Do you think a betting company or casino will understand and not arrest an employee who has access to company funds and then misuses it for gambling?
I don't think the company will understand, because they will be suffering a direct impact over the sustainability of their business, what can completely compromise the capacity of this company paying their operational expenses, besides paying gamblers' withdrawals. In other words: the mistake of a single employee can lead the casino to bankruptcy, if the issue isn't addressed in time.
If this employee claims that he is battling from gambling addiction, will he be considered for a lighter punishment?
Maybe. It will depend on who this employee is, what he has already done for the company and how the relationship with his boss is. Then the manager may be more or less strict with him when deciding for an appropriate punishment.
If you own such a casino or betting platform, what will you do to such an employee, understanding that addiction to gambling can make people make decisions that are unexpected.
As said earlier. It will always depend on who the employee is. If I see he is a good person, but is struggling to fight addiction back, I could have mercy, but if the bad character of the employee is immediately identified, I wouldn't be merciful to his cause. In every cases, the fact is that the employee has to be instantly removed from his functions in order to not generate further prejudices for the business.