International Masters of Gaming Law

A time of transition
As I come to the end of my second year as President of IMGL this will be my last Message. I have not only thoroughly enjoyed my time as President but have also found it stimulating, challenging and rewarding. Of course I have been lucky to have been so ably assisted by my colleagues in the IMGL leadership. Kelly Duncan has been an excellent Vice President, Joerg Hofmann an outstanding Secretary and Mike Zatezalo an invaluable Treasurer. Also the sage guidance of my predecessor Bob Stocker has been of immeasurable benefit to me, and to IMGL, and the unstinting work of Nelson Rose, as Vice President - Educator, and of Douglas Florence, as Vice President - Affiliate Members, has been essential to IMGL's continuing success.

Our thanks and appreciating are due to all of my colleagues and also to all of the IMGL members who work to tirelessly for the success of our organisation. It is invidious if I mention only a few but I would be remiss were I not to thank personally Michael McBride for his, and his assistant Betsy Gray's, work with the Membership Committee. Given that IMGL's membership continues to expand Mike's and Betsy's input is constant and time consuming.

Also invaluable have been the contributions by the editors of our journals, Sue McNabb for Casino Lawyer, Michael Lipton for Canadian Gaming Lawyer, Nick Nocton for European Gaming Lawyer and Santiago Asensi and Alfredo Lazcano for La Ley del Juego. Bob Stocker has also contributed by working not only on the launch of La Ley del Juego but also in assisting with the implementation of our plans to reduce the cost to IMGL of publishing its four journals so that, without any diminution in quality, we have been able to commit more resource to new areas.

Another of my Presidential predecessors, Tony Cabot, has taken the initiative of ensuring the launch, and on-going publication, of the prestigious UNVL Gaming Law Journal published by IMGL in conjunction with the Boyd School of Law School University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

And our European members will be receiving an e-mail requesting their assistance in updating the IMGL Regulatory Loose Leaf Service. As part of furthering the educational role of IMGL it is important that this information is updated to take into account regulatory movements occurring around Europe and I hope that that there is a good response, within the planned timeframe, to Justin Franssen in Amsterdam who has agreed to co-ordinate this work with his colleague Alan Littler.

All of IMGL's publications are now firmly established in providing important contributions to gaming law education and each is now an invaluable source of reliable information in the industry.

During the two years in which I have been honoured to have been entrusted with the IMGL Presidency, our members have ensured that we have held excellent, well-attended and highly regarded conferences in New York, in Madrid, in the Napa Valley and in Vienna. Not only have IMGL's conferences grown in reputation but they have also enhanced IMGL's standing in the industry. And we have been most fortunate in that, with the assistance of our sponsors and the efficient organisation of the chairs of the four organising committees, each conference has returned a significant profit to IMGL.

I must also pay special tribute to Melissa Lurie, who works so ably as Executive Director and who has assisted me so much during my Presidency. I know that we all appreciate Melissa's commitment to IMGL - and I am pleased that she has agreed that, with effect from January 2012, she will work full-time for IMGL. Our expansion means that IMGL now requires Melissa's constant attention and I know that she will be enthusiastic in working whole heartedly for our organisation's on-going success.

Under the leadership of my successor Kelly Duncan and with the assistance of Joerg Hofmann, as Vice President, Mike Zatezalo, as Treasurer, Jamie Nettleton, as Secretary, Douglas Florence, as Vice President - Affiliate Members and Keith C. Miller, as Vice President - Educator, and Melissa as Executive Director, I know that the International Masters of Gaming Law will go from strength to strength during 2012 and beyond.

Forthcoming Events
The first event under Kelly Duncan's Presidency will be the Reception which is now traditionally held in January in London during ICE. For 2012 the Reception will again be jointly arranged by IMGL and my own firm Jeffrey Green Russell and will be held on Tuesday 24 January. All members should already have received an invitation and do please let Melissa Lurie know if you plan to attend. You are also welcome to invite clients and contacts but again please ensure that Melissa is informed. The London Reception is becoming ever more popular and we need to ensure that there is space for everybody who wants to come.

For the first time, IMGL will, on Wednesday 25th January, be organising a joint ICE gaming law conference with our friends from the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA). This will take place at Earls Court, the ICE venue, under the auspices of Clarion, the Show organisers, and is free for all registered ICE delegates. I know that this first collaboration with IAGA is welcomed and I believe that it will be the first of many such future events. Also for the first time IMGL will have a booth on the floor of the ICE Show itself.

Of course IMGL will continue to run its own two gaming law conferences each year. The first in 2012 will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, from Sunday evening 15 April until Tuesday 17 April. Following the success of the Spring 2011 conference in Napa, the Scottsdale committee is again headed by John Maloney and John Roberts. Further details will be circulated shortly so that registrations can be made. The Spring Conference will again be held on the dual track basis which we began in Napa so as to enable Native American and International panels to operate side by side. And of course IMGL will be organising its traditional conference networking events.

In the autumn of 2012 IMGL will hold its first gaming law conference in London. The tentative dates are from 17 to 19 October and the London committee, headed by John Hagan and my partner Nick Nocton, is already being formed. Next October London will be reflecting on what we all trust will have been very successful Olympic and Para-Olympic Games and I know that many IMGL members are looking forward to our first conference here in London.

IMGL will continue to hold its networking Reception at EiG (in conjunction with GamingLaw.eu) and its networking Reception at the Stirling Club in Las Vegas during G2E. IMGL will, of course, also have its traditional booth at G2E.

For the first time, it is planned that in 2012 IMGL will hold a Reception during G2E Asia in Macau. G2E Asia takes place between 22 and 24 May and it is also intended that, again for the first time, IMGL will take a booth at the Show.

Please remember that if you wish to assist with our booths either at ICE, at G2E Asia or at G2E you should please let Melissa Lurie know. Manning a booth provides invaluable opportunities to present a member's expertise and enables members to have valuable interaction with Show attendees.

IMGL Awards
It has been most pleasing each year to have had the opportunity to present the IMGL Executive of the Year Award and the Regulator of the Year Awards. I know the recipients have been most appreciative of the honour which IMGL has bestowed on them.

The expansion of the Regulator Awards, so as to cover four different categories, has been an important recognition by IMGL of the expansion of regulated gaming around the world.
Work is in hand on the identification of the recipient of the IMGL Gaming Executive of the Year Award which will be made during the Scottsdale Spring Conference.

Reminder
Invoices for your 2012 dues subscription will be sent shortly. Payment in U.S. dollars by cheque, wire transfer or credit card is accepted. We listened to the member feedback we received and have now added an online secure site for your credit card payment through our website www.GamingLawMasters.com. Could you please arrange to make your payment promptly so as to assist IMGL's budgeting and cash flow.

Conclusion
I know that in 2012 IMGL will continue to expand its work as the leading worldwide gaming law educational organisation as well as continuing its tradition of organising relevant, up-to- date and high quality conferences. It will also continue its work in its gaming law publishing.

In thanking all members for entrusting to me the IMGL Presidency may I again congratulate Kelly Duncan on his appointment and assure him of my own, and of all our, support.

We in the Northern Hemisphere are now well into winter but may I wish those members in the South, who are now into their summer holiday season, a refreshing and stimulating break. May I also take this opportunity to offer my best wishes to all IMGL members for a happy, prosperous and safe 2012. I look forward to seeing you in London in January or in Scottsdale in April or, I hope, in both.

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

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