After an extensive search, the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) has appointed Sarah McCarthy as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Shelley White, who led the organization for eight years.
Sarah McCarthy is hailed as a collaborative executive leader with fifteen years of experience in directing teams to create and implement innovative solutions to complex social challenges, according to an RGC statement. Her role will officially commence on January 6, 2025.
Shelley White announced her retirement in June after being a prominent figure in the industry, especially since Ontario’s regulated market was introduced in April 2022. White played a crucial role in the annual Canadian Gaming Summit, most recently held in Toronto this past June. She had been serving as CEO since 2016.
Before joining RGC, McCarthy served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Rick Hansen Foundation. Her responsibilities there encompassed strategic and operational planning, program implementation, and overseeing business development strategies. Under her leadership, the foundation launched the RHF Accessibility Certification, a program that assessed nearly 2,000 buildings and trained over 2,600 professionals to promote inclusivity across multiple sectors.
McCarthy also led the expansion of the RHF School Program, which has educated over 270,000 Canadian children about disability and accessibility since 2016. RGC highlighted her skill in securing over $20 million in government funding for Accessibility Certification, showcasing her ability to forge significant government and corporate partnerships to amplify impact.
The Responsible Gambling Council is dedicated to preventing problem gambling across Canada through its non-profit initiatives, which include the RG Check accreditation program for operators meeting specific criteria.
Paul Burns, President and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, commented in June on White’s retirement, praising her as a passionate advocate for responsible gambling and commending her efforts in legalizing single-event sports betting and expanding Ontario’s regulated iGaming market. He noted that her retirement is well-deserved and that the industry is grateful for her contributions.
