Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

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Jul 2026

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Martin Lycka has been one of the driving forces behind player protection initiatives through his work with global gambling operator Entain. In these podcasts, he speaks with some of the leading lights in the battle against problem gambling. NB - All views expressed in this podcast are personal and do not necessarily represent the views of Entain.

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56 recent

July 31, 2026Episode 5527 min

Is Brazil's Betting Boom Under Threat? | Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

Brazil's regulated betting market has exploded—but can that momentum continue? In this episode of the Safe Bet Show, Martin Lycka is joined by Rafael Marchetti Marcondes, Chief Legal Officer at Pitaco, to discuss one of the biggest regulated gambling markets in the world. Rafael explains why Brazil's upcoming elections could reshape the industry's future, how operators are responding to increasing political scrutiny, and why he still believes the market will continue to grow despite growing regulatory pressure. The conversation also includes an exclusive update on Pitaco's rebrand and its merger with Mexican operator Draftea, creating a business operating across both Brazil and Mexico. In this episode: ✅ Pitaco's rebrand and expansion with Draftea ✅ Why Brazil's elections matter for betting operators ✅ The biggest regulatory challenges facing the industry ✅ Advertising restrictions and political pressure ✅ AML and financial crime concerns ✅ Why regulation is essential for long-term sustainability ✅ How Pitaco evolved from Daily Fantasy Sports to sports betting ✅ The future of DFS in Brazil ✅ Rafael's journey from tax lawyer to Chief Legal Officer ✅ Why Brazil remains one of the world's biggest betting opportunities Rafael also shares why, despite the challenges ahead, Brazil's regulated market has already become too significant for governments to ignore. #SafeBetShow #Brazil #SportsBetting #Gambling #iGaming #Regulation #ResponsibleGambling #Pitaco #Draftea #BrazilBetting

July 10, 2026Episode 5426 min

The Black Market Problem Nobody’s Talking About | Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

Are tighter gambling regulations always better for player protection or could they push players towards the black market? In this episode of The Safe Bet Show, Martin Lycka is joined by Scott Burrows, Director of Technical Compliance at Super, to discuss UK regulatory changes, black market risk, technical compliance and the future of safer gambling. The conversation explores the mood at the Ethical Gambling Forum, the impact of tax changes, financial checks and promotional restrictions, and why regulation needs to be carefully calibrated if it is to protect players without driving them to offshore operators. Scott also explains why compliance should be treated as a commercial function, not just a cost centre, and how technical compliance sits between regulation, product and engineering. In this episode: ✅ Why the UK gambling industry feels cautious right now ✅ How regulatory changes could impact the black market ✅ Why compliance can enable business rather than block it ✅ Super’s approach to technical compliance across multiple markets ✅ How to translate legal requirements into product and engineering ✅ Why responsible gambling technology matters ✅ Why automated pop-ups are not enough ✅ The importance of human intervention in player protection ✅ How newer markets like Brazil need responsible gambling education ✅ Why “tech finds them, people help them” should guide safer gambling As Scott puts it, technology is a brilliant early warning system but a terrible carer. The operators that get safer gambling right will use technology to identify risk and humans to intervene when it matters most. #TheSafeBetShow #SaferGambling #ResponsibleGambling #GamblingCompliance #iGaming #SportsBetting #PlayerProtection #GamblingRegulation #BlackMarket #Super

June 26, 2026Episode 5324 min

Fanatics VP Brandt Iden Reveals What's Next for Sports Betting | Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

Prediction markets, sports betting regulation and responsible gaming are reshaping the future of the US gaming industry. At SBC Summit Americas 2026, Martin Lycka sat down with Brandt Iden, VP of Government Affairs at Fanatics Betting & Gaming and former Michigan State Representative, to discuss the biggest issues facing the industry today. The conversation explores the rapid rise of prediction markets, the importance of consumer protection and why regulated gaming remains the key to sustainable growth across the United States. Brandt also shares insights from his time helping to legalise online sports betting and iGaming in Michigan, one of the most successful regulated markets in America. In this episode: ✅ The future of prediction markets and sports betting ✅ Why regulated gaming works ✅ Responsible gaming and consumer protection ✅ The evolving role of the CFTC and regulation ✅ How Fanatics is leveraging its sports ecosystem ✅ Lessons from building Michigan's iGaming market ✅ The battle against illegal operators ✅ Why states are increasingly looking at gaming expansion ✅ The opportunities and challenges facing the US industry Can prediction markets and traditional sports betting coexist? And what does the next chapter of regulated gaming in America look like? #iGaming #Fanatics #PredictionMarkets #GamingRegulation #SBCSummitAmericas #GamblingIndustry

June 12, 2026Episode 5225 min

Canada's Gambling Revolution: Alberta, Ontario & What's Next? | Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

In this episode of The Safe Bet Show, Martin Lycka is joined by one of Canada's most respected gaming industry experts, Troy Ross, President of TRM Public Affairs. The conversation explores the rapid evolution of Canada's regulated gaming market, including Alberta's upcoming iGaming launch, Ontario's continued success, responsible gambling initiatives, and why more provinces could soon follow the regulated model. Troy shares insights from more than three decades working across Canadian gaming regulation, public policy and industry affairs, offering a unique perspective on where the market is heading next. Topics include: 🎯 Alberta's upcoming iGaming launch 🎯 Lessons learned from Ontario's regulated market 🎯 Responsible gambling and centralized self-exclusion 🎯 Anti-money laundering (AML) developments 🎯 The future of Canadian gaming regulation 🎯 First Nations' growing role in the gambling sector 🎯 Federal vs provincial oversight of gambling 🎯 Which provinces could regulate next Plus, Martin and Troy discuss another serious Canadian institution: hockey, including the fortunes of the Toronto Maple Leafs. If you're interested in gambling regulation, sports betting, responsible gaming or the future of Canada's gaming industry, this is an episode you won't want to miss. #ResponsibleGambling #iGaming #SportsBetting #PlayerProtection #GamblingRegulation #SafeBetShow #Compliance #BettingIndustry #GambleAlert #GamingPolicy The Safe Bet Show is sponsored by the Player Protection Hub, the industry's leading source and community for player protection, compliance and safer gambling professionals. News, discussion, an exclusive newsletter and more. Apply for membership today https://playerprotectionhub.com/

April 21, 2026Episode 5120 min

Responsible Gambling Isn’t Killing the Industry… It’s Saving It | Martin Lycka's Safe Bet Show

Is responsible gambling actually holding the industry back… or is it the key to its future? In this episode of The Safe Bet Show, Martyn Lycka sits down with Fisayo Oke (Founder & CEO of Gamble Alert) to break down one of the biggest debates in the global gambling industry: player protection vs profit. From the rapidly evolving US market to African regulatory innovation, this conversation explores how gambling is being reshaped in real time — and why responsible gambling is no longer optional. We dive into: Why responsible gambling is NOT an obstacle to business The shift from individual responsibility → structural responsibility How Africa is leading innovation in player protection The reality of fragmented global regulation Why community-driven approaches are key to safer gambling The story behind launching Gamble Alert The balance between revenue vs player safety What the rest of the world can learn from emerging markets This is a must-watch for anyone in: iGaming sports betting compliance & regulation gambling policy player engagement & protection Responsible gambling isn’t about limiting the industry, it’s about making it sustainable. #ResponsibleGambling #iGaming #SportsBetting #PlayerProtection #GamblingRegulation #SafeBetShow #Compliance #BettingIndustry #GambleAlert #GamingPolicy

January 23, 2026Episode 5023 min

How Neuroscience & AI Could Transform Responsible Gambling | Dr Mary Donohue

In this episode of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, Martin is joined by Dr Mary Donohue, CEO of the Digital Wellness Center, for a powerful conversation on how neuroscience, technology, and behavioural science can reshape the future of responsible gambling. Dr Donohue shares the personal story behind founding the Digital Wellness Center after surviving a life-threatening illness caused by stress, and explains how that experience led her to develop digital tools that can reduce stress in under three minutes. The discussion explores how mood management affects player decision-making, why proactive mental health support is critical in gambling environments, and how technology — including AI and behavioural data — can help prevent harm before it happens. The conversation also covers Dr Donohue’s work with casinos, healthcare providers, and major platforms, her educational partnership with TikTok, and why responsible gambling needs to be treated as a core business strategy rather than a PR exercise. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why stress and mood have a direct impact on gambling behaviour How the Digital Wellness Center uses neuroscience to reduce stress in minutes What proactive responsible gambling actually looks like in practice Why AI and “human touch” must work together in player protection How technology could predict and prevent harmful gambling behaviour Why responsible gambling must evolve beyond compliance and PR #ResponsibleGambling #iGaming #MentalHealth #AI #GamblingIndustry #PlayerProtection #Wellbeing

November 19, 2025Episode 4932 min

Player Health, City Council Bid & The Fight for a National Helpline, with Marlene Warner

Marlene Warner, CEO of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, joins the show to discuss her career path, responsible gaming (RG) advocacy, and crucial industry issues. Warner holds a BA in sociology and an MA in women's studies/communications, grounding her approach in studying people, using data, and advocating for underserved populations. In a timely update, she reveals she is currently pulling papers to run for City Councillor in her ward, following previous roles as student senate president. Key Discussion Highlights: • Career Recognition • Council Name Change • GameSense • National Helpline Barrier • RG in America • Industry Standards Warner concludes by stressing that putting the right safeguards in place does not hurt business, and encourages everyone to promote the helpline and eliminate barriers

November 5, 2025Episode 4837 min

Why personal stories define player protection, with SBC's Steve Hoare

Welcome to an improvised episode of the Safe Bet Show, where host Martin Lycka welcomes SBC Leaders Magazine Editor, Steve Hoare. The discussion centres on the SBC Player Protection Hub, which Steve is also Editor of. The Hub is positioned as a, "one-stop shop" for responsible gaming resources, offering news feeds from across the SBC universe and a research hub dedicated to collecting RG studies. Crucially, the site is members-only, aiming to be a necessary "safe space" where people can talk about player protection issues and share personal stories without fear of exposure. Martin and Steve discuss the immense power of "lived experience" stories. They highlight how these human and humane narratives, such as a story about a girl who used gambling to "turn off the noise", or the painful recollection of a Seahawks fan who lost his family’s money betting on the Super Bowl, provide critical perspective for the industry. The conversation then shifts to Martin’s career, tracing his time at BetFair starting in 2009. This period coincided with the genesis of regulated markets in Europe (Italy, France, Spain). They analyse the failure of the dream of European harmonisation and contrast it with the rise of the US state-by-state regulation, which some prominent lobbyists initially dismissed as "madness". Martin also shares his experience living through major industry mergers, including the BetFair/Paddy Power union (Flutter) and GVC/Ladbrooks Coral (Entain).

July 25, 2025Episode 4732 min

Leonardo Baptista on Brazilian Regulation, Payments & Explosive Growth

In this episode of Martin Lycka’s Safe Bet Show, Martin sits down with Leonardo Baptista, CEO of Pay4Fun, to explore the evolution of Brazil’s gaming and payments industry. Leonard shares his journey from his early days at Bat Motion in 2004 to founding Pay4Fun in 2017. The discussion covers Pay4Fun’s unique positioning in the market, thanks to its regulatory expertise, advanced API solutions, and deep understanding of local needs, as well as the complex path toward a regulated gambling framework in Brazil. The conversation also dives into how Pay4Fun is helping to combat illegal gambling through KYC, transaction monitoring, and close collaboration with regulators. Leonardo highlights the importance of responsible gaming, detailing initiatives like deposit limits and financial monitoring, alongside Pay4Fun’s charity work.

June 16, 2025Episode 4631 min

Grainne Hurst on Gambling Act Reforms, Tax Threats & The Future of UK Betting

In the latest episode of the Safe Bet Show, Martin Lycka is joined by Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), who returns to the show after four years to share invaluable insights into the ever-evolving world of gambling and gaming. Grainne discusses how the UK gambling industry has become "bigger, better, more responsible, and more responsive," representing over 90% of the regulated market—including local betting shops, iconic land-based casinos, online bingo operators, and major global brands. Learn about Grainne's personal connection to gambling through family traditions like the Grand National sweepstakes and her enjoyment of horse racing, political betting, blackjack, and online roulette—showcasing the diversity of the BGC’s membership and services. In addition, Grainne reveals the BGC's ongoing mission to modernise UK casinos, enforce the Gambling Act Review White Paper reforms, and address challenges like the new tax consultation from the UK Treasury that could unintentionally drive players to the dangerous black market. With £4bn already staked on unregulated sites by 1.5 million Brits, the BGC’s fight against this threat includes launching global roundtables and advocating for smart, "frictionless" affordability checks that protect consumers without pushing them offshore.