Global online gaming operator PointsBet on Tuesday said it has appointed gaming and sports betting industry lawyer Chantal Cipriano (pictured) as vice president, legal, compliance and people for PointsBet Canada.
Cipriano joins Nic Sulsky, PointsBet Canada’s recently named chief commercial officer, as the company continues to build its Canadian operation.
Canada’s single-event sports betting bill, Bill C-218, recently received Royal Assent.
A native Canadian and longtime Toronto resident, Cipriano joins PointsBet from Mazooma, where she was senior director of legal and compliance, helping guide the fintech company in providing real-time, bank account level data intelligence and bank-verified payment processing for licensed online gaming and sports betting operators in regulated US markets.
Previously, Cipriano was a lawyer in the Toronto office of Dickinson Wright, providing strategic legal advice to clients involved in the land-based and online gambling industries. Her practice primarily focused on advising of the requirements related to licensing, compliance and governance, and risk mitigation.
She is a published author of the Canada chapter for LexisNexis’ Gaming Law and Practice Book, Chambers and Partners’ Gaming, Gambling and Licensing Practice Guide for Canada, and various articles in gaming publications.
Cipriano is an adjunct professor with the University of New Hampshire, teaching its Canada chapter of the Global Regulation of Sports Betting Course under its Sports Wagering and Integrity Certificate Program, and an advisory board member to Gaming Americas. Cipriano also acts as Special Counsel, Gaming, to Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP.
“With the legalization of single-event sports betting in Canada, PointsBet sits at the forefront of one of the most exciting new gaming market opportunities in our country,” Cipriano said in a statement. “With its business model and leadership teams in Australia, Ireland, the United States, and now Canada, we are collectively committed to building a company that captures this market opportunity, creates a brand that strongly resonates with Canadian consumers, and ultimately, a diverse company that the Canadian executive team can be proud to lead. The sports betting landscape will evolve at a rapid pace in Canada, and I look forward to assisting PointsBet navigate that evolution as the company continues to scale.”
Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO, added, “We are excited today to add Chantal Cipriano, a terrific leader with deep industry expertise. Chantal joins Nic Sulskyas just our second of many talented, authentic Canadian hires to come as we work to ensure our Canadian leadership team understands, represents, and appropriately connects with the local sports environment and its distinct, passionate fanbase.”
