Canada: Responsible Gambling Council Names New CEO

Posted on: November 11, 2024, 03:31h. 

Last updated on: November 11, 2024, 03:31h.

The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has named a new Chief Executive Officer after an extensive search. Sarah McCarthy takes over from Shelley White, who held the role for eight years.

In a statement, RGC said: “Sarah is a collaborative executive leader with fifteen (15) years of experience in leading teams to build and deliver social impact through the development of innovative solutions to complex challenges.”

RGC Names McCarthy CEO

White announced her retirement in June. She has been front and centre in the industry, especially since the regulated market in Ontario went live in April 2022, including holding a central role at the annual Canadian Gaming Summit, held most recently this past June in Toronto. White has been in the CEO role since 2016.

McCarthy will start her new role on Jan. 6, 2025. Her most recent position was as Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at Rick Hansen Foundation, where her responsibilities included strategic and operational planning, program implementation, and seeing through business development strategies.

Licensed Operators Must Have RG Check

Under her leadership as VP, the Rick Hansen Foundation launched the RHF Accessibility Certification, a program that rated almost 2,000 buildings and trained over 2,600 professionals promoting inclusivity across several sectors. RHF is an organization dedicated to breaking down barriers that people with disabilities face.

At RHF, McCarthy also led the expansion of the RHF School Program, which has reached over 270,000 children in Canada since 2016, educating them about disability and accessibility.

RGC also noted in the statement: “Her ability to lead her team in securing and executing on over $20 million in government funding for Accessibility Certification exemplifies her prowess in forging substantial government and corporate partnerships, further enhancing outreach and impact.”

Mandate to Prevent Problem Gambling

RGC is a non-profit organization with a mandate of helping to prevent problem gambling across Canada. It provides its own accreditation program, called RG Check, for operators that meet its criteria.

“Shelley has been a passionate advocate for responsible gambling and Canada’s gaming industry during her tenure as CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council,” said Paul Burns, President & CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, in June. “It has been a pleasure working alongside her as we legalized single-event sports betting across the country and opened up Ontario’s regulated iGaming market. Her retirement is well-earned, and the industry thanks her for all her efforts.”