Summary

In this episode, Nick and guest co-host, Lucien Wijsman, catch-up with Mike McKiski, Co-Founder & President of Max Bet Media and Co-Host of the Max Bet Podcast. Hear Mike discuss the creation, operation and evolution of the industry’s best-known podcast, what the experience and interviews have taught him, his upcoming move to Bluberi, and his thoughts about podcasting’s role within the gaming industry moving forward. Also in this episode, a review of the 2025 Casino Operations Summit - Nova Gorica Edition.

Transcript

Nick Hogan:

Howdy, Lucien. How are things three blocks away from my office today?

Lucien Wijsman:

Nick, it’s raining here, how is it in your place?

Nick Hogan:

Oh, absolutely sunny. Actually, no we have a meter of snow outside. It’s away. Okay, so here we are, late May, and you and I are both back in Holland following a week in Slovenia at the Casino Operations Summit. And following our last podcast, I actually received a couple of questions about the event, where it’s held, who attends, what it’s all about, et cetera. So, I thought we could devote today’s pre-interview banner to having you provide those details and share some of your observations about this year’s event.

Lucien Wijsman:

Cool. Yeah, well, I look back and I’m happy. Having 300 people in the same place with alcohol flowing and all these type of things, I’m always afraid that something will happen. And this was the 14th time, I think. So, if you add it all up, then it’s thousands of people and, knock on wood, this year passed by, nothing happened that was not positive. And on the positive side, I think the lineup of the speakers was great. I enjoyed many of the discussions that were on stage after speakers spoke about topics. 300 people, so also it was also 20% up from last year in Amsterdam, I think, the number of delegates. And it’s growing, at the end of each summit, the sponsors come and say, “Can you book us a spot for next year?” So yeah, we’re really, really happy with how this is growing.

And I think for the first time also we had people from Iceland and from South Africa attending. So this was originally the focus is on land-based operators, or multi-channel operators from Europe, but yeah, slowly but surely we’re starting to attract people from outside Europe, and that makes it more interesting. The whole idea behind the summit was and still is that in a very relaxed setting you can sit with your peers in the industry, and what I noticed is that even though Europe is quite diverse, but bringing Iceland and South Africa in it creates a completely different dynamic in the conversations that people have while they’re having a drink, or while they’re having food. It was great, and I’m already really looking forward to next year to be honest.

Nick Hogan:

Yeah, it’s lovely, and I also loved the speakers this year. And what I love about this format, I think I’ve said it a few times, is it’s basically three days, so it’s three days of talks and various stuff, and then in the evening you have these entertainment events and whatnot, and it’s just the level of networking and conversation that you can have. It’s just so much better than what you find at traditional trade shows and stuff, where it maybe is just a five to 10 minute meet and greet with somebody, versus having an hour long conversation with somebody.

And yeah, I just love that format, I think it’s a lot of fun. You get to know people you can… And just really go deep on the topics that you’re discussing. Yeah, personally I felt it was your best yet, I really felt that way, I was really super engaged with all the talks and whatnot, and all the networking was awesome. So, yeah, great job.

Lucien Wijsman:

I would agree with that, I think this was the best yet.

Nick Hogan:

Okay, cool, cool, cool. All right, well I think we can mosey on along here and introduce our guest here for today. So, today’s guest has been in the gaming industry, by my count, 17 years now, beginning with a brief stint in PR with MGM Resorts, and then followed by 12 years of sales and marketing management roles with Bally’s, Sci Games, Interblock, AGS, LNW. And then back, I think it was in 2020, he co-founded Max Bet Media, which is the company behind, if not the best known industry podcast, certainly one of the best known industry podcasts, and you would know him as the co-host of that MaxBet podcast, Mr. Mike McKiski. So howdy, Mike, how are things in Sin City this morning?

Mike McKiski:

Doing good. Been a fun week, so we’ll get to it, but big announcements and lot of movement, so it’s been good. Thanks for having me on, appreciate you [inaudible 00:04:43] time.

Nick Hogan:

Happy to have you. And indeed, we did see some announcements this week, so there’s some big news dropped yesterday, so you want to open with that, Mike, what you’re up to?

Mike McKiski:

Yeah, we can. So, I just joined over with Blueberry Gaming as their senior Vice president of sales, so for me that’s a fun opportunity, right people, right timing, I think was good. So they have a great leadership team and I’m happy to join and be part of it. So yeah, it’s been a fun week of getting my feet back into, as you were talking about in the intro, the sales and leadership side, right? After chasing these media dreams for so long.

Nick Hogan:

And you’re joining a good crew there. I really like the folks there at Blueberry, and they’ve been doing some very interesting stuff over the last few years. Well, congrats on that-

Mike McKiski:

Thank you.

Nick Hogan:

… gig and I wish you nothing but the best there. So, as I mentioned, it looks like we’re going back 17 years now, if I have that number correct.

Mike McKiski:

Yeah, round about.

Nick Hogan:

Okay. Can you walk us through that career and describe the path that took you to where you are now?

Mike McKiski:

Yeah, it’s interesting. So, I grew up in Vegas, start there. My family was always involved in the casino business. My grandma dealt cards, my mom dealt cards for