In the season finale of iGaming Accent podcast, host Vakho Mdivani sits down with Anton Kaszubowski – entrepreneur, multi-exit founder, and the driving force behind SBC Advisory – for a candid conversation about two decades of transformation in the online gaming industry.
Anton’s journey began in investment banking at the dawn of the online gaming era. “I started focusing on the online gaming industry when I was an investment banker back in 2001–2002… It wasn’t a very popular sector among banks, but I could see the growth when a lot of other technology companies were suffering as the internet bubble burst.”
Drawn by the sector’s potential and his own passion for gaming, Anton quickly found the industry to be unusually open and entrepreneurial: “As a young banker, I found the industry to be extremely open. CEOs were willing to meet and network, and there was a real sense of community.”
After leaving banking, Anton joined the early management team of FUN Technologies, a company that grew rapidly through a series of eight acquisitions in just three years. “It was quite chaotic… managing so many new companies with different agendas, but it was a super interesting and challenging time.”
FUN Technologies focused on skill gaming, fantasy sports, and sports data, with a strong presence in North America and Europe. The company’s eventual acquisition by Liberty Media Corporation for approximately $580 million marked a major milestone: “It was a great deal for shareholders and a sign of the early days of gaming, when there was a lot of investor interest and few listed companies.”
Anton’s entrepreneurial path continued with a foray into TV gambling – broadcasting live roulette on late-night TV – before founding and selling that business as well. Reflecting on these experiences, he emphasizes the importance of perspective:
“One of the most important things in your business career is to have real perspective at any moment in time… Understand the context in which you’ve succeeded, and what you need to do differently in the future.”
The conversation shifts to Anton’s current role as co-founder of SBC Advisory, a strategy consulting firm serving medium and large companies in the iGaming sector.
“We’re a traditional consulting business, but with a strong focus on regulation and strategy. Our team brings together complementary skills and networks, which is key to our success.”
Anton highlights the value of working with trusted partners and the importance of choosing co-founders carefully: “You want complementary skill sets and personalities. There’s a bit of luck involved, but trust and the ability to challenge each other are crucial.”
On the topic of luck, Anton is pragmatic: “You create your own luck by putting yourself in good positions, but you also need some luck along the way. Most of your time as an entrepreneur is spent problem-solving. That’s why I have SBC Advisory – we help established businesses solve problems of growth, scaling, and entering new markets.”
Нe also responded to a question from EvenBet Gaming’s Dmitry Starostenkov and posed one of his own for the next guest.
To hear the whole conversation and gain even deeper insights, listen to the complete podcast episode of iGaming Accent.
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