IMGL Napa Conference
By Sharron Harris

Dubbed “Wine Country,” Northern California’s scenic Napa Valley is situated in one of America’s most breathtaking regions. The International Masters of Gaming Law will showcase Napa’s beauty during its annual spring conference. The meeting will be held at the Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville from May 21–23, 2008.

Conference Co-Chair John Maloney of Maloney & Tabor Inc. in Las Vegas and Sacramento campaigned for the Villagio as the winning destination because of its 112 spacious guestrooms arranged in two-story building clusters, with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi. The Villagio’s personalized service and ambiance is reminiscent of gracious, elegant earlier times.

“We chose the Villagio because of its smaller, more intimate size, away from the hectic pace of crowded metropolitan areas. It is adjacent to the Vintage Inn, and both are part of the Vintage Estate resort. This 23-acre property is the Napa Valley’s preferred AAA – Four Diamond destination. It will be impossible for anyone to gripe about this venue,” Maloney claims.

Although only a 60-minute drive from three major airports — San Francisco, Sacramento and Oakland — Yountville has retained its rural charm. Maloney says, “We wanted our attendees to experience the wonders of the region. They can enjoy the finest dining within a short walk.”

Newly inaugurated IMGL President Robert Stocker, a partner at Dickinson Wright PLLC in Lansing, Mich., is delighted with the locale of the group’s first conference under his leadership. Stocker assumed the presidency in January following his tenure as vice president.

“The IMGL is excited to return to Napa Valley, the site of the very first IMGL educational conference. The Napa conference line-up is excellent, and the surroundings are superb. Attendees will have an outstanding experience,” Stocker said.

The comprehensive conference will stress relevant legal and financial issues that affect both U.S. and international casino operations. Maloney estimates between 150 and 200 registrants will attend, representing the legal, regulatory, executive, supply, educational and marketing segments of the gaming industry. “We anticipate a cross-section of attendees from both the commercial and tribal categories, plus an international audience from Europe, Mexico and Eastern Europe,” he said.

Tony Cabot, a partner at the Lewis and Roca law firm in Las Vegas, claims the seminar program has proven vital in attracting attendees to IMGL conferences. “The quality of the speakers and the diversity of the seminar topics play a key role in the planning of our panels. We always strive to offer the most current, useful information from professionals whom we consider to be experts in their fields,” he said.

Stocker agrees that the tasks of developing the seminar topics and recruiting high-caliber speakers are crucial elements of the program. He states, “The IMGL is dedicated to presenting educational programs conducted by industry leaders who are able to engage in candid, highly informative discussions of current challenges facing the gaming industry.”

Seminar topics will include new technology, labor issues, machine gaming, Internet horseracing and financial discussions, plus updates on domestic and international jurisdictions. The sports betting panel will benefit from the expertise of IMGL member Ben Hayes as the moderator. In his prior career, Hayes pitched for two years while playing for the Cincinnati Reds in the early 1980s. His experiences will add a personal dimension to the topic of sports betting.

While many conferences limit their discussions to commercial gaming, Maloney believes that California’s explosive Tribal Gaming industry has created a platform for some vital conversation. The opening seminar, called “Regulatory Compliance – Tribal and Compact Requirements,” will examine Indian Gaming’s regulatory issues. Moderator Norm DesRosiers, commissioner of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), and his panel will explore the many complexities of Indian Gaming.

DesRosiers says: “I recently spoke on a panel advising attorneys on how they can guide their gaming clients through the regulatory maze, especially with respect to the licensing process or potential licensing sanctions. The discussion was limited to commercial gaming, which is generally much simpler. These companies must comply with the laws and regulations of only the state government where they wish to do business.”

Savvy attorneys, manufacturers and suppliers now recognize the economic impact of Indian Gaming. DesRosiers states: “Almost one-third of all money wagered on any gambling in the United States occurs at an Indian Gaming facility owned by a recognized tribal government. There are approximately 225 such sovereign tribal governments operating an estimated 440 properties.”

DesRosiers believes professionals must fully understand the requirements of successfully interacting with Indian tribes and jurisdictions. Federal law — and often state compacts — require each tribe engaged in gaming to have its own regulatory agency or gaming commission.

This agency is empowered with the same regulatory/licensing authority and responsibility enjoyed by other governmental jurisdictions. DesRosiers would like to see a larger field of gaming attorneys familiar with Indian Gaming law who are also able to deal with tribal governmental regulatory authorities.

“Gaming manufacturers and suppliers must apply for and obtain a valid Tribal Gaming license before doing business with the tribe,” he said. “A vendor must know and comply with the legal and regulatory requirements of three sovereign governments — tribal, state and federal — just to engage in business with one tribe. Added to that process is the requirement to separately obtain a license in each of the 220 tribal jurisdictions where the vendor may wish to conduct business”

Executive Director John Roberts of the San Pasqual Tribal Gaming Commission in Valley Center, Calif., is a scheduled speaker on DesRosiers’ panel. California’s Indian tribes are facing potential threats from the government, and Roberts will report on the state of affairs within the Golden State.

According to Roberts, the recent Colorado Rivers Indian Tribes (CRIT) decision has affected Tribal Gaming nationwide. CRIT decreed that the NIGC could not legally enforce Class III gaming, an important economic element at many Indian casinos.

The California Gaming Control Commission (CGCC) has proposed a plan, called “CGCC8,” which would assume the regulation of Class III games at California’s Indian casinos. Roberts labels that scenario as unacceptable. He has been asked to chair a new task force, established by the Tribal State Association, which will review the situation and make recommendations.

In addition to the tribal compliance panel, a second seminar will review the “Do’s and Don’ts of Financing an Indian Casino.”

International visitors from established and emerging jurisdictions, or those who currently conduct business across the oceans and U.S. borders, will want to attend the “Gaming and Compliance in Russia, South America and Mexico” workshop, which will address global compliance issues. Moderated by Gordon Dickie Sr., VP of business development, government affairs and compliance, and GM of worldwide sales, for Cadillac Jack Inc., the discussion will tackle compliance challenges in those emerging markets. Speakers will include operating and manufacturing executives and attorneys who are experts in both Class II and Class III equipment.

Dickie has vast experience on the manufacturing and regulatory sides of the industry. He remains confident of the regulatory integrity in newer jurisdictions. Dickie wants to educate the audience as to the solid reputations and professionalism of those foreign companies.

“As I have ventured into new markets for investigations, I have seen that the concerns among U.S. companies are unfounded,” he said. “The mystique of underhanded business techniques in Russia, South America and Mexico is just not accurate. That’s not to say that they do not have their issues, but then so do companies in the United States.”

Dickie maintains that in those countries where he has worked with regulators, there is a series of internal controls to ensure safe and honest gaming. “Gaming is worldwide, but it is really a small industry. The international due diligence officers operate with the same integrity as those in the United States,” he said.

An additional international seminar will provide a general overview of gaming throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, Australia and Asia.

The conference will also emphasize relaxation and recreation. The annual dinner, a highlight event, will be coordinated under the watchful eye of John Maloney’s father, Jack. As a lifelong Northern California resident, the elder Maloney’s keen familiarity with the region makes him the perfect banquet planner.

“There are several world-class dining venues within close proximity. One very possible candidate for the group is the unique Castello di Amorosa castle in nearby Calistoga. The stone, doors and abutments for this facility are carbon copies of an authentic Tuscan castle and are imported from Italy,” he said.

The castle is the dream of winemaker Daryl Sattui of the Sattui Winery in St. Helena. Unlike Medieval construction methods, which took generations to complete, Castello di Amorosa was built in a “mere” 15 years. Its 170 container loads of timbers, bricks and metalwork were formed over an open fire in Tuscany, replicating the craftsmanship from bygone centuries. The castle also has 121,000 square feet of underground cellars and 900 linear feet of caves.

Jack Maloney also recommends a spouse’s excursion to COPIA, a working museum that provides wine tasting. Located in the heart of the Napa Valley, the non-profit center celebrates wine and its relationship to food and our culture. It offers visitors wine tasting, art exhibitions, organic edible gardens, shopping, and casual and fine dining, plus live entertainment. The legendary Julia Child inspired its Julia’s Kitchen dining room. Could there be a better way to learn and loosen up at the same time? For further information, contact Melissa Lurie (IMGLDirector@aol.com) or call (303) 449-9955. Registration forms are available at www.IMGLConference.com.