Canada

Poker Hall of Famers to Appear at Casino Collectibles Show in Vegas

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2021

Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher will greet attendees at casino memorabilia show June 18th in Las Vegas

Poker Hall of Famers Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher will greet those attending the Casino Collectibles Association’s 28th annual show from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 18, 2021, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Nicknamed the “First Lady of Poker”, Linda Johnson is a bracelet-winning poker professional and a big part of the explosion in the popularity of the game. She is the recipient of one of Poker’s highest honors, being elected to the Poker Hall of Fame. Jan Fisher is a highly successful poker player, author and tournament director. Both poker professionals have been inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame.

Johnson and Fisher will be on hand to meet, greet, sign autographs and take selfies with registered show visitors to one of the largest collections of casino memorabilia ever assembled in one place. In fact, the Casino Chips and Collectibles Show is home to the world’s largest casino chip and token collection, as recognized by Guinness World Records. The show’s featured lady poker pros have collected big stacks of gaming chips over the years, and look forward to joining the fun of examining, buying, selling, trading and even informally evaluating casino collectibles and mementos. Registration and admission are open to the public June 17, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (admission $10), June 18, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (admission $5) and June 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (admission is free).

Linda Johnson
Johnson was one of the founders of the World Poker Tour (WPT) and was the announcer to the studio audience for its first six seasons. In 2017, the World Poker Tour awarded honored her with the first WPT Honors Award. Johnson set up the Tournament Directors Association (TDA), which sets common rules for tournaments. She also helped found PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that makes it easier for poker players to donate to charity. She was the publisher/editor of Card Player Magazine in the early years of the publication, and is currently co-owner of Card Player Cruises, where she has hosted more than 150 poker cruises.

Jan Fisher
Fisher cut her teeth in poker as a poker dealer in Las Vegas for 15 years before moving on to semi-professional playing and poker management. She has served as the tournament director for the highly successful PartyPoker.com Million events and hosts various tournaments around the country. Fisher is a founder of the Tournament Directors Association and is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Poker Players Alliance, Ladies Poker Association, and Ladies International Poker Series. She gives poker seminars and lessons around the country, and her magazine column entitled “Fishing Around” is a must-read in the poker community. Fisher is a partner in Card Player Cruises.

Canada

RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

respwned-partners-with-lotus-8-to-bring-girlgamer-festival-to-winnipeg-in-2026

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 have signed a partnership to launch the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026, marking the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand’s expansion into Canada.

RESPWNED manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, while LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships. The companies said they will jointly develop and deliver the Winnipeg event, combining global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED. “Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value. Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is planned as a family-oriented event with business networking, brand activations, and community programming, and is expected to include international and local talent. Additional details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

The post RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

respwned-and-lotus-8-to-launch-girlgamer-winnipeg-festival-in-2026

RESPWNED, the company that manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, and LOTUS 8, a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships, today announced their partnership to the launch of the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival.

The strategic partnership marks a significant step in expanding the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand into Canada.

This brings its globally recognized platform for competitive gaming, inclusivity, and industry engagement to a new market.

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is envisioned as a family-oriented event, with business networking, brand activations, and community-driven experiences.

Under the terms of the agreement, RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 will work collaboratively to develop and deliver the event, combining their respective expertise in global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local market execution.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED.

“Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”

Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada.

This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value.

Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”

The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival will feature a combination of international and local talent, brand partnerships, and programming designed to foster diversity, inclusion, and innovation within the gaming and esports ecosystem.

Further details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.

RESPWNED LTD

RESPWNED is a United Kingdom-based company specializing in esports IP management, event production, and industry consultancy.

The company manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, a global platform dedicated to creating opportunities and visibility for women in gaming and esports.

LOTUS 8

LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based premier esports organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dedicated to building championship-calibre teams across North America, they are at the forefront of innovation in competitive gaming.

As pioneers in the industry, they have developed the Performance Mindset Mindfulness, a system designed to support mental health in esports.

This holistic approach blends mental wellness practices, meditation, nutrition, fitness, and proper sleep hygiene into their competitive strategy.

The post RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Canada

Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules

Published

22 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

analysis-flags-world-cup-2026-stress-test-for-canada’s-patchwork-betting-rules

Canada’s provincial gambling model is likely to face a major stress test during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to new research published by CasinoCanada.com. The analysis argues the tournament will highlight uneven betting access and channelisation across provinces as Canada co-hosts the event.

The research draws on provincial regulatory reporting, iGaming Ontario’s annual figures and data from Blask’s 2025 iGaming Landscape Report. It says Ontario’s open market—described as having nearly 50 licensed operators—has reached an 83.7% channelisation rate, meaning most online bettors are using regulated platforms.

Outside Ontario, CasinoCanada.com estimates significantly higher offshore leakage, including 93% in Saskatchewan, 88% in Alberta and Manitoba, and about 49% retention in British Columbia despite the long-running PlayNow provincial platform. The report frames those gaps as a competitiveness issue for regulated offerings.

CasinoCanada.com also highlights timing risk in Alberta’s transition to a competitive market. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) registration deadline for operators is 13 July 2026—after the World Cup reaches the quarter-final stage—raising the likelihood that peak tournament betting volume continues to flow through unregulated operators, the report says.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: “The 2026 World Cup is not just a commercial opportunity for the Canadian market – it’s a live stress test for how the country regulates gambling. Ontario has built something that works, and the numbers show it. However, for most Canadians outside that market, the tournament is going to arrive at a system that was never designed for this level of demand.

“The offshore leakage figures are not abstract. They represent real bettors choosing unregulated platforms because the regulated alternative isn’t competitive enough. The World Cup will make that gap very visible, very quickly.”

The post Analysis flags World Cup 2026 stress test for Canada’s patchwork betting rules appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.