Ball and Chain – The Sports Betting and Crypto Podcast

Mark is joined by his good pal Jess Udy, and they talk all things Superbowl, including it being so close to Valentine's Day this year, what their picks are straight up and against the spread, and a variety of prop bets. Mark takes credit for his prediction on Tom Brady's retirement. Then they get into a debate about who the best teams in the NBA are. Finally, they wrap up with Jess' recent betting wins and bad beats.

Well it was a bad week personally for Mark and Jess, as Mark's Packers lost another Crap-The-Bed Rodgers fest, while Brady was unable to deliver a comeback performance with Jess in attendance at the Bucs game. But the two digress and give their analyses of the remarkable Divisional Round games, and look ahead to the NFC/AFC Championship games. Mark gives a Moneyline lock pick for this weekend that you can mortgage your house on, while Jess wants to take the Knicks with the points against the Milwaukee Bucks (you already know how that worked out). Long-form podcast on a Friday night -- enjoy!

Betting Matters host Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to recap the NFL Wild Card round weekend and to preview the Divisional Round. Mark gives a prediction for his Packers based on a throwback Niners/Packers game, and Jess talks about his plans to attend the Rams/Buccaneers game. Jess has been crushing it on his NBA bets lately. Lastly, Mark ponders such philosophical questions like "Why do the Florida Panthers play in Sunrise, FL instead of Miami?" and "How are the two best teams in the NHL from Florida?" (Eat your heart out Canada)

Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to discuss the crazy games and endings in Week 18 of the NFL season. Then they do a game-by-game analysis and predictions (both ATS and moneyline) for this upcoming weekend's Wild Card round games. They wrap up with Jess discussing his recent college basketball sports betting endeavors and a preview into the system that he uses.

The Ball and Chain podcast is history, and Mark Thomas kicks off the new Betting Matters podcast with his good pal, Jess Udy. Mark and Jess begin with the NFL playoff picture, first chatting about Jess' Buccaneers, then moving on to Mark's Packers, and wrapping up with the rest of the NFC and AFC. Then they get into some picks for this weekend's NFL playoff games and Jess talks about some of his recent sports betting wins in the NFL, college football, NBA, and college basketball. Jess breaks the news that he's moving to Miami, and Mark talks about how amazing it's been since he moved to Miami in October. Lastly, they give the big thumbs down to Hub Arkush, the reporter from Chicago that has an MVP vote and who says that he's not voting for Aaron Rodgers for MVP despite him being the best player on the field.

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Ben Wilson, a play-by-play and sports betting broadcaster for a variety of TV and radio networks, including ESPN+, SEC Network, Fox Sports Midwest, Pac-12 Network, and Stadium. They kick things off by discussing some Wisconsin sports (Ben is also from WI), then dive into how the landscape for regional sports networks (RSN's) have changed over the past 20 years. Ben is also the host of Pete Rose's Daily Picks Podcast alongside Pete Rose for Quake Media, and Mark and Ben discuss what it's like to work directly with the all-time baseball hit king. Lastly, Ben dives into his experience at VSiN, and what it was like to work with Brent Musburger.

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Nicolas Panaritis, Co-Founder of TheDailyStakes, which provides tools to empower sports bettors with the same analytics used by both the sharps and sportsbooks. Nicolas talks about how he came up with the idea for TheDailyStakes and what sets the product apart from others. He also discusses the strategy for growing the business, marketing, and pricing.

Mark is joined by SharpRank Founder & CEO, Christopher Adams. SharpRank is an independent ratings agency and performance rating platform for sports betting experts, algorithms, prognosticators, and the general public. Christopher talks about how both consumers and operators are leveraging SharpRank to bring greater transparency to the sports betting industry. Then Christopher tells the story of his journey to becoming a startup entrepreneur and Mark talks about his. Just Fucking Do It!

Host Mark Thomas is joined by Robert Walker, the Director of Sports Book Operations for USBookmaking (USB). He has over 30 years of experience in managing sports book wagering lines and risk, including at The Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Stardust. Robert gives a behind-the-scenes look into what it's like to be a bookmaker, how he stays one step ahead of sharps, and what the future of bookmaking will look like.

Mark is joined by Matt Stallknecht, the Senior Manager of Sports Betting at NASCAR. Matt starts off by discussing how NASCAR races, Cup Series, and points system work. Then he dives into the rigors of what it's like to be a race car driver. Finally, Matt walks Mark through the decision-making process that NASCAR went through the past few years to embrace sports betting and engage in partnerships with sports betting operators.

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Alex B. Smith (not the football player) to chat about how Alex went from playing in a hard rock band to betting on sports and writing about sports betting for publications like Covers and WagerTalk. Alex is a particularly avid NHL bettor and handicapper, and he gives his advice for how to get started and what to look for when it comes to betting on hockey.

Mark is joined by Garrett Schwartz, the Head of Strategy & Analytics at Gaming Society. Gaming Society is helping educate sports bettors through unique classes and educational materials, along with bringing more awareness towards women's sports and betting on women's sports. They also discuss how former professional athletes are getting involved with sports betting companies (Kevin Garnett is a co-founder of Gaming Society). Mark and Garrett also touch on the forward-thinking nature of FOX Sports, and what they expect in terms of in-gaming betting becoming part of future television broadcasts.

Mark is joined by Joe D'Amico, who owns and operates All American Sports in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joe is a third generation race and sports personality, and a resident of Las Vegas for 31 years, in which he has been in and around sports on a daily basis by working and managing several Las Vegas Sports books and several Sports Information Services. Joe talks with Mark about all things sports betting, including what it's like to live in Vegas, bet on sports professionally, and run a betting information services business. And of course, Joe gives some of his picks for this week's NFL games and the Superbowl!

Mark is joined by high-energy Carlos Duque, a Corporate & Litigation attorney within the Esports, Daily Fantasy Sports, and Cannabis industries at the law firm Bailey & Glasser. They kick things off about how to stay happy and productive during uncertain times (hint: it's about where you're living). Next, they talk about all of the legal challenges that startups face, especially within vice tech, and how to best handle them. Carlos also talks about common misconceptions of life as an attorney, and how to best navigate the attorney / client relationship. Grab a cup of coffee, bring your energy, and join us a for a fun chat!

Mark is joined by Robert Kraft (not that Robert Kraft) from Atlas World Sports. Robert is also originally from Wisconsin and both he and Mark revel in the current golden age of all Wisconsin sports teams being good at the same time. Next, they dive into more about Robert's recent launch of Atlas World Sports, which gives you access to your favorite sports, teams, players, and online sportsbooks from the comfort of your phone. Finally, they discuss the role of Atlas in the affiliate marketing world of sports betting, and wrap up by talking about the obsession that tech entrepreneurs need to have when building product.

Mark is joined by Britt Sanders, who has done everything and anything related to Fantasy Sports, including hosting multiple podcasts and content resources. Britt starts off with what "Dynasty" Fantasy Sports is and how it compares to Season Fantasy Sports and Daily Fantasy Sports. He then gives tips for how to break into playing Fantasy Sports if it's your first time. Lastly, Mark and Britt talk about careers in tech and sports.

Mark is joined by David Woodley, the Chief Content Officer & Chief Revenue Officer from Playmaker, which is a sports media, events, and merchandise company with over 12 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat & Facebook. David is a passionate Minnesota sports fan, so Mark and David kick things off by talking Wisconsin vs Minnesota sports before David dives into how Playmaker helps sports brands reach younger audiences through its content and influencer platform. They conclude with some potential rule changes to make baseball more popular, and what the future of sports betting and content products look like.

Steve Walsh has angel invested in over 50 startups the past two years, mostly via syndicates (including being a 3x investor in ZenSports). He joins Mark to talk about how angel investing via syndicates work, what he looks for in a startup before investing, and what startup founders do that turn him off. A must listen episode for anyone looking to get into startup angel investing or who is pitching angel investors!

Mark is joined by Dan Hannigan-Daley, formerly of DraftKings and now the CEO of Sports Info Solutions. Dan talks about how DraftKings prepared for the repeal of PASPA and quickly moved to launch its sports book product in 2018. They discuss the US vs international sports betting market, and Sports Info Solutions' unique take on providing data to sports betting operators, sports leagues, and teams. Oh, and robo umps in baseball!

Ball and Chain podcast host Mark Thomas kicks off the latest episode with Jess Udy by walking through the journey leading up to watching game 6 of the NBA Finals in person, and what this NBA title means to him as a Bucks fan for the past 33 years. Mark and Jess also compare the luck factor in the NBA playoffs to the other pro sports. Mark talks about why he's not a fan of the Olympics. And of course, we've got some NFL talk now that Rodgers is for sure coming back to the Packers. Woohoo Bucks!

Mark Thomas is joined by Jess Udy to break down the thrilling game 5 of the NBA Finals. Mark walks through the emotional lows and highs of the game, from falling behind by 16 points in the first quarter to one of the most iconic plays in NBA Finals History with Jrue Holiday's steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis. Mark also breaks down his shrewd thought process for timing a trip back to Milwaukee and in buying tickets to game 6. And then somehow, Mark and Jess wrap up with NFL talk again. Let's go Bucks!

Jess Udy is back on the pod and he and Mark talk about the Bucks great win in game 3 of the NBA Finals. But first, they talk about the other Bucs (Tampa Bay) and why we're looking at another Green Bay / Tampa Bay NFC Championship game this season if Rodgers comes back. Then Mark gives the case both for and against the Milwaukee Bucks winning the title, meanwhile Jess thinks the Bucks are in a really good place and should win it all, Then Jess challenges Mark to watch some UFC / MMA, and Mark challenges Jess to play some 9-ball.

ZenSports Marketing Manager, Ally Mielnicki, joins Mark on the latest Ball and Chain podcast episode to discuss game 1 of the NBA Finals. But first, Mark recaps a wild weekend in LA and what it was like for the Bucks to make the Finals for the first time in 47 years. Then Ally and Mark break down what happened in game 1 and what the Bucks need to do to get back on track during game 2.

Bucks do the unthinkable and beat the Nets on the road in Game 7. As a Bucks fan since 1988, this one feels great for host Mark Thomas. But before they dive into how the Bucks did it, Mark gives Jess the floor to lament about his Jazz and what went wrong against the Clippers. Plus why the Sixers got ousted by the Hawks and what to expect in Bucks/Hawks and Clippers/Suns. #FearTheDeer

Chase Payne is the Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer at Champions Round, and sits on the Board of Directors at the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association. Chase joins Mark to discuss how Fantasy Sports can and will become more interactive via content and providing the technology formats that consumers want. They talk about how professional and collegiate athletes can further their Name Image Likeness via NFT's. Lastly, they chat about the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association and how the organization is raising awareness and furthering the growth for the gaming industry.

Mark is joined by Justin Jacobson, an entertainment and Esports attorney located in New York City. They discuss a wide array of topics within Esports, including athlete intellectual property, the integrity of betting in Esports, and how Esports leagues and tournaments can become more structured and mainstream. They also discuss Justin's latest book, "The Essential Guide to the Business & Law of Esports & Professional Video Gaming", which he currently uses in his curriculum as an Adjunct Professor for Esports Leadership Development at University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Jess Udy returns to the Ball and Chain podcast for his first of many weekly guest appearances moving forward. Jess and Mark talk about how the Jazz and Bucks inflicted total destruction on their opponents in round 1. They give their predictions for the rest of the playoffs (including a Bitcoin bet between the two!) and discuss what's up with tiny crowds in LA. They also break down what the beer-drinking scene is like in Utah, how Cam Newton should play for the Portland Trail Blazers, how Drew, er we mean Eric Bledsoe should play quarterback for the Patriots, and Jess' recent move to Tampa, FL.

Ball and Chain host Mark Thomas is joined by Josh Swissman — who is a former senior marketing executive at MGM Resorts International and Station Casinos, and is now the founding partner at The Strategy Organization. Josh talks about how consumer demand for Vegas is back to pre-pandemic levels, and the outlook for business travel coming back to Vegas. Josh also discusses what it was like to market an in-person entertainment experience for Vegas casinos during Covid, what he's now doing post-Covid, and what the future of casino gaming looks like in the next 5 years.

Mark is joined by Chris Amberley from TSN Canada to discuss what the sports betting and media market are like north of the border. But first! They hypothesize on the Aaron Rodgers saga and the will he/won't he be back discussion. Mark and Chris also chat about the state of the NHL and the future of decentralized finance. 

Tony Cutillo, Fantasy Sports Contributor to Fox Sports The Gambler and CEO of Rize and React Media, talks with Mark about the difference between season fantasy sports and daily fantasy sports, strategies for winning at both, and how he communicates his research and tips on-air to the audience. They also discuss what it means to find your passion and to be a founder of your own company.

Max Bichsel, the Vice President of US Business at https://Gambling.com (Gambling.com), joins ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas to talk about how each state is approaching the legalization of sports betting differently, why certain approaches are better for consumers and affiliate marketers than others, and why higher customer acquisition costs (and lifetime values!) in the gaming industry are here to stay. They also discuss how operators attempt to attract the best kind of customers, deter bonus hoppers, and their right to refuse sharp action.

ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas, is joined by Martino Puccio, a Serie A Soccer and Gambling Contributor for The Athletic. As an avid Serie A and Soccer fan, Martino breaks down for the audience how all of the different European Soccer leagues are currently structured, what went down this week with the European Super League, and what it will take for Soccer to finally take off here in the US. Mark and Martino also discuss where MLB/NHL falls short in terms of marketing, and of course, gambling and crypto.

Mark is joined by Juan Rodriguez, the Founder of Lodgz Financial, which focuses on helping video game streamers with tax planning, bookkeeping, and managing revenue. Streamers face unique challenges when it comes to managing donations and channel subscriptions, and Juan walks through how he helps them better manage their finances. Mark and Juan also delve into their love for watching football, and the differences in college vs pro football fans throughout the country.

Jess Udy, who appeared on episodes 1 and 2 from February/March 2020 and hasn't been on since, returns to console Mark on the Packers NFC Championship loss. They also discuss their forecast and betting tips on Chiefs/Bucs, why College Basketball is the best sport to bet on, what the NBA can do to improve the regular season, and their near-term cryptocurrency price predictions.

David Bearman, Deputy Editor of Sports Betting at ESPN, joins Mark Thomas from ZenSports to discuss the historical moments that helped leagues like the NBA and media companies like ESPN finally embrace legalized sports betting. They also make the arguments for how traditional sports betting is just as skill-based as Daily Fantasy Sports. And finally, what it would take to streamline the sports betting license process across all states.

Zach Brunner is a Daily Fantasy Sports guru, and he chats with Mark about all of the different things to look for when betting on DFS. Zach is also from Wisconsin, so the two do a deep dive into this year's Packers, and discuss whether they think Giannis will sign an extension with the Bucks. Plus, Zach gives his DFS and sports betting picks for this Sunday's games!

Scott Smiley, head of Strategy at ICON Foundation and co-founder of ICX Station, joins Mark to discuss traditional finance/banking vs cryptocurrencies, the power of smart contracts, and why gaming regulators should embrace these technologies for sports betting.

Jeff Eisenband has accomplished a lot in his young broadcasting and sports media career, from being a broadcaster of NBA2K games to having interviewed some of sports' top athletes. He shares his secrets for how to break into a career in broadcasting, his passion for Golf, and how Twitter is the best platform for growing your sphere of influence. 

Prior to embarking on a cross-country move from Connecticut to Las Vegas, Ben Fawkes, the VP of Digital Content at VSiN and former Editor at ESPN Chalk, joins Mark in the (lucky) 13th episode of the Ball and Chain podcast. They discuss the genesis of VSiN's sports betting content business started by Brent Musburger, the difference in content needs for both casual and serious sports bettors, and what the future of iGaming looks like. Content is king!

Over the last decade, many major media companies have been hesitant to devote much coverage to sports betting. Mark is joined by ESPN writer David Payne Purdum, one the most well-known and respected journalists in the sports betting world. David talks about his transition from a traditional newspaper writer in various Southeastern states, to a journalist covering a booming industry. Hear his and Mark's thoughts on the evolution, as well as current sports topics such as the NBA Bubble and commissioner Adam Silver, and other sports that are also underway.

Ever wonder what it's like to be a sports bookie? Mark is joined by Robert Kowalski, the head bookmaker at Baldini's Sports Casino in Sparks, Nevada. Robert talks about his roots making book back on the streets of New York, what it was like operating the sports book at The Barbary Coast in Vegas, and what his current role at Baldini's is. Find out how he makes lines, looks for sharp action, and views the future of sports betting (including peer-to-peer and mobile).

Episode 10 of the Ball and Chain Podcast is a monologue from Mark. He touches on what Black Lives Matter means to him and what we can do to be better human beings to each other. He also gives his thoughts on news of the NBA season returning in July, and questions what the hell MLB players are thinking by not yet ratifying an agreement to play this year.

Companies like Triggy are working with sports betting operators to provide data and real-time notifications on sporting event updates to bettors. Mark is joined by Bjorn Nilsson, the Co-Founder of Triggy, to find out which data points sports bettors care about. And how much data is too much data? Check out episode 9 to hear about all of the cool new data coming to sports bettors, and what the pros and cons of all of this data are, both to sports betting operators and bettors alike.

Mark is joined by Trevor Doerksen from ePlay Digital, and the two discuss the history of mobile video in broadcasting sports, second screen gaming to keep fans engaged while watching sports, and of course, betting and crypto within mobile gaming. Trevor dives into some of the cool gaming titles that he's worked on with the major sports leagues and teams to create, including super cool AR and role player games. Lastly, they discuss the new set of "Howie's Games" built with a COVID19 focus and well-known germaphobe Howie Mandel.

Mark is joined by Jackson Weinreb of Blockworks Group, which produces events and podcasts to provide education and information about the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Mark and Jackson kick things off with a fun and lively debate on when/how America should re-open up, followed by sports coming back, and what the future of in-person conferences looks like for business and the blockchain world. They wrap up with the use cases of crypto beyond just trading, and what the Bitcoin halving means.

Dan Rubin has been using analytics and quantitative methods for years to gain an edge in sports betting. He joins Mark to share some of his secrets for successfully finding value in bets, his analytical methodologies for improving expected outcomes, and his approach to bankroll management. Dan holds an MBA from Columbia University, a CFA designation, and most recently founded Cleat Street, which is a daily sports betting newsletter.

Jacob Shrader is an avid Esports player and gamer, and he joins Mark to talk about the ins and outs of the different major Esports titles, game producers, leagues, formats, and of course, betting and crypto in Esports!

Ari Fox joins Mark to talk about how Esports organizations and leagues operate, players and influencers that drive Esports, and the future of betting on Esports in a post-COVID19 world.

Mark flies solo with no guest and gives his thoughts on how the sports leagues should treat their seasons when they come back, how COVID-19 is impacting businesses across the sports world, and can't we all just get along? (on Twitter)

Host and ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas, scrambles to find a guest for an emergency podcast to discuss the cancelling of American sports. Jess Udy to the rescue! Jess lives in Utah and is a Jazz fan, and we discuss what it was like for him to find out that his hometown star, Rudy Gobert, was the catalyst for shutting down the NBA and the rest of American sports. We also dive into COVID-19's impact on all sports and the human race moving forward, why the crypto markets moved in sync with the equity markets this time, and the merits of an alien cryptocurrency. Mark also laments the possibility of no Bucks' championship this season :(

ZenSports investor and customer, Jess Udy, joins ZenSports Co-Founder & CEO, Mark Thomas, to kick off the very first episode of the Ball and Chain podcast. Mark and Jess share war stories of past cryptocurrency trading adventures, a deep dive into what the heck cryptocurrencies and blockchain even are, and what both mean for sports betting and ZenSports.