With over 25 years of experience in senior roles at preeminent law firms and gaming, entertainment, technology & hospitality companies, Ilkim has intricate knowledge of gaming in local and global economies. He brings a nuanced and practical understanding of gaming globally, legislative and regulatory frameworks, the roles and dynamics among developers, operators, financiers, regulators & host communities, the impact of technology & innovation, and the intricacies of balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders consistent with public policy and social responsibility.
Ilkim has unparalleled relationships in the highly regulated Canadian and US gaming industries. His experience spans private & publicly traded companies, as well as the private & public sectors, and includes commercial (bricks & mortar and interactive), First Nations and Tribal gaming; international joint ventures; transactional; financing; development; government relations; licensing; AML; RG; fraud prevention; media; marketing; sponsorships; licensing; brand & IP protection; merchandising; purchasing & procurement; consumer protection; data governance; labour & employment experience. With deep regulatory, ethics, compliance and governance experience, Ilkim has also served as Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, and Corporate Secretary for organizations with global and regional footprints.
Prior to returning to private practice, he was the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer of a global gaming, entertainment & hospitality company based in Florida, operating under one of the most recognizable brands in the world. In addition, he has held senior executive positions with one of North America’s most successful casino resorts operating on a First Nations community; an industrial partnership with one of Canada’s biggest private equity firms; the Crown corporation responsible for conducting and managing gaming in British Columbia; and a world-renowned technology entertainment company, based in Toronto and New York. He also led the gaming practices at leading national Canadian law firms.
Considered one of Canada’s leading voices and authorities in gaming, Ilkim has been helping to shape the gaming industry through multiple phases of rapid evolution and the convergence of technological development, consumer demand, consumer protection and public policy. Ranked by Chambers in Band 1 as one of Canada’s top gaming attorneys, Ilkim proudly serves as Chair of the Canadian Gaming Association. He is a proud alum of Queens University and the University of Windsor, and a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) and the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).
