IAGA Hosts Premier Annual Gaming Conference, Names New Leadership

LAS VEGAS, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual conference of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) was held June 17-20 in London. Attended by 200 people – among them the world's leading industry CEOs, general counsel, advisors and over 30 regulators, the scene was set for some inspiring groups of discussions on key issues crucial to the future of the industry.

Five keynote speakers presented their views on the conference theme "Gaming Convergence: One Industry, Worldwide" – Philip Graf, Chairman of the UK Gambling Commission; Susan Hensel, Director of Licensing, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, President International Association of Gaming Regulators; Pansy Ho, Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. and Co-Chairman of MGM China Holdings Ltd; Gary Loveman, Chairman, CEO and President of Caesar's Entertainment Inc., and Arlo Devlin-Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Department of Justice. A round table with CEOs from across various sectors of the industry provided facts, opinions and theories on their strategy and the major issues facing the industry today - Gavin Isaacs, CEO, SHFL Entertainment; Patti Hart, CEO, IGT; Martin Storm, Global President & CEO, BMM Compliance; Brian Mattingly, CEO, 888; and Peter Brooks, Exec. Deputy Chairman, Genting Casinos UK.

Speakers during the conference included top-level international regulatory officials Stanislas Frossard, Executive Secretary from Council of Europe; Jenny Williams, CEO UK Gambling Commission; Atle Hamar, Director Norwegian Gaming Authority; Graham White, Chairman, Jersey Gambling Commission; Andre Wilsenach, CEO of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission; Professor Linda De Vries, CEO, National Gambling Board (South Africa); Joseph W. Brown, Commissioner, Nevada Gaming Commission; Birgitte Sand, Director of the Danish Gambling Authority; and Phill Brear, Gambling Commissioner and Head of Gambling Regulation, Government of Gibraltar.

Frank Schreck, Shareholder, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck conducted a one-on-one interview with the retiring President and CEO of American Gaming Association, Frank Fahrenkopf, where Schreck captured some of the experience, opinions and insights from one of the most powerful and influential industry figures in the history of casino gaming and a founder of IAGA.

Julian Harris immediate past president of IAGA said: "I believe that the 2013 IAGA conference was extremely successful, bringing together as it did almost 200 gaming advisors, regulators and guest speakers. The success of our conference this year has further enhanced IAGA's reputation as the organization representing the leaders of the global gaming industry, its advisors and regulators.  We are the established forum for continuing discussion and educational analysis of the core issues facing the industry and regulators, with the aim of supporting and strengthening regulated gaming worldwide.  I would like to express my deep gratitude to all who attended and participated and to our generous sponsors."

– Julian Harris

2012-2013 IAGA President

The International Association of Gaming Advisors announces its 2013 officers:

Newly elected are:

• President Thomas B. Shepherd, III, Shareholder, Jones Walker LLP, Jackson, Mississippi
• Vice President Katie Lever, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, SHFL entertainment, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Secretary Martha Ann Sabol, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, Chicago, Illinois
• Treasurer Michael Cohen, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ: CZR), Las Vegas, Nevada

Appointed to General Counsel is Laura McAllister Cox, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Gaming Partners International Corporation, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Appointed to Trustees are Jennifer Carleton, Shareholder Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLC; Mark Harms, Chairman and CEO, Global Leisure Partners; Luke Orchard, Chief Compliance Officer, GTECH Corporation; and Ellen Whittemore, Of Counsel Lionel Sawyer and Collins.

Appointed to Counselor is Robert J Miller, Robert J Miller Consulting.

Julian Harris, Senior Partner, Harris Hagan, London, United Kingdom, is the immediate past president.

The next IAGA annual gaming conference will be held in Philadelphia, PA in the US in October of 2014.  In addition, IAGA will be present at the 2013 G2E in Las Vegas and at the ICE show in London, UK in 2014.

SOURCE IAGA