After nearly four years at the helm of iGaming Ontario, Martha Otton, the organization’s inaugural chief executive, has announced her retirement effective December 31. Under her leadership, iGaming Ontario transformed Ontario’s gaming landscape, building a competitive, regulated market that has garnered significant success, including an impressive CA$18.4 billion betting handle in the first quarter of 2023. The board of directors has begun the search for a successor, acknowledging Otton’s substantial contributions to Ontario’s gaming, alcohol, cannabis, and horse racing industries over the course of her career.
A Visionary Leader in Gaming and Beyond
Martha Otton was appointed to lead iGaming Ontario in February 2021, just as Ontario was poised to introduce a competitive, regulated igaming market. Her role was pivotal in establishing iGaming Ontario as a commercial entity within the province’s broader gambling framework. The agency’s vision was clear from the start: to create and maintain the world’s best gaming market—one that is both responsible and consumer-friendly. Otton’s tenure helped to lay the foundations for Ontario to become one of the largest and most vibrant regulated gaming markets globally.
iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), was charged with overseeing and managing the market, ensuring that it not only attracted operators but also provided safeguards for responsible gaming and consumer protection. In this, Otton succeeded. The organization now works with a diverse range of gaming operators while maintaining strict oversight to ensure that the market operates in a fair and secure manner.
As Otton steps down, Heidi Reinhart, chair of iGaming Ontario’s board of directors, praised her leadership: “On behalf of the entire Board, I extend my sincere appreciation for Martha’s leadership of iGaming Ontario. She has left an impressive legacy across her career, and in particular to Ontario’s gaming sector. Ontario’s competitive igaming market is testament to her visionary leadership and commitment to working with our operators and broader stakeholders.”
Leading iGaming Ontario to Success: CA$18.4 Billion in Betting Handle
One of the most significant achievements during Otton’s tenure has been iGaming Ontario’s rapid rise to success in the online gaming sector. The competitive igaming market, launched under her stewardship, recorded an astonishing CA$18.4 billion betting handle in Q1 of 2023 alone. This figure represents the total amount wagered by consumers, a testament to the market’s robustness and consumer engagement.
This milestone is not just about numbers—it reflects the effective regulation, attractive offerings, and strong partnerships that have been fostered between iGaming Ontario and the various operators in the market. By creating a safe and appealing gaming environment, iGaming Ontario has attracted international operators while ensuring that players in Ontario are protected by strong regulatory frameworks.
A Career Defined by Leadership in Multiple Sectors
Martha Otton’s career extends beyond gaming. She has also been a prominent figure in Ontario’s alcohol, cannabis, and horse racing sectors. Her expertise in public service and regulatory frameworks has made her a key player in shaping various industries within the province.
Before leading iGaming Ontario, Otton served as chief strategy officer at the AGCO, where she was responsible for overseeing the agency’s strategic plan. In this role, she played a key part in the implementation of the AGCO’s expanded mandate over horse racing and cannabis regulation. This was a pivotal time for the province, as cannabis legalization and regulatory oversight became a major issue for both consumers and operators. Otton’s strategic vision ensured that the AGCO could handle this additional responsibility effectively, while still maintaining oversight over gaming and alcohol.
Prior to her time with the AGCO, Otton served as a director general at Legal Aid Ontario and held several important positions at the Ministry of the Attorney General. These included Acting Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Agency Relations Division and director of Corporate Policy and Agency Relations. Her experience in the legal sector added depth to her understanding of regulatory frameworks, particularly in areas requiring complex coordination between public agencies and private sector operators.
The Impact on Ontario’s Gaming Landscape
Under Otton’s leadership, Ontario’s gaming landscape has changed dramatically. The province’s competitive igaming market was developed with a focus on innovation, responsibility, and consumer protection. The introduction of a regulated market allowed consumers to access a wide range of legal online gaming options, while ensuring operators met stringent standards for fairness, transparency, and responsible gaming practices.
By building a strong regulatory framework, Otton and iGaming Ontario have helped to eliminate unregulated, gray-market operators, creating a safer environment for consumers. Legal gaming operators are required to adhere to specific guidelines that ensure games are fair, payouts are accurate, and players are protected from fraud and unethical practices. In addition, operators must implement responsible gaming measures, such as tools that allow players to set limits on their spending or time spent gambling, along with resources for those struggling with gambling-related issues.
Otton’s vision for the future of Ontario’s gaming market was not just about financial success—it was about creating a sustainable, ethical gaming industry that prioritized consumer protection and responsibility. As she steps down, the challenge for her successor will be to build on this foundation and continue fostering innovation and growth while maintaining the high standards that have been set.
The Broader Legacy: Alcohol, Cannabis, and Horse Racing
Beyond gaming, Otton’s career has impacted other major sectors in Ontario. Her work at the AGCO in overseeing alcohol, cannabis, and horse racing regulation helped to modernize and streamline these industries, ensuring that they operated effectively within a constantly evolving regulatory environment.
In particular, her role in cannabis regulation during its legalization was critical. The AGCO faced the enormous task of ensuring that newly licensed cannabis retailers and producers met the necessary standards for health, safety, and quality. At the same time, the agency had to work quickly to adapt to the growing demand for cannabis products, while managing the expectations of consumers, businesses, and the public.
Her strategic oversight during this period helped to shape the cannabis industry in Ontario, setting standards that would influence other jurisdictions as they developed their own regulations.
In the horse racing sector, Otton played a pivotal role in expanding the AGCO’s mandate to oversee the industry, working to ensure that horse racing in Ontario operated under fair and transparent conditions. This move was part of a broader effort to modernize the province’s regulatory framework for gaming, making it more comprehensive and responsive to industry needs.
What’s Next for iGaming Ontario?
With Martha Otton’s impending departure, iGaming Ontario faces a new chapter. The board of directors has already begun the process of identifying a replacement, and whoever steps into the role will inherit a thriving, competitive market. However, the new CEO will also face challenges, including maintaining the momentum that Otton has built and continuing to adapt to changes in the global gaming landscape.
One area of potential growth is the integration of new technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, into the gaming ecosystem. These technologies offer exciting opportunities for enhancing transparency, security, and user experience in online gaming. However, they also present new regulatory challenges that will need to be addressed.
Furthermore, as Ontario’s gaming market continues to grow, the province may look to expand into new areas of igaming, such as esports betting, which has seen increasing popularity worldwide. The new leadership will need to stay ahead of these trends to ensure that Ontario remains a leader in the global gaming industry.
Martha Otton’s retirement marks the end of an era for iGaming Ontario. Under her leadership, the organization not only launched a competitive regulated igaming market but also achieved remarkable financial success, highlighted by a CA$18.4 billion betting handle in the first quarter of 2023. Her impact, however, extends far beyond gaming, influencing Ontario’s regulatory frameworks for alcohol, cannabis, and horse racing.
As iGaming Ontario prepares for its next phase, the organization’s new leader will have large shoes to fill. The foundation for continued success has been laid, but the challenges of innovation, regulation, and consumer protection will require strong, forward-thinking leadership to ensure that Ontario remains at the forefront of the global gaming industry.
Martha Otton leaves behind a legacy of visionary leadership and strategic foresight that will continue to shape Ontario’s gaming landscape for years to come. Her contributions have not only driven financial success but have also helped create a safer, more responsible gaming environment for consumers across the province.