The iGaming Leader
The iGaming Leader is hosted by Leo Judkins, founder of The iGaming Leader Mastermind. Every other week, Leo sits down with Founders, C-suite executives, and VPs from across the iGaming industry for conversations you won't hear on a conference panel. The real decisions. The hard calls. What leadership actually looks like from the inside. No keynote polish. No PR answers. Just honest conversations between people who know the industry. New episodes every other Wednesday.
He Was About to Sell SiGMA. Today It’s Worth 5X That - Eman Pulis
Before SiGMA, Eman Pulis had a failed business, €16,000 in bank debt and no source of revenue. The bank kept calling. His way out was to return to what he knew best: events.
SiGMA grew from that low point. But Eman kept the old company name, Viking PC Health, on the invoices. He wanted a constant reminder of where he came from.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader podcast, Leo Judkins speaks with SiGMA founder Eman Pulis about the setbacks behind the business, an acquisition that fell through during COVID, and why he no...
“You’re Incorrect, Tommy” - Inside Xtremepush’s Culture of Challenge
In this episode, Leo talks with Tommy Kearns about how rugby shaped the way he runs a company: trust, loyalty, accountability, direct feedback and a role for everyone. He is clear about what he does not want around him. "I don't want yes men around me." Everything gets challenged until the team reaches alignment, and then everyone commits.
He also covers the harder parts of the story. Tommy lost his money in the property crash after selling his Mexico business. Xtremepush was bootstrapped and profitable within 13 to 14 months. It then took growth capital in 2021 and went...
Why This CEO Works 15-Hour Days Across Two Continents
Yoni Sidi wanted to slow down. After 17 years in corporate iGaming, he had a simple plan: build a platform, generate traffic, play golf, and reduce the pressure. Then Winpot took off in Mexico, the B2B business grew to 14 or 15 clients, and he found himself working 14 to 15-hour days across two continents.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader podcast, Yoni, CEO of Wiztech Group, talks about building a bootstrapped operator and tech business from scratch, leading across cultures, and what he would tell his 2022 self.
About the guest:
Yoni Sidi i...
Our Biggest Failure Is My Proudest Moment
David Carrion started as a dealer on Margarita Island, Venezuela in 1995. Thirty years later, he's Chief Strategy Officer at Gaming1, having run live poker events for PokerStars, launched a casino from scratch in his hometown, and led a four-state US market entry.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader podcast, David walks us through four transitions every leader has to make: from doing to letting do, from knowing everything to knowing very little, from argument to context, and from the smaller to the bigger picture.
In this episode:
<...The Trap That Destroys Founder-Led Businesses 100% of The Time
What happens when you lose 100% of your revenue in back-to-back meetings on the same day?
For Sidharth Swarup, it was the moment that forged everything.
In this episode, Sid shares the real story behind building Ingenuity from a $1,000 investment into a business that in 2014 made more money than the previous 14 years combined. No outside investment. No borrowed money. No diluted equity.
Sid opens up about running on eight treadmills at full speed for decades, fuelled by toxic energy, wearing masks until he had nothing left inside, and what it actually took to rebuild.
...Leadership Is Learned During Days of Thunder Not of Sunshine
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Andreas (Andy) Koeberl, aerospace engineer turned entrepreneur, who built HappyBet from three people to 180, survived COVID wiping out 100% of its revenue overnight, turned around BetGames from a shrinking business into one of the most profitable live dealer companies in the world, and is now building Autonomous Minds, an AI deeptech startup creating what he calls an "agent-first Palantir."
Andy talks about what real crisis leadership looks like from the inside, why the sunny periods are more dangerous than the hard ones, and why the only...
Being Great at Marketing Won't Make You a Great Marketing Leader
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Michael Baker-Mosley, ex-Head of Brand at Kambi, ex-CMO at iGP, and one of the most respected B2B marketing minds in iGaming.
Michael pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to step into a CMO role unprepared, why most B2B marketing in this industry is renting its audience rather than building one, and what happens when a leader has to let go of the people they hired and believed in.
The conversation covers the art of hiring outside the industry, w...
The Founder Who Got Tired of Gambling's Bullshit. So He Built Something Better.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Savvas Fellas, founder and CEO of MrQ, the bootstrap challenger brand that decided the UK gambling industry's nonsense had gone on long enough.
Growing up on a council estate in Birmingham, Savvas built his way into iGaming through SEO, affiliates, and white-label operations before a simple question changed everything: why is the player experience still so bad? In 2018, he launched MrQ with no external funding, no wagering requirements, no smoke and mirrors, just a product built on the belief that players deserve better. The conversation...
Why Most Founders Are Wrong About Who Should Lead Their Company
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Ramiro Atucha, co-founder of Leander Games and Vibra Gaming, who has done something most founders never do twice: voluntarily stepped down as CEO of two companies he built from scratch.
Ramiro pulls back the curtain on the painful reality of recognising when you are no longer the right person to lead what you created, the difference between ego and self-esteem, and why the best decisions of his life were not really decisions at all.
The conversation spans two decades of b...
Why most entrepreneurs are not risk seekers, only bad at assessing risk.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo Judkins sits down with Nigel Eccles, the co-founder and former CEO of FanDuel. Moving from a small dairy farm in Northern Ireland to scaling one of the most iconic brands in sports betting history, Nigel pulls back the curtain on the psychological distortions required to build a massive tech enterprise.
The conversation challenges the foundational myths of entrepreneurship, proving through research that founders aren't actually risk-seeking, they are simply bad at assessing risk.
Nigel recounts the early grinding days of FanDuel, the terrifying moment he burned h...
Business Has No Feelings: How to Scale by Being "Strategically Boring"
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Richard Dennys, a two-time CEO and turnaround specialist who has navigated the highest stakes in digital marketing and iGaming.
Richard shares the dispassionate reality of the C-suite, arguing that because "business isn’t your friend," hard decisions must be made based on common sense rather than emotion.
The conversation explores Richard’s "strategically boring" approach to scaling , the specific frameworks he used to generate £60 million in cash flow at Game Lounge , and his "10:30 Rule" for maintaining professional boundaries.
Guest Bio
30 Years In iGaming: From Casino Dealer to £2BN CEO
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo Judkins sits down with Dan Phillips, a 30-year veteran of the industry who started his career as a trainee dealer in a Soho basement and rose to run a £2 billion turnover business. Dan shares the "no-bullshit" reality of leadership, from the gut-wrenching moment his biggest client walked away during his first week as a CEO to the complex ethics of managing global redundancies.
The conversation dives deep into the specific decisions that shape a career: why the "invincibility of youth" can be a leader's greatest asset and its b...
Founder Mode: Whatever it takes to get the job done
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Daniel Graetzer, the former CEO and Founder of MaximBet and Carousel Group.
Dan shares a raw, unfiltered account of the "tumbleweed effect" that comes with rapid scaling, eye-watering valuations, and the immense pressure of managing a high-profile brand in the US market.
The conversation explores the "staring into the abyss" reality of leadership, the critical distinction between Founder Mode and Manager Mode, and the high price of isolation.
Guest Bio
Daniel Graetzer has spent the past two de...
I Can Survive Anything: Cancer, Career, and Cutting the Bullshit with Line Peteri
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Line Peteri, a powerhouse leader who has scaled teams across tech, fashion, and iGaming.
Line shares her raw, unfiltered journey of building a career since age 17, only to be reduced by others to her appearance, her relationships, and her health.
She calls out the "fake bullshit" in the industry, discusses the isolation of being a high-achieving woman in her 20s, and explains why she refuses to compromise her values for a title.
Guest Bio
Line Peteri is V...
Stop Fighting Alone: The Secret to Startup Survival
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo Judkins sits down with Ebbe Groes, the co-founder and CEO of EveryMatrix. From a garage in 2008 to building the world’s largest casino aggregation platform, Ebbe has navigated the brutal realities of scaling a B2B giant without the "fuel" of massive venture capital.
Ebbe shares the high-stakes decisions of EveryMatrix’s "survival" era between 2015 and 2017, where the company nearly ran out of cash and the team took massive salary cuts to keep the dream alive.
He pulls back the curtain on why he ringing a liter...
You Only Learn on the Way Down: Lessons from a $300M Reality Check
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Charles Cohen, a serial entrepreneur who has experienced the industry's highest peaks and most isolating moments.
From building beenz.com, one of the internet’s first digital currencies, to pioneering mobile-first gaming with Probability plc, Charles shares the raw reality of leadership when the "arc of the universe" refuses to bend to your will.
Charles reflects on the "seasickness" of the .com bubble burst, where a $300 million valuation evaporated almost overnight, and the discipline required to stick to a "mobile-only" strategy when the re...
You Only Learn on the Way Down: Lessons from a $300M Loss
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Charles Cohen, a serial entrepreneur who has experienced the industry's highest peaks and most isolating moments.
From building beenz.com, one of the internet’s first digital currencies, to pioneering mobile-first gaming with Probability plc, Charles shares the raw reality of leadership when the "arc of the universe" refuses to bend to your will.
Charles reflects on the "seasickness" of the .com bubble burst, where a $300 million valuation evaporated almost overnight, and the discipline required to stick to a "mobile-only" strategy when the res...
The Secrets to Running 4 Companies in iGaming
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo Judkins sits down with Andy Rogers, the quiet force behind some of the industry's most significant behind-the-scenes developments. Andy shares his journey from industrial design to launching and exiting multiple agencies and technology firms, including his strategic tenure at Media Tech and the eventual founding of Rokker.
The conversation explores strategic decision-making under intense constraints, the intricacies of business design, and the reality of navigating a "mad" 10-year plan. Andy offers deep insights into the value of patience, the importance of running your own race, and why being...
Your Company is Not a Family: Bootstrapping Lessons with the Founder of TESTA
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Kyle Wiltshire, the founder and CEO of TESTA. Kyle takes us on a journey from the high-octane "Wild West" days of Bodog in Manila to building a global, bootstrapped testing powerhouse from his base in Taipei.
Kyle shares the "brutal" reality of scaling an operation from 50 to 1,200 people in a flash, the hard-learned lessons of dealing with technical partners who try to "hold products hostage," and why he believes the common corporate trope of "we are a family" is actually toxic for performance. He opens...
The "Bait and Switch" of the C-Suite: Dealing with the gap between the job description and the reality of a company in trouble.
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Ian Freeman, a commercial powerhouse who has navigated the high-stakes world of Kambi, IGT, and Inspired Entertainment.
Ian pulls back the curtain on the "Bait and Switch" of executive leadership, the moments when the glossy job description meets the grim reality of a business in crisis.
Ian reflects on the formative trauma of losing his father at 20 and how carrying a family legacy forged a "survive and thrive" mentality that defined his career.
He shares the brutal honesty of walking into hi...
From Affiliate Manager to CMO — Leading Through Crisis, Regulation & Restructure
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Elen Barber, who went from affiliate manager to CMO at Kindred in just nine years, to explore what it really takes to lead through the industry's toughest challenges.
Elen shares the brutal reality of her first weeks as CMO: facing a £100 million fine, Swedish re-regulation, plummeting share price, and multiple rounds of restructuring that forced her to make impossible decisions about people she'd worked alongside for years. She reveals how she kept 550 people motivated while simultaneously having to cut headcount, and why the loneliness at t...
The Entrepreneurial Journey: 30 Years of Leadership Lessons from David McDowell
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with veteran executive David McDowell, co-founder of FSB Technology and an early pioneer in the B2B platform space, to unpack the brutal reality of the 30-year entrepreneurial journey.
David shares the truth about leadership burnout (it's the weight of the decisions, not the hours), the biggest mistake CEOs make when scaling (waiting too long to remove a talented but toxic employee), and the devastating cost of losing your vision.
He offers a raw, cathartic reflection on the final chapters of FSB: being named...
The Architect of US Sports Betting and iGaming
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with William J. Pascrell III, “BP3”. He is a partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group and a driving force behind the legalisation of sports betting and online gaming in the United States.
BP3 shares the unseen cost of bold bets: losing every major client when he onboarded PokerStars to help bring iGaming to America, the two-year sprint that followed, and the resilience forged long before politics from a 45-day coma with spinal meningitis to the daily discipline learned from his father.
This is a conversation about coura...
Taking the Mask Off: Leadership Through Doubt, Pressure and Authenticity
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Jovana Popovic Canaki, CEO of iGP and one of the few female leaders in the B2B iGaming space.
Jovana opens up about the emotional highs and lows of leadership, the hidden pressure of being “the strong one,” and the journey from intimidation and self-doubt to authentic, grounded leadership.
The conversation explores losing her belongings abroad and what it taught her about vulnerability, balancing work with family roles, early-career imposter feelings, learning to lead without wearing a “manager mask,” and the reality of being a woman a...
The Calm CEO Playbook for iGaming Leaders
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Daniel Brooks, dual founder and hands-on CEO of BetComply and Ridentify. Daniel shares how a thoughtful, mentor-first approach lets him scale two companies at once, trust strong operators, and stay composed when cashflow shocks or client pull-outs hit.
He explains how journalling, walking meetings, and “breathing through” crises turn panic into analytical problem-solving and innovation.
The conversation explores people-first leadership, letting go without losing control, choosing and backing the right operators, making brave pivots without losing your core, and building a personal resilience system that keeps...
Building a safe-to-fail team culture in iGaming
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Emma Blaylock, CEO of Pretty Technical and a tech leader who helped launch Kindle UK and drove early streaming at Sony. Emma shares how vulnerable leadership creates safe-to-fail teams that learn fast, stay calm under scrutiny, and execute with focus.
The conversation explores helping your team feel safe-to-fail, hiring to your weaknesses, data-driven decision making, handling cashflow shocks, and female leadership in male-dominated rooms—offering practical insights for founders, product leaders, and execs across iGaming.
Guest Bio
Emma is an experienced business strategist an...
What it really takes to make it as a founder
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Max Meltzer, founder, CEO and investor, to unpack the real mindset and habits behind building in our industry.
Max charts his path from early entrepreneurship to a strategic “reset” back into employment, then leaving a top commercial role to found Strive Gaming.
He shares why founders must have the guts to fail, how prioritising health and family sharpens decisions, and what it looks like to evolve from operator to strategist as the company scales.
The conversation gets practical on fundraising, boards, hirin...
What compliance is NOT
Why "compliance" might be the worst job title in iGaming — and what it should really be called instead.
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo chats with Alex Henderson, VP of Compliance at Midnite and co-host of Compliance Chronicles.
From financial investigations at the UK National Crime Agency to scaling compliance teams across multiple markets, Alex reveals the hidden realities of leadership in regulated industries.
What You'll Discover:
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...
Why I Never Focus on Problems as a CEO — Justin Anastasi
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In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Justin Anastasi, CEO of VentureMax Group and OverPWR.
With a career spanning call centres, catwalks, politics, and the C-suite, Justin shares how authenticity, resilience, and a relentless focus on solutions have shaped his leadership journey.
Justin’s perspective offers fresh insights for executives and leaders who want to thrive by being themselves, while driving growth and inn...
Why I Had to Slow Down to Save My Career — Lee McFarland on Resilience, Vulnerability, and Building Community
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Lee McFarland, a former British Army paratrooper and private security contractor turned iGaming industry executive.
Lee shares his journey from military life to the corporate world, opening up about his struggles with PTSD, alcohol, and the ongoing process of self-awareness and recovery.
The conversation explores the challenges of transitioning into civilian life, the value of authenticity in leadership, and the role of community initiatives like Behind the Gloves in fostering connection and wellbeing.
Guest Bio
Lee McFarland is a s...
Why High Performers Burn Out (But Don’t Quit)
In this episode of iGaming leader, Leo sits down with Arturs Zagurilo, Chief Commercial Officer at Gamma Stack, who shares his inspiring journey from the banking sector to becoming a leader in the iGaming industry.
He openly discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, embracing his unique work ethic of putting in 150% effort, and the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership.
Arturs emphasises fostering a supportive work environment, where people can thrive and grow. He also highlights the significance of mental health, patience, and adapting your leadership style to meet the needs of a dynamic industry.
G...
Leaving the Game: Reinventing My Career at 36
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Antti Koivula, iGaming lawyer at Legal Gaming Attorneys at Law, an expert on Finnish law and a former professional sports bettor.
Antti discusses his transition from a demanding and very successful sports betting career to becoming a legal advisor and shares insights on managing extreme focus, the challenges of long working hours, and the life choices he made to optimise his performance and how his early ability to concentrate gave him an edge in sports betting and later in his law career.
GUEST BIO:
From Coder to CPO: Shelley Hannah’s unique journey to success in iGaming
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming.
Shelley shares her inspiring 25-year journey from software programming to executive leadership in iGaming.
She opens up about battling perfectionism, navigating self-doubt, leading through rapid industry change, and recovering from a life-altering car accident.
The conversation explores leadership resilience, mental health in high-pressure roles, and the power of empathy in building high-performing teams.
Guest Bio
Shelley Hannah started her career in 1999 as a software programmer, working in the air traffic industry and...
Why Work-Life Balance Is a Lie for Gaming Leaders
In this episode of the iGaming Leader Podcast, Leo sits down with Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, a distinguished professional in the gaming industry with over a decade of experience working with prominent organizations such as GVC, Labworks Coral, and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
Grainne shares her challenging yet brilliant career starting from her return from maternity leave into a period of immense professional upheaval and a subsequent promotion. She discusses her journey of resilience also feelings of 'mum guilt' and her approach to managing work-life balance with a supportive network, h...
The Entrepreneur Mindset in a Corporate World
In this episode of the iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Fintan Costello, former MD at BonusFinder and current Non-Executive Director at Gambling.com Group. Fintan shares the remarkable journey from launching daring stunts at Paddy Power to scaling an affiliate business through grit, creativity, and relentless execution.
The conversation explores entrepreneurship inside and outside the corporate world, leadership lessons from marketing war zones, the truth about exits and earnouts, and what it really means to pursue “Big 2025 Energy.”
A must-listen for iGaming professionals seeking resilience, strategic vision, and human...
Who am I when I leave the Company? The Story of Nakeeta Janse van Rensburg
In this episode of iGaming Leader, host Leo Judkins sits down with Nakeeta Janse van Rensburg, former Group CEO of the MEGA Group, co-founder of StratEdge Group, and UK ambassador for Women in Gaming Africa.
Nakeeta shares her extraordinary journey through 17 years in iGaming leadership, culminating in her transition to entrepreneurship.
The conversation explores leadership, burnout, servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and cultural challenges in corporate environments, offering powerful insights and hard-earned advice for executives navigating rapid growth, health challenges, and the personal cost of high performance in the gaming industry.
...
The Real Cost of Always Saying Yes with Frank Op de Woerd
Episode Summary
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Frank op de Woerd, co-founder and CEO of CasinoNieuws.nl.
Frank shares his journey from bluffing his way into poker journalism to becoming a respected media figure in the Dutch iGaming industry.
He opens up about burnout, leadership, the emotional fallout of COVID, and why he walked away from high-status opportunities to start something he could truly believe in.
The conversation explores his reflections on poker fame, rebuilding from scratch, setting editorial standards, and staying t...
Hitting Rock Bottom to find his purpose
In this episode of the iGaming Leader, Leo Judkins sits down with John Wright, co-founder of StatsDrone.
John shares challenges and tough decisions he faced, almost going bankrupt and starting over with his business, finding his purpose, the role of therapy in his life, and the way he navigated through some professional and personal setbacks.
The conversation explores his experiences with public speaking, social media engagement, and ultimately finding sustainable high performance.
GUEST:
John has been in iGaming for over 20 years as a professional gambler, affiliate manager, casino operator, a...
The Hidden Cost of Chasing Success in iGaming
In this episode of iGaming Leader, Leo sits down with Daniel Beard, Partner at Partis Capital and long-time advisor in the gaming industry.
Daniel shares a raw and honest reflection on his journey—from adoption trauma and imposter syndrome to leading multimillion-pound deals and founding one of the most community-driven events in iGaming.
The conversation explores leadership under pressure, emotional resilience, the real drivers behind burnout, and the surprising role sport, therapy, and charity have played in Daniel’s success.
Guest Bio
Daniel Beard began his career 20 years...
