INSIGHTS
Publications & Media
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: WHAT NOBODY TELLS CEOS ABOUT HIRING C-SUITE EXECUTIVES
Join us for the sixth edition of Considerations, a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. In this edition, we are pleased to introduce Chris Stambolidis, joining XST Capital Group as Managing Director…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 29: Sparket CEO Aaron Basch Join us as we dive into the evolving prediction and social wagering landscape with Sparket CEO Aaron Basch. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Sparket’s vision for democratizing live event wagering through community-driven experiences that extend…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 28: Blitz:Draft CEO Toby Bucsescu Join us as we dive into the daily fantasy sports space with Blitz:Draft CEO Toby Bucsescu. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Blitz:Draft’s innovative swipe-based fantasy drafting platform, discussing their mission to make fantasy sports faster,…
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: FEAR & LOATHING IN GAMING WILL ACCELERATE M&A
Considerations: Fear & Loathing in Gaming Will Accelerate M&A Join us for the fifth edition of Considerations, a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. In this edition, Founder and CEO Joel Simkins…
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: BUILDING TEAMS THAT MOVE MOUNTAINS
Considerations: Building Teams that Move Mountains Join us for the fourth edition of Considerations, a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. In this edition, Senior Advisor Dean Ehrlich shares hard-earned lessons from…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 27: Almond Digital Health CEO Kevin Winters Join us as we dive into the responsible gaming sector with Almond Digital Health CEO Kevin Winters. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Almond’s unique digital support platform designed to be layered into the…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 26: Cipher Sports Technology Group CEO Adam Fiske Join us as we dive into the betting tools and media sector with Cipher Sports Technology Group CEO Adam Fiske. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Cipher Sports’ flagship brand Dimers, diving into…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: 2025 BEST OF THE NEXT
Reflecting on 2025, we look back at a year defined by its rapid evolution, high-impact disruption, and the bold moves that reshaped the digital gaming and sports betting landscape. Over the past twelve months, we sat down with some of the industry’s most innovative founders…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 25: ProphetX CEO Dean Sisun Join us as we dive into the prediction market sector with ProphetX CEO Dean Sisun. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores ProphetX’s evolution, including its recent application to the CFTC to become a Designated Contract Market…
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: Gaming Industry Loopholes Run Long & Deep; Ignore Them at Your Peril
Considerations: Gaming Industry Loopholes Run Long & Deep; Ignore Them at Your Peril Join us for the third edition of Considerations, a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. In this edition, senior…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 24: Approvely CEO Chelsie Cooper Join us as we dive into the payments sector with Approvely CEO Chelsie Cooper. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Approvely’s unique focus on supporting niche verticals and the extensive solutions they provide to solve pain…
Will Novig Be Sold? Joel Simkins on Prediction Market Acquisitions | Prediction Market Movers
Check out this episode of Prediction Market Movers with host Chris Gerlacher to hear from Joel Simkins, CEO and Founder of XST Capital Group, for an in-depth conversation about the future of prediction markets and what could be one of the biggest shakeups in the…
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: DFS 2.0 Called Up to the Majors; Further Consolidation in the Cards
Considerations: DFS 2.0 Called Up to the Majors; Further Consolidation in the Cards Join us for the second edition of Considerations, a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. In this edition, senior…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 23: Verse Gaming Co-Founder and CEO Dan Zimmermann Join us as we dive into the predictions sector with Verse Gaming Co-Founder and CEO Dan Zimmermann. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Verse’s strategic decision to sunset Verse Fantasy in favor of…
Outfoxed Podcast by Hunter.io Episode 2: Joel Simkins – “Be really tight with your delivery”
Check out this episode of the Outfoxed podcast by Hunter.io to hear XST Capital’s Founder and CEO, Joel Simkins discuss how he built a thriving firm from the ground up, using email, newsletters, and personal relationships to drive growth. His story is packed with lessons…
CONSIDERATIONS: XST CAPITAL INSIGHTS: NAVIGATING EARNOUTS
Considerations: Navigating Earnouts We’re thrilled to announce we are launching a new series at XST Capital Group: Considerations – a collection of thematic reports from XST Capital Group’s senior advisors, designed to provide actionable insights on timely industry topics. The Considerations series will serve as…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 22: ZOOT Co-Founder and CEO Sean Ryan Join us as we dive into the social gaming sector with ZOOT Co-Founder and CEO Sean Ryan. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores ZOOT’s robust internal game studio and their unique focus on Instant…
XST Capital Group Featured in Yahoo Finance Article Unpacking the Rise of the Predictions Markets
XST Capital’s Founder and CEO, Joel Simkins, is featured in the Yahoo Finance article The Gray Area Robinhood and FanDuel Are Using to Bring Sports Betting and Stock Trading Closer Together, where he provides insight on the rise of prediction markets and its effect on…
NASDAQ TradeTalks – What’s Shaping Innovation in the Digital Gaming Landscape?
Check out this NASDAQ TradeTalks with Jill Malandrino to hear XST Capital’s Founder and CEO Joel Simkins, as well as Alex Kane, CEO of Sporttrade, Ken Bean, CEO of Pick the Odds, and Dean Sisun, CEO of ProphetX, discuss how emerging tech, the regulatory environment,…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: THE PLAYBOOK: SPORTS BETTING SECTOR ROUNDTABLE
The Playbook: Sports Betting Sector Roundtable The NFL season is the premier event for the sports betting industry, serving as both a massive revenue driver and a crucible for new technology and fan engagement strategies. This year’s kickoff, with a match up between the Dallas…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 21: Bragg Gaming Group CEO Matevz Mazij Join us as we dive into the iGaming sector with Bragg Gaming Group CEO Matevz Mazij. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Bragg Gaming’s strong expansion and development strategies rooted in their commitment to…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 20: Wager Games CEO Kelson Quan Join us as we dive into the B2B sector with Wager Games CEO Kelson Quan. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Wager Games’ unique approach to transforming the sports betting user experience, introducing new forms…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 19: Third Planet Media CEO Adam Small Join us as we dive into the media and affiliate sector with Third Planet Media CEO Adam Small. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Third Planet’s distinct brand strategy operating four media platforms –…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 18: THNDR CEO Desiree Dickerson Join us as we dive into the Bitcoin gaming sector with THNDR CEO Desiree Dickerson. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores THNDR’s unique B2B platform and their goal of creating new competitive experiences for users while…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: YEAR 1 RETROSPECTIVE & OUTLOOK
As we approach the one-year anniversary of XST Capital Group, we are incredibly proud to share our journey with you as we reflect on our growth in the past year. In his Year 1 Retrospective, XST Capital’s founder, Joel Simkins, details our firm’s inception, our…
NASDAQ TradeTalks – Innovation in Gaming, Regulatory Framework, Market Impact, and Potential Future Developments
Watch this NASDAQ TradeTalks with Jill Malandrino to hear XST Capital’s Founder and CEO Joel Simkins, as well as Scott Sadin, Co-CEO of IC360, Desiree Dickerson, Co-Founder & CEO of THNDR, and Carson Hubbard, Founder & CEO of Rebet, discuss CFTC Event Contracts, innovation in…
XST Capital Group LLC Selected by Rivalry to Assist in Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives for Long-Term Growth
Rivalry Announces Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives for Long-Term Growth TORONTO, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY) (OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for digital-first players, today announced that its Board of Directors (the…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 16: Griddy Founder and CEO Brian Birt Join us as we dive into the free-to-play gaming sector with Griddy Founder and CEO Brian Birt. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Griddy’s unique and innovative card game product and their rapid growth…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 15: Forever Network Founder and CEO Alex Sumsky Join us as we dive into the sports media ecosystem with Forever Network Founder and CEO Alex Sumsky. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Forever Network’s content, rapid growth and strong user engagement,…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 14: nVenue President and COO Quinton Singleton Join us as we revisit the innovative world of sports analytics with nVenue President and COO Quinton Singleton. In this fascinating interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores nVenue’s experience as one of the first technology companies…
XST Capital Serves as Placement Agent and Financial Advisor to Northstar Gaming Holdings in $43.4m CAD Loan Issuance
I’m pleased to announce that XST Capital Group and Roselli Advisory served as placement agents and financial advisors to NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSX-BET.V) in securing one of the largest debt financings to date in the online casino industry, valued at $43.4 million CAD. This complex and…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 13: OwnersBox CEO Brian Kipp Join us as we explore the innovative world of DFS with OwnersBox CEO Brian Kipp. In this fascinating interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores OwnersBox’s aim to advance DFS offerings and responsible gaming. OwnersBox currently offers three unique DFS…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 12: Tallysight CEO Matt Peterson Join us as we explore the world of digital gaming content creation with Tallysight CEO Matt Peterson. In this fascinating interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Tallysight’s full-service content creation platform, and their goal of creating a more connected…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 11: Lucra CEO Dylan Robbins Join us as we explore the world of gaming solutions with Lucra CEO Dylan Robbins. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Lucra’s recent pivot into B2B white-label technology and their rapid expansion in the industry. Lucra…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: 2024 BEST OF THE NEXT
Rewind 2024, a year filled with innovation, disruption, and endless possibilities in the digital gaming and sports betting landscape. We sat down with some of the industry’s brightest minds to delve deep into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future. In this special edition,…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: PRIVATE CAPITAL ROUNDTABLE
The digital gaming and sports betting industries experienced a period of rapid growth and substantial investment between 2020 and 2022. However, the landscape has shifted significantly since then. Despite a few notable exits, overall returns have been underwhelming. As the industry transitions towards 2025, a…
BETTING STARTUPS: QUICK HITS – JESSE LEARMONTH CAUGHT UP WITH JOEL SIMKINS
Joel Simkins, XST Capital’s founder, featured on Betting Startups. Jesse Learmonth caught up with Joel Simkins from XST Capital Group LLC to get his quick takes on: 1. His reflections on 2024 within real-money gaming, and the shifts he’s seen from the start of the…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 10: Dabble CEO Tom Rundle Join us as we explore the world of sports betting and fantasy with Dabble CEO Tom Rundle. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Dabble’s rapid growth and multi-brand strategy across Australia and the US. Dabble provides…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 9: SoBet CEO Cooper Lycan Join us as we explore the world of betting media with SoBet CEO Cooper Lycan. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores SoBet’s unique position as a rival to sportsbooks looking to help bettors beat the fixed…
NASDAQ TradeTalks – Trends in iGaming, Cyber Security and Regulatory Developments
Check out this NASDAQ TradeTalks with Jill Malandrino to hear XST founder and CEO Joel Simkins, as well as Stephen Piepgrass, Partner at Troutman Pepper, and Howard Glaser, Global Head of Government Affairs & Legislative Counsel at Light & Wonder, discuss the latest trends in…
NASDAQ TradeTalks Newsletter: Joel Simkins as Guest Spotlight
The NASDAQ TradeTalks Newsletter featured XST Capital’s founder Joel Simkins as its Guest Spotlight. Joel discusses trends, challenges, and his predictions on the iGaming industry in light of the current changes in the gaming ecosystem. Read what he had to say on the subject here:
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 8: idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian Join us as we explore the world of responsible gaming with idPair CEO Jonathan Aiwazian. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores idPair’s unique position as a pure responsible gaming company looking to make player protection easier…
ULI Fall 2024 Conference – The Rise of Digital Gaming: Implications for Land-Based Hospitality
XST Capital’s founder Joel Simkins presented “The Rise of Digital Gaming: Implications for Land-Based Hospitality” at the Urban Land Institute for the Fall 2024 Conference. Joel spoke to a leading group of hotel developers in Las Vegas, discussing the rise of digital gaming in the…
The Betting Startups Podcast – Ep. 135 Investor Vibe Check – Q3 2024
XST Capital Group LLC featured on The Betting Startups podcast: Ep. 135 is their quarterly Investor Vibe Check, where they chat with 3 industry investors to get their perspective on the landscape from their side of the table. The vibe check for Q3 features Evan…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 6: Betsperts CEO Reid Rooney Join us as we explore the world of sports betting media with Betsperts CEO Reid Rooney. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Betspert’s multi-brand strategy to creating a community for sports bettors, in creating select technology,…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 5: GridRival CEO Ross Fruin Join us as we explore the world of motorsports betting with GridRival CEO Ross Fruin. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores GridRival’s unique position in the digital gambling space, bringing sports betting into the underserved racing…
Linecraft by Novig: Wall Street Veteran’s Big Bet on Small Gaming Companies
XST Capital Group LLC featured on Linecraft by Novig podcast: In an industry plagued by complexity and lack of trust, sports bettors are underserved. Traditional sportsbooks impose limitations, and reliable resources for information and analysis are scarce. “Linecraft,” hosted by Jacob Fortinsky, shares perspectives from…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMING INDUSTRY: CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 4: WagerWire CEO Zach Doctor Join us as we explore the world of online gambling with WagerWire CEO Zach Doctor. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores WagerWire’s unique approach to digital gambling, positioning themselves as a secondary marketplace through a B2B2C…
NASDAQ TradeTalks – Trends in the Digital Gaming Space
Watch this NASDAQ TradeTalks with Jill Malandrino to hear XST founder and CEO Joel Simkins, as well as Pranav Tadikonda of Pikkit, Peter Heneghan of Bettor Capital, and Joey Levy of Betr, discuss the latest trends in the digital gaming sector; particularly ahead of the…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: NFL Kickoff CEO Rountable
Special Edition: NFL Kickoff CEO Roundtable 2024 Football season is finally here! For many participants across the digital gambling ecosystem, this is a pivotal period that will have lasting ramifications not just for the remainder of 2024 but over the intermediate term. In particular, how…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMBLING CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 3: PlayStar CEO Peter Ekmark Join us as we explore the world of online gaming with PlayStar CEO Peter Ekmark. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores PlayStar’s focused approach to digital gaming, as a North American only, online only, casino…
XST Capital Group Deals in New & Veteran Players in Mobile Gaming Space
MADISON, NJ | June 15, 2024 – XST Capital, founded by industry veteran Joel Simkins, is proud to announce its official launch, revolutionizing investment banking with a focus on innovation in the mobile gaming and sports betting industry. Based in the greater NYC/NJ area, Joel…
WHAT’S NXST WITH XST CAPITAL: DIGITAL GAMBLING CEO INTERVIEW SERIES
Volume 1: Sporttrade CEO Alex Kane Join us as we dive into the world of digital gambling with Sporttrade CEO Alex Kane. In this insightful interview, XST Capital’s Founder, Joel Simkins, explores Sporttrade’s unique business model and its position in the digital gambling ecosystem. Sporttrade,…
GA Huddle: Joel Simkins Interview
Check out this interview with GA Huddle, where our Founder speaks about sports betting operators’ profitability, competition and investment opportunities, as well as looks at M&A trends and possibilities. Joel covers everyone from DraftKings and ESPN Bet to the latest strategies emerging from Native American…