In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight, we sit down with Bob Lung, founder of the Fantasy Football Expo, to discuss the partnership between FSGA and the Expo — and why the relationship continues to create real opportunities for brands, creators, and startups across the fantasy sports industry.

Bob shares how FSGA’s networking and elevator pitch competition help companies build the right connections on the business side, while the Expo helps bring those innovations to the fan community and end users. Together, it’s a full-circle pathway from idea to industry to audience.

This conversation reflects highlights and takeaways from last year’s Fantasy Football Expo, including the Ultimate Fan Experience and new ways fans and experts can connect.

Learn more at TheFantasyFootballExpo.com and subscribe for more FSGA Spotlight conversations.

Next Expo: Canton, Ohio | July 24–26, 2026

In this episode of FSGA Spotlight, we’re joined by Faraz Siddiqi, Founder & Chief Operator of Upper Hand Fantasy, to talk about building one of the most engaged fantasy football communities on Instagram and beyond.

Faraz shares how Upper Hand Fantasy grew from a passion project into a full-fledged media business, why platform-specific content matters, and how focusing on community engagement has driven long-term growth. The conversation also explores content strategy, creative teams, brand partnerships, and why in-person industry events like the FSGA Conferences play a major role in turning relationships into real business opportunities.

We also dive into Faraz’s take on the evolving fantasy football landscape, content creation in short-form video, and what’s next for fantasy media.

🎤 Faraz will also be a speaker at the 2026 FSGA Winter Conference (https://thefsga.org/2026-fsga-winter-conference/), making this episode a great preview of the insights he’ll be sharing live in Las Vegas.

Upper Hand Fantasy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upperhandfantasy

📌 Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping fantasy sports and sports gaming.

#FantasyFootball #FantasySports #SportsGaming #SportsBetting #FSGA

Welcome back to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight - your inside look at the leaders shaping fantasy sports, sports betting, gaming tech, and fan engagement.

In this episode, Lauren Jump (RotoWire) sits down with three powerhouse women in fantasy sports and gaming innovation:

Kamini Manivannan — Founder of Laces Sports, a fantasy app focused on education, simplified gameplay, and loyalty rewards

Chelsie Cooper — Founder & CEO of Approvely, a payments platform built for the online gaming industry

Claudia Bellofatto — On-Air Analyst & Host with CBS Sports, covering fantasy, betting, NBA, NHL, UFC, MLB, WNBA & more

Together they discuss reinventing the fantasy onboarding experience, payments infrastructure for gaming platforms, the freelance on-air life, and the importance of getting more women involved across the industry. They also dive into funding challenges for female founders, the evolving landscape of women in sports media, and even talk about starting an all-women FSGA fantasy league.

What you’ll hear:
- How Laces Sports simplifies fantasy and teaches new players step-by-step
- Approvely’s work building instant deposits and stablecoin infrastructure for operators
- Claudia’s path as on-air talent and covering more women’s sports nationally
- Real talk about investor dynamics, building networks, and women supporting women in gaming
- A celebration of women founders, creators, and trailblazers changing the game

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of fantasy sports and gaming. Want highlights or short clips from this episode? Drop a comment below telling us what you want to see next!

In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight, host Brett Lanier sits down with Justin Schoenfelder for a refreshingly honest conversation about what makes the fantasy sports and gaming industry truly different.

Justin introduces us to the concept of "coopetition" - a perfect word that captures the unique blend of competition and cooperation that defines the FSGA community. Unlike other conferences where interactions feel purely transactional, the FSGA is a place where people genuinely ask "hey man, how's the family?" and actually care about the answer.

Throughout their conversation, Justin shares how the supportive nature of this community has been invaluable throughout the years, why being helpful is the smartest business strategy in a small industry, and how passion - not just profit - drives people to build companies in this space. It's a reminder that in an industry where your reputation travels fast, the relationships you build matter just as much as the business you do.

Whether you're a seasoned industry veteran or just starting out, this episode will remind you why the fantasy sports and gaming community is special - and why that matters for your success.

Links:
Learn more about the FSGA: https://thefsga.org/
Check out Approvely: https://www.approvely.com/
Check out Fantasy Elect: https://fantasyelect.io/

In this episode of the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association Spotlight Podcast, we sit down with the team from Establish The Run, one of the most respected brands in fantasy sports content.

The conversation dives into how they’ve built a loyal audience, the importance of authenticity in a growing industry, and why community and real connections still matter more than ever. From early experiences in the space to the evolution of their business, this is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in fantasy sports and gaming.

🎧 Listen for insights on:
The origins and growth of Establish The Run
The role of networking and community in the industry
How the fantasy sports landscape continues to evolve
Advice for new creators and entrepreneurs in the space

Subscribe to hear more conversations with the people shaping the future of fantasy sports and gaming.

https://establishtherun.com/
https://thefsga.org/

#FSGA #FantasySports #EstablishTheRun #SportsBusiness #GamingIndustry #Podcast

At the FSGA Summer Conference, RotoWire unveiled something big! They officially launched their brand-new website and introduced the all-new RotoWire Fantasy Football app — the next evolution in their 27-year journey in fantasy sports.

In this episode, RotoWire shares how the FSGA has been instrumental in their success, from building key partnerships with ESPN, Yahoo, and 80+ clients to protecting the industry through advocacy and collaboration.

Topics include:
- The debut of the new RotoWire Fantasy Football app that now includes both drafting and in-season tools and updated website
- How FSGA helped RotoWire grow from its early days in 1997 to an industry leader
- The importance of community and partnerships in fantasy sports
- How industry events like the FSGA Summer Conference continue to shape the game

Featuring:
- Peter Schoenke (RotoWire President, Co-Founder & FSGA Board Member), Ken Crites, Lauren Jump, and Shannon McKeown

The FSGA has been a cornerstone of fantasy sports for decades, and RotoWire’s story shows just how vital that support has been.

Visit RotoWire: https://www.rotowire.com/
Visit The FSGA: https://thefsga.org/

Join host Scott Hoyt as he sits down with Scott Fish, founder of the Scott Fish Bowl (SFB), to explore the power of networking, community, and giving back in the world of fantasy football. 🏈

In this episode, Scott Fish shares:

- How connections made at FSGA conferences can turn into long-term partnerships and friendships
- The story and growth of the Scott Fish Bowl, one of the most impactful fantasy football events
- Personal insights from his journey building a platform that brings people together

Whether you’re a fantasy football fan, an entrepreneur, or someone who loves stories about meaningful connections, this episode is packed with inspiration.

🔗 Learn more: https://scottfishbowl.com/
🌐 FSGA Info: https://thefsga.org/

Email us: info@thefsga.org

Matt Deutsch (VSiN) sits down with Chelsie Cooper, CEO & Founder of Approvely, to uncover the side of gaming and fantasy sports that nobody likes to talk about… payments.

In this episode, Chelsie reveals:

• Why payment processing is still one of the biggest challenges in gaming & fantasy sports
• The fraud and chargeback nightmares operators face every day
• How Approvely is solving problems that Stripe, PayPal, and big processors won’t touch
• The future of instant payments, fraud protection, and startup-friendly solutions
• Why innovation and customization give Approvely its biggest edge in gaming

If you’re building in fantasy sports, iGaming, or any regulated space, you need to hear this.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.approvely.com/
🌐 FSGA Info: https://thefsga.org/