Regulator of the Year
Phil Crawford
These awards, which continue the IMGL mission of “Advancing Gaming Law through Education”, are given annually to the Regulators whom we consider have been preeminent in the regulatory field and whose overall body of work as a regulator has made noteworthy contributions to the regulation of the industry so as to add to the stable regulatory environment in their jurisdiction. The recipient of IMGL’s award is identified as a person of the highest integrity who has demonstrated outstanding service to the gaming community.
IMGL 2023 Regulator of the Year: Phil Crawford, Australasia
Philip Crawford’s career spans forty plus years in law and regulatory roles, enabling him to cultivate an understanding of the ways in which the liquor and gaming industries contribute benefits as well as harms to society. Mr Crawford was a leading practitioner in litigation, insolvency and restructuring, and alternative dispute resolution. Recognised as one of Sydney’s leading mediators, Philip served as the Chairman of Partners at law firm Henry Davis York from 2010 until 2015, before running his own mediation practice.
His professional association with the liquor and gaming industries began in 2016 when he was appointed Chairperson of the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA). As ILGA Chairperson, Philip played a crucial role in assessing the suitability of Crown Resorts to hold a license for the Barangaroo restricted gaming facility. He was instrumental in initiating two inquiries that led to significant NSW legislative reform and higher standards for casino operators in NSW and across Australia. Philip was appointed as Chief Commissioner of the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) in 2022; a new regulatory agency set up in response to the inquiries, for the sole purpose of regulating The Star and Crown Sydney casinos.
Philip has continued to apply his legal and regulatory expertise to ensure a balance between supporting a sustainable hospitality industry and meeting community expectations for the safe supply of liquor and gaming products. He emphasises the importance of identifying and addressing contexts that increase the risk of harm, such as poor governance and compliance cultures, ineffective internal controls, and a reliance on gaming revenue. Philip has overseen the remediation efforts of Crown Sydney and The Star, including their board and executive renewals and the implementation of deep structural change around governance, anti-money laundering measures, and corporate culture.
Philip’s awareness of gambling as a popular form of entertainment on the one hand and a potentially dangerous product on the other, informs his approach to risk-based regulation. Philip is committed to providing NSW casinos with the appropriate level of support and supervision to provide safe, responsible, and compliant operations that are resistant to criminal infiltration and equipped to minimise gambling harm
2023
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2023
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Latin America
Martín García Santillán
President of Loteria de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
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2023
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Australasia
Phil Crawford
Chair of NSW Independent Casino Commission
2018
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2018
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Australasia
Michael Sarquis
Executive Director, Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Australia
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2018
Outstanding Achievement Award
Americas
AG Burnett
Partner, McDonald Carano
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2018
Regulator of the Year
Americas
Sara Tait
Partner, Ice Miller LLP
-
2018
Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Gordon Dickie
Executive Director of the Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission, Seminole
-
2018
Regulator of the Year
Europe
Juan Espinosa Garcia
Director General de Ordenación del Juego, Spain
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2018
Outstanding Achievement Award
Europe
Joseph Cuschieri
Executive Chairman, Malta Gaming Authority
2017
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2017
Gaming Regulator of the Year
North America
Ronnie Jones
Regulatory Consultant,
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2017
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Dave Vialpando
Iipay Nation
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2017
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Terry Hale
Seminole
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2017
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Birgitte Sand
founder and CEO, birgitte sand & associates aps
2016
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2016
Gaming Regulator of the Year
North America
Alan Godfrey
Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission
2015
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2015
Gaming Regulator of the Year
North America
Mark Ostrowski
Administrator/Executive Director, Illinois Gaming Board
-
2015
Gaming Regulator of the Year
South and Central America
Manuel San Roman Benavente
General Director of Casino Games and Slot Machines, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Peru
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2015
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Jenny Williams
Commissioner and Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, Great Britain
2014
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2014
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Peter Bernhard
Former Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Commission
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2014
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Americas
Stephen Martino
Director, Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency
-
2014
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Carlos Hernandez
General Director of the DGOJ, Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations, Spain
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2014
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Thomas Russell
Commissioner, Pokagon Band Gaming Commission
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2014
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Asia / Australasia
Malcolm Richardson
Director of Compliance and Investigations, Department of Business, Northern Territory Australia
2013
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2013
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Americas
David L. Rebuck
Executive Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
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2013
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
John N. Roberts
Deputy Commissioner, San Manuel Gaming Commission
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2013
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
No award was given
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2013
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Evolving Jurisdictions
Giselle Ivelin Brea Rodriguez
Executive Secretary, Gaming Control Board of Panama
2012
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2012
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Americas
Kevin O'Toole
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
-
2012
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Jamie Hummingbird
Director, Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission
-
2012
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Guido Schluetz
Senior Government Official, Gambling Regulation and Supervision, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
-
2012
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Evolving Jurisdictions
Kaye McDonald
Director of Gaming, Financial Services Regulatory Commission of Antigua & Barbuda
-
2012
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Americas
Mark Lipparelli
Chairman, Nevada State Gaming Control Board
2011
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2011
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Indian Country
Norman H. DesRosiers
Commissioner, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission
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2011
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio
Deputy General Director, General Direction of Gambling, Spanish Ministry of Finance
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2011
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Evolving Jurisdictions
Manuel Joaquim das Neves
Director, Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau
2010
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2010
Gaming Regulator of the Yearx
Americas
Jack Ketterer
Administrator, Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission
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2010
Gaming Regulator of the Yearx
Indian Country
Brett Barnes
Gaming Commissioner, Eastern Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission, Missouri
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2010
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Europe
Morten Ronde
Head Legal Advisor, Danish Gaming Board
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2010
Gaming Regulator of the Year
Evolving Jurisdictions
Francisco Javier Leiva
Superintendent, Superintendence of Casinos of Chile
2009
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2009
Randall E. Sayre
Member of the Board / Administrative Division, Nevada Gaming Control Board
2008
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2008
Francesco Rodano
Head of Remote Gaming, Amministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato (AAMS)
2007
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2007
Dennis Neilander
Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Board
2006
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2006
Peter Dean
Chairman, Gambling Commission, Great Britian
2005
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2005
Larry Gregory
Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission
2004
-
2004
Phil Hogen
Member - National Indian Gaming Commission
-
2004
Nelson Westrin
Member - National Indian Gaming Commission
-
2004
Cloyce Choney
Member - National Indian Gaming Commission
2003
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2003
Bobby Siller
Member, Nevada Gaming Control Board
2002
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2002
Harlan Goodson
Director of the Division of Gambling Control, Department of Justice, State of California Attorney General's Office