It’s a lightning – pun intended – intro this week, with Jon and Fintan discussing Fintan being blurry. It’s so good it even works without video! [0:00 – 3:57]

Then we meet Bruce Horner – minus The Range – director of sales from Voltage to discuss the implications of the Lightning Network in the iGaming industry. The conversation covers the evolution of Bitcoin as a payment method, the advantages of using the Lightning Network for faster and cheaper transactions, and the importance of privacy and compliance in the gambling sector. Bruce shares insights on how Voltage is facilitating these transactions and the future of cryptocurrency in regulated gaming environments.

Choice quotes:

1. "It's a strong name alright."
2. "It's extremely private."
3. "It's a two-sided marketplace."

Bruce Horner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucelhorner/

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

In no particular order they are: the mighty EveryMatrix – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, they’re gaining tier-1 operators all the time.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo (January ’26 in Barcelona) and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries:

We open with Jon still sounding a bit sad without Fintan, but he really is trying his hardest [0:00 – 4:48].

Then the chaps meet Thomas Smallwood, CCO, and Daniela Lanzolla, COO of OpenSlots. The conversation delves into the structured process of game creation, emphasizing the importance of initial documentation and the rapid turnaround for mockups and animations. Daniela Lanzolla outlines how the game creation process is organized into milestones, with a focus on collaboration between various teams, including graphic design and marketing, to ensure that the final product aligns with the client's vision [4:49 – 45:48].

Thomas Smallwood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomassmallwood/

Daniela Lanzolla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-lanzolla-741457145/

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.

In no particular order they are: the mighty EveryMatrix – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, they’re gaining tier-1 operators all the time.

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo (January ’26 in Barcelona) and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/

Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/

Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/

Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/

Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

First off, Fintan and Jon talk about some things, and a few other things, but not too many things [0:00 – 13:05].

Then they’re joined by author Markus Heitz to talk about his Gambling Book Awards-longlisted novel The Devil's Playbook, a complex thriller that intertwines elements of card games and historical fiction. He shares insights into his writing process, the significance of historical accuracy, and more. The discussion also touches on literary influences, the symbolism of the Ace of Spades, and the portrayal of vampires in literature. Heitz emphasizes his passion for storytelling and the importance of research in crafting compelling narratives. Oh, and we get into medieval Hungarian nobility for a while there too [13:06 – 53:04].

Oh, and for more info... Here's the song Markus mentions that they did a video for to promote the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuVci-j31tc

And the Hungarian queen we talk about is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_of_Cilli

Choice quotes:

1. "It's a complex thriller."
2. "I invented the game."

Markus’s website: https://www.mahet.de/

As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support. They are the Santa Claus to our humble (but delicious) reindeer selves.

In no particular order they are: the mighty EveryMatrix – the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. EveryMatrix’s coverage is so damn good, they’re gaining tier-1 operators all the time. No nosebags for these guys!

Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago. If Optimove were a reindeer, you know they’d be Rudolph.

Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo (January ’26 in Barcelona) and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do. And that’s why they’re Santa, and the industry is the grateful recipient of their mighty gifts.

The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.

Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkR

Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast

Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: