“With expansion comes addiction. And you better start acknowledging that because it’s going to look real bad real soon.” ~ Dan Real
In this episode of the Straight to the Point Talking Shop podcast, I’m joined by Dan Real, the president and CEO of Exclaim Recovery, a startup dedicated to gambling addiction recovery.
Sponsor’s Message: Promoting a sustainable, entertainment-first global gaming industry.
Play’n GO is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. Drawing on that experience from the dawn of the iGaming industry through to today, Play’n GO designs and creates world-class slot games in the online casino space.
Play’n GO wants to see a sustainable industry that puts players first. To realize that vision, Play’n GO:
Creates games designed to be entertaining and fun first
Actively lobbies for increased regulation to keep players safe
Refuses to make games that feature mechanics that we believe to be predatory, such as those that allow players to pay hundreds of times their normal stake to buy into the bonus round directly (‘Bonus Buy’ games)
Now live in over 35 regulated territories around the world, including all US and Canadian iGaming jurisdictions, Play’n GO is the leading provider of entertainment to the online casino industry.
The discussion begins with Dan sharing his 28-year career at Harrah’s/Caesars, starting as a marketing intern in 1995 and progressing to Chief Experience Officer for Caesars Digital.
He reflects on his personal gambling experiences and the industry’s evolution during his tenure, from riverboat cruises to the post-PASPA digital boom.
Dan believes the online era has brought about a shift to predatory marketing and a lack of creativity in legacy companies, which are now driven by the pressure of quarterly earnings. Dan warns of addiction risks with expansion, urging regulators to embrace “gambling” over “gaming” and separate responsible gambling (prevention) from recovery needs.
We also spend a considerable amount of time discussing Las Vegas, and the perceived decline in value — including resort fees, high table minimums, and cost-cutting measures such as the use of fake flowers and reduced amenities — and how operators are confusing “cheap” with “value,” which alienates loyal customers.
Dan sees similar problems in the online sphere, with consolidation, bureaucracy, and fading player perks.
We also discussed Dan’s new project, Exclaim Recovery, which is set to launch on October 1 as a free, one-stop resource: a comprehensive website, an AI assistant named “Hope” for distress detection and referrals, and a community that emphasizes lived experience.
You can check out Exclaim Recovery here.
With only one certified therapist per 10,000 struggling gamblers, Dan aims to fill gaps for millions of underserved gamblers who are experiencing issues or at-risk.
