Addiction in iGaming: A CCO’s Road to Recovery

In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Huw Thomas, founder of Brandstage and co-founder of the new Recovery in Gaming community.

Huw shares his two-decade journey through the iGaming industry, including senior leadership roles and billion-pound exits, alongside the hidden personal battles that almost derailed his career.

This conversation explores the pressures of executive life, the dangers of numbing stress with alcohol, the turning point that led to 11 years of sobriety, and why recovery conversations are vital for the future of the gaming sector.

Huw also introduces Recovery in Gaming, a safe community space supporting professionals across the industry.

Guest Bio

Huw Thomas is a brand strategist and leader in the global iGaming space. He runs Brandstage, a consultancy that partners with operators, startups, and scaleups across the UK, Europe, and the US to shape growth strategies through brand and communications.

He is also co-founder of Recovery in Gaming, an industry-wide community for professionals seeking support with alcohol and drug recovery. With more than 20 years’ experience in gaming and a personal recovery journey of over a decade, Huw combines commercial expertise with a human-centred mission to build healthier leaders and organisations.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Huw’s first step into iGaming and early industry days
07:00 – Climbing the ladder: Betsson, NYX, OpenBet, and major exits
14:00 – Pressure, addiction, and the turning point in 2014
19:00 – The first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and life in recovery
27:00 – Boundaries, control, and tools to handle executive stress
33:00 – The daily inventory: a 3-minute practice that actually works
37:00 – Why Huw launched Recovery in Gaming and its future impact

Memorable Quotes

“When that moment of surrender came, there was this level of peace and serenity that flowed through my body. All the shame and lies were finally out in the open.”

“If you’ve ever thought, even once, ‘Am I drinking too much?’ the answer is probably yes.”

“I didn’t realise that the feeling of no shame and full acceptance was just one step away.”

Important Links

Connect with Huw Thomas:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/huwowenthomas/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/recovery-in-gaming

https://www.brandstage.com/

Follow Leo Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/

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