Season 4 of Bet It Drives is back, and Episode 2 is for anyone who’s over boring, copy-paste iGaming marketing. This time, Akhil Sarin joins the ride: CMO at Easygo and the marketing and partnerships leader behind Stake.
“Sometimes the most effective marketing is the most cost-effective as well. It’s just about what you can do that’s a bit different,”
Akhil shares in the podcast how one of Stake’s lowest-budget ideas turned into a viral moment that hit 16+ billion impressions.
During the ride, Akhil digs into:
- Which partnership Stake spent the most money on, and what made it worth it
- What makes their sponsorship strategy different
- What Akhil dislikes most in the industry right now
- What iGaming marketing teams lack
- The one thing he wishes iGaming marketing teams had more of
- The biggest “this will never work” signal in partnerships
- Akhil’s biggest red flags as a leader, in his own words
Besides sharing his industry wisdom, Akhil gets pulled into “Confess or Call,” including a moment that becomes a test of internal trust: a late-night call to a senior exec about a ridiculous idea with a very serious price tag.
“This season is about talking openly, and Akhil was straight with us,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “If you work in iGaming marketing, this episode will make you rethink spend, partnerships, and what turns attention into growth.”
Season 4 kicked off with a CEO debate between Cedomir Tomic (Founder of Alea) and Oleksandr Feshchenko (CEO of GR8 Tech). The season doesn’t slow down after this. Next up, Max Krupyshev breaks down how crypto payments are reshaping iGaming, and Marek Suchar gets detailed about esports betting: what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next.
Watch or listen to Season 4, Episode 2 on:
- YouTube
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
Industry Perspective
This episode addresses a critical challenge facing iGaming operators: breaking through market saturation with authentic, differentiated marketing approaches. Akhil Sarin’s track record with Stake demonstrates how strategic creativity can outperform budget-heavy campaigns in generating brand awareness and player engagement.
The discussion around Stake’s sponsorship strategy and partnership investments offers valuable insights for operators navigating increasingly competitive sports marketing landscapes. With major iGaming brands competing for visibility across global sports properties, understanding the balance between investment scale and strategic alignment becomes essential for maximizing marketing ROI.
The Bet It Drives series continues to provide industry professionals with candid perspectives on operational challenges and strategic decision-making. As the podcast explores emerging topics like crypto payments and esports betting in upcoming episodes, it serves as a timely resource for marketing and business development teams adapting to evolving player preferences and technological shifts in the iGaming sector.
