Build vs buy: iGaming's biggest tech dilemma

Which parts of an operator's stack to own and which to license shapes speed, compliance load and control. In this HIPTHER iGaming Exchange meetup, an independent journalist hosts Alan Stone, CEO of Intellitic Software and Acquire.bet, with the CEO of machine-learning firm Golden Whale and a co-founder of a live sports content provider.

In this episode

• Stone's test: is it core, can it be differentiated, has someone already built a world-class version; he won't build mobile measurement when 80% of customers already use an established platform (4:41, 5:37).

• Building means owning compliance and governance too, he warns; a customer's BI team build can be "relevant for four weeks" and then sit on the shelf (10:32, 10:53).

• For partner and influencer management, Stone sees a hybrid: build in-house for the top 10% of partners, buy for the other 90% (35:40).

• Golden Whale's CEO weighs workflows, agility and lock-ins, then would buy good products and focus on IP and the customer connection; he cites a 50% uplift in onboarding speed with adaptive generosity (30:20, 30:50, 51:36).

• Stone says AI creative must follow local rules, such as no promotion in Ontario ads, and that for every AI project put live, 10 to 100 are thrown out (43:12, 45:04).

• Over five years Stone expects automated internal operations alongside more high-touch, real-life experiences; the content co-founder thinks using people will become a selling point (55:37, 55:49, 48:07).

Episode from Hipther TV by HIPTHER, published on YouTube.