July brought the kind of stories that remind us why this industry never stands still.
While some hits came harder than others, the month was full of departures, investigations, and and a jaw-dropping startup saga that no one saw coming.
Let’s break down the biggest stories that shook the industry, and the one everyone’s still whispering about.
And remember, we don’t gossip – we just listen carefully and forward responsibly.
Vatan Platform CEO Cheating on Employees
Just when we thought July seemed to be settling down, this headline took over the conversation entirely.
While Vatan Platform parades its flashy new game “Captain Vardan: across LinkedIn and Instagram, behind the scenes, the company is falling apart. A wave of former employees has come forward with damning allegations: unpaid salaries, mass firings without warning, and a leadership team that’s gone full ghost mode.
At the center of it all is CEO Pooyan Mokhtari, who’s been busy preaching billion-dollar dreams online, while internally, staff say they were discarded without so much as a goodbye. One was fired two days before Christmas. Another was locked out of systems mid-shift. Several say they still haven’t been paid. Let’s not forget the HR specialist who told a staffer, “We’re not here to discuss the reasons of your termination.”
TheGamblest spoke to insiders who describe a workplace ruled by ego, chaos, and zero accountability. As Mokhtari keeps posting motivational mantras, the iGaming community is watching with raised eyebrows, and wondering how long Vatan can ignore the situation.
LeoVegas says goodbye to Polsäter
After nearly a decade with LeoVegas, Christian Polsäter is stepping down from his role as Director of Sports. His exit follows closely on the heels of former CEO Gustaf Hagman’s departure, making this the second major leadership change in just a few weeks. Polsäter contributed to the group’s sportsbook growth since 2017.
Christian Polsäter, Director of Sports at LeoVegas, mentioned:
Now, it’s time for me to say goodbye to an amazing company. I’ve loved (almost) every second of the ride and am incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way.
LeoVegas has been a fantastic place to grow, and I’m proud to have been part of the Sportsbook team through some exciting times.
The move comes as LeoVegas sharpens its focus on in-house innovation, having just launched its own sportsbook in Denmark and extended its partnership with Kambi until 2027. With key figures exiting and product strategies evolving, LeoVegas seems to be setting the stage for a new era – with fresh faces and even bolder ambitions.
Big changes coming to the UK’s gambling harm support landscape
GambleAware has confirmed it will wind down all operations by 31 March 2026, handing over its long-held responsibilities to the British government. The move follows the rollout of a new statutory levy designed to collect up to £100 million annually from gambling operators and replacing the industry’s former voluntary funding model.
Duties around research, prevention, and treatment will shift to newly appointed commissioners and government bodies across England, Scotland, and Wales. While the transition has been described as a step forward for transparency and public health alignment, it also raises questions around continuity and capacity.
Andy Boucher, Chair of Trustees at GambleAware, mentioned:
We welcome this new era in which gambling harms are recognised alongside other public health issues and are funded through a statutory levy.
GambleAware will continue commissioning existing programs until the new framework fully kicks in, but the real test will be how smoothly public agencies pick up the reins in a sector that’s anything but slow-moving.
Brazil’s minister demands betting crackdown
Brazil’s Finance Minister, Fernando Haddad, is making headlines for his fierce stance on the country’s fast-growing online betting industry. With describing the sector as a “public health emergency,” Haddad argued that even billions in tax revenue can’t justify the damage it’s causing.
In his view, the explosion of gambling across Brazil was no accident, it was the result of years of weak regulation, missed opportunities, and political inaction. He’s not just pointing fingers at the past, though.
Haddad is now pushing for a full-scale crackdown, with the Federal Police getting involved and fintech platforms under investigation for allegedly enabling unauthorized betting and money laundering. His message is not just about lost tax revenue, but about protecting the public. The clean-up seems to start now.
Flutter joins growing list of iGaming targets
Things got a little too exposed at Flutter Entertainment. The company has launched an internal investigation after a data breach hit users of its Paddy Power and Betfair platforms. While passwords and payment info stayed safe, millions of UK players weren’t so lucky – usernames, email addresses, device IDs, and details of account activity were all part of the fallout.
Flutter chose to notify affected users and report the incident to regulators, despite not being legally obligated to do so. With over 4 million monthly players in the UK and Ireland, the company’s proactive response was likely an effort to stay ahead of the PR storm. But in an industry full of cyber incidents, this one, again, is a reminder that even the biggest players need to double down on digital defenses.
Thinking Out Loud…
July gave us a lot to process. What’s clear is that reputation alone isn’t enough anymore. The leadership changes come and go, but when internal cracks turn public, the industry takes notes. Transparency, accountability, and how you treat your team are becoming just as important as product innovation and market share. The industry’s watching more closely than ever, and no amount of PR polish can outshine a public misstep, and the question now isn’t just who’s growing fastest, but who’s growing right.
The views expressed in this article represent the author’s personal observations and interpretations of recent events. They are not intended to influence or impose any particular perspective. Readers are encouraged to assess the information independently and form their own opinions.
