Episode 55: Derek Stevens explains why Las Vegas isn’t dead

Downtown Las Vegas legend and Circa Sports CEO Derek Stevens joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann for a World Series of Politics G2E special, tackling the future of Las Vegas tourism and sports betting.

The 25th anniversary of G2E is just weeks away and the American Gaming Association’s Maureen Beddis joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann on the World Series of Politics to give people a taster of what’s on offer at this year’s show.  

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann are joined by David Rebuck, former director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, who has the proliferation of sweepstakes and predictions markets in the US firmly in his sights. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics! After we turned up the heat with Congresswoman Titus in our last episode, we’re talking cooling off with responsible gaming legend Keith Whyte. In his new guise as president of Safer Gambling Strategies, Whyte joins Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann to discuss the potential for global harmonisation of responsible gambling standards to tech’s role in minimising gambling harms.  There’s also discussion of the National Survey on Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences (NGAGE), produced by the National Council on Problem Gambling, an authority Whyte led for 27 years. That actually shows problem gambling rates dipping to pre-pandemic levels. There’s also some myth busting about the illegal market, debate on state versus federal approaches, and a call for transparency, all in the latest World Series of Politics!

In this sizzling summer episode, World Series of Politics hosts Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann welcome back one of our favourite guests, Congresswoman Dina Titus, to find out how she’s giving bettors a fair shake with the Fair Bet Act. The ‘big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill’The Fair Bet Act is Congresswoman Titus’ fiery response to a sneaky Senate move that cuts the tax deduction on gambling losses to 90%. Titus pulls no punches as she calls out the “big, bad, beautiful, bullshit bill” for cutting the longstanding 100% deduction on gambling losses, effectively taxing players on phantom winnings. And bipartisan momentum is building, including backing from gaming giants, tribes and the American Gaming Association (AGA), for Titus’ bill to reverse the provision before it hits taxpayers in 2026. The Congresswoman’s message is clear: This goes beyond protecting the industry, and it’s vital for players, communities and the future of regulated gambling in the United States. 

The World Series of Politics has turned 50 and for this special episode everyone is on camera, with the dynamic duo of Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann joined by Robin Harrison, to quiz special guest and industry legend Frank Fahrenkopf. Former chair of the Republican National Convention, chair of the Presidential Debates Commission, Caesars board member and the first president of the American Gaming Association, Frank is an iconic figure in the industry. You’ll hear his reflections on establishing the industry’s first association and coordinating player protection efforts, discussions about igaming with Sheldon Adelson, dealings with Tony Blair, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as his thoughts on the current AGA administration. Everything about the industry today, from the man who played a key role in buildings its foundations. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics as Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann take a trip across the point to have Wes Himes discuss the UK Gambling Act white paper. 

It’s a fiery one this week! World Series of Politics goes in hard on the Land of Lincoln, where another tax grab from the legislature puts further pressure on Illinois sports betting licensees. Does the Illinois sports betting tax grab essentially say the state is not a supporter of technological innovation? That’s Brandt’s take, and he warns it goes beyond gaming to target other technology innovators. How is that a sustainable strategy in the long-term?To Brendan, the sports betting tax grab is just further evidence of Illinois as a problem state for the gaming industry, especially in the wake of the Chicago casino project. “Illinois is just not a friendly space to go do business, plain and simple,” he says. 

Welcome back to the World Series of Politics podcast! This week Brandt Iden and Brendan Bussmann saddle up with Jonathon Kinchen to discuss US horse racing and horse race betting. JK to his friends, Kinchen is an experienced handicapper and pundit featured on Fox Sports so there’s no one better to set out the current runners and riders in the race betting game. He tells our dynamic duo about how racing missed the first wave of US gaming expansion, but explains how it could make a comeback. Kinchen unpacks parimutuel wagering and the case for fixed-odds betting on horse racing, as well as explaining how the sport can attract a new generation of fans and bettors.You’ll also hear how JK sees sports betting partnerships with racetracks working, and what international horse racing markets such as Hong Kong and Dubai do better than any other market, and ultimately why a day at the races is a live experience on a par with events like the Super Bowl. We’ve also got some tips on Preakness, but with a shifting field, things may have changed..

Indiana igaming is dead, Nebraska sports betting won't happen until next year and we're not even getting clarity on sports predictions so there's plenty to discuss in the World Series of Politics with your hosts, Brendan Bussmann and Brandt Iden!