Recent developments have led to the appointment of new chairpersons for the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (IGO) , marking a significant transition in the leadership of these regulatory entities.
This leadership change occurred after Mr. Lalit Aggarwal stepped down from his position as chair of AGCO in late July 2023.
Mr. Dave Forestell , who has been a notable figure at IGO, will replace him, while Ms. Heidi Reinhart has been selected to lead IGO as its new chair.
Read further to learn about the potential effects of these changes on these critical regulatory organizations in Ontario.
Two New Chairs for Ontario
The recent leadership transition at both AGCO and IGO was prompted by the resignation of Mr. Lalit Aggarwal, who led AGCO until late July 2023.
Mr. Aggarwal has been at the helm of AGCO since 2019 but chose to resign to dedicate more time to his family and explore other business opportunities.
During his tenure, Aggarwal played a pivotal role in navigating AGCO through significant challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the establishment of the regulatory framework for iGaming Ontario , and formulating regulations for alcohol and cannabis in the province.
While Aggarwal’s accomplishments are noteworthy, Ms. Heidi Reinhart and Mr. Dave Forestell each bring their own extensive experiences to their respective roles.
Forestell has chaired IGO since 2021 and will now take over Aggarwal’s responsibilities at AGCO. He has been key in implementing regularization strategies for IGO, successfully overseeing the licensing of 44 operators in the inaugural year of Ontario's igaming legalization.
Ms. Heidi Reinhart may not have previously held a chair position, yet she has been involved with the AGCO board of directors since 2020. In addition to her AGCO role, she is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, specializing in security and corporate law, and is a member of the Toronto Stock Exchange Listing Advisory Committee and the Ontario Securities Commission .
With Forestell stepping away from IGO, Reinhart is set to assume the chair position at iGaming Ontario.
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