Karolina Pelc Joins iGaming Real Talk for a Candid Conversation on AI, Authenticity, and Building a B2B iGaming Startup That Exits
This episode of iGaming Real Talk offers practical insight without hype. It is a grounded conversation for founders, operators, and industry leaders navigating growth, visibility, and leadership in a rapidly changing landscape.
iGaming Real Talk has released a new episode featuring Karolina Pelc, founder of BeyondPlay and one of the most recognised leaders in the B2B iGaming space. With over 20 years in the industry and a successful startup exit behind her, Pelc delivers a rare, unfiltered perspective on leadership, innovation, burnout, and the evolving role of AI in content and brand building.
In the episode, Pelc speaks openly about her use of AI, challenging the growing narrative that technology automatically erodes authenticity. She draws a clear distinction between using AI for execution and scale versus outsourcing original thought. According to Pelc, authenticity is not lost when technology is used correctly. It is lost when thinking is replaced rather than sharpened.
The conversation also explores Pelc’s experience as a woman in iGaming leadership. Rather than framing her journey through a victim lens, she reflects on how early exposure to male-dominated leadership environments shaped subconscious behaviour and decision-making. Over time, she learned to integrate intuition, energy management, and selective engagement into her leadership style, without compromising standards or ambition.
A significant portion of the episode focuses on founder realities that are rarely discussed publicly. Pelc speaks candidly about control, perfectionism, and the hidden costs of success. She outlines early warning signs of burnout that founders often mistake for productivity and explains why awareness and self-observation are critical at scale.
Pelc also addresses long-standing criticism of iGaming as an industry. She expresses pride in her work and the sector’s evolution, while acknowledging the responsibility that comes with visibility, particularly when it comes to younger audiences and public perception.
The episode also ties closely to Pelc’s newly released book, HER PLAY, a deeply personal account of her journey through iGaming, leadership, and ambition. Unlike traditional startup books, HER PLAY is not a how-to manual, but a raw and honest reflection on identity, drive, and the emotional reality behind success. The book is now available for preorder worldwide.
For founders building in B2B iGaming today, Pelc outlines two viable paths to success. One focuses on execution excellence in proven models. The other prioritises genuine innovation that fills real market gaps. Both demand different risk profiles and skill sets, and neither is easy.
The full episode is now live on iGaming Real Talk’s YouTube channel and website.
About iGaming Real Talk
iGaming Real Talk features in-depth conversations with leaders across the global iGaming industry through its podcast, WhatsApp community, and multi-platform content distribution. The platform focuses on honest insights, real experiences, and practical knowledge shaping B2B iGaming today. Presented by My Gaming License and 9th Street Media. Learn more at igamingrealtalk.com
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Why This Matters
iGaming Times analysis: Long-form practitioner conversations on AI's role in iGaming brand-building tend to surface tactical detail that conference-stage panels strip out for time. The interesting cross-segment signal is which AI use cases practitioners actively defend versus quietly retire — AI-generated marketing copy is moving in a different direction than AI-driven personalisation, and the discourse increasingly distinguishes the two. Worth listening to for operator marketing and brand-team heads.
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