iGaming Real Talk

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.comJoin our community on WhatsAppigamingrealtalk.com

iGaming Real Talk is a business podcast hosted by Surya Palli, with 62 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Surya Palli hosts iGaming Real Talk, a business show with 62 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #71

  Fake Streamers, Bad Traffic & iGaming Marketing | Part 2 | Levon Nikoghosyan, AffPapa

  Aug 17, 202636 min

  In Episode 71 of The Real Roadshow and In Part 2 of our conversation with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO of AffPapa, we get into the problems behind affiliate marketing, fake streamer numbers, creative campaigns, team building and what it actually takes to scale an iGaming business. Levon explains why relying on one marketing channel is risky, why operators need to verify streamer traffic before spending money, and why traditional B2B marketing is becoming harder to stand out with. What the industry is facing: Fake streamer numbers and inflated traffic Operators relying too heavily on one marketing channel Affiliate fraud and unverified traffic B2B gaming marketing becoming repetitive Companies playing too safe with creative campaigns Teams scaling faster than their internal systems and remote teams struggling without clear KPIs What this conversation explores: Why operators need a multi-channel marketing strategy How AffPapa is verifying streamers and their traffic Why iGaming brands need to experiment with marketing How AffPapa deals with affiliate and operator complaints Why responsibility and curiosity matter when building teams How clear KPIs make remote work possible Why success is a process, not a final number What keeps Levon building AffPapa for the long term Episode 71 of iGaming Real Talk. NOW LIVE on YouTube. Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/ -------- Hosted by Surya Palli Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryapalli28/ For podcast sponsorship and collabs: surya@igamingrealtalk.com Check out igamingrealtalk.com -------- Chapters 00:00 – Fake Streamers & Inflated Numbers 01:26 – Why One Marketing Channel Isn't Enough 03:03 – How AffPapa Handles Streamers 05:18 – The Philosophy Behind AffPapa's Marketing 06:18 – Why Traditional B2B Marketing Isn't Working 07:25 – Learning From Other Industries 08:18 – When Marketing Trends Become Mainstream 09:32 – Why iGaming Marketing Is Still Old-School 11:36 – Why Brands Need to Experiment 12:29 – Building AffPapa From the Ground Up 13:39 – Fighting Affiliate Fraud & Bad Traffic 15:23 – Building a 40+ Person Team 17:23 – What Makes a Good Leader? 20:00 – Building Teams in Armenia 21:13 – Remote Work vs Office Culture 22:00 – Why KPIs Matter 23:31 – The Problem With Scaling Too Fast 24:08 – What Does Success Mean? 25:56 – Is There a Number That Means "Enough"? 27:22 – Why Small Wins Keep Us Going 28:16 – What Keeps Levon Building? Part 2 of our conversation with Levon Nikoghosyan, CEO of AffPapa.

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  Episode #71

  Africa’s iGaming Market: Sports Betting, Regulation & What Comes Next | Nastia Karma | EvenBet Gaming

  Aug 14, 202616 min

  Sports betting is huge across Africa. But keeping players engaged beyond the big games is the real challenge. Episode 70 is with Nastia Karma, Regional Market Lead for Africa at EvenBet Gaming. She shares what operators need to understand about the African market, from Nigeria and Kenya to South Africa and beyond. The problems the industry is facing: Heavy dependence on sports betting across major African markets Limited product diversification beyond sports betting Keeping players engaged during the sports off season Mobile first users and simple game requirements Limited connectivity and lower network speeds in some markets Complex poker products that are difficult for casual players Strict gambling regulations in markets such as South Africa Difficulty entering established local operator communities Lack of strong local partnerships and market presence How this conversation addresses them: Why African operators need casino and poker based products alongside sports betting How simple, mobile friendly games can improve player engagement Why One Click and Spins are designed around African player behaviour How social and skill based games can support player retention How EvenBet is expanding from poker into casino and turnkey solutions What operators need to consider when entering regulated African markets Why local resellers and regional teams can make market entry easier Which African markets are showing the strongest opportunities What Nastia expects from the next stage of Africa's iGaming growth Africa isn't one market, and treating it like one could be the first mistake. Episode 69 of iGaming Real Talk. NOW LIVE on YouTube. Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina : https://endorphina.com/

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  Episode #70

  Are There Too Many iGaming Events? | Alex Pratt, Clarion Gaming | iGaming Real Talk

  Aug 12, 202624 min

  Are there too many iGaming events and how should companies decide which ones are worth attending? Flexing an initial milestone of Episode 70 of iGaming Real Talk, we are here with Alex Pratt, Managing Director at Clarion Gaming, about the changing landscape of iGaming events. Alex shares his perspective on iGB Live, ICE, event ROI and return on objectives, measuring value through data, the role of technology and fintech, and why an event should be treated as part of a wider marketing campaign. We talked about how the industry is facing: - Too many events competing for the same budgets - Rising costs for exhibitors and attendees - Difficulty proving the real value of events - Smaller suppliers competing with huge exhibition stands - Limited time for follow-ups between events - Growing pressure to measure attendee and buyer behaviour What this conversation explores: - Why iGB Live gives smaller suppliers a level playing field - Why London gives iGB Live a unique advantage - How ICE is expanding beyond the traditional gaming event - Why event success should be measured by clear objectives - How data can help prove the value of events - Why events need to be part of a wider marketing campaign Episode 70 of iGaming Real Talk. NOW LIVE on YouTube. Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina: https://endorphina.com/

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  Episode #69

  The biggest Mistake Companies Make with AI | David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko | ReferOn

  Aug 10, 202635 min

  AI can build an app. But can it understand an iGaming business? In Part 2 of iGaming Real Talk, David Harris and Vlad Bondarenko from ReferOn go beyond affiliate tracking to talk about AI, product development, legacy systems, migrations, and what it really takes to build B2B software for iGaming. The industry is moving fast, but some problems are still very familiar: Legacy affiliate platforms that are difficult to move away from Large operators stuck with old workflows and systems Long and complex platform migrations Product teams building features users may not actually need An iGaming industry that can be slow to adopt ideas from other industries The growing pressure to use AI without simply adding it because it's the latest buzzword Finding the balance between automation and human relationships Building software that feels simple in an industry full of complex systems This conversation looks at how ReferOn is tackling some of these problems. Using AI for real tasks like QA, prototyping and creating tracking links Looking outside iGaming to find better product ideas, with examples from crypto, finance and gaming Building around real customer problems instead of guessing what users want Making migrations easier by understanding how operators actually work day to day Showing users how the product fits their workflow, rather than forcing them to learn a completely new way of working Keeping the human side of iGaming alive, even as more parts of the business become automated Using automation to make work easier, rather than using AI simply for the sake of saying a product has AI The conversation also gets personal, with Vlad sharing his approach to hiring, why he looks for the “spark in the eyes,” and why David believes relationships and human connection still matter in iGaming. They also discuss ReferOn's management buyout, the future of affiliate management platforms, and where the space could be heading next. Whether you're an operator, affiliate manager, product leader, or simply interested in the future of iGaming technology, this conversation offers valuable insights into one of the industry's fastest-evolving infrastructure categories. -------- Brought to you by: My Gaming License: https://www.mygaminglicense.com/ 9th Street Games: https://9thstreet.games/

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  Episode #68

  Regulated iGaming Explained: ST8's Strategy for UK, Ontario & Alberta | David Fall | St8

  Aug 6, 202611 min

  Every game aggregator says they have great content. So what actually makes operators choose one over another? David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8 addressed our curiosity here. The game aggregation market is crowded. Almost every company says they have the best platform, the best technology and the best content. But operators today are dealing with much bigger challenges than choosing another API. In this episode, we talk about: Why regulated markets are becoming the biggest focus for aggregators What operators actually need from a game aggregation partner Why personalization still matters in a technology business The biggest challenges operators face in regulated markets Expanding into Ontario, Alberta, the UK and other licensed jurisdictions How St8 plans to compete with larger, established aggregators Why trust and transparency matter when working with operators The future of casino game aggregation One thing I found interesting was David's mindset. St8 doesn't try to be the biggest company in the room. They openly call themselves the underdog. Their focus is building long-term relationships with operators and growing market by market. If you work with casino platforms, game aggregation, regulated markets or operator partnerships, this conversation gives a good look into how one of the newer players is approaching the industry. Guest David Fall : https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fall-5a3875158/ Business Development Manager, St8 About St8 St8 is a fully licensed casino game aggregator and full-service technology provider helping operators launch, manage and scale in regulated markets. To learn more about St8, please visit https://st8.io/ Brought to you by: St8: https://st8.io/ Endorphina : https://endorphina.com/

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