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White Hat Gaming Names Leon Thomas Chief Commercial Officer

By jili tutorial · September 30, 2026

White Hat Gaming Names Leon Thomas Chief Commercial Officer

White Hat Gaming has appointed Leon Thomas as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), a move that signals the company’s intent to accelerate commercial growth across regulated iGaming markets. Thomas will take responsibility for sales, marketing, and partnerships, with a particular focus on operators looking to switch platforms in an increasingly consolidated supplier landscape.

Who Is Leon Thomas?

A career spanning operator and B2B sides of the industry

Leon Thomas brings more than 20 years of gaming industry experience to White Hat Gaming. His career is notable for having spanned both sides of the table: he has held senior roles with major operators and has also scaled B2B suppliers in regulated markets. This dual perspective is central to his new role, as White Hat Gaming looks to position itself as a partner that truly understands operator needs.

Leadership roles at major gaming companies

Before joining White Hat Gaming, Thomas served as Vice President International at Hard Rock Digital, where he led the company’s expansion into Canada, the Netherlands, and Mexico. His time at Hard Rock Digital underlined his ability to enter new regulated markets and build a commercial strategy around local requirements.

Prior to that, Thomas spent time at Entain, one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups. At Entain, he held the position of Group Director of Strategy and Corporate Development before becoming Managing Director for its Canadian-facing brands, including Sports Interaction. His work there involved both strategic development and hands-on operational leadership in a regulated market.

Thomas has also held roles at tombola, the UK-based online gaming operator, and has scaled B2B businesses at online casino software specialist Microgaming and instant win games provider IWG. This combination of operator and supplier experience gives him a rare, well-rounded view of the iGaming ecosystem.

Why White Hat Gaming Is Hiring Now

Platform supplier consolidation is reshaping the market

White Hat Gaming’s appointment of Thomas comes at a time of significant consolidation among platform suppliers. Many operators are reviewing their technology stacks because the providers they have relied on are merging, being acquired, or retiring products altogether. This has created a growing need for reliable, long-term platform partners that can offer stability and continuity.

Thomas will be expected to lead White Hat Gaming’s response to this trend. The company is specifically targeting operators who are looking to move away from providers that are consolidating or discontinuing their platforms. It is also focusing on brands that want to launch or grow in regulated markets, where a robust and compliant technology foundation is essential.

A focus on operators looking to re-platform

Re-platforming is a complex and often risky process. Operators need a partner who can support a smooth migration without disrupting their player experience. White Hat Gaming’s modular player account management (PAM) platform is designed to meet this need, and Thomas’s appointment reinforces the company’s ambition to be the partner of choice for operators in this situation.

According to White Hat Gaming CEO Phil Gelvan, Thomas’s background makes him uniquely suited to this challenge:

“Leon has sat on both sides of the table. He has run operator businesses and scaled B2B suppliers, so he knows exactly what operators need from a platform partner.”

Thomas himself emphasized the importance of reliability and scale in his new role:

“My focus will be on partnering with operators who need greater reliability and scale, and helping brands launch with confidence in regulated markets anywhere in the world.”

What This Means for White Hat Gaming’s Commercial Strategy

Strengthening sales, marketing, and partnerships

As Chief Commercial Officer, Thomas will oversee the full commercial function at White Hat Gaming. This includes sales strategy, marketing campaigns, and partnership development. His mandate is to grow the company’s presence across regulated markets and build lasting relationships with operators.

The appointment also reflects a broader strategic shift in the company. Rather than simply selling a platform, White Hat Gaming appears to be positioning itself as a growth partner. By hiring someone with Thomas’s experience in scaling both operator brands and B2B suppliers, the company is signalling that it understands the commercial realities faced by its clients.

Expanding into new regulated jurisdictions

Thomas’s track record includes leading expansion into Canada, the Netherlands, and Mexico at Hard Rock Digital. This experience will likely be valuable as White Hat Gaming looks to win new business in similar markets. Regulated markets across North America and Europe continue to evolve, and operators need technology partners who understand local compliance requirements.

About White Hat Gaming

A modular platform for regulated markets

White Hat Gaming is an iGaming platform provider that serves casino and betting operators in regulated markets. The company offers a modular player account management platform, which allows operators to pick and choose the features and functionality they need. This modular approach gives operators flexibility while maintaining the compliance and reliability required in regulated environments.

Ownership and the Merkur Group transaction

In July 2026, Merkur Group agreed to acquire White Hat Studios, the US-focused slots developer. Importantly, this deal excludes White Hat Gaming’s platform and white-label businesses, which remain under their current ownership. The transaction is therefore separate from White Hat Gaming’s core platform operations, and the company’s commercial strategy remains focused on its regulated-market offering.

Looking Ahead

Leon Thomas’s appointment is a clear signal that White Hat Gaming is stepping up its commercial ambitions. With platform supplier consolidation creating uncertainty for many operators, the company is well positioned to offer a stable, reliable alternative. Thomas’s combination of operator and B2B experience, combined with his track record of successful market expansion, makes him a strong fit for the role.

As the iGaming industry continues to evolve, the ability to re-platform quickly and confidently will become an even more important competitive advantage. White Hat Gaming’s focus on regulated markets, coupled with its new commercial leadership, suggests that the company intends to be at the forefront of that movement.