{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The iGaming Leader","title":"Addiction in iGaming: A CCO’s Road to Recovery","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2467,"description":"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. \nHuw 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.\nThis 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. \nHuw also introduces Recovery in Gaming, a safe community space supporting professionals across the industry.\nGuest Bio\n\nHuw 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.\nHe 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.\nKey Topics Discussed\n\n00:00 – Huw’s first step into iGaming and early industry days\n07:00 – Climbing the ladder: Betsson, NYX, OpenBet, and major exits\n14:00 – Pressure, addiction, and the turning point in 2014\n19:00 – The first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and life in recovery\n27:00 – Boundaries, control, and tools to handle executive stress\n33:00 – The daily inventory: a 3-minute practice that actually works\n37:00 – Why Huw launched Recovery in Gaming and its future impact\nMemorable Quotes\n“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...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/yqvdFvcfDiDCUT_op0gUBWr9w0nodzeeimRJmH0xYVI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9lNTg1/MTBkYjJjNjA5MTU2/ZWFkZDc3OGI4MDgx/NDRmOC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}