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For Adam Rubin, success was secondary to maintaining roots in Canada – and reconnecting with old friends during Covid
By GERRY POSNER Could you predict an Adam Rubin? Not likely. If you asked him, he would have said not at all. But Adam, the youngest child of Chuck and Naida Rubin (neither of whom is exactly unknown to many readers of the JP&N) has carved out a path which is truly remarkable in many ways.
The grandson of Sam Rubin, a farmer from near Fort William, Ontario (as it was then called), Adam was what he calls a Ramah School dropout after Grade 1. He did, however, manage to complete Laidlaw Elementary School and later was one of a handful of Jewish boys at St. Paul’s High School. He was active in Kadima and BBYO and also was a camper at BB Kenora.
Then, in a an unusual step at that time, he left Winnipeg and headed east to study Economics and Political Science at McGill, living with two close friends form Winnipeg: Eric Corne and Jon Pesochin. Following graduation, Rubin headed to the University of Ottawa for an MBA. His roommate was another Winnipegger, Matt Golden. There is a theme here which Adam is quick to stress. He says, “I am still very close with Matt, Phil, Eric and Jon to this day (Phil being Phil Haid). One of the things I treasure most about Winnipeg is the lifelong friendships that have been nurtured by that city. In fact, as I am now middle aged, I look back with tremendous fondness and admiration for the strength of community Winnipeg has. It’s one I have not seen replicated.”
The education of Adam Rubin then expanded to include law school at the University of Calgary. Rubin thus had the package of business and law, on top of which he also completed the Advanced Leadership Programme at Harvard Business School. Upon graduation from law school, he entered the work force during the dot.com boom – followed by its bust. Rubin joined a boutique law firm specializing in corporate finance and securities law in Calgary where he was responsible for taking companies into the public domain. As Rubin reflects, “I took many of those high- flyers from the cradle to orbit – and then to the grave, in three or four years.” Ultimately, Rubin wanted to develop his business side and in particular to build businesses and foster their growth. He joined a top energy company at the time – Nexen, a Calgary based corporation with a global presence. As Rubin notes, however, the “oil patch was a strange place for a Jewish boy from Winnipeg.”
In 2007 Adam took what was supposed to be a two-year assignment in Dallas to help run Nexen’s US operations, so off he went with his former wife and four-year-old daughter, Sam. Two years turned into five years and, even with his success at Nexen, Adam had an opportunity in 2012 to join Venari Resources LLC, a private equity funded offshore exploration company in Dallas. Adam served as Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and Secretary for Venari. He and a few of his colleagues were responsible, among many other duties, for helping to raise $2.4 billion from leading private equity firms. Adam was a founding member of the largest private equity- backed start up in the oil and gas sector at the time. You could say Adam had come a long way from his grandfather Sam Rubin’s farming career, but they likely had the same work ethic. The business took off like a rocket ship, Adam states, but it also fell back to earth and, in 2019, the company’s assets were sold.
And so, in 2020 (just before the pandemic hit), Adam Rubin was unemployed for the first time in his life. Rubin was delighted to be in that position. He had what he calls “catching up time” with his buddies. Adam also did what many other parents were forced to do – he became a teacher to his son, as in Grade 3 science, geography and social studies. Adam describes that as a special time for him, also noting that time included tasting defeat in a 100 yard dash with his now 17-year-old daughter Samantha (named for his grandfather, Sam Rubin).
The big thing that was very special for Adam during Covid was reconnecting with his old friends as they all hit 50. The group – which included Avi Gesser, Matt Golden, Phil Haid, my son Ari Posner, Cory Pollock, Jason Klapman, Danny Stoller, also two guys from Saskatchewan and Alberta – Terry Levitt and Rob Eichelson, would meet online. The “prairie boys”, as they referred to themselves, tried to help each other navigate the new normal. They became coaches, mentors, cheerleaders and even entertainers for one another. They created a contest with each other to name that tune, with music provided by Ari.
And, what this all says to Adam is “It reminds me and affirms the great character of Winnipeg. Good people come out of that town. … Honestly, I think the best asset I have is having had the opportunity to be raised in Winnipeg. It’s the foundation for what makes our group who we are.”
Today, Adam is back in action working as General Counsel with another private equity portfolio company, owned by the Blackstone Group. This company is one of the largest manufacturers of highly engineered structures for the telecom and utility industries in the United States. He still makes every effort to return to Winnipeg to see his family, either in the city or at the family cottage at Matlock. He is thrilled that his oldest child, Sam, is a first year student in the Faculty of Arts at Western University. What he delights in most is watching his child come to realize the benefits of being in Canada.
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
