News


President's Message

October 1, 2009

Fellow IMGL Members:

Welcome to the entirely new International Masters of Gaming Law website. 

The website has many new features that place greater focus on the individual IMGL members as gaming professionals, IMGL gaming publications, IMGL member gaming articles, IMGL sponsored and supported gaming conferences and reports on what is happening in the gaming industry.  Please take a moment to browse the many new features of the website.  There will be a continued expansion of website features during the coming weeks so visit the website often. 

In a separate letter to all IMGL members I will describe how all IMGL members can maximize their connectivity through use of the new website's many features.

I am pleased to announce that Randall E. Sayre has been selected as the 2009 IMGL Gaming Regulator of the Year in recognition of his outstanding work as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.  Mr. Sayre will be featured in the upcoming edition of Casino Lawyer.  The award will be presented to Mr. Sayre at the IMGL reception being held at the Stirling Club during the 2009 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in November in Las Vegas.  Reception details will be announced shortly.

I am also pleased to announce that Franz Wohlfahrt, CEO of Novomatic AG, has been selected as the 2009 IMGL Gaming Executive of the Year in recognition of his outstanding leadership of gaming equipment manufacturer Novomatic AG.  Mr. Wohlfahrt will be featured in the next edition of European Gaming Lawyer.  The award will be presented to Mr. Wohlfahrt at the IMGL reception being held in London in January 2010 during the International Gaming Expo (formerly ICE).  Reception details will be announced shortly.

The IMGL conference in Amsterdam was a tremendous success.   Notwithstanding the difficult economic times, attendance at the conference was consistent with past IMGL European conferences.  The panel presentations were excellent and well received.  Holland Casino hosted an excellent reception at its Amsterdam casino.  In addition, the conference participants and their significant others had a great time on a dinner cruise.  Kudos go out to the IMGL Amsterdam conference committee members for their excellent work.

At the conclusion of the Amsterdam conference the IMGL Board met and took several important actions.  The Board elected as the 2010 IMGL officers (who take office on January 1, 2010) the following individuals:  President - Anthony Coles (United Kingdom); Vice President - Kelly Duncan (Louisiana); Secretary: Joerg Hofmann (Germany); Treasurer: Michael Zatezalo (Ohio); Douglas Florence - Affiliate Vice President (Nevada); and I. Nelson Rose - Vice President -Educator (California).  As is obvious from this list of elected leaders, the International Masters of Gaming Law is truly an international organization. 

In addition, in furtherance of the continued expansion of the International Masters of Gaming Law on a worldwide basis, the Board authorized amendments to the IMGL Bylaws that (1) create a new Affiliate Member category - Compliance Officers and (2) streamline the process for General Member approval of membership applicants who have been recommended for membership by the IMGL Membership Committee.

The most recent edition of European Gaming Lawyer has been sent to all IMGL members and was distributed at both the EiG Conference in Copenhagen and the IMGL Conference in Amsterdam, where it was well received.  Nick Nocton was awarded the IMGL President's Cup at the IMGL Amsterdam Conference for his outstanding work as the editor of European Gaming Lawyer.  

The upcoming edition of both Casino Lawyer and Canadian Gaming Lawyer will be distributed at G2E. 

The International Masters of Gaming Law is committed to continuing its educational outreach efforts to all elements of the gaming industry and to those individuals and businesses that are interested in becoming involved in the gaming industry.   Our new interactive website is just one indication of our continuing commitment to both quality and depth of discussion of the many compelling issues facing today's international gaming industry.

Robert W. Stocker II, IMGL President
Dickinson Wright PLLC
215 South Washington Square Suite 200
Lansing, Michigan 48933
rstocker@dickinsonwright.com
Phone:  +1.517.487.4715
Fax: +1.517.487.4700

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