This has been an extraordinary year for gaming in Canada – not only with the launch of Ontario online casinos and sports betting, which has seen the most activity, but across the country.
There are now 36 licensed, live operators in Ontario. One of the first ones out of the gate was PointsBet Canada, so when the Canada Gaming Association named a new, beefed-up board of directors last week at their annual general meeting in Vancouver, it was no surprise that PointsBet Canada CEO Scott Vanderwel’s name was on there.
“I am excited for the opportunity to help shape this evolving industry,” Vanderwel told Ontario Bets.
Vanderwel has been with PointsBet Canada as CEO since August 2021. Before that he was senior vice president with Rogers Communications.
PointsBet Canada just opened its Canadian headquarters in downtown Toronto, at the corner of Queen Street and John Street. The operator describes it as an innovation hub with a focus on product development, including PointsBet Ontario Sportsbook , and technology recruitment.
Other New Canada Gaming Association Board Members
Several others were named to the CGA board, including some with experience with operators that offer Ontario sportsbook apps. The new names include:
Bruce Caughill, managing director for Rush Street Interactive (former chief legal officer with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario)
Mark Harper, general manager at NS Sports for five years and a 25-year digital media sales veteran in Nova Scotia
Charmaine Hogan, head of regulatory affairs at Playtech (she previously worked on EU legislation and policy development in Brussels, both on behalf of the government and at the European Commission; she led the discussions with the European gambling regulators)
Dale Hooper, general manager of FanDuel Canada (previous leadership roles with Rogers Communications and Cannabis Compliance Inc.); the company offers a sportsbook and FanDuel Casino Ontario in the province
Niaz Nejad, senior vice president and head of marketing for U.S. and Canada at Aristocrat Gaming (previous was chief operating officer for the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission).
“Given this unprecedented time of growth in the Canadian gaming industry, the CGA Board of Directors has been amplified by five new members,” chair board Ilkim Hincer said. “Increased representation is important to ensure that the work of the board reflects the diverse needs of Canadian gaming. I look forward to continued collaboration with the board as we work together to shape a progressive environment that enables this industry to succeed.”
World Cup Betting Draws Action in Canada
The World Cup has delivered a fair share of interesting Ontario sports betting wagers across the province, reflecting plenty of interest.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming reported that 55% of customers correctly picked France to win its quarterfinal match against England on Saturday. The French won 2-1 after England’s Harry Kane missed a potential game-tying penalty kick in the 84th minute.
Morocco’s fairytale run ended on Wednesday when it lost to France in the semifinals. How much of an underdog was Morocco, the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals? Only 16% of bettors had the Moroccans beating Portugal in their quarterfinal on Saturday.
Hitting Ontario Parlays
A $1000 wager on a 5-pick NHL/NCAAB parlay earned one customer a payout of $13,695. A $100 wager on a 6-pick NHL parlay earned one customer a payout of $5,560. And a $10 wager on an 8-pick NFL/NHL parlay earned one customer a payout of $2,117.
And at DraftKings Ontario Sportsbook , one bettor had an NBA SGP for $50, for a payout of $100,050. The bet had a 100% profit boost on it at +100000 odds.
The winning legs were all prop bets on stars: Anthony Davis 35+ points, Jayson Tatum 35+ points, LeBron James 30+ points, Jaylen Brown 25+ points, Russell Westbrook 15+ points, Anthony Davis Over 10.5 rebounds, LeBron James Over 6.5 rebounds, Russell Westbrook Over 4.5 rebounds, LeBron James Over 4.5 assists and Russell Westbrook Over 4.5 assists.
Check out OntarioBets.com for reviews of the best Ontario casino apps and more.
