Joseph Hillier just got the top job at iGaming Ontario. The Board of Directors picked him as their new President and CEO, and he starts September 8.
Hillier’s got serious credentials in this space. He was most recently Chief Strategy Officer and Corporate Secretary at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Before that, he served as Chief of Staff to Attorney General Hon. Doug Downey. That’s where things get really interesting for the iGaming world.
Why Hillier Was the Board’s Pick
The Board said Hillier’s “depth in the Ontario iGaming market combined with successful public and private sector careers” made him the “ideal” candidate. They think he’s perfect for this “critical point” in the province’s growth.
Here’s why that matters – Hillier actually “led the development, launch and implementation of Canada’s first private sector-driven iGaming market.” Plus he helped create iGaming Ontario itself. So this isn’t some outsider learning the ropes. This guy built the system he’s now going to run.
What Changes with the New Leadership
Hillier replaces interim President and CEO David Smith, who’s been holding down the fort since December 31, 2024. That’s when former Chief Executive Martha Otton officially retired.
At AGCO, Hillier was responsible for delivering “significant” strategic and regulatory initiatives. His work covered alcohol, cannabis, gaming and horse racing sectors across the province. The timing’s pretty crucial too. Ontario’s iGaming market just posted some concerning numbers for June 2025.
How Ontario’s Market Is Performing
The June results weren’t great – revenue dropped 9% to $306.8 million while total handle fell 10% from May to $7.3 billion. That’s the kind of decline that probably had the Board wanting experienced leadership.
Poker dominates the market with an 88% share of all iGaming play throughout the province. Sports betting holds 11% and peer-to-peer poker manages just 2%. Those numbers show how much the market relies on traditional casino games. But sports betting’s growing, and someone with Hillier’s background might be exactly what’s needed to navigate these shifts.
What This Means for the Market
Hillier inherits a market that’s still finding its footing after that initial launch excitement. The question now is whether his inside knowledge of how the system was built will help turn those revenue trends around. Given that he basically designed this whole regulatory framework, he probably knows where the pressure points are better than anyone else.
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