iGaming Ontario set to recognize third anniversary of regulated gaming without a new leader in place

When iGaming Ontario recognizes the third anniversary of Ontario’s regulated sports wagering and online gaming industry next month (April 4, to be exact), it is set to do so without a leader in place.

Gaming News Canada has learned that a replacement for current executive director Martha Otton hasn’t been identified to lead the provincial body in charge of conducting and managing Ontario’s legal gambling marketplace. Last week marked fourth months since iGO announced that its board of directors was working with a recruiting firm to find a successor to Otton, who announced last August that she would retire at the end of 2024.

That didn’t happen, however, and iGO let it be known in December that Otton had agreed to stay on until the end of this month. A source told us last week that Otton, who left her Chief Strategy Officer position with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario in February 2021 to launch iGO, wouldn’t put off her retirement plans any longer.

Gaming News Canada reached out to the communications team at iGO via email last week to ask if the new leader would be in place on April 1, and would the person have the title of President and CEO. We received this response from iGO comms person Alexander Bishop:

“We have no updates to share at this time and will not be in a position to comment at least until the caretaker period is over and the Premier announces his Cabinet.”

Douglas Ford and the Conservative Party, which won reelection on February 27, announced Monday the Ontario legislature won’t be called back until April 14. That not only means a delay in naming Otton’s successor, but also to put in place legislation to separate iGO from the AGCO.

When a new leader comes on board, they will have to deal not only with cutting iGO’s ties with the AGCO, but putting into action the centralized self-exclusion program that’s being constructed by IC360 and IXUP, and also dealing with the 50-plus operators in one of, if not, the largest regulated gaming marketplace globally.

Canadian Gaming Association president/CEO Paul Burns, speaking with us yesterday, indicated the new boss will be in charge of steering the ship on iGO’s next journey.

“Martha and her team standing up the organization from ground zero has been tremendous, (but) there are a lot of challenges ahead as iGO continues to evolve,” Burns told us. “The next chapter includes the self-exclusion program and improving the ability to collect and analyze data.

“The list of new things isn’t insignificant. We’re anxious to see who (the new iGO head) will be.”

And we will continue to follow this story.

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Alberta halts purchase of U.S. VLTs as response to Trump’s tariffs

As PointsBet CEO Scott Vanderwel told Gaming News Canada a month ago, a trade war with the United States will impact the gambling industry.

Vanderwel was prescient.

Alberta’s response to the trade war started by U.S. President Donald Trump includes banning the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) from purchasing video lottery terminals (VLTs) from U.S. suppliers. That ban went into effect on March 6, the day after Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs were due to go into effect.

The Alberta regulator has issued a bulletin saying it would, “prioritize procurement on companies that have support services in Alberta, Canada, or with countries that we share a free trade agreement with.” The AGLC also said it will continue to purchase parts for existing U.S.-made VLTs from the U.S. suppliers.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) analysts estimated that Alberta accounts for about 4% of the sales of U.S.-made gambling machines.

“However, should other provinces join Alberta in banning any new sales that could be more painful, with the country accounting for [approximately] 15,000 units or [about] 16% of total US and Canada sales,” Compliance + More reported.

EKG analysts, “estimate that IGT holds a 45% share of all slots and VLT sales in Canada, followed by Light & Wonder (20%), Aristocrat (18%), Konami (6%) and AGS, Ainsworth and Everi with 3% each.”

Tariffs already cost gambling companies “billions”

Meanwhile, the Earnings + More newsletter on Monday reported that the stock price for a number of gambling companies was in decline at the close of last week.

Many economists have said economic uncertainty, caused, in part, by Trump’s decision to weaponize tariffs in a trade war, was the chief culprit.

The Earnings + More newsletter highlighted that, “billions of value [has been] lost as fears over the U.S. economy gather pace” and “valuations across the sector took a hammering in the week just gone as fears over the health of the U.S. consumer pulled the rug under many of the big names in the gaming sector.”

A decline in consumers’ expendable income and the impact that might have on the gambling sector was one of Vanderwel’s main concerns when he spoke to GNC last month about the impact of tariffs on the industry.

“Sector leader Flutter Entertainment (the parent company of FanDuel) has lost over $5 billion of market cap since the shares hit an all-time high in mid-February of just shy of $300,” wrote Earnings + More.

That same newsletter reported that as of Friday (March 7), the following gambling stocks showed declines week-over-week:

• PENN Entertainment – down 15%
• Caesars Entertainment – down 14%
• Gambling.com – down 12%
• Flutter Entertainment – down 11.5%
• DraftKings – down 11%
• FDJ United – down 10.5%
• Boyd Gaming – down 10%

People on the Move

• Jordan Gnat, who has joined several boards of directors in the gaming space since his time with Playmaker Capital then Better Collective, announced on the LinkedIn on Monday that’s joined forces with fellow Sandhills Gaming Corp board member Rob Scaramella to launch investment firm Boardwalk Capital.
• The shifting sands of the GeoComply executive suite continue as Marco Stotani is promoted to Chief Business Officer.
• Gaming industry vet Andy Evers takes his leave as Commercial Director at DraftKings to become Senior VP, Commercial for Gaming Innovation Group (GiG).
• Robert Goldstein steps down as President and CEO as the Las Vegas Sands.
• Richard Paris, the President Emeritus of the Gaming Security Professionals of Canada, and Security and Compliance Representative for the Canadian Football League, is leaving his full-time gig as Director, Security at Niagara Casinos after more than 23 years with the company.
• There’s been a shuffling of the deck chairs that would be the executive team and business units at Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) in the aftermath of its Kindred Group acquisition. That includes Kindred Group CEO Nils Anders joining a new executive committee.
• Marko Erakovic leaves Livespins to become the new Chief Commercial Officer at Trueplay.
• Anthony Dalla-Giacoma has bid adieu to Livespins after almost four years to join Swintt as Chief Commercial Officer.
• Veteran journalist Kevin Hitt is the new Editor-at-Large at The Esports Advocate.
• Former VSiN senior executive Ben Fawkes joins Yahoo Sports as a sports betting analyst.
• And a tap of the True hockey twig to Ted Orme-Claye on his new role at SBC as Editor – SBC News.
• Nicholas Hannaford has a new role at Sportsbet: SEO Content Manager.
• Former Ottawa Senators senior executive Erin Crowe is the new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Canada Soccer.
• Two-time Olympic medallist Beckie Scott is the new Chief Executive Officer for Nordiq Canada, the national governing body for cross-country skiing.

Classified (Jobs) Information

• Niagara Casinos is on the lookout for a Director of Security.
• Friend of GNC Jonathan Revie-Singh is in recruiting mode for a Financial Controller to join a “major iGaming operator” in the city below Bolton.
• Caesars Sportsbook & Casino has an opening at its Jersey City location for a Director of Conversion.
• Wanted at the DraftKings offices in Las Vegas: a Manager, Product Design. And it is hiring an Associate Operations Manager, Jackpocket for its Manchester, New Hampshire, location.
• Playtech, for its business in Manchester, England, is seeking a Senior Embedded Software Engineer.
• Copenhagen-based Omnigame is searching for a Head of Game Tech.
• Paysafe is in hiring mode for a Product Marketing Manager to be based in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Fox Sports has a job posting for an Associate Editor, Gambling and Research.
• The folks behind the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the city below Uxbridge are hiring a Senior Manager, Human Rights & Indigenous Engagement.
• The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee is in the market for a Senior Director, Press Operations.
• Wanted by Special Olympics Ontario: a Director of People and Culture.
• The Wasserman agency is seeking a Senior Manager, Strategy & Consulting, and a Coordinator, Athlete Marketing – Team Sports for its Toronto office.
• Fanatics, at its offices in Conshohocken (we won’t make you say that five times quickly. . . ), PA is in the market for an eCommerce Manager, NFL.
• There are a number of media opportunities available for this summer’s fortnight at Wimbledon.
• In the Canadian media industry, CBC has an opening for a Senior Manager, Content Marketing.
• Among the current openings at New York-based Front Office Sports is an Associate Producer position.
• Wanted at Rogers Sports & Media: an Advanced Advertising Strategist.
• Ontario Cycling has some openings on its Board of Directors.
• The Molson Coors Beverage Company’s Toronto operations has a hybrid role open for an Assistant Manager, Partnerships.
• The Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group (OSEG) Foundation is hiring an Associate Director.

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