IAGR names first female President

Hensel, who is the Director of Licensing for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, succeeds Serobi Maja, CEO, Limpopo Gambling Board, South Africa. She is the first female elected to oversee the association.

Maja commented, "I am pleased to hand over the Presidency to Susan who is a very capable leader and knowledgeable gaming regulator. I know that Susan is the ideal person to continue IAGR's growth as an independent association."

Other gaming regulators in both the United States and other parts of the world also praised Hensel's dedication to casino regulation and her leadership.

"Director Hensel has provided great leadership and commitment in an important transition period for our organization," says Mark Lipparelli, Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and Treasurer of the IAGR Board of Trustees. "This independent group of regulators has established itself as the new forum for worldwide cooperation and education at a time when it is more relevant than ever and we look forward to Susan's leading role at IAGR."

André Wilsenach, Executive Director of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission in the Channel Islands says Henselas been a long-standing and highly valued member of the Association and brings not only her knowledge of gaming regulation to the position, but also her experience of working with regulators around the world.

"Having worked with Susan, I am convinced she will lead the Association to higher heights in building much valued relationships amongst regulators and various interest groups around the world," Wilsenach says.

Upon becoming president, Hensel thanked Maja for his leadership and stated, "We are indebted to South Africa for the generosity it has shown in hosting our inaugural independent conference. Under Serobi's leadership, we have made significant progress over the past year but we cannot rest. We must build on the momentum by establishing IAGR as a resource for thought leadership and encouraging cooperation among regulators around the world. I look forward to leading IAGR at this exciting time in its history and together with the Board of Trustees will work to further develop IAGR as the premier international association of gaming regulators."

The following officers were also elected to lead IAGR in 2011-2012: Mike Sarquis, Executive Director, Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Australia as Vice-President; Mark Lipparelli, Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Board, United States as Treasurer and James Chan, Singapore as Secretary.

The following were elected to IAGR's Board of Trustees:

Trustee Atle Hamar, Norway 
Trustee Mike Hill, New Zealand 
Trustee Serobi Maja, South Africa 
Trustee Lau Peet Meng, Singapore
 
Trustee Birgitte Sand, Denmark 
Trustee Jenny Williams, Great Britain 
Trustee Andre Wilsenach, Alderney 

The conference, which was held October 23-27, 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, was attended by more than 180 regulators From 31 jurisdictions, the highest attendance by regulators at an IAGR conference to date. Among the topics covered during the conference were Technological Developments and Challenges in Internet Gaming; Problem Gambling and the Impact of New Technology and Social Media; Best Practices on Testing and Certification of Gambling Equipment; Integrity in Sports Betting; Licensing Regimes; International Cooperation; Junket Operators: East vs. West; Pre-Commitment of Gaming Machines and Central Monitoring Systems.

The conference featured an opening address by Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry for South Africa and a keynote address by Professor Peter Collins, Executive Director, South African Responsible Gaming Foundation who discussed Ethics in Business, Politics and the Regulation of Gaming.

Begun in the 1980's, IAGR works to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of gaming regulation throughout the world and provides a forum in which gaming regulators from various countries can meet, exchange views and information, and discuss policy issues. In addition, IAGR creates a means of fostering cooperation between gaming regulators in the performance of their official duties and is a central point of contact for inquiries from governments, gaming regulatory agencies and personnel, and representatives of the international gaming industry.

IAGR will hold its 2012 annual conference in Singapore.