MaxBet Podcast

Hosted by MaxBet Podcast

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Episodes

146

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

Whether you're deep in the game or just gaming-curious, this podcast is for you. MaxBet is the #1 podcast in gaming and the longest running B2B show in the industry. Hosted by Hillary McAfee, the podcast brings you real conversations with the people shaping this business; executives, insiders, and the occasional legend. It's not formal, it's not scripted, and it's definitely not stuffy. Just sharp takes, bold ideas, and behind the scenes stories from the gaming world. You'll hear from industry insiders, executives, and gaming legends, giving you a front-row seat (metaphorically, because we don't actually know you) to the bold moves, big ideas, and behind-the-scenes stories defining the industry. It's a unique blend of business know-how, consumer perspective, and unfiltered commentary on what's really happening in the gaming world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 28, 2026Episode 948 min

The Hottest Trends in Slots Right Now

If you care about slot floor strategy, which features are actually working, or just want to hear your favorite games and suppliers come up in the conversation, this episode is for you. Brendan Moore from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming joins MaxBet to break down the games, mechanics, cabinets, and features getting real traction on casino floors right now. Brendan gets into the suppliers, the games climbing the charts, the mechanics players are responding to, and the features proving they actually have staying power. We talk about what Konami, AGS, Sega Sammy, Bluberi, IGT, Aristocrat, and Light & Wonder are doing right now and why certain products are getting attention across the industry. We also get into: The perceived persistence takeover Popular features What game has been the most copied What falls off the charts fast What operators are paying attention to right now

April 30, 2026Episode 538 min

Sex, Drugs, and the iGaming Industry… According to Alex Tomic

This week, Alex Tomic joins MaxBet for a conversation that goes well beyond the usual industry talking points. We get into the growing research around psilocybin as a potential treatment for gambling addiction, how biohacking became part of his routine, and which does he *actually* prefer: SBC or SIGMA? Also in this episode: Ick of the Week (straight from Indian Gaming Association Tradeshow. The ladies will understand) And a new segment: Red Flag or Green Flag? Somewhere along the way, we also ask a very normal question: is Donald Trump being involved in prediction markets… weird? This episode is supported by our partners at IGT and Eilers & Krejcik Gaming. We appreciate them being part of the conversation.

April 16, 202649 min

WTF?! Why is Freeplay Not Working?

Freeplay. PAR. Rebates. Lotteries. Tony Lucas has spent years studying all of it, and the verdict is ugly. At best, casinos are misusing these tools. At worst, they are hemorrhaging millions straight off the bottom line. I n this episode, he lays out what the research shows, why the industry keeps pushing back on it, and what's really driving that resistance. If any part of your job touches a promotions budget, this episode is for you. This WTF with IGI mini-series is put together in collaboration with The International Gaming Institute and filmed at UNLV Black Fire.

April 8, 2026Episode 431 min

From DEI Pioneer to Startup Champion: Kelly Kehn Is Changing Who Gets to Build Gaming

From DEI pioneer to startup champion, Kelly Kehn joins the MaxBet Podcast to talk about what it takes to build in gaming right now. Kelly has spent more than two decades in iGaming and co-founded the All-In Diversity Project. She's now working with Defy the Odds alongside Sue Schneider and Paris Smith, supporting founders and helping open doors that have not always been open. We get into: Building startups in gaming and where people get stuck Managing risk when everything is moving fast Culture, and what happens when people feel comfortable speaking up The difference between saying you value diverse perspectives and creating space for them What Defy the Odds is doing behind the scenes

March 26, 2026Episode 331 min

How to Scale a Company Without Breaking Your Culture

On this episode of MaxBet Podcast, Martina Åkerlund breaks down what actually drives company culture and why so many leaders get it wrong. As CEO of Elevated Edge, Martina works directly with founders and leadership teams to build companies that perform without burning out their people. This conversation gets into the real issues and what actually happens inside teams when leadership avoids hard decisions, not what companies say about culture. In this episode, you'll find: Why high performers can quietly damage culture The risk of keeping the wrong people for the sake of results Why culture always starts at the top The leadership habit that can undo years of progress Hiring for potential vs hiring for performance How to make hard decisions without losing respect Why numbers alone are not enough to scale a company What sustainable leadership actually looks like

March 19, 202620 min

WTF?! Why Does Draft Kings Care About UNLV??

What is DraftKings actually paying attention to right now… and what does that mean for the rest of the industry? In Episode 1 of WTF?! with IGI, MaxBet sits down with a Director from UNLV's International Gaming Institute to break down the trends shaping gaming behind the scenes. We get into what suppliers should be building over the next 3 years, what is actually working in persistent games, and how student-created ideas are making it onto real casino floors. Some of those same ideas are even catching the attention of DraftKings inside IGI's innovation lab. If you care about where gaming is going next, this is the stuff you want to be paying attention to.

March 18, 20265 min

WTF Is This Series? Introducing WTF? with IGI (ft. Dr. Brett Abarbanel)

MaxBet is teaming up with UNLV International Gaming Institute to create a mini-series lovingly and relatably called WTF?! with IGI. Because there are people out there doing incredibly smart research on our industry. So we're bringing them in to break it down, translate it, and tell us what we probably should've known sooner. If you're an operator or a supplier, you'll probably want to hear what IGI has been studying… because it probably applies directly to your work. In this episode, we kick off the series with the co-mastermind Dr. Brett Abarbanel and walk through exactly what you can expect from WTF? with IGI. First episode airs 3/19! Also, IGI's International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking is happening May 26–28, 2026 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where a lot of these exact conversations are happening in real time. You can learn more and register here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gnjF2MA9

March 6, 2026Episode 231 min

Why Gambling Should Be Entertainment First | Magnus Olsson

Magnus Olsson, CCO of Play'n GO, joins MaxBet to discuss the evolving economics of iGaming. From hosting partners in the Formula 1 paddock to building games that players return to for years, Magnus shares how entertainment value and strong storytelling drive long-term retention. The conversation covers U.S. regulatory hurdles, the differences between European and American gaming markets, and why the industry's future depends on attracting new online-first audiences.

February 25, 2026Episode 136 min

The Long Game of Personal Brand in B2B

Hillary sits down with Catie Di Stefano, one of the most genuinely connected people in the gaming industry. With 15 years in gaming (which officially makes her a self proclaimed baby dinosaur), Catie has built a strong reputation for how she approaches both marketing and LinkedIn in a B2B world. It's practical, consistent, and rooted in real relationships. The conversation covers how people can show up on LinkedIn without waiting on their company page to do all the work, how personal credibility grows over time, and why supporting other people in the industry matters more than most realize. If you work in marketing, care about building a personal presence online, or want a clearer sense of how people actually build connection and opportunity in gaming, this episode is for you.

February 10, 2026Episode 1146 min

Not Your Mother's AGS: Inside the Rebrand of a Gaming Supplier

AGS recently launched a new brand identity at G2E, and this episode unpacks what that evolution represents for the company. Julia Boguslawski and Nikki Davis from AGS share why the rebrand was necessary, what they wanted the market to better understand about who AGS is today, and how the new identity reflects the company's growth across slots, tables, and interactive. The conversation explores the realities of rebranding in gaming, from internal alignment and rollout strategy to how a brand lives on the show floor and in long-term customer relationships. It's an inside look at how a gaming supplier modernizes its brand without losing its edge, paired with an honest perspective on trade show culture and the dynamics of marketing in the industry.