IAGR re-elected President at Asia conference

She is credited with enhancing the association’s standing as a worldwide forum for regulatory cooperation and education and with leading the association to record membership during her first year in office.

CEO Jenny Williams, Great Britain Gambling Commission and an IAGR Trustee, commented, “IAGR has grown substantially in the last year thanks to Susan’s leadership.  Her unanimous re- election reflected the energy and commitment that she has applied so successfully to working with the trustees and the membership to develop the organization.  We are fortunate that Susan was willing to continue and I am confident that with her leadership IAGR will continue to flourish.”

Following the election, Hensel stated that she plans to build on the organization’s success by focusing on the initiatives undertaken in the last year, including raising IAGR’s visibility as a resource for thought leadership, identifying opportunities to encourage cooperation among gaming regulators through expanded strategic relationships with like-minded associations, and continued membership outreach efforts.  

Hensel thanked the Singapore Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) for hosting the association’s inaugural event in Asia, “Singapore planned a world class event that provided the perfect forum for our members to share best practices, forge relationships and learn from global gaming experts.  We are indebted to the CRA and its Chief Executive, Lau Peet Meng, for providing us this opportunity to witness the success of the Integrated Resorts concept.  We are impressed with how quickly and comprehensively Singapore’s regulatory regime was developed.  IAGR was fortunate to be able to bring this year’s conference to Asia, where the industry is growing exponentially.  As a result of this conference, we return home better regulators than when we came.”

The following officers were also elected to lead IAGR in 2012-2013: Lau Peet Meng, Chief Executive, Casino Regulatory Authority, Singapore as Vice-President; A.G. Burnett, Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Board, United States as Treasurer and Trude Hogseth Felde, Senior Advisor, The Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority as Secretary.

The following were elected to IAGR’s Board of Trustees:
           
Trustee    Joseph Borg, Malta               
Trustee    Dale Fuga, Canada
Trustee    Atle Hamar, Norway
Trustee    Serobi Maja, South Africa
Trustee    Kaye McDonald, Antigua
Trustee    Bheki Mlambo, South Africa
Trustee    Birgitte Sand, Denmark
Trustee    Mike Sarquis, Australia
Trustee    Jenny Williams, Great Britain
 
The conference, which was held October 21-24, 2012, was attended by close to 200 regulators from 34 jurisdictions, the highest attendance by regulators at an IAGR conference to date.

Among the topics covered during the conference were:  Developments in Asian Gaming: The World's Largest Market?; Social Gaming: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing?; Future Trends in Gaming: Challenges and Opportunities; International Transfer of Test Results; Understanding and Mitigating Money Laundering / Terrorism Financing Risks in Casinos; Sports Betting and Integrity - The Role of the Gambling Regulator; Responsible Gambling; and International Developments: A Pathway to Cooperation?.
 
The conference featured an opening address by Singapore’s Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, S. Iswaran, and a keynote address by James Maida, CEO, GLI, who discussed Future Trends in Gaming: Challenges and Opportunities. The conference was also addressed by Mr. Tan Boon Gin, Director, Commercial Affairs Department, who shared Singapore’s measures in preventing the risk of money laundering in casinos, and Mr. Ng Ser Miang, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee who discussed the threats of sports betting.

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. 

Newly elected IAGR Treasurer, A.G. Burnett, commented on the importance of the association to his jurisdiction, "As Chairman of the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, I feel our relationship with IAGR and its membership is crucially important.  IAGR is a forum for understanding new trends in gaming regulation and forging bonds that allow us to merge interests, share information, and stay up to speed on emerging 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 next annual conference in Oslo, Norway in September 2013.