Record attendance at Canadian Gaming Summit showcases industry growth and support

The Canadian Gaming Summit, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from June 18-20, concluded with record-breaking attendance of 3,000 participants, signaling substantial industry support for the meeting.

The summit saw a key announcement by Alberta’s Minister of Service and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, who unveiled plans to open the province’s market. Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming, Stan Cho, who oversees the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), was also present at the event.

Tony Plaskow, Commercial Director of Black Cow Technology, reflected on the event’s expansion: “I’ve been coming to the Canadian Gaming Summit for a long time – about 10 years – and back then, it was really just lotteries that we would meet because there was no commercial market in Ontario. Now, obviously, that’s changed quite a lot.”

The summit featured over 150 expert speakers, including CEOs of crown corporations like BCLC, Loto-Québec, and Atlantic Lottery. Crown corporations also had a dedicated lounge on the expo floor. Kevin deBruykere, Director of AML and Investigations at BCLC, noted the value of the "The Crown Corps Speak: Competition, Enforcement, and Growth in Canadian Gaming" panel: “The value, frankly, is all of them coming together.” 

Regulators from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), OLG, and iGaming Ontario reflected on Ontario's recent regulatory changes. 

Scott Vanderwel, CEO of PointsBet Canada, said: “One panel that stood out for me was the conversation with Martha, Karin, and Duncan. I think it was very unique to have a stage with the three most influential leaders from a regulatory, compliance, and rule-setting perspective in Ontario together.”

The event highlighted the impact of social influencers through a keynote interview with Brian Christopher, President and CEO of BC Slots, conducted by Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) President & CEO Paul Burns. Christopher emphasized the importance of the event for business: “I’ve been meeting with casinos across the country at this event, which is really important for our business.”

Attendees included over 1,100 representatives from local and global operators such as FanDuel, Sports Interaction, Flutter International, Pinnacle, Kaizen Gaming, and PokerStars. Kriss Abbott, Country Manager, Canada at Stake, said: “Meeting all the attendees is a huge positive in our industry, enabling us to learn and engage, particularly during the panel sessions.”

Josh Turk, Chief Strategy Officer at Low6, highlighted the event's international scope: “I’m also seeing many from Europe, the UK, and even Latin America, so you really get a broad perspective of not just what’s happening locally in Canada, but also across the world.”

Networking events and diverse meetups, such as the Global Gaming Women Breakfast and First Nations Breakfast, were also featured. Britt Doll, Global Marketing Director at Rivalry, appreciated the casual networking opportunities: “It’s a bit of a rare opportunity to meet people in person very casually, in a relaxed setting, and have meaningful conversations.”

Summarizing the event's future prospects, Scott Vanderwel noted: “The biggest opportunity and, at the same time, challenge in Canada right now is that we’re not done yet. Ontario represents about half of the Canadian population, which is significant. However, Canada has many provinces, and the fact that half of the Canadian population only has the government-provided option still presents an opportunity.”