Exclusive Interview with Rhys Jones: The Man Behind NEXT.io’s Media and Events Success

From Collegiate Golfer to iGaming Pro: Rhys Jones’ Unconventional Start

Joshua: Rhys, it’s great to have you with us today. We know the iGaming industry is as dynamic as it is competitive, and your journey into this space was anything but conventional. Can you share how you first got into the gambling sector and what inspired you to focus on business development within iGaming?

Rhys: Getting into the gambling industry was unexpected! I returned from the US in October 2016, about 18 months after graduating from Long Island University in New York, returning to the UK with little experience in the working world.

Driving revenue for any company attracted me, and the target-based roles were exciting as I’d been striving for results from a very young age as a competitive golfer. I focused my attention on the tech industry when I started applying for jobs and interviewing – all the interviews followed a similar path – “We like you a lot, but you just don’t have the experience.”

After months of interviewing with no success, a childhood friend of mine introduced me to a well-known recruitment company within the iGaming industry. From there, I landed my first job at Clarion Gaming (thanks, Rory Credland and James King!).

8 years later, I’m still in the industry and still enjoying it! The childhood friend is still in the industry, too – it’s pretty cool to see him at events across the globe, having known each other since the age of 11.

Bridging Supplier and Media Worlds: Lessons from Industry Giants

Joshua: How have your experiences at companies like Relax Gaming, Play'n GO, and Clarion Gaming shaped your approach at NEXT.io?

Rhys: Clarion Gaming and NEXT.io play in a similar sandbox – the event organiser and media sandbox. Play’n GO and Relax Gaming play in their own sandbox – the supplier sandbox.

My experience at Play’n GO and Relax Gaming has given me the external marketing know-how from a supplier’s perspective. As my clients are predominantly suppliers, having been in their shoes, I have a pretty clear idea of what the objectives are, which helps a great deal when recommending products from NEXT.io’s portfolio.

Understanding Clients from the Inside Out: A Supplier’s Perspective

Joshua: What unique perspectives do you bring to NEXT.io, given your diverse background in both sales and marketing operations across leading industry brands?

Rhys: Similarly to the above, I have a clear understanding of what my clients are trying to achieve, having been in a supplier’s shoes. A fundamental rule of sales is to put yourself in the client’s shoes – this is exactly what I’m able to do.

Working with a variety of different clients and understanding their strategies, I’m able to recommend products to certain clients if I feel they’ll be suited to their objectives.

NEXT.io’s Edge: Content-First Focus in a Crowded Market

Joshua: What sets NEXT.io apart in the highly competitive online gambling and sports betting sector?

Rhys: The event organiser and media sector of the industry is a crowded one and differentiation is sometimes cloudy. At NEXT.io, we focus on a content-first approach to our events and media offerings. We’re focused on quality over quantity – bigger isn’t always better!

On the events front, we already have large exhibitions within the industry, there’s no need for another. On the news and media front, we’re on track to become THE go-to outlet for news by the end of this year.

Driving Innovation Through Stronger Client Relationships

Joshua: How does NEXT.io foster innovation and collaboration within the global iGaming community?

Rhys: We listen to what our clients want. The iGaming industry has cleaned up its act a great deal in the 8 years I’ve been in it.

Don’t get me wrong, the industry is still a lot of fun, but the party-culture of the past is slowly dying down. Having a tighter relationship with our partners boosts our collaboration – the NEXT Retreats are a result of the strengthened relationships.

Agility and Awareness: NEXT.io’s Approach to Global Regulation

Joshua: How does NEXT.io navigate the complex regulatory environments across different jurisdictions?

Rhys: Being on top of the latest news in the industry is vital – our editorial team are the best in the business for that. Being a small company allows us to be agile, if a certain region or country is trending, it doesn’t take long for us to make our presence known there.

Measuring Success: How NEXT.io Delivers ROI for Attendees and Sponsors

Joshua: How do you measure the impact and ROI of events like the NEXT Summit for both attendees and sponsors?

Rhys: The ROI depends on the attendees’ and the sponsors' objectives. For an attendee, the ROI is usually measured by how much they learned from the content and the connections made during the event.

For a sponsor, the ROI is usually measured by the level of brand visibility achieved, the number of new connections made, and the number of quality meetings that lead to a qualified lead.

From Unknown to Trusted: Building Industry Recognition at NEXT.io

Joshua: Can you share a memorable moment or breakthrough partnership that originated from a NEXT.io event?

Rhys: It’s tough to pinpoint a single partnership, but what’s a nice memory is how much the conversation has changed in 4 years.

In my first stint at NEXT.io (then iGaming NEXT), the initial calls followed a similar route, “I’m sorry, who/what is iGaming NEXT?”

4 years later, those conversations are very different, which proves the level of trust we’ve managed to build with our clients that has spread across the industry.

Why iGaming BizDev Is Worth It: Rhys Jones’ Advice to Newcomers

Joshua: What advice would you offer to aspiring professionals looking to build a career in iGaming business development?

Rhys: Do it! It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, there’ll likely be a lot of travel (you’ll see the world), and the people are human.