Martha Otton, iGaming Ontario CEO, Announces Retirement

By Julieta Belen Correa

August 22nd, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

After leading the organization for almost four years, Martha Otton has announced her impending retirement, which will be effective at the end of the year. As the inaugural Chief Executive of iGaming Ontario, she’s been in charge of regulating Ontario’s online gambling market and ensuring casino operators abide by the industry standards.

Martha Otton:  iGaming Ontario to retire

Considering the size and potential of the gambling market in this area, she’s had her hands full. Ontario is home to crypto casinos and no KYC sites, which generally offer fast payouts, ensuring Canadian gamblers have plenty of options at their disposal. These sites allow players to have their winnings in their accounts almost instantly in some cases, or at least within a day.

Clearly, as iGaming Ontario’s CEO, Otton is the one with the biggest responsibility when it comes to player safety and satisfaction.

Now that she is stepping down from a leadership position, the Board of Directors will be tasked with finding a successor who will follow in her footsteps and do as good of a job at managing and developing Ontario’s iGaming market.

Otton has achieved impressive results during her 4-year career at iGaming Ontario. Not only did she oversee the regulation of online gaming in Ontario but she also contributed to the province’s iGaming market growth, which resulted in even bigger revenue for the government.

OLG – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation has been a leader in research on gaming practices.

One of the most notable accomplishments during her tenure is the establishment of the Ontario Gambling Research Center—a research facility that’s tasked with learning about the impacts of gambling on society. This center has yielded many studies that have helped shape the online gambling industry and its regulatory decisions.

Otton’s career will not only be remembered for her work on responsible gambling initiatives, which have transformed how people view gambling but it will also be marked by her efforts in expanding iGaming Ontario’s reach to worldwide markets. Due to her initiative, expertise, and guidance, the organization was able to launch a number of new online gambling platforms in different parts of the world, thus boosting revenue beyond all proportions.

Speaking of Otton’s career, she’s had quite an impressive run even before becoming the head of iGaming Ontario. She’s spent several decades working for numerous sectors within Ontario, including alcohol and gaming.

Before her job at iGaming Ontario, Otton was the CSO at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Her responsibilities within the organization varied, but her main role was to be a part of strategic planning. Likewise, she helped with the expansion of AGCO’s regulatory responsibilities, which later went on to include horse racing and cannabis.

There’s no telling how Otton’s departure is going to affect the industry, but the lack of her presence will surely be felt. She has pledged her full support to whoever happens to be her successor, as she wishes for a smooth transition in leadership. However, it’s her vision that has been key to iGaming Ontario’s growth and success, and her legacy will undoubtedly be remembered in the years to come. The timing of her retirement might also make it harder for her successor to adjust, as there’s a lot of activity happening in Ontario’s iGaming industry, including new casino operators joining the province.