casinos: how to bring the online and physical experience together. A major part of the conversation is channelisation. Joe says legal gaming in the Philippines represents only 22% of revenue, with the rest going elsewhere. For him, licensed operators should not see each other as the main competition. The bigger challenge is moving players away from illegal and grey-market alternatives. The discussion then widens to Asia and other emerging markets. Joe sees further potential in Sri Lanka, East Africa, Vietnam and Malaysia, while remaining much more cautious about markets such as Thailand. He also argues that governments should consider regulation not only as a source of tax revenue, but as a way to introduce player protection, responsible gambling and KYC. Surya and Joe also discuss crypto casinos, tax structures and the importance of making regulated products competitive. Joe's wider point throughout the conversation is consistent: demand for gaming does not disappear because legal options are removed. If regulated gaming is not available, illegal alternatives will continue to exist.

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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
    82
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Surya Palli
  • Show Website
    iGaming Real Talk