The Canadian Gaming Association on Monday announced the appointment of four new members of the Association’s board of directors.
The CGA held its Annual General Meeting on November 10.
The four new directors are: Neil Erlick, chief corporate development officer, Nuvei; Scott Burton, CEO, FansUnite Entertainment Inc.; Jeffrey Haas, SVP, international strategy, DraftKings, Inc.; and, Chuck Keeling, EVP, stakeholder relations and responsible gaming, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
The CGA said Erlick oversees strategic business development for Nuvei in key industry verticals, corporate partnerships, as well as enhancing the company’s overall growth in the North American regulated gaming market. Erlick has 20-plus years’ experience in payments, sports and entertainment, and has facilitated partnerships with professional sports teams and leagues, as well as brokered transformational deals in high growth digital sectors.
Burton oversees the overall business vision and framework, global operations, corporate strategy, and development at FansUnite. He served as the CEO of Askott Entertainment prior to its 2020 merger with FansUnite. Burton is a chartered professional accountant with more than 20 years’ operational experience and is described as a pioneer in the eSports betting industry.
Haas has 20-plus years’ experience helping build some of the largest digital and terrestrial gaming businesses in the world, including DraftKings, PokerStars, the World Poker Tour (WPT), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), European Poker Tour (EPT), and PartyPoker.
Keeling literally grew up in the horse racing/gaming industry. His family and outside partners owned racetracks in Surrey and Victoria, BC, and he started working in the business when he was eight years old. In 2004, Great Canadian Gaming acquired these racetracks and retained Keeling to oversee the company’s horse racing interests. In 2013, they appointed him VP, stakeholder relations and responsible gaming. In 2019, he was appointed executive vice president, stakeholder relations and responsible gaming, with enhanced responsibilities supporting the company’s BC properties.
“That the CGA Board added four new members is a testament to the Association’s exponential growth in 2021,” Carrie Kormos, chair of the board, said in a statement. “We welcomed 18 new members and diversified by adding sports betting and eSports operators, payment companies, and many non-gaming suppliers. This will provide the CGA with an opportunity to act as a convenor for the industry as a whole and build collaboration during this exciting period in Canadian gaming.”
Paul Burns, president and CEO of the CGA, added: “I am pleased to welcome Scott, Neil, Jeffrey and Chuck to the CGA board of directors, and believe their experience will help the Association implement its operational strategy as we move out of COVID. These seasoned professionals have strong track records as trusted leaders in the gaming industry, and they will provide invaluable insight as we look to launch a regulated iGaming market in Ontario and single-event sports betting across Canada.”
The full 2021/2022 CGA board of directors:
- Scott Burton, CEO, FansUnite Entertainment Inc.
- Danielle Bush, counsel, McCarthy Tetrault, LLP
- Dean Ehrlich, executive vice president and games business leader, Everi
- Neil Erlick, chief corporate development officer, Nuvei
- David Flinn, regional vice president sales, Canada, South and Central America, IGT
- Jeffrey Haas, SVP, international strategy, DraftKings, Inc.
- Ilkim Hincer, EVP and chief legal officer, Hard Rock International
- Chuck Keeling, EVP, stakeholder relations and responsible gaming, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
- Carrie Kormos, chief marketing and communication officer, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment
- Adriane McGrath, vice president, business development, Konami Gaming, Inc.
- Bob Parente, EVP and chief revenue officer, Scientific Games
- Rob Scarpelli, managing director, HLT Inc.
- George Sweny, vice president regulatory affairs, Flutter International
- Richard Taylor, president, Niagara Casinos
- Shelley White, president and CEO, Responsible Gambling Council
