The SBC Leaders Podcast has returned with SBC’s VP of Growth & Strategy Americas, Sue Schneider, sitting down with Catherine Meade, VP of Community, Sustainability and Social Responsibility at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Topics of conversation included the evolution of the Ontario gaming market, Meade’s responsible gambling philosophy and the power of teamwork.

Before April 2022, OLG was the only operator legally entitled to operate online gaming in Ontario. However, following the market opening, there are around 50 operators licensed in the province. While that has led to an influx of new competition for OLG, Meade said the move has been a positive for players in Ontario as they now have a raft of legal options rather than having to look to the unregulated market.

“I think what has been critical in all of this is that it’s given options for people to play legally and have all the protection that comes along with that. If you aren’t going to go with OLG at least you’re going with someone else that is a legal entity and I think that’s positive in the end,” said Meade.

She added that OLG had a record year following the change in regulation, despite the operator losing its monopoly.

OLG has been recognized for the strength of its responsible gaming programme in recent years. Meade noted how the opening of the market has also allowed the operator to learn from others and “up our game to make sure that we’re offering at a similar level or better than others.”

“I personally believe that responsible gambling is one area that we’re not really competing in,” she added.

“It doesn’t help us [if] someone self-excluded from another site comes over as a broken player and loses what little they have left. We all benefit from having healthy players making healthy decisions across all of the platforms. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing with us or any of our competitors.”

Given that this was the SBC Leaders Podcast, the conversation then turned to look more in-depth at Meade as a leader, and how she manages her team.

“I’m a servant leader, that’s how I grew up and so that continues, and I am a transformational leader looking for ways to transform the members of my team,” she explained.

“I have a very keen interest in my team members and I look at what I can do to help them achieve what they need to achieve. It’s not the Catherine Meade show, it’s really about how we work together and we rise and fall as a team. I strongly believe in the power of team and teamwork and that’s borne out in what I’ve done, including what I’m doing now with my team at OLG.”

To close out the interview, Meade was asked about her love for motorcycle adventuring and the pair discussed some of the trials and tribulations she has faced while exploring various parts of the world.

“I’m not going to lie, there certainly are times when I’ve seen my life flash before my eyes and I’m thinking what is wrong with me, lots of people vacation by car, why aren’t you one of them? But really, the payoff for that effort is huge,” she said.

“To have the privilege to ride around is worth anything it takes to navigate the roads. It’s a full-on privilege to have the physical and financial wherewithal to do what I do, I’m very fortunate and I know it.”