Podcast
Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight
Hosted by The FSGA · EN
The Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association (FSGA) Spotlight brings you face-to-face with the trailblazers and thought leaders shaping the future of the fantasy sports and gaming industries. We explore the most pressing challenges and opportunities, featuring conversations with the innovators and successful entrepreneurs who are making waves and setting new standards. From regulatory hurdles and technological advancements to the strategies for community engagement and customer acquisition, our podcast delves into the stories behind the big ideas and industry transformations that matter most. Tune in for expert insights and actionable takeaways from the people at the forefront of this rapidly evolving space.
18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Future of Responsible Gaming Starts Here
1w ago00:16:28Tap to summarizeCan responsible gaming become something players actually want to use?In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Spotlight, Adam Warrington, Vice President of Responsible Gaming at Underdog, sits down with Daniel Prior, Co-Founder & CEO of Regen, to discuss a new approach to responsible gaming that focuses on helping players build long-term financial habits while enjoying the games they love.Daniel shares how Regen is rethinking responsible gaming by making saving automatic, accessible, and player-focused - while offering operators new ways to build trust with their customers.Topics include:How Regen is redefining responsible gamingWhy traditional responsible gaming tools aren't enoughHelping players save automatically while they playLessons from the U.K. and the future of responsible gaming in the U.S.The role of technology in consumer protectionWhy putting customers first leads to better productsBuilding a more sustainable future for sports gamingWhether you're an operator, founder, regulator, or sports gaming enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into where responsible gaming is headed next.Learn more about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association:https://thefsga.orgSubscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of fantasy sports, sports betting, and gaming.
Transcribe →Nigel Eccles on Building FanDuel, AI, Prediction Markets & the Future of Fantasy Sports
3w ago00:21:41Tap to summarizeFanDuel co-founder Nigel Eccles joins the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Spotlight podcast just moments after being inducted into the Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame at the FSGA Summer Conference.In this candid conversation with Footballguys founder Joe Bryant, Nigel reflects on building FanDuel from a $15 domain name into one of the world's leading gaming companies, the role the FSGA played in that journey, and where innovation is headed next.Topics include:• Nigel's Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame induction • The early days of FanDuel and building a category-defining company • How the FSGA helped shape FanDuel's growth • The evolution of fantasy sports regulation and prediction markets • AI, avatars, and the future of gaming experiences • Why human connection will remain essential in an AI-driven world • Sentient Studios and Nigel's latest ventures in artificial intelligenceRead the full Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame announcement: https://members.thefsga.org/news/Details/nigel-eccles-elected-to-fantasy-sports-hall-of-fame-341851Learn more about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association: https://thefsga.orgSubscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of fantasy sports, sports betting, and gaming.#FSGA #NigelEccles #FanDuel #FantasySports #AI #SportsBetting #PredictionMarkets #SportsBusiness #Gaming #Podcast
Transcribe →How to Build a Fantasy Sports App People Actually Love | Product Design Expert Erica Loh Jones
3w ago00:11:23Tap to summarizeWhat makes a great fantasy sports product?In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Spotlight, Kamini Manivannan, Founder & CEO of Laces Sports, sits down with Erica Loh Jones, Founder of ELJ All Day and former Head of Product Design for Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Fantasy Sports.Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in sports, gaming, and product design, Erica shares practical advice for founders, product leaders, and innovators looking to build engaging fan experiences.Topics include:• Erica's first experience attending the FSGA Summer Conference • Lessons from leading product design at Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Fantasy Sports • The biggest challenges facing fantasy sports founders today • How startups can innovate faster than large companies • Why understanding your customers is the key to product success • The future of fantasy sports, AI, prediction markets, and fan engagement • Why the FSGA community is helping shape the future of the industryWhether you're building the next fantasy sports platform or simply interested in sports technology and fan engagement, this conversation is full of actionable insights.Learn more about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association: https://thefsga.orgSubscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of fantasy sports, sports betting, and gaming.#FSGA #FantasySports #YahooSports #ProductDesign #SportsTech #FanEngagement #Startup #AI #SportsBusiness #Podcast
Transcribe →How Monster League Is Reinventing Fantasy Football | Elevator Pitch Winner Ben Oppenheimer
3w ago00:18:37Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you combine Pokémon, fantasy football, and a passion for building something different?In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Spotlight, Brett Lanier, Co-Founder & CEO of Bettor Vision, sits down with Ben Oppenheimer, Co-Founder of Monster League and winner of the 2026 FSGA Summer Conference Elevator Pitch Competition.Ben shares the story behind Monster League, how the game unexpectedly exploded during beta, and why listening to your users may be the most important part of building a successful startup.Topics include:• Winning the 2026 FSGA Elevator Pitch Competition • The inspiration behind Monster League's unique gameplay • Combining fantasy football with creature collecting and adventure mechanics • Growing from 10 friends to thousands of players • Lessons learned from launching a startup • Why customer feedback drives every product decision • Building fantasy sports experiences for the next generation of fans • Why founders should attend the FSGA Summer and Winter ConferencesWhether you're a fantasy sports fan, startup founder, or sports tech entrepreneur, this episode is packed with valuable insights and an inspiring founder story.Learn more about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association: https://thefsga.orgSubscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of fantasy sports, sports betting, and gaming.#FSGA #FantasySports #MonsterLeague #Startup #SportsTech #FantasyFootball #Gaming #SportsBusiness #Podcast
Transcribe →Yahoo! Sports Director of Fantasy Content Shares the Industry Trends You Need to Know
Jun 1700:24:42Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to stay ahead in fantasy sports and sports media?In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Spotlight, FSGA's Matt Deutsch sits down with Jason Klabacha, Director of Fantasy Content at Yahoo! Sports, to discuss the evolution of fantasy sports, content creation, media trends, and the future of Yahoo Fantasy.Jason shares insights from more than a decade leading Yahoo Fantasy content, including:• How Yahoo continues to innovate after 28 years in fantasy sports• New Yahoo Fantasy products and features, including Guillotine Leagues, High Score, and Fantasy Plus• Why writing still matters in a video-first world• The skills aspiring fantasy sports and gaming professionals need today• Building newsletters, podcasts, and multi-platform content strategies• How Yahoo identifies talent and content creators• Lessons learned from projects that didn't go as planned• Fantasy football, the Chicago Bears, and Jason's favorite fantasy formatsWhether you're a fantasy sports player, content creator, media professional, or industry executive, this conversation offers valuable insights into where the industry is headed.Learn more about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association: https://thefsga.orgFollow the podcast and subscribe on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@FantasySportsandGaming #FantasySports #YahooFantasy #SportsMedia #FantasyFootball #FSGA #SportsBetting #ContentMarketing #FantasyBaseball #SportsBusiness #GamingIndustry
Transcribe →Inside the Fantasy Baseball Experts Draft: Strategies, Surprises & League-Winning Moves
Mar 2500:12:18Tap to summarizeStep inside one of the most competitive fantasy baseball draft rooms and hear how the experts are building winning teams in 2026.Hosted by Lauren Jump (RotoWire) and Matt Deutsch (VSiN), this episode features D.J. Short (NBC Sports) and Robbie Reck (HealthyLineups) breaking down the biggest fantasy baseball draft trends, bold picks, and sharp strategies coming out of the FSGA Experts League.From elite pitching surging up draft boards to late-round value plays and risk management, this is a real look at how top players approach fantasy baseball drafts. If you want an edge in your league, this episode gives you the mindset and strategy to draft smarter.Tune in, take notes, and get ready to dominate your fantasy baseball season.https://thefsga.org/
Transcribe →From Basement Game to Billion-Dollar Industry: The Untold Story of Fantasy Sports’ Rise
Mar 2400:14:21Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to build an entire industry from scratch - and fight to keep it alive? Live from the 2026 FSGA Winter Conference in Las Vegas, this can’t-miss conversation dives into the origin story of fantasy sports with Matthew Berry Game Changer Award winner Clay Walker.From pioneering fantasy at the NFLPA to shaping the media, licensing, and legislation that fueled a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem, Walker breaks down the pivotal moments that transformed fantasy sports into a driving force behind fan engagement, media consumption, and league revenue. This is the inside story of how fantasy went from niche hobby to the backbone of modern sports fandom - and the key players who made it happen.If you’re in the sports, gaming, or fantasy space, this is required listening.Listen or watch now to understand where the industry came from - and where it’s headed next.https://thefsga.org/
Transcribe →How AI, NFL Expertise, and Advanced Analytics Are Changing Football Intelligence
Mar 1200:20:51Tap to summarizeOn this episode of the FSGA Podcast, we sit down with the team behind SumerSports, one of the most innovative football intelligence platforms in the industry. Built by former NFL executives, scouts, and engineers, SumerSports combines deep football expertise with cutting-edge AI and advanced analytics to analyze every player on every play.Originally designed to help NFL and collegiate teams make smarter personnel and strategy decisions, SumerSports is now drawing attention across the broader sports ecosystem - including the fantasy sports and gaming industry represented by the FSGA.We dive into how their technology works, why elite football minds are embracing data-driven decision-making, and what this next generation of football intelligence could mean for fantasy sports, sports betting, media, and fan engagement.For people in the Fantasy Sports & Gaming world, this conversation offers a look at how advanced analytics and AI are shaping the future of sports data - and why platforms like SumerSports are becoming part of the industry's evolving toolkit.https://sumersports.com/ https://thefsga.org/
Transcribe →Fantasy Football Expo Overview + Ultimate Fan Experience | FSGA Spotlight
Feb 1100:13:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight, we sit down with Bob Lung, founder of the Fantasy Football Expo, to discuss the partnership between FSGA and the Expo — and why the relationship continues to create real opportunities for brands, creators, and startups across the fantasy sports industry.Bob shares how FSGA’s networking and elevator pitch competition help companies build the right connections on the business side, while the Expo helps bring those innovations to the fan community and end users. Together, it’s a full-circle pathway from idea to industry to audience.This conversation reflects highlights and takeaways from last year’s Fantasy Football Expo, including the Ultimate Fan Experience and new ways fans and experts can connect.Learn more at TheFantasyFootballExpo.com and subscribe for more FSGA Spotlight conversations.Next Expo: Canton, Ohio | July 24–26, 2026
Transcribe →From Community to Company: Building a Fantasy Football Media Brand with Faraz Siddiqi
Jan 1300:14:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of FSGA Spotlight, we’re joined by Faraz Siddiqi, Founder & Chief Operator of Upper Hand Fantasy, to talk about building one of the most engaged fantasy football communities on Instagram and beyond.Faraz shares how Upper Hand Fantasy grew from a passion project into a full-fledged media business, why platform-specific content matters, and how focusing on community engagement has driven long-term growth. The conversation also explores content strategy, creative teams, brand partnerships, and why in-person industry events like the FSGA Conferences play a major role in turning relationships into real business opportunities.We also dive into Faraz’s take on the evolving fantasy football landscape, content creation in short-form video, and what’s next for fantasy media.🎤 Faraz will also be a speaker at the 2026 FSGA Winter Conference (https://thefsga.org/2026-fsga-winter-conference/), making this episode a great preview of the insights he’ll be sharing live in Las Vegas.Upper Hand Fantasy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upperhandfantasy📌 Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping fantasy sports and sports gaming.#FantasyFootball #FantasySports #SportsGaming #SportsBetting #FSGA
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