International Masters of Gaming Law

This month's issue of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiner’s monthly Fraud magazine includes an article featuring a case worked on many years ago by IMGL member Craig L. Greene. The article, entitled “Preventing Kickback Schemes” can be read in its entirety at:
http://www.fraud-magazine.com/article.aspx?id=4294967730.

March 4, 2010

Gaming Regulation Experts Present Three-Part Webinar Series on Anti-Money Laundering, Customer Privacy and Terrorism Regulations

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

August 1, 2010

Fellow IMGL Members:

IMGL website addition

We are continually working to offer new materials to our IMGL members through this website. I am pleased to announce that the IMGL Casino Law and Regulations materials, formerly only available on a subscription basis as printed looseleaf materials, is now available on this website. All materials are available for viewing as PDFs, free of charge to all IMGL members. These materials can be accessed through the “members only” section of the “member services” tab, and can be viewed once you've logged in with your user ID and password. The materials are, of course, still available in print by subscription.

Madrid

Santi Asensi, the IMGL General Member in Spain, is already leading a superb organising committee; I know that the arrangements being made will be the parallel of those in New York. All IMGL members should ensure that they and their relevant colleagues — as well as their clients and contacts — make arrangements to be in Madrid in October. The selected host location Hesperia Madrid is very good, and the cost most reasonable. Madrid is an easy city to reach from around the world and the conference follows directly after the European Interactive Gaming Expo (EiG) in Copenhagen, which many IMGL members will be attending and contributing to.

Bylaw Changes

On the occasion of the New York conference, IMGL members held their first business meeting for 2010. The change in membership criteria which had been under discussion for some time, and organised by the committee so ably headed by Tony Cabot, was approved. There is now a different basis for General Membership which is no longer geared specifically to the individual jurisdiction of General Members— nor is there a limit on the number of General Members in any particular jurisdiction. However IMGL continues to place great emphasis on ensuring that only the very best gaming lawyers are admitted to membership and accordingly the requirements for a successful application have been strengthened. Any new application for General Membership must be supported by three sponsors, two of whom must have been members for over five years. Also an applicant for General Membership must show independent verification of significant expertise as a gaming lawyer.

There has been no change to the requirements for the admission of Affiliate Members and IMGL continues to require that all applicants for membership are experts in their particular sector. IMGL is most appreciative of the very valuable contribution which all of its members, General and Affiliate, make to its work and to the advancement of education in the industry throughout the world and I do therefore hope that applications for both General and Affiliate membership will continue to flow to Michael McBride who is leading the Membership Committee this year.

I am pleased to confirm that since the beginning of 2010, eight new General Members and 22 new Affiliate Members have joined IMGL. I am also very pleased to report that, with only a couple of exceptions, all previous members have renewed for 2010, so that IMGL is in great heart to go forward.

IMGL Events

As well as working on the plans for IMGL's own conference in Madrid we will be co-hosting a Reception during the EiG in Copenhagen on Tuesday 19 October in conjunction with the IMGL European members who constitute Gaminglaw.eu.

Our Madrid conference will be followed by G2E and again IMGL will be hosting its very popular Reception at the Stirling Club. This year it is on Tuesday 16 November.

Regulators of the Year

At the Madrid and Las Vegas events IMGL will be recognising its Gaming Regulators of the Year. Please remember that, to accommodate the vast increase in gaming regulation around the world and IMGL's presence in so very many jurisdictions, there are now four categories of Gaming Regulator. Awards will therefore be made to the 2010 Indian Country Gaming Regulator of the Year, the 2010 Americas Gaming Regulator of the Year, the 2010 European Gaming Regulator of the Year and the 2010 Evolving Jurisdictions Gaming Regulator of the Year. Nominations for these four awards on due on August 10.

Other Events

In addition to its own events IMGL is sought after to sponsor other conferences. It is therefore pleased to endorse:

Latin American iGaming Congress (LaiG)
September 1-2, Uruguay.
Produced by Clarion Gaming
www.laigcongress.com

International Gambling Law Summit
September 22 - 23
London, United Kingdom
www.c5-online.com/gambling
** IMGL members to receive a discount conference rate of 1299 (british pounds)

Asian Casino & Gaming Congress
October 5-7, Singapore.
Produced by Beacon Events.
IMGL members receive 15% off.
www.sportsbettingasiacongress.com

European i-Gaming Congress & Expo (EiG)
October 19-21, Copenhagen.
Produced by Clarion Gaming.
www.eigexpo.com

IMGL Publications

IMGL continues the expansion of its publications and you will be aware that the UNLV Law Journal is now being published. This is in addition to IMGL's ongoing publication of Casino Lawyer, Canadian Gaming Lawyer, European Gaming Lawyer and of course La Ley del Juego, the first of IMGL's journals in Spanish which has been so very well received. It therefore joins the other journals as an important contributor to IMGL's educational work.

Final thoughts

I know that all IMGL members work tirelessly on behalf of their clients but may I ask them to think of adding to their tasks the service of IMGL through membership of one of its many committees. I know that time is precious but all members do, I know, value the contribution which they make to IMGL's work.

My grateful thanks to all hard working IMGL members and I look forward to seeing you in Madrid, if not before.

Tony Coles
President - IMGL
Partner
Jeffrey Green Russell
Waverley House
London W1F 8GQ
United Kingdom

click here for the archive
of President's Messages