VIXIO GamblingCompliance has announced that the recipient of the Global Regulatory Award for Compliance Lifetime Achievement will be Paul Burns, CEO and president of the Canadian Gaming Association.

The Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award, sponsored this year by BetConstruct, recognises the achievements of an individual who has been involved in the gambling industry for many years and whose input to the advancement of the culture of compliance and regulatory standards within the industry has been outstanding.

Paul Burns was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) in 2005, initially as its vice president. Under his leadership, the association grew to include the Canadian industry’s leading operators, manufacturers, and suppliers. Paul was appointed the CGA’s president and CEO in 2018.

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Through the CGA, Paul Burns has been responsible for the development of industry-wide research and programmes, including the release of the most comprehensive study on the economic impact of gaming in Canada. Most recently, Paul led the CGA’s advocacy efforts in support of the repeal of Canada’s federal prohibition on single-event sports wagering, which was achieved when legislation was approved in parliament in June 2021, as well as the landmark opening of Ontario’s internet gaming market, which was launched in April 2022.

Paul Burns said: “I would like to thank VIXO and the Global Regulatory Awards judges for honouring me as this year’s recipient of the Compliance Lifetime Achievement Award. I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with exceptionally talented gaming industry professionals and regulators across Canada throughout my career, and collectively we have worked – and continue to work – to advance the evolution of Canada’s gaming industry. In the past two years, we have seen the results of years of effort to modernize Canada’s sports betting laws as well as Ontario’s launch of Canada’s first regulated iGaming market. I share this honour with everyone who contributed to these milestone achievements and look forward to helping make Canada’s largest entertainment industry one of the best in the world.”

James Kilsby, Chief Analyst and VP Americas, VIXIO said: “Paul Burns is a very worthy winner of the VIXIO GamblingCompliance Global Regulatory Awards lifetime achievement category for 2022 – a year that saw the opening of Ontario’s competitive market for online gambling and the first full year of legal single-event sports betting since the amendment made to the Canadian federal Criminal Code last summer. It is well recognised within the industry that Paul and the Canadian Gaming Association have played an instrumental role in both of these historic events for Canada’s broader gambling market, neither of which occurred overnight but were instead the fruits of many, many years of careful advocacy on the part of Paul, his colleagues and CGA members. On behalf of VIXIO, I would like to congratulate Paul on his deserved recognition and thank our independent panel of judges for their careful consideration of this award.”