In this short fireside discussion, The Unit’s Chairman Andy Clerkson joins Paddy Casey to explore where the next wave of product innovation in iGaming is headed. From the rise of sweepstakes in the U.S. to the growing buzz around prediction markets, Andy shares his perspective on how these emerging formats are reshaping the industry.
Having a strong record in driving product and strategy at the highest level, including founding Grand Parade, advising on major U.S. launches like Fox Bet, and now helping steer The Unit’s global expansion—Andy brings a unique lens to the conversation around what’s next in sports betting and iGaming.
Talking Sweepstakes, The U.S. Election, Political Betting
Paddy Casey: “One thing I’m particularly interested in—obviously, we’ve been working with PlayStar in New Jersey for about three years now, and they’re doing really well. And we’re working with companies like Sportingtech who are building some apps for PlayStar, for their upcoming Brazilian launch.
Having said that, where do you think, from a product perspective, we’ll see innovation and trends? There’s a lot of talk around sweepstakes, the U.S. election, political betting—do you think we’ll see any new product developments or emerging formats over the next 12 to 18 months?”
Andy Clerkson: “The exciting thing about the gaming industry is it constantly reinvents itself and constantly finds new ways to create product for new players.”
“In big markets that are mature, like North America, the UK obviously, and Australia, we generally see lots of innovation in what you could call gambling-adjacent product spaces. So, in the U.S. lately, there’s been a lot of talk around social games with sweepstakes prizing, which has been extremely popular with American adults for many, many years in a social context. And we’ve also now seen a lot of talk about prediction markets, where financial products have moved into the sports betting space.”
How Does The Unit Embrace These Emerging Trends?
Andy adds: “And actually, for a company like The Unit, we see it all as a massive opportunity. Of course, you know The Unit has understood and worked with regulated and large-scale sports books and casinos over the years—and continues to do so with its teams.
But also, that knowledge of those books, and the agility and flexibility of the teams, means they can turn their attention to almost any product—especially these complex products like prediction markets, which deal with low-latency data and manage hundreds, even thousands, of markets. That stuff takes real knowledge, even though you’re trying to create new things that are simple.”
Watch the full video to hear their thoughts on where the industry is heading in the next year, and how companies like The Unit are uniquely positioned to lead the way.
