Ep. 222: Bringing poker tournament mechanics to sports predictions w/ Robert McCall from The Sharps

Ep. 222 features Robert McCall, Founder of The Sharps, to discuss his journey from the cannabis industry into sports betting, building a skill-based peer-to-peer sports prediction tournament platform, and using AI to build the product from scratch.    Hear them discuss: How Rob went from the cannabis industry and competitive gambling into sports betting, with poker and blackjack tournaments inspiring the creation of The Sharps. The concept behind The Sharps, a skill-based peer-to-peer sports prediction tournament platform where players compete using props, parlays, and same-game parlays. How the tournament structure works, including weekly, head-to-head, team, and custom leagues, buy-ins, rebuys, live leaderboards, and prize pools. Why The Sharps is designed for both experienced bettors and novices, giving players opportunities to compete, learn, and improve their skills. The Sharps Score, which evaluates players using metrics including CLV and ROI while providing greater transparency into betting performance. How The Sharps is navigating regulation through geolocation technology that automatically adjusts the platform based on the rules of different jurisdictions. Rob's go-to-market strategy ahead of the NFL season, including partnerships with VSiN, FantasyPros, BettingPros, Props.Cash, FootballContest.com, and others. Early player feedback, why the social features and live leaderboard are proving popular, and the debate surrounding the Sharps Score. How Rob self-funded the company and used AI to build a robust platform from scratch despite having no programming background. The immediate focus on security and functionality ahead of the NFL season, along with Rob's long-term vision of making The Sharps a recognized global platform with a major industry partner.   The Startup Zone at SBC Summit in Lisbon is the best way for startups to establish their presence at "The Greatest Show in Gaming". Discounted packages are available exclusively through BettingStartups, but spaces are very limited so register your interest ASAP: https://www.bettingstartups.com/sbc-summit-2026   Learn more 👇 ➡️ The Sharps website ➡️ Robert McCall on Linkedin   📩 Get the top headlines from the industry's most promising growth-stage companies every week—totally free! Subscribe to the Betting Startups newsletter here: https://news.bettingstartups.com/