The Canadian gaming industry has seen rapid growth over the last few years, especially in the iGaming arena, and two of the country’s online operators recently announced some management changes and additions.
Ontario-based NorthStar Gaming announced CFO Jennifer Barber is leaving the company for a new opportunity. PointsBet has also named Brooke Hilton as the company’s head of casino operations.
In other news, a few lucky poker players also recently cashed in big on a massive bad beat jackpot at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal.
PointsBet Move Comes After Nice Revenue Numbers
For Australia-based PointsBet, Hilton is charged with helping to boost the company’s iGaming operations in Canada. The company left the U.S. market earlier this year, selling its American assets to Fanatics for $225 million.
However, PointsBet has found success in the Canadian market. The company recently released strong quarterly earnings, seeing total net win increase from $1.5 million to $4.7 million, up 212% over the last year.
Sports betting has been key to that growth, with a 111% increase in handle and a 440% increase in net win. The PointsBet casino business also saw a 136% net win increase to $2.6 million from $1.1 million.
Hilton brings a deep gaming background to the role. She previously served as director of business development at Ingenuity Gaming. She also worked at Bally’s Interactive in iGaming product development for North America from March 2021 to January 2023. From 2014-21, Hilton helped develop the Play Now online gaming product for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
“It is with immense joy that I announce the beginning of my journey as the head of casino at PointsBet,” Hilton said. “Having dedicated myself to the Canadian iGaming industry for the past 10-plus years, I’m absolutely thrilled to align my passion with a company as influential as PointsBet Canada.”
Details on the NorthStar Exit
NorthStar Gaming has also been bullish on the Canadian market. The company is based in Toronto and operates in the Ontario regulated market. The company recently announced plans to launch into other provinces as well.
Barber’s time at the company now will come to an end on Dec. 1 as she moves into another pursuit. After serving as CFO since June 2022, current NorthStar vice president of finance and compliance Chin Dhushenthen, will now take over the role of interim CFO.
Dhushenthen has been with NorthStar since September 2021. Prior to his role with the company, he spent 13 years with Capreit, a Canadian provider of rental housing and also held roles with several other companies.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Jennifer for her contributions at an important time in our company’s development,” NorthStar chair and CEO Michael Moskowitz said. “She played a key role in our public listing process, Slapshot Media acquisition and establishment of our financial reporting functions. We wish Jennifer the best as she moves into a financial leadership role in a new sector.”
“We anticipate a seamless transition to Chin as interim CFO. He has great familiarity with our operations, having previously led our finance team and establishing our compliance system that meets the strict standards of our igaming license.”
Poker Players Pocket Major Jackpot Dollars
In other Canadian gaming news, the Playground Poker Club in Montreal awarded a massive bad beat jackpot in October. A bad beat jackpot is similar to a progressive slot payout. In cash games, the casino takes out a dollar from each pot for a bad beat pool that builds over time.
The jackpot is awarded when a player with a premium hand loses to another player with an even better hand. The minimum hands vary by property, but usually bring payouts for the winner, loser, and often the other players at the table. The Playground jackpot, however, rewards all the players at the Texas Hold’em cash game tables at the time.
🎉Our Bad Beat Jackpot hit last night!🎉
The BBJ had climbed to $1,344,069, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Congratulations to the loser of the hand, the winner, everyone at the table, and all other signed-in NLHL players!
The BBJ has been reseeded at $108,789. 💰 pic.twitter.com/Zxda2wz1LG
— Playground Poker (@PlaygroundPoker) October 8, 2023
When a straight flush beat another straight flush, the jackpot was triggered for more than $1.3 million. The property paid out 40% to the loser of the hand with 20% going to the winner. The other players at the table scored 20% and the cash game players in the room each got a share of another 20%. The hand’s “loser” truck gold to the tune of $537,627 and the winner cashed in for $216,814.
“Congratulations to the loser of the hand, the winner, everyone at the table, and all other signed-in NLHE (No Limit Hold’em) players!” the property noted on Twitter.
It’s been a busy time for Playground jackpots. The poker room also awarded a $2.6 million bad beat jackpot in August and a $2 million jackpot in June.
