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 the top hit harder than she expected.

About Elen Barber

Elen Barber has been working in the gaming industry for over 20 years and has witnessed its evolution from the wild west days to today's highly regulated landscape. She's held CMO roles at Super Group and Kindred Group, managing teams across multiple countries and dealing with everything from new market launches to regulatory curveballs. Based in London, she's passionate about how this industry continues to reinvent itself.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 - Elen Barbers iGaming Journey
03:00 - Creating your own opportunities: you can't wait for your manager
08:00 - Why the higher you go, the lonelier it gets (and how to handle it)
14:00 - Wearing different hats: the two-chair technique for managing emotions
18:00 - Building trust: having your team's back and showing your true nature
22:00 - The worst crisis in company history hits in week one as CMO
26:00 - Managing multiple restructures while keeping people motivated
34:00 - Life after Kindred: why career breaks aren't always roses
36:00 - The pressure of being a perfect parent, perfect exec, perfect everything
41:00 - Quick fire Q&A: leadership advice, mistakes, and legacy

Memorable Quotes

"It is too easy to make money in our industry comparing to any other industries. The margins are much higher. So we are spoiled for this. It doesn't drive innovation."

"You also create opportunities, you don't wait for the opportunities to be created for you. You can't rely completely on your manager to get you through your career."

"And it is scary for the leader to understand and accept that suddenly you know significantly less than people within your team."

"I've been working all my life, and I didn't know how to relax, I missed that mental stimulation. "

"You really have to try to take emotions out of the business decisions because these things do not work together."

Connect with Elen Barber

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elen-barber/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
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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 Platform of the Year, only to have the momentum killed by a lack of capital investment demanded by a board focused on short-term liquidity. This is a crucial lesson in battling the "noise to the vision" and the indispensable wisdom only gained by staying in the game long enough to get the wins.

About David McDowell

David started his career as an engineer in Michigan and moved to London to do an MBA in 1993. He launched his first business, a two-sided marketplace using college students to teach adults how to use the internet, in 1995. He has since spent 25 years in the gambling industry.

He co-founded GameAccount (now GAN), an early skill games provider that pivoted to B2B casino games and platform provider before its IPO in 2013.
He co-founded and was CEO for 15 years of FSB Technology, a B2B sports betting platform that was sold to PE in 2019 and on to EveryMatrix in 2024.

He currently works as an independent consultant with various gambling-related businesses and serves as an Entrepreneur Mentor in Residence at London Business School.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 - The entrepreneurial philosophy
04:00 - Building the first venture (SOS) in 1995
06:15 - Transitioning to CEO: becoming the external face of the organisation
07:45 - It often feels like everything that you do is a mistake
10:00 - Managing burnout: the importance of compartmentalising and health
16:30 - Careful who your investors are
19:20 - The fundraising Goldilocks problem: minimising dilution while maximising runway
24:30 - Why customer-led features are often an absolute waste of time
31:00 - Knowing in your gut someone is wrong for the organisation
37:00 - Communicating your vision clearly
39:00 - Isolation in leadership
47:00 - What would I do differently going back

Memorable Quotes

"The entrepreneurial journey is just staying in the game long enough so that you can get the wins."
"All of those are almost noise to the vision. You still have to kind of make sure that you're building your own vision..."
"My biggest mistake is waiting too long [to remove a cultural mismatch] because I thought we need... we can't afford the disruption right now."

Connect with David McDowell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mcdowell-547209?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BomU134VSR%2B2eskLlRqTFHQ%3D%3D

Follow Leo Judkins & iGaming Leader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/subscribe
Join the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/apply

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 courage, people, and choosing to be a happy warrior rather than an angry gladiator.

About BP3

Bill Pascrell III is a veteran strategist and lobbyist who helped lead New Jersey’s iGaming framework and the decade-long campaign that culminated in PASPA’s repeal in 2018.

He advises governments and gaming companies across the US and internationally on policy, compliance and market access.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Scars, setbacks and the “small gladiator” mindset
03:30 – “Architect of American sports betting” and what it really means
08:00 – Growing up without privilege and learning to outwork everyone
14:00 – Spinal meningitis as a teenager
20:00 – Lessons from his father on example, integrity and service
23:30 – The King David Hotel story and resourcefulness under pressure
28:30 – Grief, legacy and the Pascrell Public Service Institute
34:00 – Onboarding PokerStars, losing every client and starting again
39:00 – NFL opposition, real-world pressure and personal risk
40:00 – Happy warrior versus angry gladiator
43:00 – People before everything

Memorable Quotes

“I have the scars and the bruises to show I was a small gladiator in this fight.”

“Give me 10% of 40 million and I’ll get this done in two years. And we did.”

“I could have treated my adversaries more as a happy warrior than as an angry gladiator.”

“Titles come and go. What matters is how we treat each other.”

Connect with Bill Pascrell III

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billpascrell/
X: https://x.com/BillPascrell3rd
INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/pascrell3rd/

Follow Leo Judkins & iGaming Leader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/subscribe
Join the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/apply

Learn more about BP3

BP3 on Boston 25 News
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/25-investigates-sports-betting-could-raise-odds-problem-gambling-ma/PSOWJETP6ZA4VAX24VQZFCQURI/

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Entain Foundation U.S. Educates Athletes on Sports Betting
https://www.inquirer.com/sports/nfl-ncaa-betting-education-entain-foundation-amani-toomer-20230727.html#loaded

BP3 for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania's Casinos Must Protect Problem Gamblers
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2022/11/28/racinos-betters-gambling-addiction/stories/202211280003

Forbes: How New Jersey Will Double Down on Gambling if Casinos Come to New York City
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2022/10/14/how-new-jersey-will-double-down-on-gambling-if-casinos-come-to-new-york-city/
BP3: From NJ.com: NJ Sports Bettors Need More Protection
https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/04/nj-sports-bettors-need-more-protection-opinion.html
Game Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry
Game Masters 2025: TOP 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry - USiGamingHUB
Sen. Addabbo: Legalize iGaming First, Then ‘I Want To Create’ Sweeps Regulation
Addabbo: Legalize iGaming, Then 'I Want To Create' Sweeps Regulation
Casinos, online play fuel strong July in NJ
Casinos, online play fuel strong July in NJ - NJBIZ
BP3: From IMGL Magazine– The Importance of Geolocation in the Online Gaming Industry
IMGL Magazine June 2025

Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated)
Internet gaming, sports wagering pace February DGE report (updated) - NJBIZ
Bill Pascrell: US Election day warm up:
https://next.io/podcasts/next-io-podcast/bill-pascrell-us-election-day-warm-up/?utm_campaign=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--thGRArZ3dvBERn9NoBY4lv0g8vB2vmx1uDcV5DecKSq-IXpITjwZ5BQ8Y2K1E1L1FtsB5UODaJ190VR9ISatxI2aSTCq25FCypCtUlLfYVSSP-xc&_hsmi=97835674&utm_content=97835674&utm_source=hs_email

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 advancing through a male-dominated industry.

Guest Bio

Jovana Popović Čanaki, known to most as Jovi, is the CEO of iGP, an iGaming platform, aggregator, and lottery provider.

With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, she’s helped shape some of its most recognizable brands from Aspire Global to ORYX Gaming. Today she leads iGP’s evolution from a single-platform provider into a trusted, full-suite partner for operators worldwide.

But what really defines Jovi is her belief that growth comes from people first. She’s known for leading with empathy, authenticity, and a strong sense of purpose, building teams where creativity, accountability, and trust go hand in hand.

At iGP, she continues to champion the company’s Be Purple mindset, a reminder to stay bold, curious, and human, guiding both her team and partners to build gaming experiences that inspire connection and progress.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – The loneliness and emotional swings of leadership
03:00 – Losing everything in a hotel lobby: vulnerability and perspective
07:00 – The myth of work–life balance as a CEO, parent and expat
15:00 – How her early years shaped her leadership style
20:00 – Doubt, intimidation, and learning to “push through”
32:00 – Wearing a “manager mask” and the cost of inauthenticity
40:00 – Women in leadership: the progress, challenges and realities
50:00 – Her advice to her younger self: stop doubting

Memorable Quotes

“Do what you believe in.”

“Why are you so afraid to show who you are? What’s the worst that can happen?”

“If you don’t have a little stage fright, you don’t care enough.”

Connect with Jovi

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

https://igamingbusiness.com/strategy/management/jovana-popovic-canaki-igp-leadership/

https://g3newswire.com/igp-a-transformative-year/

www.igpgaming.com

Follow Leo Judkins & iGaming Leader

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
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Join the Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/apply

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 you calm under pressure. Practical insights for founders, COOs, and execs across iGaming.

Guest Bio

Daniel Brookes is an experienced business strategist and leader in the iGaming and technology sectors, currently serving as CEO of both BetComply and Rdentify. Known for his expertise in regulatory compliance, operations, and innovative AI-driven player protection solutions, Daniel has been instrumental in scaling businesses and driving growth in complex, regulated markets.

He is recognised for his hands-on leadership style, strategic vision, and commitment to fostering collaborative, trust-first company cultures. Daniel’s work focuses on helping operators navigate the challenges of compliance while promoting responsible gaming and customer protection.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Thoughtful leadership: mentor first, megaphone second
03:00 – From hands-on Ops to true COO
05:00 – Letting go the right way: trust, verify, then back your best people
09:00 – Culture design: speed, iteration, low bureaucracy, clear process
12:00 – Running two companies: vision, operators, repeatable model
16:00 – “Breathe through it”: journalling and calm thinking in a crisis
19:00 – Private GPTs, writing, and structured reflection as a coping system
22:00 – Proud moments: team growth, fast KPIs, shared wins
31:00 – Founders, focus, and plate-spinning: why this isn’t “the Daniel show”
35:00 – Mentors who challenge vision and expand ambition
40:00 – Disruption mindset: ask bigger questions, push for better
41:00 – Family, holidays, and work–life choices that reduce stress
42:00 – Final advice: hire great people, move fast, know when to stop

Memorable Quotes

“Lead from the top, not in the weeds. Trust the team to deliver.”
“The only way through it is to breathe through it.”
“Ask better questions: how do we disrupt and make this the best it can be?”
“Don’t let anybody tell you to follow your dream if everything is saying no. Use those noes to realign.”

Connect with Daniel:

https://betcomply.com/
https://rdentify.com/
https://www.rdentifyconnect.com/
https://thoughteconomics.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-brookes-367b5b14/

Follow Leo on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Subscribe to the iGaming Leader newsletter: igamingleader.com/signup
Join the iGaming Leader Mastermind: igamingleader.com

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 and technology commercialist, having practised formal management consultancy at Deloitte and strategic investments, acquisitions and cross-group business development at Sony’s Corporate Development and M&A group in the U.S. After Sony, Emma joined Amazon and delivered strategic initiatives to launch and grow Kindle in the UK and other European markets. Emma holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Admit gaps: building a safe-to-fail culture
03:00 – Tech throughline: impact, innovation, disruption
05:00 – Bezos-level detail: data-driven calm under pressure
08:00 – Disrupting UK market with Kindle
10:00 – From imposter feelings to confident leadership
14:00 – Modelling vulnerability and psychological safety
22:00 – From Amazon to start-up: risk, family, flexibility
27:00 – Fundraising, COVID, and making hard calls
31:00 – When a big client can’t pay: cashflow and redundancies
39:00 – Raise-the-bar hiring: fill your weaknesses

Memorable Quotes

“No one's going to remember everything at the top of their head and have the answers for everything, that's not realistic.”

“It's okay to be vulnerable around that, right? And honest around that. And then, as a team, you grow.”

“That imposter syndrome we all talk about, I think it's always there, but you, you become more confident in what you can do and confident in where your weaknesses are.”

“It's about having a culture that embraces failure, but then quickly learns from it.”

Connect with Emma Blaylock:

https://prettytechnical.io/
linkedin.com/in/emmablaylock
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pretty-technical

Follow Leo Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Subscribe to the iGaming Leader newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/signup
Join the iGaming Leader Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/

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, hiring, and handling criticism without losing empathy, plus a powerful journalling practice that keeps him grounded as a leader and dad.

Guest Bio

Max Meltzer is an entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of Strive Gaming, a B2B Player Account Management business that serves North America.

Customers include PointsBet, Golden Nugget (DraftKings), Four Winds Casino, Genting and beyond. Shareholders include Betsson, OpenBet, Knutsson and more.

He is also a Venture Partner of Astralis Capital, who count PrizePicks among others in their portfolio.

Max’s previous roles include CCO at Kambi and founding other businesses such as Simply Sport Management, a sports management agency launched in 2012 that still operates today.

Key Topics Discussed

00:00 – Welcoming our guest
05:00 – Early entrepreneurship
08:00 – Stigma vs strategy: going back to employement
11:00 – Health over financial milestones
16:00 – Making balance stick
17:30 – Community, sport, and boundaries
20:00 – Empathy, criticism and building thicker skin
22:30 – Coaching and journalling letters to his daughter
31:00 – Leaving Kambi and founding Strive
36:00 – Seed strategies
44:00 – Fundraising cycles, boards, and aligning investor expectations
53:00 – Only do the jobs only you can do
54:30 – Legacy and values: the father and leader Max wants to be

Memorable Quotes

“To be a success as a founder, you have to have the guts to fail. If you don’t have the guts to fail, really you shouldn’t do it.”

“No one actually cares enough about you personally. Only you care about you to that extent… Do feel like, ‘what’s everyone going to think?’ No one’s actually thinking anything.”

“Don’t prioritise financial milestones ahead of everything else. You’re a better business person when you prioritise your health and personal wellbeing.”

“Whatever happens, prioritise family. Put your values first—your boundaries are your foundation and support.”

Important Links

Connect with Max Meltzer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxmeltzer1

www.strivegaming.com

https://www.egr.global/intel/insight/strive-founders-journey-executing-on-strategy-and-the-evolving-ways-of-raising-capital/

Follow Leo Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
Subscribe to the iGaming Leader newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/signup
Join the iGaming Leader Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/

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:

• Why shifting from "every customer is a criminal" changes everything
• The million-dollar mistake that taught Alex his biggest leadership lesson
• How to build trust-based teams that can take calculated risks
• Real strategies for supporting teams without burning them out
• What to do when leadership decisions backfire publicly
• Why making mistakes is essential for growth (even expensive ones)

This isn't your typical compliance conversation — it's raw, practical leadership advice for anyone managing teams in complex, regulated environments.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 – Why "compliance" is the worst possible name for the role
04:00 – Shifting mindset: not every customer is a criminal
07:00 – Leadership by trust: enabling teams to take risks
10:00 – When quick decisions backfire and cost millions
14:00 – Customer experience in gambling: speed dating or lost forever
15:00 – Building a compliance team from 1 to 30+ people
17:00 – Hard leadership lessons: overwork, burnout, and compassion
28:00 – Losing respect publicly and how to recover trust
36:00 – When things go wrong and you're blamed unfairly
40:00 – Handling redundancies and supporting people afterwards
44:00 – What makes a "great leader" and the role of mistakes

💡 KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE

"The whole role of working in compliance is protection."

"I'd rather go full-flat being innovative than follow mediocracy."

"I cost the company a lot of money there… fantastic for compliance, but commercially a massive impact."

"I was told early on: don't build relationships with your team because you'll have to fire them. I learned the hard way that's exactly what you should do."

"I'll never stop making mistakes. They're the biggest lessons I've had in leadership."

🔗 CONNECT & FOLLOW

• Alex Henderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanda-h-114911145/
• Leo Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-judkins/
• Subscribe to iGaming Leader newsletter: https://www.igamingleader.com/signup
• Join the iGaming Leader Mastermind: https://www.igamingleader.com/
  
  

ABOUT THE GUEST Alex Henderson brings extensive experience in compliance, regulatory affairs, and operational risk within the gambling sector. His career spans work with leading operators, law enforcement agencies, and advisory firms, giving him a unique perspective on both commercial and regulatory challenges. He co-hosts The Compliance Chronicles, a podcast helping peers navigate complex regulatory environments.

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