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Sisters Alison Gervais, Andrea Katz working together to empower women
By MYRON LOVE Eight years ago, sisters Alison Gervais and Andrea Katz decided to combine their expertise in marketing (Katz) and public relations (Gervais) to create a new boutique communications firm with a focus on empowering women as consumers and business owners. Today, their FIT Communications has a roster of clients right across Western Canada.
While Covid has caused a hiccup in FIT Communications’ ongoing growth, Katz concedes, clients are sticking with the young entrepreneurs. “Many of our clients are in the sports and travel business – which were particularly hard hit by Covid restrictions,” she notes, “but the business outlook is improving. We are working with numerous clients to develop strategies in planning for the future.”
The daughters of Dr. Sidney and the late Joanne Katz followed the same educational track. Both attended Ramah Hebrew School and Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate up until the end of Grade 10 followed by University of Winnipeg Collegiate for Grades 11 and 12. They also both earned B.A.’s from the University of Manitoba with degrees in Sociology and Psychology.
After that, their paths in life diverged.
Gervais’ life – for most of her life, has revolved around water sports. The former YMHA Sports dinner nominee for Jewish Athlete of the Year took to the water early on. She became involved synchronized swimming at the age of 12. As a member of the provincial team – and, later, as a coach – she took part in numerous competitions throughout North America and Europe. She went on to become a referee and judge and – for more than 12 years up until January of 2020 – she served as executive director of Synchro Swim Manitoba.
“I found that combining my responsibilities with FIT and SSM as well as raising three children was more than I could handle,” she says.
While she is still involved in the sport as a volunteer, she now devotes more of her time to FIT Communications and its growing client base.
After completing her B.A. at the U of M, Katz earned a second degree – a diploma in Business Administration (Marketing and Advertising) and relocated to Calgary. Over ten years in Calgary, she had a variety of experiences, working first for a restaurant group, followed by a major international music label, and then for a Calgary university.
“I decided to come back to Winnipeg because all of my family is here and this is where I wanted to start a family of my own,” says the mother of a newborn. “I also wanted to start my own company with Alison.”
According to the FIT Communications website, Katz and Gervais specialize in helping clients market their products and services to women and girls. “Women are the world’s most powerful consumers, driving the majority of household spending with their buying power and influence,” the website points out.
“We know women,” the sisters write on their website. “We know how and why women do what they do. We know how to appeal to them directly. We know how they think, how they buy and how they make decisions. Our education coupled with our experience in marketing, public relations and sales makes us experts in marketing to women and attracting female audiences to our clients’ businesses.”
As well, Katz has recently added value to FIT Communications’ services with her certification as an Integrative Nutrition Coach from the New York-based Institute of Integrative Nutrition. While the course is usually 17 months, Katz notes that because she was expecting, the completed the requirements in half the time.
“Part of our goal through FIT Communications is fostering a healthy lifestyle among women and girls,” says Katz.
Her additional training also gives FIT Communications an “in” with producers of healthy foods, she points out.
In recent months Katz has also become a columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press writing about women and girls in sports. She is also available as a nutritional coach. (Interested readers can contact Andrea on line at https://bestyounutrition.ca).
Gervais observes that Covid has changed the way business is done. “Working conditions have become more flexible,” she points out. “More people are appreciating the flexibility that working from home provides. FIT Communications is a fine example of how a home-based business can thrive. We can work with others to help them with their marketing and business strategy and enjoy the same success that we have achieved.”
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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.
