NEXT.io Podcast

Jesse Learmonth: The state of iGaming startups in 2026

NEXT.io Podcast

Show Notes

đŸŽ™ïž NEXT.io Podcast #261 with Jesse Learmonth from The Betting Startups. In this episode of the NEXT.io Podcast, Jesse Learmonth joins us to discuss the current state of the iGaming startup ecosystem, what investors are actually looking for today, and why building new companies in gaming has become significantly harder. As the founder of Betting Startups, Jesse works closely with early-stage companies and investors across the industry. In this conversation, we explore how the funding environment has changed, why distribution and partnerships are critical for growth, and what skills founders need to succeed when launching new gaming businesses. ⏰ Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:28 - Jesse Learmonth returns to the NEXT.io Podcast 01:15 - The role of Betting Startups in the ecosystem 03:10 - The current state of iGaming startups 07:45 - Why building startups is harder today 11:10 - Funding environment & investor expectations 14:00 - What makes a startup investable 18:00 - Innovation in iGaming 22:30 - Where startups can still win 27:00 - Scaling challenges for gaming startups 31:00 - Partnerships, distribution & market access 35:30 - The biggest mistakes founders make 40:00 - Why distribution is everything 44:30 - The role of networks & industry relationships 48:30 - Advice for founders entering iGaming 52:30 - The future of gaming startups 55:30 - Closing thoughts 🔔 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G826Guf8uHM&list=PLo43Fota-gt1sMzujpavaGmRbTiRXETKE Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-io-podcast/id1515442333 CONNECT WITH NEXT.IO ✩ Website: https://next.io/

This episode of NEXT.io is brought to you by: Pragmatic Solutions – Leading iGaming platform technologyhttps://pragmatic.solutions/ Pragmatic Play – Industry-leading content providerhttps://www.pragmaticplay.com/en/

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