Marker Trax and Koin CEO Gary Ellis, an innovator and Las Vegas icon whose family has deep entrepreneurial roots in the history of the city, has embarked on yet another trail-blazing adventure: the creation of “Betting on Success,” a dynamic new bi-monthly podcast series that spotlights the evolving landscape of gaming operations and technology.
“Betting on Success,” hosted by renowned gaming industry veteran Mark “Morty” Morton, was launched with a premiere episode on March 17 featuring Gary Ellis himself, who elaborated on fascinating anecdotes about his family and background, also revealing insight into the challenges, successes, and future of the rapidly evolving gaming industry.
The podcast is presented and sponsored by Marker Trax, a cashless digital alternative to a casino marker developed and patented by company founder Gary Ellis and Koin, a complete, fully integrated payment ecosystem founded in 2021 by Gary Ellis and Gary Larkin, who serves as the company’s president.
Carol Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer for Marker Trax, while acknowledging that both companies are relatively new to the market, said, “We’re very invested and immersed in the industry.
“When Anamarie Ellis, who serves as our marketing advisor, approached us about doing a podcast, we all agreed it was a great idea and meaningful way to contribute to the cashless conversation and the critical role of innovation in the gaming industry,” Thompson continued. “We saw value in creating something that would allow not just for us to talk about our products and innovations, but to reach across the industry, to other vendors, casino operators, and CMS providers, to share their perspectives.
“Our goal with the “Betting on Success” podcast is to curate meaningful conversations, educate the industry, and align with the shared goals of our companies in cashless gaming. We aim to bring industry leaders together to share their journeys, explore how their companies have evolved, and highlight the innovations shaping the future. More than just storytelling, this platform is about fostering connections and driving conversations that inspire progress, innovation, and success in gaming.”
In creating “Betting on Success,” Marker Trax and Koin are building on a communication medium within the industry that has grown exponentially over the past two decades. Podcasts represent a mainstream media with millions of listeners around the world and ad spending in the billions of dollars.
“It seemed like a very natural fit for us,” Thompson said. “The Ellis family, along with many executives from both companies, are deeply immersed in the gaming and payment-solutions industries, not just in Vegas, but across the U.S. This extensive network will bring engaging guests and dynamic conversations to the table.”
Key people behind the scenes who are instrumental in the development and production of “Betting on Success,” according to Thompson, include Tiffany McGrath, Vice-President of Corporate Communications Koin; Wayne Waxman, Director of Marketing for Marker Trax; Tabrea Marshall, Director of Marketing; and Liza Belka, Digital and Social Media Lead, both at Koin.
“And of course there’s Mark Morton, Senior Vice-President of Sales for Marker Trax and Koin who is our podcast host,” Thompson said. “Mark, whom we affectionately call ‘Morty,’ is perfect for hosting something like this. We’re very fortunate he’s on our team and he’s equally excited about this opportunity—a natural as our host!
“Gianni Vega serves as producer of ‘Betting on Success,’” Thompson said. “He owns ‘Me and the Company LLC’ and has been a critical component in partnering with us in context with the quality of the podcast we are able to create. Marker Trax and Koin have worked with Gianni for many of our projects and we appreciate his willingness to partner with us on many diverse initiatives.”
Wayne Waxman, Marker Trax’s marketing director, believes it’s dynamic to hear the voices and to see the influencers and the people in leadership positions in the gaming industry and that the only way this is possible is through video and podcasts. “We could have done it with blogging, but it would have just been the written word. To hear and see Gary Ellis, for example, is much more valuable when you’re telling a story about your past, growing up, and progression into an icon. It’s much more powerful.”
The line-up of podcasts for the inaugural season will also feature Marker Trax president Charlie Skinner and Koin President Gary Larkin. Other guests include Tom Jingoli, Konami Gaming Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and Justin Moore, CEO of Mesquite Entertainment.
Topics to be discussed include the evolution of cashless gaming, the impact of technology on the player experience, robust payment solutions, market expansion, operational environments, and more.
“There are so many interesting stories that our guests have to share,” Thompson said. “There’s so much innovation. More importantly, there is good information and insights from innovative folks in the casino industry that we can all learn from, which is why we’re so grateful to Gary Ellis, Anamarie Ellis, Charlie Skinner, and Gary Larkin for their strong support of this initiative.”
Thompson believes that the podcasts will bring out the “human side” of the movers and shakers of the gaming industry. She said that many owners and key executives “started with nothing, or their families came from humble backgrounds, yet they were able to build these successful businesses or lead amazing organizations. And as the businesses grew bigger, they remained very close to their roots and families,” she continued. “I think the human side is important and that it allows the audience to connect emotionally like never before.
“Our debut podcast with Gary Ellis drew comments from our own team members about how interesting it was to know more about him and how he started out in the business washing dishes. The people we’ll be inviting to the show have all had a lot of success, but quite honestly, they’ve have experienced a lot of challenges as well.
We’ve created a platform where we definitely want to have fun and share good stories, but our intention is to support our industry in embracing cashless technology, to learn from one another, and to embrace our diverse businesses.”
“Betting on Success” welcomes industry professionals, vendors, and service providers who are passionate about the gaming industry to appear as guests. Interested parties are invited to email media@bettingonsuccess.com.
