Vested Interest #14: DKNG drama, industry trends and Caesars deep dive with Erik Hession

NEXT.io Podcast

🎙Welcome to episode #14 of Vested Interest, with Pierre Lindh, Lloyd Danzig & Benjie Cherniak and special guest, Erik Hession, Co-president Caesars Sports & Online gambling - Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

Dive deep into the latest trends shaping the iGaming industry, focusing on the evolving build vs. buy strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and the growing interest in micro-betting. The episode features a special interview with Eric Hession, who shares insights into his career journey, the transition from retail to digital operations, and Caesars' strategic approach to growth and innovation in the competitive online gaming market.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:42 - Welcoming Guests

02:23 - Build vs. Buy Strategies

05:21 - Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the Industry

07:09 - Micro-Betting and Pricing Trends

09:00 - Impact on B2B Suppliers

14:11 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Discussion

31:21 - EriK Hession's Professional Journey

34:34 - Transition from Retail to Digital Operations

37:18 - Build vs. Buy Strategy and Zero Flux Acquisition

43:13 - M&A Integration Challenges

46:10 - DraftKings Pricing Surcharge Reaction

48:10 - Growth Opportunities for Caesars

50:50 - Exploring International Expansion

52:57 - Closing Marks

🔗 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO

✩ Website - https://next.io/

✩ Instagram - @next.io

✩ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/next...

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This episode of the NEXT.io is brought to you by:

Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content provider.

https://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technology.

https://pragmatic.solutions/