• SBC Leaders: The impact and legacy of the WPT with Steven Lipscomb and Adam Pliska
    Feb 20 2025

    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.

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    33 mins
  • Taking a 'crazy' chance on regulated online gaming - Golden Matrix Group’s Brian Goodman
    Jan 9 2025

    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.

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    31 mins
  • Building up an operator from scratch in Canada - PointsBet Canada’s Scott Vanderwel
    Aug 16 2024

    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.

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    23 mins
  • Ontario’s regulated market evolution and the power of teamwork - OLG’s Catherine Meade
    Aug 2 2024

    Catherine Meade, VP of Community, Sustainability & Social Responsibility at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), joined Sue Schneider, SBC’s VP of Growth & Strategy Americas, on the latest episode of the SBC Leaders Podcast to talk about how the Ontario gaming landscape has changed for OLG since the opening of the regulated market in 2022.

    The duo also discuss her role at the corporation, the collective responsibility for responsible gambling amongst Ontario's operators and the power of teamwork.

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    20 mins
  • Launched ROGA and doing more collectively to tackle RG, with Dr Jennifer Shatley
    Jul 15 2024

    In the latest episode of the SBC Leaders podcast, SBC's Managing Director is joined by Dr Jennifer Shatley, Executive Director at the Responsible Online Gaming Association.

    During their discussion, the duo talk about what the ROGA do, how best to tackle responsible gaming and what future projects from ROGA the industry can expect and how it can be funded.

    The duo also discussed the Independent Data Clearing House from ROGA, where the project currently lies and when the sector could see more on it.

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    17 mins
  • A new leadership, different market approaches and David Hasslehoff - Rootz's Sam Brown
    Feb 27 2024

    In the latest episode of SBC Leaders, Andrew McCarron, Managing Director at SBC, is joined by Sam Brown, CEO at Rootz, to discuss Sam's new role as CEO, taking over from the firm's Founder, Lasse Rantala and how the company approached two different market entries in Ontario and Germany.

    The duo also discussed how Rootz is recruiting to match its growth, the addition of David Hasselhoff, aka "The Hoff", as a Brand Ambassador and a look into how Sam unwinds and relax away from his day-to-day responsibility.

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    31 mins
  • Becoming more than just a B2C Operator - BVGroup's Brent Almeida
    Feb 2 2024

    SBC Managing Director Andrew McCarron is joined by Brent Almeida, Chief Commercial Officer at the BVGroup in the latest episode of the SBC Leaders Podcast.

    SBC Leaders is the show that focuses on leadership, motivation and the unique stories that got the biggest names at the world's leading operators to where they are today.

    Recorded in the run up to SBC Summit Barcelona in 2023, Almeida and McCarron discuss BVGroup's presence in Gibraltar, BVGroup's rebrand and what this means internally and externally, managing and motivating teams remotely and in-person, as well as digging into Almeida's professional background and leadership style and philosophy.

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    21 mins
  • A new era, outdated omnichannel and Italian dominance - Snaitech's Fabio Schiavolin
    Dec 18 2023

    The latest episode of the SBC Leaders sees Snaitech's CEO, Fabio Schiavolin join the hotseat with SBC's Managing Director Andrew McCarron.

    Schiavolin talks about bringing Snaitech into a 'new era' via new omnichannels, how Snaitech remains a leading brand in the Italian market, how it overcomes regulatory challenges and how he unwinds away from work.

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    27 mins