Thoughts on The Atlantic’s unflattering "My year as a degenerate gambler" feature
The pros and cons of McKay Coppins’ buzzworthy and sensationalist 'Sucker' story. Also, the Alberta government joins Supreme Court of Canada case. And, the contentious betting biz ties to pro sports.
In gambling industry circles, McKay Coppins’ piece Sucker, published last week in The Atlantic, garnered a lot of criticism and some praise. To wit:
Also, from the author:
The reaction of your GNC correspondent is somewhere in the middle.
On one hand, the long feature reads like a script about the perils of gambling written by a novice – sensationalist in many parts, ignorant in others, with a cliché story arc encapsulated by the melodramatic, click-baity deck: My year as a degenerate gambler. I wouldn’t call it a hit piece, exactly, but all of that didn’t help it ring as authentic.
Maybe it’s all as true as written, but I’m skeptical. If so, I was left with many questions about the author, his experience and the exercise. Most notably: Was The Atlantic hoping to orchestrate this sensationalist gambling-is-addictive narrative by staking Coppins $10,000 to wager and then breaking up each segment of the story with a tote board showing how much he bet and how much he was up or down by that point in the narrative?
On the other hand, for the gambling industry to scoff that the writer is just an ignoramus that doesn’t understand how gambling works and that he didn’t have a real experience because he wasn’t gambling with his own money misses the main point. We all need to hear that this vice can be dangerous, and, at its worst, ruinous, if one is not careful. If that message leads to more regulation of the industry and more spending on responsible and problem gambling initiatives to protect consumers, that’s a good outcome.
As we say ad nauseam here at Gaming News Canada HQ, responsible gambling is the key to a sustainable sector.
Also, never forget that there is an inherent bias from those who make money from the gambling industry and are quick to dismiss critics of the sector.
Sure, I join many in being frustrated that the mainstream media often gets the industry wrong and often only wants to tell the negative side of the sector, when the real story is that the vast majority of consumers gamble safely and within their limits.
Sure, the mainstream media often fails to make the case for the evolution of gambling to a regulated sector that is a vast improvement over unregulated platforms.
Sure, the mainstream media often fails to make the case that for governments stretched to their financial limits, gambling revenue – just like any other tax on a legal vice – is important revenue that helps pay for health care, education, roads, etc., and limit tax increases.
But, can we really expect the mainstream media to portray the industry exactly right when they drop in and out infrequently?
Perhaps that’s where I have a little more frustration with Cobbins’ piece. He spent an extended period on this experiment and still comes off as a novice on the industry, while, predictably, transforming into something of a degenerate.
Yet, despite all that, perhaps we shouldn’t dismiss Cobbins’ journey outright despite all of its after-school-special packaging. After all, aren’t most gambling customers regular people like him who can fall prey to the industry’s complexities? Shouldn’t we listen to their experiences, rather than dismiss them, and then govern ourselves accordingly?
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Alberta joining Supreme Court case on common pool wagering
Tom Nightingale had another good piece in Canadian Gaming Business this week about Alberta joining in the Supreme Court of Canada case that will determine whether Ontario may legally establish common-pool wagering outside of its borders.
Ontario is hoping the court will legalize common pool wagering to help grow online poker and, perhaps, Daily Fantasy Sports pools to make them large enough to attract play.
Alberta, which is planning to launch its own open online gambling market sometime this year, wants to intervene in the case to, ostensibly, provide clarity over federal and provincial jurisdiction over gambling while, essentially, supporting Ontario’s case.
“When faced with a potential conflict between valid federal and provincial legislation, the legal preference is for a federal statute to be properly interpreted in a way that avoids such a conflict,” Nightingale wrote.
As Alberta noted, “Alberta and Ontario have exercised their constitutional legislative authority to enact provincial internet-based gaming schemes. In the absence of clear and express language to the contrary, harmonious interpretations that allow federal and provincial laws to coexist should be favoured.”
The condundrum involving sports leagues and sports betting rolls along
We thought we’d devote a separate section in this week’s dispatch to the wide(r) world of sports leagues/associations and sports wagering. So. . . .:
The American Gaming Association, as reported by ESPN’s David Purdum, estimates about $3.3 billion (U.S. bucks) will be wagered on both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments over the next three weekends-plus.
Speaking of the Madness of March, a Duke basketball player is fed up with the harassment he’s received from the losers whose wagers hit the same dead end.
According to Robert Linnehan of Sports Betting Dime, the New York Gaming Commission has only received a trio of responses to correspondence sent to more than 100 professional sports bodies seeking their thoughts on prop betting.
Ben Horney of Front Office Sports covered the rather candid comments of former Toronto Raptor Antonio Davis on the NBA’s gambling scandals during last week’s NEXT.io Summit in the Big Apple.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman appeared on CNBC last week and was asked about the league’s partnership deals with Kalshi and Polymarket.
Sean Zak wrote for Golf.com on how the PGA Tour is navigating the sometimes deep rough of sports betting and partnerships with operators.
In case you got an early start on March Break with the children, you may have missed bet365 replacing DraftKings as the official North American betting partner of UFC.
mkdodo’s Stuart Godfree on latest GNC Show
Stuart Godfree, co-founder and Managing Director of iGaming B2B supplier mkdodo, was Steve McAllister’s guest on the latest Gaming News Canada Show presented by Bede Gaming.
Godfree’s company creates mobile apps and websites for sportsbook, casino and lottery operators. He provided his thoughts on the opportunities to come in Alberta’s open market, the rules around the application process and how he thinks mkodo partner the Western Canada Lottery Corporation will fare once the market opens.
You can listen to the show here or watch it here:
The annual gathering of the Canadian gaming industry in our home and native land has a new name, but is bringing back the best and the brightest minds for the SBC Summit Canada.
The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is once again the site for the 2026 summit, to take place May 19-21. Register today using the PARLEHPARTNERVIP code and receive a 40% discount on your VIP pass.
People on the Move
Friend of OGNC Jessica Welman is joining Doura-Schawohl Consulting to lend a hand in advocating for strong responsible gambling and PG policy.
Angela Palmisano departs Jackpot Digital to become Chief Product Officer at Pavilion Payments.
NorthStar Gaming adds Neal Neilinger to its Board of Directors.
Gaming industry veteran Chris Bevilacqua joins the Board of Directors at Playfly Sports.
Former SUZOHAPP president Sim Bielak is named Chief Executive Officer at NXT Technology Partners.
LCKY Group appoints Alex Manning, ex of Light & Wonder, as its new Group Chief Technology Officer.
Kimberly Pointer Corbett resigns as Chief Marketing Officer at Underdog after eight months.
Matt King joins Fanatics as Chief Legal Officer and Sara Tait comes on board as Senior VP, Head of Legal – Regulated Industries.
Gaming Innovation Group promotes Maria Mora Garcia to Head of Design. She replaces Yana Azzopardi, who leaves GiG after almost 12 years.
Martina Cachia leaves her Head of Brand job with bet365 after seven years to take the same position with The Multiple Group. Christopher Wolff joins the operator as Senior Database Developer.
Geoff Glen has a new title at theScore: Vice President, Global Sales.
Fanatics promote Vinnie Rossi to Senior Vice President of Engineering.
Conor Beesemyer, formerly of William Morris Endeavor and FaZe Clan, is named Vice President of Gaming at VaynerSports.
Ash Tuli announces she’ll retire from AGLC in early August after 22 years, the past four-plus as Vice President, Human Resources.
Former Fitzdares CEO William Woodhams joins The Pembroke Club London as Club Director.
Ollie Clements leaves his gig at Genius Sports as Senior Business Development Manager, Fan Engagement to join LOW6 as Head of Revenue & Growth.
The plethora of promotions continues at FanDuel with Stefan Fulop moving into the VP of Software Engineering for the company’s casino business and Jessica Lee becoming Senior Director of Brand Strategy. Brittany Hendrych is now Communications Manager and Shiro Stoller is promoted to Commercial Analytics Manager. John Wilkes is named Lead Product Manager.
Lauren Nardi, ex of NBC News, Overtime and Minute Media, is appointed Head of Video at Front Office Sports.
Roxana Nazalu, ex of Orange Synapse, Las Vegas Sands and Casimba Gaming, is appointed Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at GameOn.
Sue Young is the new Executive Director of Operations for the UK Gambling Commission.
(What in the name of) Sam Hill (we bet he’s never seen that before. . .) joins EveryMatrix as Global Sales Director.
Katie Harbron, recently of MrQ, is the new Director of Games at Allwyn.
Rob Stamey is named General Manager for Charlotte-based Activate Games.
Mike Epifani leaves ClickOut Media and his Head of Content role.
Nicolette French departs OLG to join TD as Senior Manager, Sports Sponsorship & Events.
Alec Schuler departs PENN Interactive to join the National Football League as Manager, Global Sports Betting.
Betty appoints Calvin Lee as Chief of Staff to the Group CEO & VP of Strategy.
Ryan Wozniak is elevated to Sportsbook Operations Senior Associate at DraftKings. Sarah Muller is promoted to Director, Risk Analytics and McKayla Mills joins the company as Senior Content Associate. Edoardo Mallard Jr., ex of Ticketmaster, is named Product Manager, AI. Jayke Pastis comes on board as a Sports Trader and Paul Janos is promoted to Sportsbook Operations Specialist.
Catie Di Stefano bids adieu to Vegas Kings and her Marketing Director role.
Games Global promotes Jessie Keogh to Regulatory Compliance Manager.
Eilon Sabag is out at evoke where he was SEO UK Market Lead (William Hill and 888sport) and SEO Manager, UK & Canada.
Ben Berman joins Boston-based Gametime as General Counsel.
Teemu Tuominen is leaving LeoVegas Group and his Games Portfolio Specialist position.
Ryan Friars joins Atlantic Lottery as a Sports Trader.
Jamie Hore leaves PCGamesN as Deputy News Editor.
After 30 years at ESPN, most recently as Vice President of News, David Kraft will call it a career next month.
Kelsey Aikman’s new title at Blue Ant Media is Vice President, Marketing, Studio, Rights & Corporate.
Global safe sport advocate Allison Forsyth is named Chief Sport Officer at Headversity.
MLS promotes Elizabeth Lee Cohen to Chief Strategy Officer.
Hart Jacob is elevated to Director of Partnerships at True North Sports + Entertainment.
Tina Ghafari leaves the Ottawa Senators to become the Manager, Accounting and Revenues at Canada Soccer.
Matthew Ceolin comes on board at Rogers Sports & Media as a Marketing Coordinator.
Classified (Jobs) Information
On the Home Front
Betty has a Toronto-based opportunity for a Global Head of Brand Strategy.
There’s an opening at Loto-Québec for a Communications Advisor.
Atlantic Lottery is looking for a Change Management Specialist.
Casino Niagara is seeking an Entertainment Programs Coordinator.
Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group is searching for a Head of Marketing.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment has three openings with the AHL Abbotsford Canucks.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario has need of a Senior Manager, Non-Financial Resilience.
AFC Toronto is hiring a Director, Partnership Sales.
The WNBA Toronto Tempo have a five-pack of opportunities available with its live events team and another five openings including one for a Manager, Media Relations.
Boat Rocker Studios is seeking a Director, YouTube Management & Digital Partnerships.
Adidas Canada has an opening for an Assistant Manager, Retail Marketing.
Toronto agency We Are Social is looking for a Senior Manager, Content & Community.
South of the Border
Good gig alert at Churchill Downs for a Vice President of Marketing – Gaming Operations.
Ditto for a Vice President of Engineering & Development position with Galaxy Gaming.
BetMGM has a hybrid opening in New Jersey for a Senior Manager of Analytics – Sports and an Art Director.
FanDuel is looking for a Payments Strategy Senior Analyst in New York.
PENN Interactive has need of a Senior Sportsbook Trader, U.S. Sports.
Rush Street Interactive has a remote opportunity for a Senior Business Development Manager.
FOGNC Chris Grove has a post on the LinkedIn on behalf of a colleague in search of someone to lead editorial efforts around prediction-market focused news and media sites.
DraftKings is seeking an FP&A Associate.
Skillz has an opening in Las Vegas for a Senior People Business Partner.
Hard Rock Digital is on the lookout for a Performance Marketing Motion Designer and has a hybrid opening in Atlantic City for an Analyst - Payments.
XGames has a remote opportunity in the U.S. of A. for a Senior Manager, Event Operations.
USA Today is searching for a Sports Digital Editor and a Breaking News Sports Writer.
Across the Ponds
GameSquare Holdings is seeking a Human Resources Director.
BVGroup is in the market for a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner.
SPORTFIVE is looking for a Senior Manager, Global Brand Partnerships, Esports & Gaming.
ComeOn Group requires a Swedish-speaking Senior Compliance Officer.
Global news agency Reuters is hiring a Sports Reporter to be based in Barcelona.
Reading and Reflection
AGLC curiously put out a bulletin yesterday (stick tap to Geoff Zochodne for first reporting this) to “advise iGaming suppliers” that betting on “political events” will be prohibited.
A boost in traffic to casinos and gaming halls sparked a slight increase in revenue for Loto-Québec in its third quarter financials for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
In Saskatchewan, both land-based and online casino are creating more revenue than what was expected by the provincial government there.
When David Yatom-Hay joined us on the Gaming News Canada Show right before Christmas, the Soft2Bet chief legal beagle talked about the company’s interest in Alberta. Well, the owners of the ToonieBet brand made it official yesterday that it plans to be in western Canada.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will be investing a cornucopia of cash to bring visitors – including Canadians – back to town.
Tom Nightingale of Canadian Gaming Business reported on recent comments in the Senate that there are lessons to be learned from the U.S. around Indigenous gambling oversight.
ICYMI, Swedish operator Betsson AB last week announced it is acquiring the business-to-customer department of Rhino Entertainment with an eye towards Canada.
An article in the Concordia University publication The Link is the latest piece taking aim at sports betting advertising and sounding the alarm for more rules of engagement.
An op-ed from Responsible Gambling Council head honcho Sarah McCarthy sounds the alarm for parents to get in the game when it comes awareness about youth gambling.
Bet365 has been busy this month, doing a partnership deal with UFC for North America and last week introducing its “Winning is Everything” campaign in Canada and the U.S.
For everyone trying to keep tabs on prediction markets from home, we suggest this analytical ditty from Erik Gibbs of NEXT.io.
And if you weren’t in New York last week, Chris Grove’s post on the LinkedIn is required reading.
A new poll finds most Americans view prediction markets as betting, not investing.
For your listening pleasure and information, PBS News’ Settle In podcast addressed the growth of legal sports betting in Canada’s 11th province (a little humour here. . . ).
Really, really good reading from Geoff Zochodne, reporting from last week’s NEXT.io Summit on the possibility of prediction markets coming to our home and native land.
Zochodne also put the proverbial bow on the various conversations around PMs in New York last week.
Brazil’s president is doing an about face and is now contemplating a ban on online casinos.
In New York, there’s a push for biometric data to be used by online sports betting operators to identify underage gamblers.
According to the American Gaming Association, nearly 50% of digital sports betting ads in Canada’s fourth territory (we type, tongue firmly lodged in cheek) now come from prediction markets.
Speaking of prediction markets (again), Jeff Edelstein tinkled the keyboard on yet another fight by PM stakeholders.
BBC business reporter Natalie Sherman did some journalism on the “very gruesome type of thing” of prediction markets.
ICYMI, two ex-Columbus Crew players have been banned for life by Major League Soccer for gobsmackingly betting on matches in which they played.
Proposed legislation in Kentucky to stop licensed sports betting operators from doing business with prediction markets could force said operators to walk away from the state.
The Attorney General of Arizona filed yesterday criminal charges against Kalshi for alleged illegal gambling activities.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission went on a fining spree last week.
The Ohio Lottery has a new campaign to sound the trumpet on responsible gaming.
It appears legal online sports wagering is coming to The Badger State.
Some sports media news with JohnWallStreet launching its JaneWallStreet brand this week featuring former Barstool Sports chief revenue officer Deirdre Lester.
Finally, Andrew Bucholtz is cautiously optimistic that ESPN’s hiring of six former Washington Post journalists means the Worldwide Leader is making a commitment once again to real journalism.
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