The Architect of US Sports Betting and iGaming

In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with William J. Pascrell III, “BP3”. He is a partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group and a driving force behind the legalisation of sports betting and online gaming in the United States.BP3 shares the unseen cost of bold bets: losing every major client when he onboarded PokerStars to help bring iGaming to America, the two-year sprint that followed, and the resilience forged long before politics from a 45-day coma with spinal meningitis to the daily discipline learned from his father. This is a conversation about courage, people, and choosing to be a happy warrior rather than an angry gladiator.About BP3Bill Pascrell III is a veteran strategist and lobbyist who helped lead New Jersey’s iGaming framework and the decade-long campaign that culminated in PASPA’s repeal in 2018. He advises governments and gaming companies across the US and internationally on policy, compliance and market access.Key Topics Discussed00:00 – Scars, setbacks and the “small gladiator” mindset03:30 – “Architect of American sports betting” and what it really means08:00 – Growing up without privilege and learning to outwork everyone14:00 – Spinal meningitis as a teenager20:00 – Lessons from his father on example, integrity and service23:30 – The King David Hotel story and resourcefulness under pressure28:30 – Grief, legacy and the Pascrell Public Service Institute34:00 – Onboarding PokerStars, losing every client and starting again39:00 – NFL opposition, real-world pressure and personal risk40:00 – Happy warrior versus angry gladiator43:00 – People before everythingMemorable Quotes“I have the scars and the bruises to show I was a small gladiator in this fight.”“Give me 10% of 40 million and I’ll get this done in two years. And we did.”“I could have treated my adversaries more as a happy warrior than as an angry gladiator.”“Titles come and go. What matters is how we treat each other.”Connect with Bill Pascrell IIILinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billpascrell/X: https://x.com/BillPascrell3rdINSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/pascrell3rd/Follow Leo Judkins & iGaming LeaderLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/Newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/subscribeJoin the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/applyLearn more about BP3BP3 on Boston 25 Newshttps://www.boston25news.com/news/local/25-investigates-sports-betting-could-raise-odds-problem-gambling-ma/PSOWJETP6ZA4VAX24VQZFCQURI/The Philadelphia Inquirer: Entain Foundation U.S. Educates Athletes on Sports Bettinghttps://www.inquirer.com/sports/nfl-ncaa-betting-education-entain-foundation-amani-toomer-20230727.html#loadedBP3 for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania's Casinos Must Protect Problem Gamblershttps://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2022/11/28/racinos-betters-gambling-addiction/stories/202211280003Forbes: How New Jersey Will Double Down on Gambling if Casinos Come to New York Cityhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/10/14/how-new-jersey-will-double-down-on-gambling-if-casinos-come-to-new-york-city/BP3: From NJ.com: NJ Sports Bettors Need More Protectionhttps://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/04/nj-sports-bettors-need-more-protection-opinion.htmlGame Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming IndustryGame Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry - USiGamingHUBSen. Addabbo: Legalize iGaming First, Then ‘I Want To Create’ Sweeps RegulationAddabbo: Legalize iGaming, Then 'I Want To Create' Sweeps RegulationCasinos, online play fuel strong July in NJCasinos, online play fuel strong July in NJ - NJBIZBP3: From IMGL Magazine– The Importance of Geolocation in the Online Gaming IndustryIMGL Magazine June 2025 Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated)Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated) - NJBIZBill Pascrell: US Election day warm up:https://next.io/podcasts/next-io-podcast/bill-pascrell-us-election-day-warm-up/?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--thGRArZ3dvBERn9NoBY4lv0g8vB2vmx1uDcV5DecKSq-IXpITjwZ5BQ8Y2K1E1L1FtsB5UODaJ190VR9ISatxI2aSTCq25FCypCtUlLfYVSSP-xc&_hsmi=97835674&utm_content=97835674&utm_source=hs_email