Bill Speros, senior betting analyst for Bookies.com, explains why legal betting on the Oscars has grown in recent years thanks to changes in state gambling laws. The veteran analyst and journalist also discusses the rise of sports wagering as an audience engagement strategy and profit driver for media companies.

Bill Speros, senior betting analyst for <a href="http://bookies.com/">Bookies.com</a>, explains why legal betting on the Oscars has grown in recent years thanks to changes in state gambling laws. The veteran analyst and journalist also discusses the rise of sports wagering as an audience engagement strategy and profit driver for media companies.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Strictly Business

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment on Variety's weekly interview series.

Variety's Strictly Business

Betting on the Oscars: Why More States Allow Movie Fans to Place Wagers on Hollywood’s Big Night

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/daf95776-2994-48ad-aacc-b12a010f48e1/transcript

Aleen Dreksler, CEO and founder of Betches Media, details the digital media brand's origin story and why it blossomed into a hub for comedy and community designed for women. The episode also features a separate conversation from the SXSW festival that highlighted Variety's recent 10 Creators to Watch list.

Aleen Dreksler, CEO and founder of <a href="https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/nfl-betches-media-partnership-women-1236248686/">Betches Media, </a>details the digital media brand's origin story and why it blossomed into a hub for comedy and community designed for women. The episode also features a separate conversation from the SXSW festival that highlighted&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/lists/creators-to-watch/">Variety's recent 10 Creators to Watch list.</a>

Betches Media CEO and Founder Aleen Dreksler on Building a Digital Hub for Women With Comedy and Community

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1537f20f-f824-4798-ae12-b42f0135707c/transcript

Betches Media Founder and CEO Aleen Dreksler on Building a Digital Hub for Women With Comedy and Community 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/48251162-19b3-4853-99c9-b42f011c704a/transcript

On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler details the growing opposition within media and entertainment to Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. And Marc Malkin talks to documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville about his Focus Features documentary “Lorne,” about the enigmatic “Saturday Night Live” leader.

On today&rsquo;s episode,&nbsp;Variety&rsquo;s Todd Spangler details the<a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/mark-ruffalo-blasts-paramount-warner-bros-merger-senate-hearing-1236722756/"> growing opposition within media and entertainment to Paramount Skydance&rsquo;s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery</a>. And Marc Malkin talks to documentary filmmaker <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/columns/lorne-michaels-staurday-night-live-uk-smarter-funnier-cooler-1236721839/">Morgan Neville about his Focus Features documentary &ldquo;Lorne,&rdquo;</a> about the enigmatic &ldquo;Saturday Night Live&rdquo; leader.

 Daily Variety – Hollywood Marshals Opposition to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger. Will It Matter?; ‘Lorne’ Measures the Man Behind ‘SNL'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a7a681f8-30e5-4175-8fdc-b42e01250ee1/transcript

Betting on the Oscars: Why More States Allow Movie Fans to Place Wagers on Hollywood’s Big Night

In 1 playlist(s)

Variety's Strictly Business

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips