International Masters of Gaming Law

EAST LANSING, Mich.—Regulators are increasingly turning a watchful eye on non-bank financial institutions such as casinos when it comes to compliance with anti-money laundering, customer privacy, and economic and trade sanction regulations. Even those casinos with solid gaming compliance programs intact need to comprehensively address these topics.

Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C., Resort Advantage, and Convey Compliance Systems, Inc., present a free three-part Webinar series to discuss key compliance issues for 2010 surrounding the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), and the Red Flag Rules provided for in the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA)

The three-part Webinar series will cover the following topics:

Part one: “BSA, OFAC, and FACTA—They’re Not Mutually Exclusive, and Your Compliance Plan Shouldn’t Be Either.” Regulatory and gaming experts from Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C. will present an overview of BSA, OFAC and the Red Flag Rules provided for in FACTA.

Part two: “Compliance FAQs: What Others in the Gaming Industry Are Asking.” Experts will respond to questions submitted by attendees of part one of the series.

Part three: “You Think Your Casino is Compliant – Will an IRS Auditor Agree?” An audit expert will discuss how to develop and implement an effective anti-money laundering program and how to prepare for an audit.

“A comprehensive approach to these critical issues is needed to assure compliance,” said attorney David Waddell, President of Regulatory Management Counselors, P.C. “Our goal with this seminar series is to provide casino operators with the knowledge needed to verify that their existing procedures meet all the technical requirements.”

For more information or to register, call 800.317.5475 or visit Resort-advantage.com.

February 22, 2010

Chambers Global Guide names IMGL Members Notable Practitioners for 2010

USA

The global recession clearly impacted negatively upon the US gaming market, but commentators remain positive about the future. Online work, in particular, has been holding up well. Inevitably, Nevada continues to be the key location for gaming law in the States, while Louisiana also remains important. California and Atlantic City are other important bases.

Nevada, Arizona & California

Las Vegas-based Anthony Cabot of Lewis and Roca LLP is widely seen as the pre-eminent mind in the field and is described as "the godfather of the industry." He is particularly expert in online gaming. Robert Faiss also acts in Nevada, chairing the gaming and regulatory law department at Lionel Sawyer & Collins. John Maloney is the founder of The Law Offices of John K Maloney, a specialist gaming firm with offices in both Nevada and California. Maloney acts out of the Sacramento office, and sources speak of his "noteworthy dedication to the field of gaming." Heidi Staudenmaier of Snell & Wilmer LLP acts in Phoenix, and is a noted expert on Native American legal issues and the way in which they interact with gaming affairs.

Elsewhere in the USA

Nicholas Casiello is based in Atlantic City with Fox Rothschild LLP. "He has excellent judgement and knows the gaming regulations across the States, with great instincts on the key issues," sources report. Also at Fox Rothschild, the "well-balanced and articulate" Marie Jones typically represents casino licensees and gaming vendors before various regulatory agencies. Robert Stocker of Dickinson Wright PLLC is based in Lansing, Michigan. He is praised for his deep knowledge of gaming regulatory issues, including those relating to casinos, as well as transactions and insolvencies involving gaming companies. New Orleans-based Kelly Duncan of Jones Walker Waechter Poitevent Carrère & Denègre, LLP is both a maritime and a gaming attorney. Duncan represents a mixture of casino companies, manufacturers, suppliers and financial institutions on gaming matters, and is said to have "a top-notch brain for the law."

All of the following ranked UK lawyers are based in London.

Tony Coles of Jeffrey Green Russell is an "important practitioner" who is praised for his advice to online gaming entities as well as their bricks and mortar equivalents. His colleague Nicholas Nocton advises a mixture of domestic and international casino operators, betting exchanges and other suppliers to the industry, including banking and financial services companies. John Hagan of Harris Hagan is an expert on online gaming and advises businesses around the world on Internet gambling.

Europe

Wulf Hambach is the founder of boutique gaming firm Hambach & Hambach in Munich. He advises German and international clients on the more sophisticated online gaming issues in Germany. Sources say he is "absolutely brilliant, and is doing impressive work in Germany fighting in favour of the industry. Santiago Asensi Gisbert of Asensi Abogados in Palma de Mallorca is "one of the best in Spain, if not the best. He knows how gaming firms work from the inside." Quirino Mancini of Sinisi Ceschini Mancini & Partners in Rome is "the best in Italy by a long way." He advises both domestic and international clients on both online and traditional gaming issues. Thibault Verbiest of Ulys divides his time between Brussels and Paris. He is praised for his knowledge of and involvement with the liberalisation process and the ratification of recent French legislation. Jörg Hofmann of Melchers Schubert Stocker Sturies is based in Heidleberg, and praised for his adept handling of bricks and mortar gaming issues across Germany. Henrik Norsk Hoffmann of Lett Law Firm in Kolding is a leading lawyer in Denmark with particular expertise in litigation. Philippe Vlaemminck is the managing partner of Vlaemminck & Partners in Brussels. He acts on lottery issues and is an expert in EU competition law and other regulatory matters. Justin Franssen of Van Mens & Wisselink is praised for fighting state monopolies in the Netherlands.

Asia-Pacific

Jamie Nettleton of Addisons in Sydney is an influential name in the Australian market and regularly assists gambling companies with their business strategies, including for international projects. Antonio Ramirez of Ramirez Law Firm is based in Macau and is an expert on the local gaming issues of the region. He is well equipped to advise gaming entities wishing to enter the Macau market.

Israel

Meir Linzen is a senior tax partner at Herzog Fox & Neeman firm. Sources say he is "a very influential figure in the industry and always knows what he's talking about."

Latin America

Latin America remains somewhat of an emerging market regarding gaming law, but Peruvian attorney Carlos Alberto Fonseca Sarmiento of Gaming Law S.A.C. in Lima is one lawyer to watch in the field. He comes recommended for almost any gaming issue relating to South America.

South Africa

Wayne Lurie of Lurie Inc has an especially notable reputation in the South African gaming market. He is based in Johannesburg. Garron Whitesman of Whitesmans Attorneys in Cape Town is South Africa's other key name in gaming law.

Canada

Morden Lazarus of Lazarus Charbonneau in Montréal is an extremely well-known name in the Canadian gaming market. He advises both online and conventional gaming companies. Michael Lipton of Dickinson Wright PLLC in Toronto has an extensive practice before gaming regulatory authorities throughout Canada. He advises a variety of gaming businesses, including betting exchanges.

September 1, 2009

Meet the advocates: They're the best, and they're organized. That's the title of an article appearing in the April 2009 issue of International Gaming & Wagering Business. The article showcases IMGL and some of the association's members and the leading firms they belong to including A&L Goodbody, Addisons Commercial Lawyers, Catania Gaming Associates, Dickinson Wright, Jones Walker, Lazcano Såmano, Lewis and Roca, Lionel Sawyer & Collins, John K. Maloney, and Judith A. Shapiro. Click here for a PDF version of the entire article.

IMGL News

December 2009

IMGL Discussion Group on LinkedIn - With over 300 participants and several lively discussions, this discussion group has become a major place on the social networks to discuss gaming law issues, view the news related to gaming law and regulation, and learn of new jobs in the legal industry. Members are free to post news articles, start discussions and provide links to cases, government documents, presentations and other documents.

It is free to join LinkedIn and to become a participant in the International Masters of Gaming Law Current Issues Discussion Group. Simply sign up at linkedin.com. After that, do a group search for "International Masters of Gaming Law Current Issues Discussion Group" and request to join.

November 2009

Click here for photos from the the G2E conference and IMGL reception, including photos of Randall Sayre accepting his Regulator of the Year award.

October 9, 2009

IMGL Honored in the Best Lawyers in American 2010 - The Best Lawyers in America, one of the preeminent legal referral guides in the U.S., selected 42 of International Masters of Gaming Law attorneys for inclusion in its 2010 listings. Over 70% of IMGL general members, who are eligible, have been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers for 2010. Since its inception in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America has become widely regarded as one of the definitive guides to legal excellence in the United States. Because Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey of thousands of top attorneys throughout the country, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Please join me in congratulation the following IMGL members: Cory Aronovitz, Phillip M. Becker, Leonard A. Blackwell II, Charles Blau, Anthony N. Cabot, Nicholas Casiello, Jr., Frank Catania, James B. Deutsch, Robert A. Dill, J. Kelly Duncan, Peter H. Ellsworth, Robert D. Faiss, Michael A. Ficaro, Tom Foley, Scott Freeny, Gabriel Galanda, Harlan W. Goodson, Jess Green, Marie J. Jones, Joseph M. Kelly, Jerome L. Levine, Michael Lipton, John K. Maloney, Lorraine May, D. Michael McBride III, Sean McGuinness, Frank Miller, Kevin C. Quigley, Dan R. Reaser, Joel M. Rose, Daniel Schiffman, Stephen D. Schrier, Britt Singletary, Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier, Robert W. Stocker II, Robert D. Tobin, David Waddell, Kevin J. Weber, Ellen Whittemore, Dennis J. Whittlesey, Michael E. Zatezalo, and Jane G. Zerbi. For more information about International Masters of Gaming Law members, visit our website at www.gaminglawmasters.com/jurisdictions.

September 2009

Podcasts for IMGL Members: IMGL is pleased to announce that Peter Mead, the publisher of Casino Enterprise Management magazine (which publishes the IMGL Casino Lawyer magazine) has presented the International Masters of Gaming Law with a tremendous new opportunity - podcast interviews on current, topical, state of the law gaming issues. A "podcast" is a 10-15 minute voice interview performed by the Casino Enterprise Management staff which, after appropriate editing, is placed on the Casino Enterprise Management web site under an IMGL heading. If you go to the Casino Enterprise Management web site (casinoenterprisemanagement.com) you will find several podcasts performed by Union Gaming Group half way down on the left column of the first page of the web site. The podcast includes a brief write-up and a picture of the person interviewed. Interview topics will be worked out in advance with each interviewee, including the interview questions. Current plans call for one podcast interview per week assuming existence of relevant current topic and volunteer for the interview. IMGL members interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should send me an email message to that effect. I will then pass your name and contact information on to Peter Mead and his staff for setting up interview, date coordination etc. This podcast program is set to commence immediately. The first couple of podcasts are currently in the works and will be on the website before the IMGL Amsterdam conference. I encourage all IMGL members to consider participation in this podcast program opportunity. If you have any questions regarding the concept, please contact either IMGL president, Bob Stocker at rstocker@dickinsonwright.com or Peter Mead at peter@casinoenterprisemanagement.com.

July 2009

IMGL Election of Officers: The IMGL is pleased to announce the election of the following officers during the recent IMGL Business meeting of its members in Amsterdam on September 23 in conjunction with the IMGL Autumn Conference. The officers will serve in these positions for the calendar year of 2010. As is customary, the geographic location of the IMGL President alternates between North America and outside North America. Please access their member profiles to learn more about them.

President -
Anthony R. Coles, Partner, Jeffrey Green Russell in the United Kingdom

Vice President –
J. Kelly Duncan, Partner, Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, LLP in Louisiana

Secretary –
Joerg Hofmann, Partner, Melchers in Germany

Treasurer –
Michael E. Zatezlo, Managing Partner, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter Co., L.P.A. in Ohio

Vice President Affiliate Members –
Douglas L. Florence, Sr., Director, Gaming Sector, Nice Systems, Inc. in Nevada

Vice President Educators –
I. Nelson Rose, Professor of Law, Whittier Law School in California

Immediate Past President –
Robert W. Stocker II, Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC, Michigan

President's Message

February 11, 2010

Fellow IMGL Members:

Changes at IMGL

It is with a great sense of pride, but also with trepidation, that I step into the shoes of my distinguished predecessors as President of IMGL. As he came towards the end of his two year Presidential term Bob Stocker wrote that a major key to the success of any organisation is periodic change. But I know Bob agrees with me that any change must be for the good and that we must, at all cost, avoid "change for changes sake".

So with my election IMGL now sees changes. It has its first President from outside North America, but members should not worry that this will mean radical change since throughout its history IMGL has always been an international organisation and so the election of the first European President merely enhances that. Indeed it's essential that IMGL continues its worldwide expansion by the election of yet more distinguished gaming lawyers and affiliate gaming industry experts so that IMGL's work of education in the gaming industry can continue.

I'm most fortunate to be assisted in my Presidency by my colleagues Kelly Duncan from New Orleans, as Vice President, Joerg Hofmann, from Heidelberg, as Secretary and Mike Zatezalo, from Columbus, as Treasurer. With these fellow officers, and with the ongoing support from our Executive Director Melissa Lurie, I know that IMGL's success, and its expansion, will continue.

Not only does 2010 bring change in the leadership of IMGL but also the structure of its general membership is under review. Both I, and the other Officers, were in full agreement with Bob Stocker's decision to establish a special committee to review the geographic membership format for general membership. That committee is now completing its work and will be making recommendations to the members for possible adoption during our New York business meeting in mid-May. The work of the committee will, I know, re-emphasise the importance of maintaining the very high quality of the members which is one of its core principles which distinguishes IMGL as an eminent worldwide organisation.

Also introduced in 2010 for the first time is the expansion of the IMGL Regulator of the Year Awards. To reflect IMGL's worldwide presence, and the ongoing expansion of the regulated gaming industry, there are now four categories - North America, Europe, Indian Country and Emerging Jurisdictions. The respective IMGL Committees are already in place to identify candidates for these four Awards and general members will be invited to vote at the appropriate time.

IMGL Events

The IMGL Reception held in London during IGE (formerly ICE) has become an important event in IMGL's year. I'm therefore very happy to report that on 26 January IMGL hosted well over 100 members and guests at its Reception, held for the first time in the Below Zero venue in the centre of London's West End. The work which my partner Nick Nocton puts into organising this event is commendable and his efforts have again resulted in an enormous success. I was also very pleased during the Reception to present to Franz Wohlfahrt, CEO of Novomatic, IMGL's Award for Gaming Executive of the Year.

Following the success of its London Reception, and building on the strength of its conferences in Windsor, Ontario and Amsterdam last year, IMGL is holding its Spring conference in New York City from 19 to 21 May. Led by Frank Catania and Dan Schiffman, the New York organising committee has in place an excellent programme of educational sessions to ensure that IMGL's reputation as the premier international gaming educational organisation continues. Click here for details of the conference and I would urge all members to make arrangements to attend. On Friday afternoon 21 May the conference will be followed by the IMGL business meeting. And in addition to the business sessions the committee is arranging what I know will be a splendid, and unique, Gala Dinner on the evening of Thursday 20 May.

As well as sponsoring other events worldwide (including the i-Gaming Asia Congress and Expo in Macau from 23 to 25 February, the Annual Legal and Business Guide to Gaming in Canada in Toronto on 4 and 5 March, the Asian i-Gaming Congress in Manila from 9 to 11 March and the World Gambling Briefing in Malta from 24 to 25 March) IMGL is also arranging its second 2010 Conference to be held in Madrid, Spain, towards the end of October. More details will follow later in the year.

Expanding the IMGL publications

IMGL's work in education has long been reflected in its publication of "Casino Lawyer", "Canadian Gaming Lawyer" and " European Gaming Lawyer". To augment these IMGL will shortly be publishing its first edition of "La ley del Juego" in Spanish and prepared specifically for the Spanish speaking parts of the world. That IMGL can publish these prestigious journals depends not only on the valuable work of their editors and the contributions which are made by its general and affiliate members, but also on advertising revenue. The journals give all IMGL members an opportunity to advertise their services and products in a highly focused way around the world and at a very reasonable cost. I know from my own experience that advertising in the journals has enabled my firm to expand its international presence and I would urge all IMGL Members to do the same. Full details will be supplied to all members by the respective publishers and are, of course, available from our Executive Director Melissa Lurie and on our website.

Please also remember that articles are welcomed for publication in all of IMGL's journals, as are items for the News Sections.

I'm also very pleased to report that Tony Cabot, another of my most distinguished predecessors, is well advanced in his work in arranging for the publication of the UNLV Gaming Law Journal.

Also available to raise the profiles of IMGL members is our website where members are able to post their profiles and photographs. This is entirely free of charge and if you have not already done so please make arrangements to do so. They can be submitted to Melissa Lurie at IMGLDirector@aol.com

Yet more exposure is available to members by recording a podcast with Casino Enterprise Management. This is yet another benefit which IMGL has arranged and, if you have not already done so, please make arrangements with Melissa Lurie. From my own experience I know that recording a podcast takes only a few moments and is very easily arranged.

Ongoing participation

Do please remember that IMGL is an organisation working for gaming education for the benefit of all of its members, general and affiliate, so do please use the opportunities which IMGL provides. Whether serving on a committee, speaking at an IMGL conference, writing for an IMGL publication or providing a podcast, it's essential that members take an active part in IMGL's work.

That the organisation has since its inauguration expanded so successfully and rapidly is thanks not only to my predecessors in its leadership but also to the active participation of all members. IMGL will continue to enhance the benefits available to members but it is, as ever, important that members continue to take their own active part in our expansion efforts.

Final thoughts

In repeating my thanks to those who have preceded me as the President may I thank all IMGL members for entrusting their organisation to my leadership. I know that I can rely upon their support in what I know will be a demanding, but I'm sure most enjoyable, task as part of the team.

I look forward to seeing all IMGL members at our events during 2010. Meanwhile do please ensure that your comments and suggestions continue to flow to me or to Melissa so that, together, we can continue to build IMGL into a yet greater worldwide organisation for gaming education.

I look forward to seeing you in New York.

Tony Coles
President

click here for the archive
of President's Messages