Canadian Gaming Association appoints new chair and vice-chair
Industry trade body welcomes executives from Hard Rock International and Flutter Entertainment to its board
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has announced the appointment of two new board of directors.
llkim Hincer, executive vice president and chief legal officer at Hard Rock International, has been appointed as chair, while George Sweny, vice-president of compliance for Flutter Entertainment, has been made vice-chair.
Paul Burns, president and CEO of the CGA, said: “I am pleased that Ilkim has accepted the role of chair of the board of directors. I’ve known Ilkim for years and have followed his notable career in the gaming industry. Ilkim has a strong track record with some of the world’s largest gaming operators, both here in Canada and in the United States.
“I look forward to working alongside him as we bounce back from the pandemic and position the CGA to capitalize on all of the exciting technology, igaming, and sports betting developments across Canada,” Burns added.
llkim Hincer stated: “I’m honoured to serve as Chair. The CGA has played a key role in helping our industry weather this incredibly challenging pandemic. I want to thank Carrie Kormos for her transformational leadership during her term as chair, and look forward to working with Paul, the board and our many diverse stakeholders as we recover and continue to grow in these rapidly evolving times.”
Hincer and Sweny will join Danielle Bush, partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, and Robert Scarpelli, managing director of HLT Advisory Inc., who hold the roles of corporate secretary and treasurer on the CGA’s board.
In November, the CGA appointed four major industry figures to its board, including Scott Burton, FansUnite CEO, Neil Erlick, Nuvei’s chief corporate development officer, Jeffrey Haas, DraftKings’ SVP of international strategy, and Chuck Keeling, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation’s EVP of stakeholder relations.
The Canadian market is undergoing rapid change after single-event sports wagering became legal earlier this year, while Ontario – the most populated province – is opening up its market to commercial operators.