In this episode of the SBC Leaders Podcast, Sue Schneider, Co-Founder of Defy The Odds Startup Launchpad, was joined by the Founder of the World Poker Tour, Steven Lipscomb and its President and CEO, Adam Pliska, to discuss their backgrounds, the inception of the WPT and the innovative approaches that transformed poker into a mainstream sport.

The conversation also highlights the challenges faced in the early days of the WPT, the importance of long-term vision in entrepreneurship and the significant milestones achieved by the WPT throughout its history.

Concluding the episode, the trio reflect on their personal highlight and the enduring legacy of the WPT in the poker community.

Brian Goodman, CEO of Golden Matrix Group, is the latest guest on the SBC Leaders podcast as he joins Sue Schneider, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds Startup Launchpad, to detail his journey as a pioneer of online gaming.

The duo discuss the “crazy” chance Goodman took on regulated online gaming, the significant technological advancements in the industry and the challenge of balancing player acquisition cost against the lifetime value of that customer.

They also talk the importance of player data and the role of AI in processing this data, the complexities of regulation in different jurisdictions and the unique challenges of developing a sportsbook product.

Scott Vanderwel, CEO of Pointsbet Canada, joined Sue Schneider, SBC’s VP of Growth & Strategy North America on the SBC Leaders Podcast to discuss his role in developing Pointsbet’s operations in Canada.

The duo also talk about his journey from telecommunications to gaming, the origin story of the company in Australia, Fanatics' acquisition of Pointsbet’s US assets and the importance of “uniquely Canadian” sports partnerships for the operator.