Betting on Himself

Mohit Kansal, partner at the Clairvest Group, brings the firm’s quintessential gaming experience to capitalize on today’s biggest trends. Kansal’s early interest in recreational gaming coupled with an education in technology and business have prepared him not only for success professionally, but as a future leader among gaming investors.

Kansal’s contribution to Clairvest’s $2.5 billion of assets is focused on technology-driven industry growth areas including innovative land-based suppliers, online gaming, and sports betting, where he has made his mark. In addition to sourcing new investment opportunities, Kansal is engaged in due diligence and ultimately takes board positions within the new ventures.

His goal is supporting investment partners to typically execute an aggressive growth plan. At this time, he participates on the boards of FSB Technology, a B2B sports and casino software supplier; Meriplex Communications, a software and security services provider; Head Digital Works, a pan-Indian social and sports gaming and media company; and FanFight, a fantasy sports operator distinguished by its international sporting platforms such as football (soccer) and cricket.

Clairvest has developed an impressive portfolio of brick-and-mortar gaming investments across North and South America over the past 20 years in 33 different assets. Joining as vice president in 2016, Kansal brought diverse technology-oriented experience to the firm. His roles as a technology consulting leader at McKinsey & Company and at several investment firms prepared him to support Clairvest as gaming technology was exploding.

Brick-and-mortar casino closures during the onslaught of Covid-19 resulted in a focus on online gaming and related products and services. Kansal saw the sector exploding, having tuned into omni-channel platforms well before the pandemic. He is not surprised that cashless play and technology-driven marketing and operating efficiencies have become more prevalent, and he sees the pandemic as hyper-accelerating these trends.

How did he find a calling in gaming? Kansal explains that he was mesmerized by casinos and their inner workings ever since a young age on trips to Las Vegas, Macau, Niagara Falls and Atlantic City. In particular, he acknowledges he may have visited Atlantic City a little too frequently while in school in Philadelphia. But he credits his current success in large part to the leadership at Clairvest, including Michael Wagman, who is its president and responsible for the gaming practice.  

Kansal holds a degree in engineering science from the University of Toronto, where his exposure to computer and electrical engineering laid an excellent foundation. Kansal later complemented his skill set with an MBA with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

On a personal note, Kansal has enjoyed traveling to all seven continents and has visited over 30 countries. While he is grounded at the moment, he values his time with his 2-year-old daughter and wife where they reside in Toronto.