Michael Anderson

But before I get too far ahead of myself, let me rewind and tell you how a kid from Mississauga ended up running one of Canada’s most honest (and occasionally sarcastic) online casino review sites.

Who I Am (Besides Someone Who Overthinks Slot Volatility)

My name is Michael Anderson, and I’m the founder and chief skeptic here at GoSloPlay. I live in Vancouver now – moved here in 2016 and haven’t looked back, despite the rain and the CAD$2,500/month rent for a shoebox apartment. The coffee’s better here, the mountains are incredible, and honestly, after spending winters in Ontario, I’ll take Vancouver’s drizzle over -30°C any day.

I’m 38, married to Sarah (who still thinks my job is “weird but okay”), and we’ve got two kids – Emma (7) and Lucas (4) – who are currently convinced their dad “plays video games for work.” Not entirely wrong, kiddo, not entirely wrong.

What I Actually Do

I test online casinos. Like, really test them. Not just the “sign up, play a few spins, write a glowing review” kind of testing that you see plastered all over the internet. I’m talking about:

• Depositing real Canadian dollars and documenting every step
• Reading the soul-crushing fine print in bonus terms (yes, all of it)
• Testing withdrawal speeds with actual money on the line
• Harassing customer support at 2 AM to see if they’re actually responsive
• Running the numbers on RTP percentages and comparing them to advertised rates

Someone’s gotta do it. Might as well be me.

My Journey Into This Weird Wonderful World

The Early Years (1987-2005)

Born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario – you know, that massive suburb of Toronto that everyone forgets about until they’re stuck on the 401. Pretty standard Canadian childhood: hockey (I was terrible), Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches (I was excellent at eating these), and cottages up north every summer.

My parents ran a small accounting firm, which meant dinner conversations often revolved around tax optimization and compound interest. Riveting stuff for a 12-year-old, let me tell you. But it did plant the seeds for my later obsession with understanding odds, house edges, and why casinos always seem to win in the long run.

University Days (2005-2009)

Attended the University of Toronto where I got my Bachelor’s in Commerce, specializing in Marketing and Statistics. Yeah, I was that guy who actually enjoyed statistics courses while everyone else was crying into their calculators.

During my undergrad, I got really into poker. Started with home games, graduated to the CNE poker room, and eventually made regular pilgrimages to Casino Niagara and Fallsview. I wasn’t a shark by any means, but I was profitable enough to pay for textbooks and the occasional beer at The Madison.

This is where I first started thinking critically about gambling mathematics. I read every book I could find – from Doyle Brunson to David Sklansky – and began to understand that gambling isn’t just luck. It’s probability, psychology, and bankroll management all wrapped up in one adrenaline-pumping package.

The Corporate Years (2009-2015)

After graduation, I did the sensible thing and got a marketing job at a mid-sized tech company in Toronto. Spent six years climbing the corporate ladder, running digital marketing campaigns, and slowly dying inside during quarterly budget meetings.

But here’s what nobody tells you about corporate jobs: they’re fantastic training grounds. I learned:

• SEO and content strategy (turns out, ranking on Google is part science, part art, part voodoo)
• Data analytics and A/B testing
• How to manage projects and deadlines
• The fine art of drinking terrible office coffee while pretending to care about synergy

By 2015, I was earning decent money, had a nice title, and was absolutely miserable. As Trailer Park Boys’ Ricky would say, “I was caught between a rock and a hard place” – except the rock was my mortgage and the hard place was my soul slowly withering away.

The Plot Twist (2015-2017)

In late 2015, I took a vacation to Malta. If you don’t know, Malta is basically the iGaming capital of the world – more online casino companies per square kilometre than anywhere else on Earth. I was just there for the beaches and history, but I kept running into people who worked in the online gambling industry.

Over drinks at a bar in Sliema, I met a guy who worked for a major casino software provider. We started talking shop, and he mentioned they were looking for someone with marketing experience who understood gambling mathematics. Long story short, I flew back to Malta three months later for an interview and landed a marketing manager position at a B2B iGaming company.

Moved to Malta in early 2016. Sarah was surprisingly cool with it – she’s a graphic designer who can work remotely, and the idea of Mediterranean weather beat Toronto’s winters hands down.

Malta Years: Getting My Real Education (2016-2019)

Working in Malta’s iGaming industry was like getting a PhD in online gambling. I spent three years at Betsson Group, one of Europe’s largest online casino operators, managing their Canadian market expansion strategy.

During this time, I:

• Learned the technical infrastructure behind online casinos
• Studied licensing requirements across different jurisdictions
• Attended industry conferences like iGB Live! and ICE London
• Completed professional certifications including the Introduction to iGaming course through iGaming Academy
• Got insider knowledge on how bonuses are structured (spoiler: the house always wins, but some houses are fairer than others)

But here’s what really opened my eyes: I saw how many affiliate sites were just churning out garbage reviews, copying each other’s content, and recommending casinos based purely on commission rates rather than player experience. It was frustrating as hell.

Coming Home and Starting GoSloPlay (2019-Present)

In 2019, Sarah got pregnant with Emma, and we decided it was time to move back to Canada. We chose Vancouver because, well, have you seen Vancouver? It’s stunning. Also, I was done with humid European summers.

I briefly considered going back to corporate marketing, but then I thought: why not use everything I’ve learned to create something actually useful? A casino review site that:

• Tells the truth, even when it’s not profitable
• Actually tests casinos instead of copying press releases
• Explains the math and mechanics so players can make informed decisions
• Doesn’t treat readers like idiots

So I launched GoSloPlay in late 2019. The name? It’s a play on “Go slot” and also a nod to Russian lottery culture (because why not). Plus, the domain was available, which in 2019 was basically a miracle.

Year-by-Year Timeline

Year	Milestone
1987	Born in Mississauga, Ontario
2005	Started Bachelor of Commerce at University of Toronto
2007	Got serious about poker; started making consistent profits
2009	Graduated U of T; landed first marketing job in tech
2012	Promoted to Senior Marketing Specialist
2015	Visited Malta; had the “what am I doing with my life?” moment
2016	Moved to Malta; joined Betsson Group as Marketing Manager
2017	Attended first ICE London conference; mind blown by industry scale
2018	Completed iGaming Academy certification; promoted to Senior Marketing Manager
2019	Moved to Vancouver; launched GoSloPlay in November
2020	First kid (Emma) born; grew site to 100k monthly visitors despite pandemic brain fog
2021	Expanded team; hired first content writer
2022	Second kid (Lucas) born; somehow kept site running on 3 hours of sleep
2023	Reached 500k monthly visitors; spoke at Canadian Gaming Summit
2024	Launched comprehensive casino testing methodology; site hit 1M monthly visitors
2025	Continued growth; currently fighting the good fight against sketchy casino operators

My Areas of Expertise (AKA What I Actually Know About)

Casino Game Mathematics

I can calculate house edges in my sleep. Seriously, Sarah once caught me muttering about variance in my sleep. It’s a problem.

I understand RTP percentages, volatility indices, hit frequencies, and why that “hot slot” you keep playing is just experiencing normal statistical variance. I’ve studied the math behind blackjack, roulette, slots, baccarat, and pretty much every casino game you can think of.

Bonus Terms Analysis

This is my superpower and my curse. I’ve read thousands of pages of bonus terms and conditions. I know every trick casinos use to make bonuses look generous while making them nearly impossible to clear. I can spot a predatory wagering requirement from a mile away.

Payment Processing in Canada

Canada’s gambling payment landscape is… complicated. I’ve spent countless hours understanding how Interac works, why some casinos accept it and others don’t, which e-wallets are actually reliable, and how long withdrawals really take (hint: usually longer than advertised).

Licensing and Regulation

I know the difference between Curaçao licenses (mostly garbage), Malta Gaming Authority licenses (pretty solid), and various other jurisdictions. I understand what “grey market” means for Canadian players and which licenses actually provide player protection.

Responsible Gambling

This matters more to me than most content on the site. I’ve seen problem gambling up close, and I take seriously the responsibility of recommending where people should spend their money. Every review includes responsible gambling information, and I refuse to promote casinos with predatory practices.

Industry Involvement and Credentials

Look, I’m not one to wave around certificates and fancy titles, but credibility matters in this industry. Here’s my professional background:

Formal Education and Certifications

• Bachelor of Commerce, University of Toronto (2005-2009)
• Introduction to iGaming, iGaming Academy (2017)
• Responsible Gaming Advanced Certificate, International Gaming Institute (2018)
• Advanced Casino Management course (2020)

Professional Experience

Betsson Group – Senior Marketing Manager (2016-2019)

• Managed Canadian market expansion
• Developed player acquisition strategies
• Analyzed player behaviour and retention metrics

Better Collective – Consulting work (2020-2021)

• Provided market analysis for Canadian gambling landscape
• Advised on content strategy for casino affiliate sites

Conference Participation

I’m a regular at industry events because that’s where you learn what’s actually happening versus what press releases claim:

• ICE London (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023)
• Canadian Gaming Summit (2020, 2023, 2024)
• SBC Summit North America (2022, 2024)
• iGB Live! (2018, 2023)

Industry Connections

I maintain relationships with people at major industry players including Casino.org, AskGamblers, Casinomeister, and Casino Guru. We share information about rogue operators and help protect players across platforms.

I’ve also done consulting work for Better Collective, one of the largest casino affiliate companies in the world, which gave me insight into how the big players operate.

What I’m Not (Just to Be Clear)

I’m not a gambling addict trying to justify my habit through a blog. I’m not a shill who recommends whatever casino pays the highest commission. I’m not some offshore operator pretending to be a reviewer while funnelling players to my own sketchy sites.

I’m just a guy who got fascinated by the mathematics of gambling, spent years working in the industry, and decided to use that knowledge to help Canadian players navigate an increasingly complex online casino landscape.

Do I gamble? Sure, occasionally. Mostly blackjack when I’m at a physical casino, and I’ll test slots online as part of reviews. But I’m that annoying person who tracks every session, knows exactly how much I’m up or down lifetime, and treats it as entertainment with a known cost.

Life Beyond Casino Reviews

Family Life

Sarah and I have been together since university. She’s the sensible one who reminds me to eat actual meals instead of living on coffee and spite. Emma’s in second grade and is showing concerning talent at mental math – I might have created a card-counting prodigy. Lucas is in that delightful phase where he repeats everything he hears, which has led to some awkward moments when he tells his daycare teacher about “wagering requirements.”

We live in a two-bedroom condo in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. It’s smaller than we’d like but the location is great, and honestly, Canadian real estate prices are insane right now. We’re saving for a house, but at this rate, we might need to win a progressive jackpot to afford one.

Hobbies and Interests

Hiking and Outdoors: One of the best things about Vancouver is the access to nature. I try to get out to Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon, or one of the many trails around here at least once a week. It’s good for clearing my head after spending hours analyzing bonus terms.

Poker: I still play, though less frequently than I used to. There’s a home game I attend monthly with some friends, and I’ll occasionally hit the casino for a tournament. I’m a solid TAG (tight-aggressive) player – nothing fancy, just solid fundamentals and bankroll management.

Homebrewing: Started this during the pandemic when I needed a hobby that didn’t involve screens. I’ve made some decent IPAs and some truly terrible stouts. The success rate is probably similar to the RTP on most slot machines.

Reading: Heavy into non-fiction, particularly books about decision-making, probability, and behavioural economics. Current favourites include anything by Annie Duke, Nassim Taleb (even though he’s exhausting), and Michael Lewis.

What I’m Not Good At

In the spirit of honesty that defines this site, here’s what I suck at:

• Hockey (despite being Canadian, I’m terrible on skates)
• Cooking (Sarah handles this, I handle dishes)
• Video games (ironically, given that slots are basically video games)
• Small talk at parties when people ask what I do for a living

Connect With Me

I’m pretty accessible for someone who runs a review site. You can find me at:

Email: [email protected] (I actually read these, though responses might take a few days during busy periods)

Twitter/X: @MichaelAndersonCA (mostly industry news and the occasional sarcastic comment about casino marketing)

LinkedIn: Michael Anderson (the professional version of me that uses fewer swear words)

I’m also active in several online gambling forums, though I prefer to keep those accounts semi-anonymous to avoid casino PR people sliding into my DMs.

My Philosophy on Casino Reviews

This probably deserves its own section because it’s the core of what GoSloPlay represents.

I believe players deserve honest information. Not marketing fluff disguised as reviews. Not “this casino is AMAZING” followed by twelve affiliate links. Real, tested, sometimes brutally honest assessments of where you should and shouldn’t play.

That means:

• I test every casino I review with my own money
• I never recommend a casino I wouldn’t play at myself
• I’m transparent about how I make money (affiliate commissions, but only from casinos I genuinely believe are solid)
• I update reviews when casinos change their terms or practices
• I publish negative reviews even when it costs me money

Some casino operators hate me for this. Good. If your business model relies on tricking players with deceptive terms, you deserve to be called out.

The Future

I plan to keep doing this as long as it’s useful and I can maintain the standards I’ve set. The online gambling industry is constantly evolving – new casinos launch weekly, regulations change, and player preferences shift.

My goal is to keep GoSloPlay as the most trusted casino review resource for Canadian players. Not the biggest (though we’re getting there), not the flashiest, but the most honest and useful.

I’m also working on expanding our coverage to sports betting and poker sites, plus developing some tools to help players calculate expected value on various promotions. Because if I’m going to do this, I might as well do it right.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. I know “about the author” pages are usually boring, but I wanted you to understand who’s behind these reviews and why you should (or shouldn’t) trust what I write.

I’m not perfect. I make mistakes, miss things in casino terms, and occasionally let my cynicism get the better of me. But I’m honest about it, I correct errors when they’re found, and I genuinely care about helping Canadian players avoid the countless sketchy casinos out there.

So whether you’re here because you’re researching a specific casino, trying to understand how bonuses work, or just procrastinating at work, welcome to GoSloPlay.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have seventeen casino welcome bonuses to test, a toddler who just discovered how to climb furniture, and a coffee that’s gone cold while I wrote this.

Stay skeptical, folks.
— Michael