Hey, I’m Laura. Know why I look so happy in this photo? I’ve just finished reviewing another stellar online casino, and I’m about to celebrate with my favourite espresso from my local Calgary café.
I’ve been fascinated by games of chance, probability, and the psychology behind gaming for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Toronto, I was the kid who wanted to understand not just how to play games, but why people played them, what made them fair, and how the mathematics worked behind the scenes. That curiosity turned into a career I absolutely love.
Who Is Laura Vandervoort?
I’m the founder and lead reviewer at LauraV Gaming Journal, an independent online casino review platform dedicated to helping Canadian players navigate the ever-expanding world of online gaming with honesty, expertise, and a bit of personality. Based in Calgary, Alberta, I’ve spent over a decade building my reputation as one of Canada’s most trusted voices in iGaming journalism and casino analysis. I’m a certified iGaming professional, a mathematics enthusiast, and someone who believes that every player deserves transparent, well-researched information before they place their first bet.
My Experience
I’ve been working in the online gaming industry since 2013, and in that time, I’ve reviewed hundreds of online casinos, tested thousands of slots, analyzed countless bonus terms, and spoken with players from every province in Canada. My work has appeared on major platforms including Casino.org, AskGamblers.com, and CasinoGuru, where I’ve contributed expert analysis on everything from game fairness to responsible gambling practices.
What sets me apart isn’t just my knowledge of the industry—it’s my genuine commitment to player advocacy. I’ve seen too many players get burned by predatory terms, unfair wagering requirements, and shady operators. My mission is simple: arm Canadian players with the information they need to make smart, safe choices about where they play online.
My Areas of Expertise
While casino reviews are my bread and butter, my expertise extends across several interconnected fields. I specialize in online casino analysis and testing, responsible gambling advocacy, iGaming regulation and compliance (particularly Canadian and international frameworks), probability and game mathematics, cybersecurity and payment processing, and content strategy for the gaming industry. My background in psychology helps me understand player behaviour, while my training in data analytics allows me to spot patterns and red flags that others might miss.
Education
I completed my undergraduate degree at York University in Toronto, where I studied Psychology and English Literature—a combination that might seem unusual for someone in the gaming industry, but it’s proven invaluable. Understanding human behaviour, motivation, and decision-making is at the heart of responsible gaming advocacy. The analytical writing skills I developed studying literature have made me a better communicator and a more persuasive advocate for players’ rights.
After working in the industry for a few years, I pursued a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics and Business Intelligence at George Brown College to strengthen my quantitative skills. Being able to analyze payout percentages, return-to-player (RTP) rates, and statistical anomalies has been crucial to my work as a reviewer.
Professional Timeline: My Journey Year by Year
2008-2012: The Foundation Years
After graduating from York, I initially worked in digital marketing and content creation for various Toronto-based startups. I was writing everything from blog posts to email campaigns, but I wasn’t passionate about the work. In 2010, a friend who worked in affiliate marketing introduced me to the world of online casinos. I was immediately hooked—not by gambling itself, but by the fascinating intersection of technology, regulation, psychology, and mathematics that underpinned the entire industry.
2013: Breaking Into iGaming
I landed my first role in the gaming industry as a Junior Content Writer at Better Collective, where I learned the fundamentals of casino reviews, SEO, and affiliate marketing. I spent my days testing games, reading terms and conditions (yes, every word), and learning how to communicate complex gaming concepts to everyday players. It was unglamorous work, but it taught me the foundation of everything I do today.
2014-2016: Building Expertise at Casino.org
In 2014, I joined Casino.org as a Staff Writer and Casino Analyst. This was my graduate school. I worked alongside some of the industry’s best reviewers and learned advanced techniques for testing casinos, evaluating software providers, and identifying trustworthy operators. During this period, I also completed the Introduction to iGaming course through iGaming Academy, which gave me a solid grounding in regulatory frameworks, licensing jurisdictions, and industry best practices.
I attended my first major industry conference in 2015—ICE London—and it opened my eyes to the global scale of the gaming industry. Meeting regulators, software developers, and operators face-to-face gave me invaluable insights that you simply can’t get from behind a computer screen.
2017-2018: Senior Roles and Specialization
By 2017, I had moved into a Senior Casino Reviewer position at AskGamblers.com, where I specialized in the Canadian market. This role allowed me to focus on the unique challenges Canadian players face: navigating provincial regulations, dealing with currency conversion issues, and finding casinos that actually accept Canadian payment methods like Interac.
In 2018, I was invited to speak at the Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto, where I presented on responsible gambling tools and player protection in the digital age. That same year, I completed an advanced certification in Responsible Gambling Practices through the Responsible Gambling Council, deepening my commitment to player safety.
2019-2020: Expanding Horizons
I spent 2019 as a Lead Content Strategist at Betsson Group, one of Europe’s largest online gaming companies. Working for an operator gave me an insider’s perspective on how casinos actually function: the economics, the technology stack, the compliance challenges. It made me a sharper, more informed reviewer. I also had the opportunity to work with their responsible gambling team, implementing player protection tools that genuinely made a difference.
During this period, I continued my education by completing courses in Data Analytics for Gaming and attending conferences including SBC Summit North America and Betting on Sports Canada. These events kept me connected to industry trends and helped me build relationships with key players in Canadian gaming policy.
2021-2022: The Casinomeister and SlotsTemple Years
In 2021, I joined Casinomeister as a Senior Analyst and Forum Moderator, which was a dream role for anyone passionate about player advocacy. Casinomeister has one of the most engaged, knowledgeable communities in online gaming, and working directly with players to resolve disputes and answer questions was incredibly rewarding. I also contributed to SlotsTemple during this period, writing in-depth slot reviews and game guides.
By 2022, I realized I wanted more independence. I wanted to create a platform that reflected my values completely—transparent, player-focused, and uncompromising on integrity. That’s when I started planning LauraV Gaming Journal.
2023-Present: LauraV Gaming Journal
I officially launched LauraV Gaming Journal in early 2023, and it’s been the most challenging and rewarding project of my career. Building a site from scratch meant learning web development, SEO, content management systems, and digital marketing at a much deeper level. But it also meant total editorial freedom—I answer only to readers, not advertisers or operators.
Today, the site attracts thousands of Canadian players each month looking for honest, detailed casino reviews. I’ve built a small but dedicated team, and we continue to expand our coverage of the Canadian market. In 2024, I was invited back to the Canadian Gaming Summit as a keynote speaker, this time discussing the evolution of online casino regulation in Canada post-Bill C-218.
Key Milestones Timeline
- 2008: Graduated from York University with a degree in Psychology and English Literature
- 2013: Entered the iGaming industry as Junior Content Writer at Better Collective
- 2014: Joined Casino.org as Staff Writer and Casino Analyst; completed Introduction to iGaming certification
- 2015: Attended ICE London for the first time; promoted to Senior Writer
- 2017: Became Senior Casino Reviewer at AskGamblers.com
- 2018: Spoke at Canadian Gaming Summit; earned Responsible Gambling Practices certification
- 2019: Joined Betsson Group as Lead Content Strategist
- 2021: Senior Analyst and Forum Moderator at Casinomeister
- 2023: Founded LauraV Gaming Journal
- 2024: Keynote speaker at Canadian Gaming Summit
Life Beyond Casinos
I’ve been with my partner, Marcus, for six years now. He’s a software engineer who works in fintech, so we’re both drawn to industries where technology and trust intersect. We live in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood with our rescue dog, a chaotic but lovable Border Collie mix named Pixel, and our cat, RNG (yes, it stands for Random Number Generator—I couldn’t resist).
When I’m not testing casinos or writing reviews, you’ll find me trail running in Fish Creek Provincial Park, experimenting with sourdough recipes (Julie Van Rosendaal is my hero), or playing board games with friends. I’m a huge fan of strategy games—Catan, Ticket to Ride, Wingspan—anything that involves calculated risk and a bit of luck. I suppose you could say I’m drawn to games in all their forms.
I’m also passionate about financial literacy and volunteer with a local organization that teaches money management skills to young adults. Given how much of my work involves understanding odds, probabilities, and risk management, it feels like a natural extension of what I do professionally.
My Philosophy
I believe gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. The moment it stops being fun, it’s time to step away. That’s why responsible gambling isn’t just a checkbox for me—it’s central to everything I do. Every review I write includes information about deposit limits, self-exclusion tools, and problem gambling resources. If a casino doesn’t take player protection seriously, they don’t get my recommendation. It’s that simple.
I also believe in radical transparency. When I recommend a casino, I explain exactly why. When I criticize one, I provide evidence. And when I make money through affiliate partnerships (because yes, that’s how independent review sites survive), I disclose it clearly. Readers deserve to know where my information comes from and whether I have any conflicts of interest.
Get in Touch
I love hearing from readers, whether you have questions about a specific casino, want to share your own experiences, or just want to chat about the industry. You can reach me at laura@cdpublications.com.
I’m also active on social media—find me on Twitter @LauraVGaming, LinkedIn (Laura Vandervoort – iGaming Specialist), and Instagram @lauravgamingjournal where I share industry news, responsible gambling tips, and the occasional photo of Pixel being ridiculous.
Thanks so much for being here. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious about online casinos, I’m glad you found your way to my corner of the internet. Let’s navigate this industry together—safely, smartly, and maybe even have a little fun along the way.