Canada
PLAYMAKER CAPITAL INC. APPOINTS SARA SLANE AND MARK HARRISON TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Playmaker Capital Inc., the digital sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands, announced today that it has appointed Sara Slane, Founder of Slane Advisory and former Senior Vice President of the American Gaming Association, and Mark Harrison, Founder of The T1 Agency and SponsorshipX, to its board of directors (the “Board”).
“Being able to add two people of the calibre of Sara and Mark is a big step forward for Playmaker”, said Jordan Gnat, Playmaker CEO. “I have known Sara for many years and have witnessed how effective she has been in providing guidance and leadership to the gaming and sports industries. Mark’s reputation is second to none. We have been looking to add a senior executive in the marketing and partnership industry to our Board, and Mark fits that perfectly. Sara and Mark have distinct experiences that are relevant to our core business model, and they will both serve as incredibly important and complimentary additions to the current composition of our Board”.
Ms. Slane is the founder of Slane Advisory, a consultancy focused on advising stakeholders from the gaming, media, and sports industries. Previously, Ms. Slane served as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the American Gaming Association. As a key industry strategist and spokesperson, Ms. Slane was instrumental in enhancing the gaming industry’s reputation and overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which has resulted in widespread and continued adoption of sports betting across the U.S. Ms. Slane has conducted numerous team market access and sponsorship deals in the U.S., having aligned gaming partners for the NHL, NASCAR, and PGA TOUR. She currently serves as a board member to Delaware North and a board observer to GeoComply. Ms. Slane is considered to be one of the most influential voices in gaming, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40, Sports Betting Hall of Fame, the 2019 Sports Betting Power Players list, and Global Gaming Business Top 25 People to Watch.
Mr. Harrison has been a leading figure in the sponsorship and marketing industry in Canada for over 30 years. In 1994, Mr. Harrison founded the T1 Agency, a full-stack sponsorship agency that elevates brands through strategic partnerships, creative activations, and effective amplification. In 2005, Mr. Harrison founded SponsorshipX, a global community of sponsorship and marketing focused practitioners. Mr. Harrison is also the founder of Mh3 Collective, an organization that is focused on empowering people, promoting social and racial equity, and removing barriers to education, among other initiatives. As a lifelong volunteer and steward of equity and inclusion, Mr. Harrison founded the Black Talent Initiative in 2020 to facilitate opportunities for professional Black talent. Additionally, Mr. Harrison is Board Chair at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, a Fundraising Campaign Cabinet Member at CAMH Foundation, and an advisor to several ventures, including the Crankworx World Tour, Riff, and NFL Canada.
The appointments of Ms. Slane and Mr. Harrison to Playmaker’s Board will strengthen and complement the Board’s areas of expertise. Ms. Slane’s deep understanding of the North American gaming industry will provide invaluable insight regarding the continued development and adoption of sports betting, an important area of opportunity for Playmaker as it looks to continue to build strong commercial partnerships with sports betting operators. Mr. Harrison’s extensive sponsorship and advertising knowledge will serve as an important and trusted resource for Playmaker and its multi-channel portfolio of digital sports media properties.
In connection with the director appointments, Playmaker granted 400,000 options (the “Options”) to acquire Playmaker common shares (the “Common Shares”) to each of Ms. Slane and Mr. Harrison, at an exercise price of C$0.58 per Common Share, 25% of which vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant, with the remaining Options vesting in 1/48 increments each monthly anniversary thereafter. The Options expire 10 years from the date of grant.
Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year. The partnership integrates 20 of the studio’s top-performing titles onto Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino in Ontario, including fan-favourites such as Hot Triple Sevens, Triple Chili, and The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy.
“It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
The iGaming Ontario Board of Directors has announced Joseph Hillier as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 8, 2025. Joseph’s depth in the Ontario igaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers make him the ideal President and CEO at this critical point in iGaming Ontario’s growth.
Joseph was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), where he delivered significant strategic and regulatory initiatives across the province’s alcohol, cannabis, gaming, and horse racing sectors. Prior to the AGCO, he served as Chief of Staff to Ontario Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey and led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven igaming market and the creation of iGaming Ontario. Joseph also spent more than a decade working in the financial and legal services sectors.
The Board expressed its sincere thanks to David Smith for serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer since Martha Otton’s retirement.
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