Ep. 166: When a merger becomes a multiplier w/ Steve “Dakota” Happas & Sahil Patel from FantasySpin

Ep. 166 features Steve “Dakota” Happas and Sahil Patel from FantasySpin, a real-money DFS platform reinventing the fantasy experience through a gamified, slot-style draft mechanic. This episode was recorded on-site at SBC Summit North America 2025 in Fort Lauderdale.Hear them discuss: How a friendly fantasy football bet led to the founding of BettorFantasy Steve’s journey from online poker and dating platforms to fantasy sports Why the two companies merged to form FantasySpin and how the deal came together How their slot-style drafting system introduces luck, skill, and replayability Why FantasySpin rewards users even when players in their lineup don’t play The biggest lessons from their first full NFL season post-merger How their gameplay translates into highly engaging, video-first marketing Why their future plans include spin-to-pick hybrid formats and arcade modes How they’re self-funding growth while selectively exploring strategic capital Their long-term vision to become the next billion-dollar DFS platform   Catch the video version of this episode here.   Learn more 👇 ➡️ FantasySpin website  ➡️ Steve Happas on Linkedin ➡️ Sahil Patel on Linkedin The Canadian Gaming Summit is happening June 17–19 in Toronto! Don’t miss out — get 50% off your Full Event Pass using code BETTINGSTARTUPSVIP at checkout. Grab your ticket now: https://sbcevents.com/canadian-gaming-summit/ticket-options/   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/   -- This podcast is presented by Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry. Since 2012, Optimove has served iGaming Operators from startups to industry leaders. Today, 4 out of the Top 5 US Operators Personalize Player Experiences with Optimove. iGaming operators know their growth journey begins and continues with Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing solution for the iGaming industry.