We kick off with the usual shenanigans from Fintan and Jon, mostly Fintan though as Jon is generally the voice of reason here [0:00 – 19:00]. Then we come to our second guest of the Gambling Book Awards era (www.gamblingbookawards.com). The magnificent Peter Venison shares his experiences working with the legendary Sol Kerzner, a titan in the hospitality and gambling industries. Peter’s experiences led to him writing the book Sol: My Friend and Adversary, which came out in early 2025. The discussion covers Kerzner's visionary approach to building resorts, the evolution of the gambling landscape in South Africa, and the cultural and social changes during that era.Venison reflects on the challenges and successes of creating Sun City, the marketing strategies employed, and the impact of Nelson Mandela on the industry. The conversation concludes with insights into Venison's excellent memoir about Kerzner and the book's reception, and possibly the greatest tax wheeze we have ever heard of [19:01 – 1:18:43].&nbsp;Choice quote: "We were agents of change."Peter Venison on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-venison-b4849630/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-venison-b4849630/</a>As ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support. They are truly the Mad Max: Fury Road, to our Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. In no particular order they are:&nbsp; the mighty <a href="https://everymatrix.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EveryMatrix </a>– the industry go-to for sportsbook platforms and data feeds. <a href="https://everymatrix.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">EveryMatrix</a>’s coverage is so damn good, they’re gaining tier-1 operators all the time. If I had to fight to the death in a weird, muddy amphitheatre in a dystopian future, I’d want these guys with me.<a href="https://hubs.la/Q02gLC7C0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimove</a>, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. <a href="https://hubs.la/Q02gLC7C0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Optimove</a>, your support helps us make things that are like the sacred gasoline –&nbsp;of DATA!!! Then of course there is <a href="https://www.clariongaming.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Clarion Gaming</a>, providers of the magnificent ICE expo (January ’26 in Barcelona) and iGB Live! in London. Yeah, the show where there is that guy shooting all fire out the end of his guitar which he’s playing on the roof of a truck. We love you guys infinity plus one. The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.Website: <a href="https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/</a>Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/3A57jkR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://apple.co/3A57jkR</a>Subscribe on Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF</a>&nbsp;Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast&nbsp;</a>Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/</a>&nbsp;Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/</a>&nbsp;Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/</a>&nbsp;Sponsorship enquiries: <a href="https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Get our newsletter: <a href="https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/</a>

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