First up, we're joined by stand-in interim temporary agency co-host Melanie Ellis of Northridge Law fame, and we talk a bit about things in the UK. Mel luckily brings her brand of common sense to the table, which is definitely an area Jon is lacking [0:00 – 29:24]. We get into the social impact of tax hikes for the UK industry, among many other things – including the revelation that Melanie is no longer baking pastries. I KNOW RIGHT. Then we're joined by the genuinely excellent Huw Thomas of Rec...
Oct 30, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 232
It’s an epic episode this week, with one extra-long intro and a really special main guest. Oooh, maybe we could call it an epicsode! The brilliant Scott Longley steps in for Fintan in the intro, and it developed into quite a long chat about the state of things in the UK at the moment. We got right into the implications of taxation, the rise of the black market, and the historical context of gambling regulation. We delve into the importance of betting shops to local communities and the relationsh...
Oct 23, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 231
First up, Fintan and Jon reveal their new thing, the Gambling Industry Journalist of the Year award that will also make its debut at ICE, and this bad boy comes with a stonking cash prize of £4000 for the winner [0:00 – 26:45]. Yeah, I know right? Jon’s a shoo-in. Or deserves a shoeing, one or the other. Then the chaps are joined by Howard Stutz, senior reporter (and utter legend) from The Nevada Independent, to discuss the current state of Las Vegas, including the controversial narrative that '...
Oct 16, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 230
It’s another BIG NEWS episode!!!! We kick off the latest episode with Fintan and Jon discussing all manner of waffle, including the upcoming Gambling Book Awards, sponsorship opportunities at ICE, and the importance of celebrating journalistic excellence in the gambling industry. Additionally, we also announce a new podcast focused on addiction, exploring various aspects of the topic beyond just gambling addiction. It’s called Addiction: An Hour With Auer, is co-hosted by Dr Michael Auer, and wi...
Oct 09, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 229
First up, Jon and Fintan share some exciting news with listeners about how sexy the website just got – check it out at www.thegamblingfiles.com . [0:00 – 11:25] Then we welcome Jeff Laniado, Director of Sales at Optimove, discusses the evolving landscape of the online gaming industry, particularly focusing on sweepstakes casinos. He highlights the importance of player retention, the critical first 48 hours of player engagement, and the role of CRM in enhancing player experiences. We get into the...
Oct 02, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 228
We kick off in the usual fashion, with some blather from Fintan and Jon, and a little about the GC’s recent report on why people go to offshore operators [0:00 – 17:01]. Then Jon has the pleasure of meeting Nasim Binesh, an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, who discusses the transformative impact of AI on the gambling industry, highlighting the ethicalrisks involved. We get into the importance of transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI applications, as well as the need f...
Sep 25, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 227
Jon kicks off with another menage-a-un , but… is that Fintan?... No, it’s not, it’s a craptacular ‘impersonation’ [0:00 – 4:39]. Then we meet Harry Milas, a magician and sleight of hand artist, who shares his unique journey from game protection to performance art. He discusses his early fascination with magic, the transition from cheating in games to creating a theatrical experience, and the cultural differences in gambling and magic across various regions. The discussion also touches on the evo...
Sep 18, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 226
First off, we have Jon trying to pull off an intro on his own, or as he describes it (and I think possibly feminises himself in French, because he says une. That's how that works, isn't it?), a menage a un . But it’s 2025 and we’re embracing all kinds of fluidity here on The Gambling Files, because we love absolutely everyone [0:00 – 4:08]. Then we welcome back Jay Sayta, a top gambling and gaming lawyer from India with his keen eye trained on the absolute upheaval of recent weeks. Jay estimates...
Sep 11, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 225
We kick off – see what I did there? – the new episode by greeting the return of our hero, Fintan Costello, to these shores. Some say his return is what inspired Christopher Nolan to make his new epic ‘The Odyssey’ because he’s a fan; I can’t speak for that nice Mr Nolan but let’s just say it’s possible. We discuss the newly-announced Gambling Book Awards ( www.gamblingbookawards.com ), talk a bit about sponsors, and many other things [0:00 – 13:25]. Then we meet guest Sam Zerfoss, VP of Customer...
Sep 03, 2025•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 224
This episode, we kick off with a chat between Jon and interim stand-in co-host Melanie Ellis, who claims she is neither a doctor nor a professor. Who knew??? We get into personal experiences with mental health, the implications of blind boxes and loot boxes in retail, and the importance of live dealers in casinos. The conversation also touches on the role of casinos in local communities and the evolving nature of player engagement in the gambling industry [0:00 – 30:50]. Then we meet superstar r...
Aug 28, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Season 2Ep. 223
We kick off with a chat between Jon and current interim stand-in host Melanie Ellis [0:00 – 21:08] which takes in lots of things: tax, sponsors, and the glow of a cow to name just a few. Then we meet episode guest Ofer Friedman, Chief Business Development Officer at AU10TIX. We discuss the evolving landscape of identity verification, particularly in the context of gambling and the rise of deepfakes; the challenges posed by organized fraud, the importance of regulatory compliance, and the future ...
Aug 21, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 2Ep. 222
First up this week, we have Jon and stand-in interim co-host Melanie Ellis, partner at Northridge Law discussing… well, lots of things, really. You know how it goes [0:00 – 26:03]. Then we follow that with returning guest Earle G Hall, CEO at AXES.ai, to discuss the ethical use of AI within the gambling industry. We go elbow-deep into the implications of AI in the industry, particularly focusing on the ethical guidelines proposed by the IGSA. We discuss the importance of data integrity, the role...
Aug 14, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Season 2Ep. 221
Cross-operator self-exclusion for US players – it's a reality! I KNOW RIGHT. We kick off with some flim-flam or other between Jon and interim host Harry, and also mention our incredible sponsors (see below for links to their wares, and for those not in the know it’s OddsMatrix, Optimove and Clarion Gaming) [0:00 – 19:19]. Then we meet IDPair founder Jonathan Aiwazian to talk about cross-operator self-exclusion in the US, and all the obstacles that make things like this quite awkward. The convers...
Aug 07, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 220
HOLAAAAAAA and willkommen! First up there is some stuff and meandering nonsense with longtime host Jon and interim co-host Harry C Lang [0:00 – 20:53], in the midst of which Jon tells you how awesome the sponsors are (OddsMatrix, Optimove and Clarion Gaming – all absolute titans in their respective fields). Then Jon is joined by the excellent Brandie E Black, of Brand E Media fame and the recently-launched ESGiGaming.com. We discuss the evolution of content creation in the gambling industry, the...
Jul 31, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Season 2Ep. 219
First, ignore what Jon says. It's definitely episode 218. So we kick off with stand-in (interim?) co-host Harry Lang and here-all-too-often Jon Bruford discussing sports tourism, exercise, crime in Shropshire, and much much more [0:00 – 34.51]. Then they’re joined by the excellent and super-smart Jonathan Michaels, principal and founder of Michaels Strategies, to discuss: watches, Eton vs Harrow, Michael Caine and The Rock being the same kind of actor, the merits of Jason Statham movies, Jon’s a...
Jul 24, 2025•1 hr 48 min•Season 2Ep. 218
Welcome to another information-packed episode of the industry’s number one podcast. Of course, that depends on what metric you’re using but we’re definitely number one by our measurement methods. And we’re not using any bots to boost traffic, so there’s that. We kick off with Fintan and Jon talking smack, getting into watches and their executive status, mental health, status symbols in travel and much more. You know the drill [0:00 – 30:55]. Then Jon meets guest Sam Jones, and Fintan will be kic...
Jul 17, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 217
There’s an intro, with some waffling, most likely, with Fintan and Jon. But then we get to the meat of the episode… In yet another wildly engaging conversation, gambling industry royalty Ian Sherrington shares his journey in the world of iGaming, detailing his early fascination with gambling, his programming career, and the pivotal moments that led to the establishment of the first online sportsbook. The discussion also explores the unique blend of intelligence and imagination required for innov...
Jul 10, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 216
In this engaging conversation, Richard Logan, Head of Operations at Clarion Gaming, shares insights into the complexities of managing large-scale events like iGB LIVE! and ICE Barcelona. He discusses the challenges of moving events to new venues, the importance of attendee experience, and the role of technology in event planning. Richard emphasises the need for effective navigation and flow within event spaces, as well as the significance of feedback and continuous improvement. The conversation ...
Jun 30, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 215
First up, we are graced by the presence of top gambling industry executive Fintan Costello, who somehow successfully guesses the kind of watch Jon wants to buy – seriously, it's a bit freaky – and we talk about time mastery, which is better late than never [0:00 – 13:54]. Then Jon is joined by Northridge Law's superstar partner Melanie Ellis, who discusses the current state of UK gambling regulations, including updates on the long-awaited white paper, the challenges surrounding affordability che...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 214
In this episode of the Gambling Files podcast, we kick off with hosts Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello in a lively discussion covering various topics ‘related’ to the gambling industry. They explore personal anecdotes, regulatory challenges, market dynamics, and the importance of accountability within organizations. The conversation also touches on sponsorships, innovations in the market, and much more [0:00 – 37:11]. Then they’re joined by none other than the Ginger Prince, iGB’s Kyle Goldsmith ...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 213
Another bumper episode! So we kick off with Jon and Fintan talking about stuff and things [0:00 – 16:48], followed by the last of the interviews from Jon’s recent trip to EveryMatrix towers and a chat with Friend of the Podcast Mark Schmidt [16:49 – 37:35]. And that thing about the Eye of Sauron? Obviously it’s a joke… Our headline act though is (are?) Lorraine Perrons and Claire Jones, co-founders of Gambling Recovery Therapy and Gambling Recovery for All CIC. They discuss their personal journe...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 212
In no way is this week’s episode a nod to our corporate overlords in any way, shape or form. That said, first up in this episode there’s a brief chat between Fintan and Jon [0:00 – 10:22], followed by another interview from Jon’s recent visit to Everymatrix’s shiny new London offices, this time with Russell Colvin, Commercial Director, and Mark Wilson, Head of Trading, to talk about the FSB acquisition and more. Jon finds out why they bought FSB then built their own solution, because you’ve got ...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 211
In the intro for this episode, we get Jon’s recent interview with Richardt Funch, EveryMatrix’s global commercial director, which was done during the visit to the opening of the firm’s new London offices. It’s worth a listen by itself [0:00 – 20:14], but honestly when we package it with the main event it’s an irresistible bundle of joy! Our guest this week is the brilliant Steve McAllister who joins us to discuss the current state of the gaming industry in Canada, focusing on the regulatory chan...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 210
Fintan’s here! And he’s mocking Jon’s weight! The chaps talk about the wonderful term kummerspeck , which apparently translates from German as ‘grief bacon’, and it's something Jon's been enjoying a little too much. Also, as usual we talk about lots of other things too [0:00 – 18:43]. Our returning guest, Legal Gaming’s Antti Koivula, discusses the evolving landscape of Finnish gambling legislation, highlighting the current status of regulatory changes, the rarity of prohibition orders, and the ...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 209
We catch up with Games Global's legendary CEO Walter Bugno to ask "Hey Walter, if you were stranded on a tropical island, what would you want to have with you?" He chooses: 3 movies 3 books 3 albums 1 song 1 pet 1 object 1 dessert …and advice: one piece to give to his younger self, and one from his younger self to his older self. Walter is engaging as ever, and we hope you enjoy this offshoot episode while we prepare its own feed and landing page et cetera… The 'I Will Always Love You' of sponso...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 208
Seriously, this episode takes in - but is not limited to - the following subjects: Gambling, Casinos, Folk Music, Trump, Tupac Shakur, Community Engagement, Environmental Issues, Casino Management, Political Polarization, Lithium Mining, entertainment, community impact, tribal sovereignty, economic development, lottery laws, music authenticity, historical roots, personal connections… It's a wild ride, and our guest Gary Green is here to show us the path. In this episode Jon speaks with Gary Gree...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 207
Steve Ruddock from Straight To The Point joins Jon and Fintan to discuss various aspects of the gambling industry, focusing on responsible gaming initiatives in North America, the importance of agency and accountability, and the challenges faced by regulators. They explore the new messaging strategies for responsible gaming, the need for transparency in gambling odds, and the holistic approaches required to address gambling addiction. The conversation also touches on the regulatory landscape and...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 206
OK, so it's not really as dramatic as the title suggests… We had a cancellation this week for a great episode, so what we thought we would do is give listeners to the main podcast an episode of the offshoot so they can see what it's all about. This is definitely not replacing the existing podcast, we just had a gap. We are back on that horse next week. Meet Jen Bowman of IGT fame. Jen talks us through her choices to take to a deserted tropical island: 3 albums 3 books 3 movies 1 song 1 pet 1 obj...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 205
In this episode of the Gambling Files podcast, a Fintanless Jon Bruford discusses the current state of online gambling regulation in Germany with returning guest Michelle Hembury. They explore the evolution of gambling legislation since 2021, the challenges faced by operators, and the ongoing issues with the black market. Jon laughs a lot at the country’s hugely optimistic channelisation hopes. The conversation highlights the frustrations of the industry regarding regulatory restrictions and the...
Apr 03, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 204
Another week, another chance for us to caress your ears with our words and wisdom. Well, the wisdom of our guests. No Fintan this episode though, our apologies. He's executiving. In this episode of the Gambling Files podcast, host Jon Bruford welcomes Chris Blake, a director at FireSand, to discuss the critical issues surrounding cybersecurity in the iGaming industry. They explore a recent data breach incident involving a German operator, the vulnerabilities that were exploited, and the importan...
Mar 28, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 203
