Top 5 Influential Women of Ontario’s Gambling Industry
Ontario’s gambling industry is vibrant and diverse, significantly shaped by the contributions of several remarkable women. This guide highlights the five most influential women in the province whose significant and outstanding contributions have shaped gambling in Ontario and inspired a new generation of women in the industry.
From poker stars to CEOs, these women have forged unique and inspiring career paths, breaking barriers and inspiring countless women to pursue careers in a wildly male-dominated sector.
- Evelyn Ng – The Poker Star
- Lara Falzon – The Chief Exec
- Kristen Bicknell – The Queen of the Cards
- Shelley White – The Responsible Gambling Advocate
- Jennifer Tilley – The Adopted Torontonian
- In Summary: The Pride of Ontario
Evelyn Ng – The Poker Star
Evelyn Ng is one of the highest-profile female poker players in the world. Born in Toronto, Ontario, she started her journey into the world of gambling by playing pool for money at the tender age of just 14.
By 17, she was working as a blackjack and poker dealer, where she studied and learned the game with a keen interest in the mathematics of how both worked.
Around that time, she met fellow Canadian Daniel Negreanu. The pair started dating shortly after, and her focus had switched entirely to poker.
Even though the relationship broke down, they remain good friends. Negreanu greatly impacted Ng’s playing style, adopting the same aggressive, no-fear poker to devastating effect.
Her big break came in 2003 when she finished second on WPT Ladies’ Night. This tournament was stacked with the biggest stars of the day, including Annie Duke, Kathy Liebert and Jennifer Harman.
Throughout her career, Ng became a familiar face on popular poker TV shows such as Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker.
Ng has $375,000+ in live tournament earnings, but her legacy for getting Ontarian women into poker eclipses any monetary winnings, standing as one of the true trailblazers of the state.
Lara Falzon – The Chief Exec
Few women have had a bigger effect on the gambling industry for women than Lara Falzon. Her most significant impact came from her tenure as CEO of Bragg Gaming Group, headquartered in Toronto.
During her time at the top, she managed to increase Bragg’s revenue by a massive 40%. To do this, she formed partnerships with multiple global powerhouses, none more notable than PokerStars, increasing the company’s client base by a further 25%.
Falzon’s determination, a trademark of her character, saw Bragg Gaming move into five new markets across the US, the UK and Sweden. As a direct result of breaking down barriers and forming partnerships, stocks in the company grew by more than 30%.
Before her work with Bragg, Falzon spent time as the CFO for Red Tiger Gaming and Operational CFO for NetEnt. In 2023, she left her role as CEO of Bragg and was appointed AvatarUX CEO, already breaking ground with new products in territories worldwide.
Kristen Bicknell – The Queen of the Cards
Few female poker players have seen more success at the tables than Kristen Bicknell. With an incredible $6.74 million in live earnings, she’s one of the most feared players on the planet, seeing success from an early age before now being crowned the Queen of Cards.
Bicknell started playing as a freshman at college in 2006. Like most, she started out online, grinding millions of hands every year and earning Supernova Elite status on PokerStars.
Her first big cash occurred at the 2013 World Series of Poker, winning the $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold’em Championship. This signified the start of the transition from online to live. A move that would make her one of the elite gambling industry women.
In 2016, Bicknell picked up her second WSOP bracelet, winning the $1,500 Bounty No Limit Hold’em for $290,768. This was her first open event (including men and women) win at the series and would catapult her already growing stardom in the game.
She now has four bracelets, which include two from the WSOP Online series. Arguably, her biggest win has come off the felt, contributing to seminars and workshops about the game, determined to give back more than she’s received.
Ontario-born Kristen remains a beloved figure in the poker community and is one of the most respected women in gambling.
Shelley White – The Responsible Gambling Advocate
Shelley White is the CEO of the Responsible Gambling Board (RGC), based in Toronto. Her goal and drive have been to promote responsible gambling in Ontario and worldwide.
To accomplish this, White has set up numerous programs aimed at fostering safer gambling environments (both online and offline) as well as spearheading initiatives aimed at minimising gambling-related harm.
Her time serving as CEO at RGC has seen her lead multiple impactful programs, including the Know the Score Campaign, which educates young adults about the risks of gambling. Throughout this time, she’s increased community engagement by 30% and increased the adoption of responsible gambling tools by 25% among operators.
White has played a different role to the other women in gambling on this list, but one that’s no less impactful. Her work has been instrumental in improving player safety and continues to inspire change within the industry.
Jennifer Tilley – The Adopted Torontonian
Jennifer Tilley is the curve ball on our list. Technically, she is not a native Ontarian, but while filming one of her many blockbuster roles, the lead in the Chucky TV show, she fell in love with the vibrant culture and welcoming community.
She tweeted multiple times about her time in Ontario and has been adopted as a Torontonian ever since.
Her acting career included roles in iconic films and TV shows, including the Chucky franchise, Family Guy, Liar Liar and Modern Family. Her flamboyant personality caught the eye of poker legend Phil Laak, and they have been together since 2004.
Jennifer’s poker career catapulted in 2005, winning her first WSOP bracelet, taking down the 2005 Ladies’ No Limit Texas Hold’em event and a cool $156,625.
With over $2 million in career earnings, her skills are wildly underrated, often being judged by her appearance, which she used to her advantage, beating some of the best players in the world.
Her skills, linked with her bubbly personality, have been featured on TV shows like Poker After Dark and Celebrity Poker Show, further showcasing her talents to the masses.
Jennifer is now one of the biggest names for women in gambling. Her links to Ontario might be a bit tenuous, but her affection for the area is undeniable.
In Summary: The Pride of Ontario
The contributions of these remarkable women have had a significant impact on Ontario’s gambling industry. They’ve each contributed from a different aspect.
Evelyn Ng and Kristen Bicknell are cemented as two of the greatest female poker players of all time, with our adopted Torontonian, Jennifer Tilley, being one of the biggest personalities in the game.
Lara Falzon and Shelley White have carved their paths in the corporate side. Falzon is creating massive growth for multiple gambling brands, and White ensures responsible gambling is at the forefront of operator workflows.
If you’re looking to make your own mark on the Ontario gambling scene, check out our casino and bonus reviews.