IMGL 2018 Autumn Conference

September 5 - 7, 2018

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Overview

September 5-7, 2018
Prague, Czech Republic

Host Hotel: Carlo IV (formerly known as Boscolo Prague)

The 2018 IMGL Autumn Conference was held at the Dedica Anthology’s Carlo IV hotel (formerly known as Boscolo Prague).

Click on the links below to view photo albums from the conference.

Sponsorships

Gala Dinner Sponsor

SAZKA Group
sazkagroup.com
The SAZKA Group is one of Europe’s largest lottery and gaming operators with household brands in Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece and Italy. The aggregate annual amount of bets placed with companies in which the SAZKA Group holds an ownership interest are in excess of EUR 17 billion and are served through 65 thousand points of sale as well as through online channels and offered under respective licences. The SAZKA Group is strongly committed to responsible gaming, player protection and corporate social responsibility. The SAZKA Group is owned by two international investment groups, KKCG and EMMA Capital.

Opening Reception Sponsor

CMS Law
cms.law
As gambling legal experts, whether you want to establish a new company, obtain a license or need market leading gambling tax advice, CMS provides a one-stop service. Their well-established and experienced gambling practice comprises lawyers drawn from practices including our Commercial & Regulatory, Corporate, Tax, Dispute Resolution, Financial Services, EU & Competition and Intellectual Property groups. Their expertise, which is particularly deep in European markets, extends to all gambling products including betting, gaming, lotteries, prize competitions and promotions, both remote and land-based. They additionally have market leading financial services expertise which underpins our advice on payments issues and anti-money laundering. With a presence in over 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia, CMS are a top choice for legal advice in the ever-evolving gambling sector.

Closing Reception Sponsor

Play’n GO
playngo.com
Play’n GO is an award-winning game producer and leading casino platform supplier that has been in business for over 10 years. For both online and retail casino operators who are looking to increase revenue and customer loyalty, Play’n GO offers products that deliver original, fun experiences across any channel. Unlike most, our products are based on unique inspirations, creativity and are backed by a solid back-office platform.

Bronze Sponsors

BMM Testlabs
bmm.com
BMM is the longest established and most experienced private independent gaming certification lab in the world, providing professional technical and regulatory compliance services to the gaming industry since 1981. BMM is a systems-expert company that has provided consulting for and tested many of the largest gaming networks and systems over the last 35 years. In addition, BMM has been successfully testing and certifying the full scope of Class III casino products for over two decades. BMM authored the first set of independent gaming standards in 1992 and the first set of online gaming standards in 2001. BMM employs some 300 people in 13 global locations and serves over 440 jurisdictions.

Butler Snow
butlersnow.com
Butler Snow LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 350 attorneys and advisors collaborating across a network of 25 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Ranked as a leading firm for client relations and one of America’s Top 100 law firms in the BTI Power Rankings, Butler Snow is recognized as one of the nation’s top law firms for client service. The firm was recently ranked 48th out of 650 firms in the BTI Client Relationship Scorecard for understanding our client’s business, anticipating client’s needs, unprompted communication, legal skills, quality and keeping clients informed. For more information, visit www.butlersnow.com or follow Butler Snow on twitter @Butler_Snow.

Casino Trac
tabletrac.com
Table Trac, Inc. was founded in 1995 as a Nevada-company and is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company is publicly-traded (TBTC.QB). Table Trac, Inc. develops and sells a suite of casino management products system that automates and monitors the operations of a casino, using the name of CasinoTrac, a total casino management system with functionality modules for guest rewards and loyalty club, marketing analysis, guest service, promotions administration/management, vault/cage management, and audit/accounting. The Company currently has systems installed in 130 sites throughout North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean.

Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers
AGEM.org
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) is a non-profit international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of electronic gaming devices, lotteries, systems, table games, online technology, key components and support products and services for the gaming industry. AGEM works to further the interests of gaming equipment suppliers throughout the world. Through political action, regulatory influence, trade show partnerships, educational alliances, information dissemination and good corporate citizenship, the members of AGEM work together to create benefits for every company within the organization. Together, AGEM has assisted regulatory agencies and participated in the legislative process to solve problems and create a business environment where AGEM members can prosper while providing a strong level of support to education and responsible gaming initiatives.

IGT
igt.com
IGT is the global leader in gaming. We enable players to experience their favorite games across all channels and regulated segments. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world.

WH Partners
whpartners.eu
WH Partners was formed in 2012 by Olga Finkel and James Scicluna and built on the successful practice run by Olga Finkel from 2006 called WH Law. The firm has now established itself as a leading Malta-based business law firm best known for its strong understanding of the digital economy as well as for advising stake holders in the fields of education, financial services, gaming & gambling, leisure & hospitality, real estate, taxation and wealth management. The firm’s corporate, M&A, tax, IP, employment and regulatory lawyers are very active advising businesses across a raft of these areas. The firm’s private client practice deals on an ongoing basis with high to very high net worth individuals and with family offices on matters ranging from succession planning and residence to yacht and aircraft registration. The firm predominantly operates from its Maltese offices as well as having consulting rooms in London. WH Partners is passionately committed to supporting CSR work and continue to work tirelessly with a number worthy causes. The firm’s lawyers are among the strongest in Malta in their respective practice areas and are well regarded by regulators and clients for their thoroughness, efficiency and knowledge of their clients’ business, as well as their versatility.

Fox Rothschild
foxrothschild.com
Fox Rothschild LLP is a national law firm with nearly 800 attorneys practicing in 22 offices coast to coast. We’ve been serving clients for more than a century, and in 2017, we were recognized as the 80th largest law firm in the nation by The American Lawyer. Ranked by Chambers Global among the top gaming lawyers worldwide, Fox is home to one of the largest gaming law practices in the United States, complete with skilled attorneys who possess decades of experience helping clients domestically and internationally achieve success in this highly regulated industry.

NOVOMATIC Group
novomatic.com
NOVOMATIC is one of the largest integrated conglomerates of the international gaming industry. Founded by the entrepreneur Prof. Johann F. Graf the Group comprises affiliated companies in 45 countries, produces high-tech gaming devices and exports to 80 countries. Consistent investments in research and development, an eagerness to do pioneer work, a distinct feeling for trends and a total commitment to quality have made the NOVOMATIC Group a major player of the international gaming industry. Responsible Gaming, an extreme customer focus, respectability and technological trendsetting as well as quality standards which are exemplary in the gaming industry and beyond, build the foundation of international success.

Schedule

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, September 5

15:30-17:30
IMGL MEMBER MEETING
Aida Room
18:00
OPENING RECEPTION
Zofin Garden
Sponsored by CMS

Attendees will need to meet in the lobby by 17:15 to stroll to the event.
Transportation will be available if necessary.
Buses will be in front of hotel at 17:25 to leave for Zofin Garden.
A map is available here for your view should you choose to walk.

If anybody would like to arrange their own private transport, below are the contact details for secure taxi service in Prague. Both companies offer cars for more than 7 people, but they also need enough time in advance to order these cars. Normally they are in the centre and will be available upon request within a couple of minutes. A representative from Zofin Garden will be there so she can help people order a taxi if necessary.

AAA taxi

(+420) 4014, (+420) 222 333 222, (+420) 729 331 133.

Profi taxi

(+420) 140 15; (+420) 261 31 41 51

Uber works in Prague as well for those who prefer such service.

Thursday, September 6
Morning – Plenary
Aida Room

9:00 – 9:10
WELCOME AND CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
Jamie Nettleton, IMGL President

9:10 – 9:30
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Robert Chvátal, CEO, Sazka Group

9:30 – 10:15
Gambling and Its Contribution to Economic Growth
Impacts of gambling industry on economy varies greatly around the globe. The panel will discuss and compare contribution of land based and online business on the economy, effects of recent consolidation and large scale M&As on various industry stakeholders, as well as ways to manage gambling business reputation with investors and the general public.

Moderator: Olga Finkel, Managing Partner, WH Partners, Malta
Speakers:
Michael Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group, USA
Hitoshi Ishihara, Partner, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Japan
Heathcliff Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Gaming Authority, Malta
John McManus, Executive VP, General Counsel and Secretary, MGM Resorts International

10:15 – 11:00
How Can We Keep Crime Out of Gambling
The panel will discuss differing approaches to the common regulatory imperative of keeping gambling free from crime and the proceeds of crime. Issues will include the role of casino operators in the fight against money laundering, recent regulatory enforcement activity focussing on AML/CTF breaches, as well as what it really means to “know your client”. The session will also address the relevance of a player’s source of funds and source of wealth, and investigate new challenges presented by cryptocurrency.

Moderator: Simon Planzer, Partner, Planzer Law, Switzerland
Speakers:
Donna More, Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP, USA
Jeff Ifrah, Founding Partner, Ifrah PLLC
Chris Elliott, Solicitor, Wiggin LLP
Matthias Spitz, Senior partner, MELCHERS Law Firm

11:00 – 11:30
NETWORKING BREAK
External Foyer
11:30 – 12:30
Sports Betting in the USA: Now that the gloves are off…who wins?
After the Supreme Court decision striking down PASPA this year, the individual states are now open for sports betting…if they want to be. The panel will discuss the impact of Murphy v. NCAA, the status of the various states opening or looking at sports betting and who the winner and losers will be in the short run and the long run.

Moderator: Marc Ellinger, Principal, Ellinger and Associates, LLC, USA
Speakers:
Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier, Partner, Snell & Wilmer, LLP, USA
Keith Miller, Professor of Law, Drake University Law School, USA
Jeremy Kleiman, Member, Saiber, LLC, USA
Filippo Ferri, Director of IGaming and New Product Strategy BMM, Spain
12:40 – 13:50
IMGL LUNCHEON
Opera Room

Thursday, September 6
Afternoon Tracks
Aida + Tosca Room

Track 1: Tech in Gaming • Track 2: Regional Updates

14:00 – 14:45
Track 1: Blockchain (Aida Room)
This panel will discuss whether blockchain technology is revolutionary for gambling, what DLT based gambling-applications have been launched, whether they’ve gained traction or are likely to, what, if any, are the technology limitations and whether regulators and operators should invest in understanding and adopting this technology, or rather mostly continue to wait and see.

Moderator: James Scicluna, Partner, WH Partners, Malta
Speakers:
Andreas Glarner, Legal Partner, MME Legal | Tax | Compliance, Switzerland
Ana-Maria Baciu, Partner, Nestor Nestor Diculescu, Kingston Petersen, Romania
Joseph F. Borg, Senior Advisor, WH Partners, Malta
Gil White, Partner, Herzog Fox & Neeman
Lau Kok Keng, Partner and Head – Intellectual Property, Sports & Gaming, Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Track 2: Sportsbetting – lessons to learn from regulated markets (Tosca Room)
Now that sports betting is a reality in the USA, we will hear from panelists in countries where sports betting has been regulated for many years about the pitfalls which US sports betting operators need to be aware of. We will look at the relationship between sport and betting including integrity, data rights, advertising and sponsorship.

Moderator: David Zeffman, Partner, CMS, London
Speakers:
Jamie Nettleton, IMGL President and Partner, Addisons Lawyers, Australia
Joe Kelly, Partner, A&L Goodbody, Ireland
Alla Serebrianskai, Partner, Asensi Abogados, Spain
Stefano Sbordoni, Partner & CEO, Sbordoni & Partners, Italy
Diane Mullenex, Partner, Head of Gaming and Gambling Practices, Pinsent Masons, France
Tom Russell, General Counsel, Genius Sports, UK
15:00 – 15:45
Track 1: GDPR (Aida Room)
The panel will discuss the first practical experience within the gambling sector with GDPR implementation and will focus on what the main challenges and opportunities were, and how the business has adapted so far. Building on that, the panelists will also discuss what can be expected in the area of privacy in the nearest future and will inevitably touch upon the expected ePrivacy Regulation and what it could mean for the gaming sector. Although the panel with have a strong European focus, the privacy landscape outside the EU and relevant developments will also be discussed.

Moderator: Vojtech Chloupek, Partner, Bird & Bird, Czech Republic
Speakers:
Simon Brown, Senior Privacy Manager, Paysafe, UK
Sean McGuinness, Partner, Butler Snow LLP, USA
Alan Heuston, Partner, McCann FitzGerald, Ireland
Alexia Couccoullis, Partner, Constantinos N. Couccoullis & Associates, Greece

Track 2: Latin America (Tosca Room)
Radiography of Latin America
While some jurisdictions in Latam are adapting their gaming regulations to new products, others are under discussions about how their markets should legalize gambling. Colombia has been the first jurisdiction within the region regulating online gambling and is already preparing new drafts for demanded products. A few years ago, Mexico was about to modernize its old gambling regulatory regime but the Gambling Bill got frozen due to political issues. Brazil seems to be on the edge of adopting the big step of liberalizing gaming but it seems a never-ending “take off”. This session is intended to cover questions like: What is the regulatory status of some of the major jurisdictions within the region? How should international operators face the common obstacles at the time of entering in these markets? Or, is the Latam region a market just for local companies?

Moderator: Santiago Asensi, Managing Partner, Asensi Abogados, Spain
Speakers:
Neil Montgomery, Founding and Managing Partner, Montgomery & Associados, Brazil
Francisco Del Real, Corporate & Regulatory Compliance Lawyer, Lazcano Sámano, S.C., Mexico
Juan Camilo Carrasco, Lawyer, Asensi Abogados, Colombia
Victor Araneda, International Business Development Director, Gaming 1, Colombia

15:45 – 16:15
NETWORKING BREAK
External Foyer

16:15 – 17:00
Track 1: Artificial Intelligence and Gaming: Benefits and Risks (Aida Room)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no science fiction; it is a multi-billion dollar industry vertiginously growing with almost no regulations.

The purpose of the panel is to analyze the interaction between AI, privacy and gaming; for example, the implications of AI in privacy rights, pros and cons of self-regulation in new technologies, the great importance of corporate ethics in the use of AI, the exponentiality of reputational risks in the age of Internet, the role of AI in responsible gaming, among others.

Moderator: Alfredo Lazcano, Gaming, Sports & Entertainment Lawyer, Lazcano Samano, S.C., Mexico
Speakers:
Ian Ince, Head of Regulation and Compliance, Playtech, UK
Hugo Luz dos Santos, International Legal Consultant; Chair of the Board of the Panel of Vantage 10, Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Law and Society; and PhD Researcher of the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau, China, Portugal
Chad Hoehne, President & CEO, Table Trac Inc., USA
Martin Britton, Managing Director, GLI EMEA, UK
Track 2: It’s Hot in the Nordics (Tosca Room)
This Panel shall present the status of the ongoing liberalization of the Swedish online gambling market and what to expect when the Swedish market opens per 1 January 2019. It is as up to date as it gets, as the license process in ongoing as the conference is taking place. Further central part of the upcoming legislation has finally been presented. The Swedish liberalization is very inspired by the previous liberalization of the Danish online gambling market. On this basis, the panel, presented by an international gaming lawyer with panel members which are experts both on Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, will touch upon relevant topics of interest for operators, affiliates and digital (CPC/email) marketers targeting the lucrative Scandinavian markets. A special focus shall be made on the extent of the Swedish and Danish online gambling licenses and the current state of affairs in Norway and Finland, as well as how the local authorities in these jurisdictions can protect companies holding a valid local license from competition from international (.com) sites without said license.

Moderator: Tal Itzhak Ron, Chairman and CEO, Tal Ron, Drihem & Co., Law Firm, Israel
Speakers:
Rolf Sims, Manager of Public Affairs, Kindred Group; Previously Senior Legal Advisor, Ministry of Culture, Norway
Ola Wiklund, Partner, Wiklund Law, Sweden
Nina Henningsen, Partner, Horten, Denmark
Ilkka Aalto-Setala, Partner, Head of Competition and Public Procurement, Borenius Attorneys, Finland
18:00 – 22:30
RECEPTION AND GALA DINNER
Lobkowicz Palace
Sponsored by SAZKA Group

**Lobkowicz Palace is approximately 15 minutes away from Carlo IV. There will be transportation provided at Carlo IV which will accommodate guests to the Palace; please meet in the main lobby of the hotel at 17:15 if you intend on using this arranged style of transportation. If you plan on using your own mode of transportation, please give yourself plenty of time to arrive at Lobkowicz Palace.

Also, please note that if you take your own transportation (taxi or uber), the car will only be able to drop you off down below from the main entrance of the palace due to security purposes.

Friday, September 7
Morning – Plenary Sessions
Aida Room

9:25 – 9:30
WELCOME
Jamie Nettleton, IMGL President
9:30 – 10:15
Regulatory ”Intervention”
The total gambling advertising ban recently introduced by the Italian government set the stage for a regulatory tsunami affecting not just the local gaming industry but also collateral sectors like sports and media largely benefiting from money generously poured by the operators to market their brands. Now more than ever gaming regulations appear to be driven and implemented in a way and with dynamics that are not the outcome of a sound and fair consultation and interaction process between regulators, operators and other concerned stakeholders, but rather as a result of heavily biased, often ill-judged and very populist political moves aimed at gaining easy and fast consent from the constituencies. Will the latest Italian-style regulatory job make waves also across the Alps?

Moderator: Quirino Mancini, Partner, Tonucci, Italy
Speakers:
Francesco Rodano, Chief Policy Officer, Playtech, Italy
Morten Ronde, IMGL/Nordic Gambling, Denmark
Don Bourgeois, Principal, Gaming & Regulation Group Inc., USA
Bill Bogot, Partner, Fox Rothschild, USA

10:15 – 11:00
How Can the Industry be Truly Socially Responsible?
The panel will be addressing the social challenges that the industry is facing today, how does it react to those and how could it do things better. We will thus discuss players behaviors today versus say 10 years ago. How do Millennials behave compared to their predecessors? How does the way games are played and hence how they are designed impact responsible gambling initiatives? How can the use of data analytics assist in tackling problem gambling? How can the industry address the societal issue it faces (and, according to some, it causes), both operators, suppliers as well as regulators.

As such, we will also discuss the models governments have followed for gambling advertising – self regulation, regulatory intervention or harsh total advertising ban. Where gambling is seen more as a vice than a form of entertainment, is advertising for gambling a form of enticing addiction? What are the marketing effects on wider society? In this context, do contributions for good causes count? What is the right balance between regulating the market and let it trade freely?

Moderator: Cosmina Simion, Partner, Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen (NNDKP), Romania
Speakers:
Sebastian Blohm, Global Head of Corporate & Legal Affairs, ZEAL Network SE, UK
David McLeish, Partner, Wiggin LLP, UK
Jessica Maier, Melchers Law, Germany
Andrew Zammit, Managing Partner, GVZH Advocates, Malta
11:00 – 11:30
NETWORKING BREAK
External Foyer

11:30 – 12:30
The Gaming Industry in 2018 — Where to Now?
2018 has been a very significant year in the development of the gambling sector with the liberalization of sports betting in the United States and the expansion of casinos in Europe and Japan, as well as other markets. But is expansion what 2018 will be remembered for? There has also been considerably greater restrictions brought into place in mature markets, such as Italy, the United Kingdom and Australasia.

This panel will discuss the trends that have emerged in 2018 and what it means for the gambling sector going forward. What should the sector focus on? Existing markets? Expansion of gambling and non- gambling services?

Moderator: Jamie Nettleton, IMGL President and Partner, Addisons Lawyers, Australia
Speakers:
Hilary Stewart-Jones, Consultant, Harris Hagan LLP, UK
Joerg Hoffman, Senior Partner, Melchers, Germany
Lau Kok Keng, Partner, Rajah & Tann, Singapore
Yahaya Maikori, Partner, Law Allianz, Lagos
Chris Hobbs, CEO Microgaming
12:30 – 13:45
LUNCHEON
Opera Room

Friday, September 7 Afternoon
Discussion Groups

Attendees will note that on this afternoon of the conference agenda, there are four Discussion Groups. Each will be facilitated by panelists from different jurisdictions and are designed to enable IMGL to remain at the forefront of the industry’s regulatory development. The Conference Committee believes that IMGL should continue to show leadership in the key issues and challenges affecting the industry. As such, the Prague sessions will cover the following topics:

· Being a socially responsible industry

· Keeping crime out of the gaming industry

· Diversity in the gaming industry; and

· The convergence of the gaming and video games industries.

Nearer the time, we will publish discussion points on the conference website and ask delegates to prepare questions in advance in order to participate in the discussions on the day.
ROUND ONE
14:00 – 15:15

Track 1: Keeping Crime Out of Gaming
Aida Room
Facilitators:
Tamsin Blow, Partner, CMS, London
John Maloney, Principal and General Counsel, Law Offices of John K. Maloney, USA
Gordon Dickie, Executive Director, Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission, USA
Britt Singletary, Partner, Singletary & Thrash, P.A., USA

Track 2: Promoting a Socially Responsible Industry
Tosca Room
Facilitators:
Michael Lipton, Senior Partner, Dickinson Wright LLP, Canada
Trevor de Giorgio, Chief Legal Officer, Greentube, Malta
Steve Ketteley, Partner, Wiggin LLP, UK
Adam Rivers, Associate Director, KPMG LLP, UK

Track 3: Diversity in Gaming
Carmen Room
Facilitators:
Donna More, Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP, USA
Mike McBride, Chair, Indian Law & Gaming Practice Group, Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C., USA
Diane Mullenex, Partner, Head of Gaming and Gambling Practices, Pinsent Masons LLP, France
Veronique Dos Reis, Legal, Compliance and Regulatory affairs Manager, Pinnacle Sports, USA

15:15 – 15:45
NETWORKING BREAK
External Foyer
ROUND TWO
15:45 – 17:00

Track 1: Keeping Crime Out of Gaming
Aida Room
Facilitators:
Tamsin Blow, Partner, CMS, London
John Maloney, Principal and General Counsel, Law Offices of John K. Maloney, USA
Gordon Dickie, Executive Director, Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission, USA
Britt Singletary, Partner, Singletary & Thrash, P.A., USA

Track 2: Promoting a Socially Responsible Industry
Tosca Room
Facilitators:
Michael Lipton, Senior Partner, Dickinson Wright LLP, Canada
Trevor de Giorgio, Chief Legal Officer, Greentube, Malta
Steve Ketteley, Partner, Wiggin LLP, UK
Adam Rivers, Associate Director, KPMG LLP, UK

Track 3: When Gambling and Games Collide
Carmen Room
Facilitators:
Justin Franssen, Head of Gaming, Sports & Entertainment Practice Group, Kalff, Katz & Franssen, Amsterdam
Piotr Dynowski, Partner, Bird & Bird, Poland

17:00 – 17:10
CLOSING REMARKS
from the IMGL President

17:10 – 18:40
CLOSING RECEPTION
Carlo IV, External and Internal Foyer
Sponsored by Play’n Go

Events

Wednesday, September 5

18:00 (6:00 pm)
Opening Reception
Zofin Garden

Zofin Garden is in a tranquil setting in the busy heart of Prague on Slovansky ostrov. The garden is about a 25 minute walk through scenic areas of Prague including Franciscan Garden, Wenceslas Square, and the National Theatre. Weather permitting, the reception will be held outside in the garden and in the gazebo.

Attendees will meet in the hotel lobby by 17:30 (5:30 pm). In the event of rain, coaches will be available.

This year’s fall conference opening reception is sponsored by CMS.
For more information, visit the Zofin Garden website.

Thursday, September 6

18:00 (6:00 pm)
Gala Dinner
Lobkowicz Palace

The Lobkowicz Palace is a part of the Prague Castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic.This 16th-century palace (the only private facility inside Prague Castle) boasts a breathtaking panoramic view that enhances the unique, cultural experiences housed within: The Collections, concerts, café and elegant event rooms. The Lobkowicz name is synonymous with refined elegance, art, and culture and will provide us an event with unique and unforgettable creativity, and flawless event execution.

The palace was built in the second half of the 16th century by the Czech nobleman Jaroslav of Pernštejn (1528-1569) and completed by his brother, Vratislav of Pernštejn (1530-1582), the chancellor of the Czech Kingdom. It was opened to the public for the first time on 2 April 2007 as the Lobkowicz Palace Museum. Set in 22 galleries, the museum displays a selection of pieces from the Lobkowicz Collections, including works by artists such as Antonio Canaletto, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Diego Velázquez, as well as decorative art, military and hunting paraphernalia, musical instruments, and original manuscripts and early prints of composers including Beethoven and Mozart.

This year’s fall conference gala dinner is sponsored by Sazka Group.

Get more information on the Palace here.

Speakers

Ilkka Aalto-Setala

Ilkka has worked over 20 years with antitrust matters. Ilkka advises companies and governmental agencies on competition and marketing law issues at national and EU level, including abuse of dominant position, cartels, state aid and public procurement. Ilkka also litigates on a regular basis before the Finnish Market Court and the European Commission.

Ilkka has advised numerous domestic and foreign clients on M&A transactions and cooperation arrangements. Important authority bodies, such as National Emergency Supply Agency have also been among his clients. Ilkka is the chairman of the Competition Law Expert Group of the Finnish Bar Association. He is currently also a member of the working group investigating changes to the current Competition Act which came into force in November 2011. The Ministry of Employment and Economy appointed the working group on 28 August 2015. Ilkka heads Borenius’ Competition & Public Procurement team.

Victor Araneda

Director of International Business Development at GAMING1. Victor was responsible for the Belgian’s Casino & Sports Betting group first operations outside the EU, as they became the first European company to obtain an online license in Colombia. He currently oversees GAMING1’s interests and expansion in the United States as well as other soon-to-be regulated markets. He often holds workshops on online legislation and mitigation of illegal operators for different regulators in LATAM. He’s been an executive in the iGaming industry since 2005, previously serving seven years as Territory Manager for Bwin.Party in Latin America. He’s an Engineer in Business Administration.

Santiago Asensi

Santiago Asensi is the Managing Partner of Asensi Abogados and is an expert attorney in Gaming & Gambling Law. Asensi represents most of the major operators and gaming services providers, being deeply involved in all the regulatory developments carried out for this industry. Asensi provides legal advice to a large number of bookmakers, poker, casino, bingo and skill games operators (online and terrestrial), software providers, slot suppliers with interests located in Spain and Latin America as well as to gaming jurisdictions. Asensi is General Member for Spain of the IMGL, member of IAGA and one of the European co-partner law firms of the portal Gaminglaw.eu. Santiago is included in the Global Gaming & Gambling section of the leading publication Chambers Global. Asensi has been awarded this prestigious inclusion within “Band 1” from 2009 to 2013. Since 2014, Santiago has been ranked as “Star Individual”, a distinction only received by 3 lawyers world-wide. Asensi has been awarded as the “best service provider” in Spain for the gambling industry by the Association Jdigital in 2014 & 2016. He is co-author of the Gaming Law Book (Editions 2012 / 2014/2017) published by Thomson Reuters and of the Spanish Gambling Market Report for MECN (Editions 2007 / 2011). Likewise, he is the co-editor of the magazine “La Ley del Juego” published by IMGL. During the last years, Asensi has also acted as the official advisor of Coljuegos (the Colombian Gambling Regulator). In 2016, Asensi has opened an office in Bogota in order to represent international clients.

Ana-Maria Baciu

Anna-Maria Baciu is Partner with NNDKP, a pioneer of business law in Romania. She co-head the Gaming and Consumer Protection & Advertising practices of the Firm together with Cosmina Simion and she is also the Partner coordinating the IP and Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare practices. Aside from her legal work and managerial responsibilities for the past 13 years with the Firm, she was involved in initiatives regarding NNDKP’ s day-to-day life, which included roles such as the Partner championing its marketing activity, IT activity and internal procedures. In the gaming field, she has been guiding betting & gaming companies, solution providers for the gaming industry, marketing affiliates, other companies with interest in this sector, as well as industry relevant associations, on the full range of regulatory and operational gaming aspects, including by providing assistance and representation before the Romanian regulator. Over the past years, she has played an active role in the process of drafting the primary and secondary gaming legislation. She also participates in the official meetings held by the Consultative Council of the Romanian regulator, which address important issues related to the development of the local market. Complementarily, she is a regular contributor to industry dedicated publications.

Sebastian Blohm

Sebastian Blohm is a corporate affairs professional with substantial knowledge in the areas of public affairs, corporate communication, legal affairs and business development. He has a strong track record in highly regulated, digital and disrupting industries. He has also had leading roles in international strategy roll-outs and department set-ups throughout Europe and the USA.

Tamsin Blow

Tamsin Blow is a Partner in the Litigation and Arbitration Group, specializing in commercial, media and public law dispute resolution. Tamsin draws on over ten years’ experience with the firm to offer clients strategic and commercial advice on potential and on-going disputes. Tamsin acts in substantial commercial disputes including multi-jurisdictional fraud cases for claimants (such as the former subsidiaries of Yukos Oil) and defendants. Tamsin supports clients through reputation management issues and times of crisis. She draws on her expertise in defamation, data protection and privacy law and her investigations experience, including as advisor to News International in relation to the voicemail interception crisis. Tamsin also has particular expertise advising gambling operators on a full range of contentious legal and regulatory issues, including supplier disputes, customer disputes, judicial reviews, Gambling Commission investigations and license reviews and anti-money laundering and social responsibility policies and procedures. Tamsin is a strong supporter of CMS’ CSR programme, in particular coordinating support for the Ladies Day initiative by Whitechapel Mission, which provides support to the homeless and vulnerable in East London.

William Bogot

Bill represents clients before government agencies in highly regulated industries. He has worked for all three branches of the Illinois government: the executive, legislative and judiciary. As a former legal adviser to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), he authored many of Illinois’ gaming regulations and advised the IGB and the governor’s office on all aspects of gaming law and regulation. Bill draws upon this and his other government experience to counsel clients in gaming and other industries that have regulatory oversight. Bill guides gaming industry companies, suppliers and investors in navigating complex gaming laws. He regularly represents gaming licensees in proceedings before the IGB and has successfully enjoined the IGB from taking away gaming licenses. Bill also serves as the co-chair for the Chicago Bar Association’s Gaming Law Committee. Bill counsels clients on promotional sweepstakes, contests, fantasy sport leagues and charitable raffles, ensuring that such programs comply with state and federal laws and do not constitute illegal gambling. Additionally, Bill regularly litigates in administrative hearings, trial courts and appellate courts. In addition to the IGB, Bill’s experience includes representing clients with the Illinois Racing Board, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Elections, the University of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, the Illinois Secretary of State, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Cook County Department of Revenue, and countless municipalities. His litigation experience also includes acting as lead counsel in state and nationwide class actions, and handling commercial and regulatory disputes between competitors. Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Bill was a partner at Nixon Peabody (previously Ungaretti & Harris). Bill was also Acting General Counsel and Legal Counsel to the Illinois Gaming Board for over seven years. Early in his legal career, he was Assistant General Counsel to the Illinois House of Representatives and the judicial law clerk for the Honorable Aaron Jaffe in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Bill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz (1990), a Master of Public Health degree in health policy and administration from the University of Illinois, Chicago (2006), and a Juris Doctor degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law (1994).

Joseph F. Borg

Dr. Joseph F. Borg is an Advocate and Partner at WH Partners, heading the Blockchain Advisory and the Gaming and Gambling Advisory sections of the firm. He also practices in the areas of Esports, Corporate, IT, Telecoms and Intellectual Property Law. He also lectures Gaming Law at the University of Malta. Joe occupied the role of Secretary General of the Malta IT Law Association (MITLA) for over 3 years and is a Co-Founder and currently the Vice-President of Bitmalta, which is a non-profit organization with a mission to promoting and stimulating discussion about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Malta. Before joining WH Partners he occupied the post of Chief Regulatory Officer of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority – Malta. Joe was also an elected Member on the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), a position which he held throughout 2012. He had originally joined the Authority in March 2007 as Director Legal and Enforcement and has occupied this position for almost 4 years. Before joining the Authority, Joseph, acted as a Legal Counsel to Vodafone Malta Limited for three years. Joseph was conferred with an LL.M. in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), with Distinction. Earlier, he was awarded the LL.D. from the University of Malta, after writing and successfully defending a thesis entitled, ‘Protection of Trademarks Against Domain Names’. In November 2000, Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal and Humanistic Studies. Joseph went on an Erasmus Exchange in 2002 at the Facolta di Giurisprudenza of the Universita’ degli Studi di Bologna. In 2009 he completed a Regulator Development Program organized by the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (UNLV). In 2012 he was awarded a certificate in Casino Management by the UNLV.

Don Bourgeois

Don Bourgeois is a Principal of Gaming & Regulation Group Inc. and has a private practice of law. Don has over 20 years of experience in the gaming sector, primarily in executive positions, in all aspects of the gaming sector, including casinos, charitable gaming, lottery, internet gaming, and horse racing. He was most recently General Counsel for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, where he was also Deputy Registrar. He was previously counsel for the Ontario Racing Commission and its Executive Director. Don was the architect of the AGCO’s shift to a risk-based approach to regulation and the modernization of the Gaming Control Act and its regulation, the development of the Registrar’s Standards and Requirements, the Registrar’s eligibility assessment process for applicants for registration or licensing, and the AGCO’s regulatory assurance program. He is active in his community and is also the recipient of several awards and honours, including The Amethyst Award for Outstanding Achievement by Ontario Public Servants, AMS/John Hodgson Award in recognition of his leadership, development of the law and service in the charitable arena, The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Canadian Gaming Association’s Industry Leadership and Outstanding Contribution.

Martin Britton

Martin Britton is the Managing Director of GLI EMEA. Offices covered being The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, South Africa and UK. In his current position he oversees the entire operation for GLI EMEA with a key focus on customer service and assisting regulators in emerging markets.

Mr. Britton has over 19 years of experience in the gaming industry. His success from Technical Director to Commercial Director for TCS/John Huxley demonstrated his talents as he increased the growth of the business, designed products, worked with legislators and implemented key agreements with customers, suppliers as well as with distributors. He later became the Commercial and Technical Director of VIP Gaming, developing gaming products and then moved onto Cyberview Technology as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Britton joined GLI 10 years ago overseeing the engineering area in The Netherlands and has expanded his role to the current position.

Mr. Britton received his education at the University of the West of England in electrical and electronic engineering and telecommunications. He furthered his management studies at the Soundwell Technical Institute of Industrial Managers.

Simon Brown

Simon has been working in the field of data protection and privacy for nearly 20 years and provided privacy advice across a number of industries including: law enforcement (DPO for Hampshire Constabulary), telecommunications, technology (BlackBerry), and financial services (Barclays & Paysafe Group).

Simon joined Paysafe in September 2017, having been privacy lead for mobile applications and on-line banking propositions at Barclays. He provides a breadth of knowledge on UK, EU and Global privacy laws and regulations with a particular focus on digitalization, technology and innovation in the financial services industry.

He is a Fellow of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (FIP) holding CIPP/E, CIPP/C and CIPM and has a LL.M in Information Rights Law and Practice from the University of Northumbria.

Juan Camilo Carrasco

Juan Camilo Carrasco is a lawyer with extensive experience in corporate and financial law.

Juan Camilo has developed his professional career since 2002 as a lawyer in various financial institutions and law firms in Colombia, advising client leaders in their respective sectors in insurance, reinsurance, M & A, private contracts and corporate, becoming expert in commercial, insurance and financial law.

During his career, he has provided support in the areas of regulatory compliance, money laundering (SARLAFT) and charters, and also has extensive experience different entities represented at the control entities of the Colombian public administration.

Since 2015, Juan Camilo has been head of Asensi Abogados in Colombia providing support for the new regulated market of online gaming.

Juan Camilo, is a lawyer from Universidad de la Sabana, with studies in International Business Law of Centro de Estudios Garrigues and Harvard Law School, studies in conciliation and conflict resolution, certificate in dispute resolution.

Juan Camilo speaks Spanish, English.

Vojtech Chloupek

Vojtěch is a Partner in the Czech Bird & Bird office and Head of the Intellectual Property, Tech & Comms and Media groups in Czech Republic and Slovakia. His expertise covers intellectual property (IP)/ information technology (IT) law, gaming and media law. He also regularly assists clients in connection with various data protection and related compliance matters, as well as competition law matters. For the past 5+ years Vojtěch has been actively involved in advising gaming companies on a broad range of legal issues including provision of online system operations, preparation of contractual documentations, related licensing and regulatory matters as well as enforcement of intellectual property rights. He is an author of the Czech chapter in Duisberg A., Picot H. The Law of Video and Computer Games and the Czech Chapter in 3rd edition of Thomson Reuters’ Gaming: A Global Guide from Practical Law. Vojtěch has been repeatedly recognized as a leader in his field of expertise (Intellectual Property and Technology, Media & Telecommunications). He received ILO Client Choice Award 2014-2015 and was named WIPR Leader by World IP Review and IP Star by Managing IP (2016, 2017). In addition to his membership in IMGL, he is the President of LES Czech Republic and Slovakia, local representative of ITech Law and active member of ALAI.

Alexia Couccoullis

Alexia Couccoullis is a graduate of Athens College. She continued studying at the Legal Faculty of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and subsequently she attended the University of London, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, where she was awarded MPhil in 2011, in the subject: “The European Company with a comparison focus to the legal systems of Greece, Cyprus and UK”. She continues in the same University as a researcher to obtain further doctorate on the subject “The Gaming Industry and compliance with the International and European regulations”. Alexia Couccoullis is a member of the Athens – Greece and Nicosia – Cyprus Bar Association and partner of the Law Firm “Law Offices Couccoullis & Associates” with active independent presence in Greece Cyprus, and in Europe via Warwick Legal Network (International Association of Independent Law Firms). She undertakes the study, proposal and design of corporate transformation for Groups of Companies based in Greece and abroad from national companies to European Companies – Societas Europaea. Moreover, she is a national expert on Greece and Cyprus of the European research center Max Planck Institute for European criminal law on issues related with fraud, corruption and the European Arrest Warrant in European researches, following awarding by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). She is a specialized partner of the Instituto Europeo de Derecho, which assigns her to provide national reports for Greece and Cyprus in EU matters following the Council of Europe assignment. Due to her expertise she is cooperating closely with Greek and Cypriot Banks and Insurance companies’ compliance departments providing legal reports. In 2011 she was accepted as a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Furthermore, she specializes in international, commercial and investment arbitration, certified by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London. She is also Harvard Law School educated. Since 2012 she is nominated as one of the 100 Arbitrators for the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is also an Accredited Mediator and a Mediator Trainer by the International Mediation Institute (I.M.I). Due to her specialization and her experience in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution, she became one of the 11 founding members and Secretary General of the Institute for Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (IADR) and Coordinator – Edition’s Advisor of ADRmag (quarterly journal of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry exclusively on alternative dispute resolution). She often expresses her views on legal matters in the areas of her expertise, by writing articles and is regularly interviewed, in leading Greek newspapers (“Kathimerini”, “Naftemporiki”), and in special publications in Greece and abroad. Also, she has long publication on gaming focused editions. She participates as a speaker at conferences in Greece and abroad, and she is often the keynote speaker on major conferences on gaming in Greece as well as in Europe. Last but not least, she is the scientifically executive and leading trainer in Arbitration Seminars organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She speaks English, German and French.

Trevor de Giorgio

Dr. Trevor De Giorgio is currently employed at Greentube Malta as the Managing Director, Head of International Legal Compliance. In this role Trevor has focused on international regulatory and public affairs for Greentube. Trevor also looks into the different markets / jurisdictions which exist in the online gaming sector and following an in depth analysis pushes forward the projects associated with obtaining a license in a particular market and subsequently ensure full compliance, together with the compliance team, within such markets. Before joining Greentube, Trevor worked within the Lotteries and Gaming Authority’s Legal department paying particular attention to EU Affairs and Developments. In this role Trevor drafted the LGA’s position on a number of European Issues as well as attending European Council meetings in Brussels. Prior to this Trevor was employed as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dr. Simon Busuttil MEP at the European Parliament in Brussels followed by a year long experience at Ganado Sammut Advocates. Trevor was conferred with an MA in European Law and at the University of La Sapienza (Rome). Earlier, he was awarded an LL.D. from the University of Malta, after writing and successfully defending his thesis entitled, The Constitutional Implications of a Hung Parliament’. In November 2003, Trevor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal and European Studies. Trevor was also a Local Councilor in his locality, Balzan. Specialties: European Union Law, Gambling Law, Regulatory and Compliance Affairs.

Francisco Del Real

Francisco Del Real is a Mexican lawyer with ten years of experience in Corporate Law and Regulatory Compliance, focused on the gaming, sports and entertainment industry. He has collaborated in the drafting of several academic articles and also as speaker in the most relevant events of gaming law. He is partner at Lazcano Sámano, S.C., one of the most renowned and experienced law firms in the Latin American gaming sector with headquarters in Mexico City.

Gordon Dickie

Gordon Dickie has worked with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as Executive Director of the Gaming Commission since 2014, where he currently oversees a staff of 208 surveillance technicians, commission officers, gaming clerks, and has an executive team made up of 10 managers and supervisors. His experience in the gaming industry though goes back all the way to 1980 where he was an agent with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. It was during this time that he worked on several of the most sophisticated gaming cases in the history of Nevada, resulting in some well-known and now famous convictions such as Kabush, Eherenberg and Osborne, John Vaccaro, and notorious Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal.

After his time with the Gaming Control Board, he held many other titles with various casino’s, most notably as the Executive Director for Cabazon Gaming and would go on to become the Chairman of the Compliance Committee for the gaming company Interblock, and Vice President of Compliance and Government Departments for gaming companies Cadillac Jack and Shuffle Master, Inc.

He has been on numerous gaming regulator panels, and has been a guest speaker at numerous trade shows and social events. He has also taught the California DOJ Gaming agents about slot fraud and how to conduct gaming investigations. Needless to say, Gordon Dickie has had an impressive career spanning over thirty years and his experience gives him a unique perspective on many different regulatory issues and practices.

Veronique Dos Reis

Veronique is Executive General Counsel of leading online sports book Pinnacle (formerly Pinnacle Sports) and is based at Pinnacle’s Headquarters in Curacao.

French qualified advocate. She graduated in new technology law in France and started her career in 2007 when she joined the legal department of Unibet (now Kindred Group Plc) in London. Latterly she qualified as a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS).

In the intervening years she has gained legal experience in France, UK, Brazil and Curacao both as in-house counsel and in private practice. Her expertise in the online gambling industry covers both the B2C and B2B markets.

Veronique’s work encompasses board advisory, global strategy, regulatory and compliance matters for Pinnacle’s mobile and online sports betting, online casino, B2B and eSports betting verticals across more than 80 markets worldwide.

Piotr Dynowski

Piotr is a partner at the Bird & Bird Warsaw office and head of the IP, media, technology and communications practice. He advises on all aspects of gaming law, in particular online gambling, social gaming and e-sports. His expertise covers licensing regimes, regulatory issues as well as advertising and provision of B2B services for gambling industry such as payment services, etc. As an expert on Polish gambling law, Piotr frequently comments on case law developments for gambling compliance and speaks at events such as World Gambling Briefing or ICE Totally Gaming. In 2010, as the Polish expert he participated in the research conducted by Simon Planzer at Cambridge Health Alliance together with Harvard Medical School and Harvard Law School, investigating associations between European gambling regulations and the actual gambling behavior of players. In 2011, he represented the two largest European online gambling industry organizations in complaint proceedings against Poland to the European Commission for violation of the EU law by Polish gambling regulations, which resulted in the European Commission launching proceedings concerning violation of the EU law by Poland at the end of 2013, which terminated only in January 2016 after a number of changes to the Polish gambling regulations were introduced. He is a legal expert to the Polish Chamber of Commerce.

Marc Ellinger

Marc Ellinger PrIncipal, Ellinger and Associates, LLC. Marc Ellinger is the founding member and principal of Ellinger and Associates, LLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law the with offices in St. Louis and Jefferson City, Missouri. This firm has a civil practice with an emphasis in government regulatory law, political law, and compliance matters. Ellinger has actively engaged in the representation of gaming clients since 1999. He represents gaming licensees, including those operating gaming facilities and online platforms, key personnel, and manufacturer/supplier licensees, on all facets of gaming, including licensing, relicensing, disciplinary matters, gaming transaction compliance matters, legislative counsel and direct representation, including litigation, before the Missouri Gaming Commission. Ellinger regularly speaks and moderates at international gaming conferences on emerging gaming issues. Ellinger is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, and is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He has extensive experience in regulatory matters regarding financial transactions as well as litigation experience representing gaming clients in regulatory actions and in the state and federal courts in Missouri.

Chris Elliott

Chris is a commercial and regulatory lawyer, concentrating on providing UK regulatory and compliance advice to various stakeholders in the online gambling and gaming industries. Chris acts for some of the industry’s leading operators and suppliers, as well as smaller start-up companies, advising on the regulation and marketing of betting and gaming products. Chris also regularly advises businesses looking to expand into new markets, and has particular expertise in helping businesses understand the legal and regulatory implications associated with operating in regulated and unregulated markets.

Heathcliff Farrugia

Heathcliff Farrugia is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). He specializes in business management, operational efficiencies, strategic planning, and regulation; and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester, UK. He has held various senior executive positions both within the private and the public sector. In 2014, Heathcliff joined the Gaming Authority in the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO), and held this position for two years, up until he moved to the Regulatory department to hold the role of Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) in 2016.

He was also a member of the Supervisory Council, and co-chaired the Fit & Proper Committee, entrusted with the assessment of the fit and properness of the individuals and companies applying for a MGA license. Heathcliff was a board member on the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF), where he is now a member, and is also a member of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) and the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA).

Prior to joining the MGA, Heathcliff spent the largest part of his career in the telecoms industry, specifically with Vodafone Malta, where he occupied various managerial positions. In 2013, Heathcliff was also appointed Customer Value Management (CVM) Manager for Vodafone Italy in Milan where he was responsible for the overall planning and strategy within the Consumer Department.

Filippo Ferri

Filippo has over 20 years of experience, more than 10 of those in the gaming test lab and supplier industries and has a vast knowledge of remote (iGaming) and land-based gaming regulations. During his career, Filippo has been pioneering the use of cutting-edge networked technologies within the gambling industry, working with some of the leading casino operators around the world. He has helped to set up one of the largest Italian concessionaires, assisted regulators in Europe and Latin America to formulate local technical requirements, and assisted with regulatory certification for many International land-based and on-line gaming suppliers and operators. Ferri holds a BA from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

Olga Finkel

Dr. Olga Finkel (founder of WH Partners, a Malta-based law firm) has been practicing law in the gaming, gambling and technology fields for over 18 years and is a widely regarded as a specialist in this field and a leading internet and e-commerce lawyer, being consistently top-ranked by the Chambers and Partners’ Global Gaming and Gambling legal guide, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.

Olga’s specialization includes regulatory frameworks for real money gambling, skill games and social gaming, blockchain and cryptocurrency regulation, as well as privacy, AML and corporate transactions. In addition to advising a range of gaming companies on regulatory, compliance, strategic and commercial matters, Dr. Finkel assisted the Malta Gaming Authority in a complete redesign of the regulatory framework for gaming in Malta, both in land-based and remove verticals.

Olga holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta as well as a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and Economics from the Academy of Economics, Kharkov, Ukraine. She is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law since 2003 and lectures gaming law at the University of Malta.

Justin Franssen

Partner Justin Franssen is head of the Gaming practice group at Kalff Katz & Franssen Attorneys at Law. Prior to his admission to the bar in Amsterdam, he worked as a general counsel for a gaming company in Amsterdam and New York. He founded the KPMG European Gaming & Entertainment Services Group and co-founded gaminglaw.eu, the leading European portal on gaming and gambling law and regulation. Franssen established the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment practice group at VMW Taxand Attorneys at law, which he led for 12 years. He is board member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) and member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA). In addition, he is on the editorial board of Gaming Law Review & Economics and on the advisory boards of the UNLV Gaming Law Journal and the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn (D). He is a frequent speaker at key conferences and industry events and publishes regularly. He has been awarded eight consecutive ‘ Band 1′ rankings in Chambers Global. Peers laud Justin Franssen of Kalff Katz & Franssen Attorneys at Law as “the best gaming lawyer in Holland and one of the best in Europe.” (Chambers Global Edition 2014)

Andreas Glarner

Dr. Andreas Glarner supports internationally oriented technology companies in all questions of digitization. As a founding partner of the Blockchain | Fintech team of MME Legal | Tax | Compliance, he has broad experience in the implementation of blockchain-based projects, particularly with regard to technology, IPR, compliance, financing and governance. Andreas Glarner is the author of various publications and a regular speaker in his fields of activity.

Nina Henningsen

Nina Henningsen is specialized in intellectual property law and media and entertainment law and heads Horten’s Media & Entertainment department and the Commercial Law department.

Nina has in-depth industry knowledge, which forms the basis of her advice to leading national and international media clients, e.g. in cases concerning copyright, including clearing of rights in connection with the many new distribution forms of radio, television and music on all platforms, e.g. “catch-up” TV, SVOD and APP’s.

Nina has wide experience advising on cases concerning social media, sports rights, e-commerce, television formats, advertising, publisher agreements, telecommunication and computer games. Through the years, she has been involved in a variety of high-profile cases concerning the media and entertainment industry, and she has many years’ experience negotiating with administrative organizations.

In addition, Nina has comprehensive experience advising on Danish gaming legislation. Together with a team of committed lawyers, she advises international online game operators and platform providers on all aspects of Danish gaming legislation, including the complicated license procedure, compliance issues, contract formation and regulatory issues in connection with international transactions.

Nina regularly speaks at national and international conferences and has authored articles in magazines and books. She is also a member of the Committee for Media Industries under the Confederation of Danish Industry and participates in working groups under the Danish Gambling Authority and the Consumer Ombudsman regarding matters pertaining to the online gaming industry.

Alan Heuston

Alan Heuston is a Partner in the Tax Group of McCann FitzGerald. Alan also heads up our Betting and Gaming Group. As the former director of tax with Paddy Power Betfair Plc, Alan has significant first-hand experience of the regulatory and taxation aspects of the betting and gaming sector. Alan also works on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, restructurings, migrations, capital markets, financial products and banking. He also advises both domestic and international clients on the tax implications of setting up operations in Ireland.

Chad Hoehne

Mr. Hoehne is the President and Founder of Table Trac, Inc. He is responsible for leading the Company’s technology initiatives. He has a BS in Business Administration and Finance from Minnesota State University. Prior to founding Table Trac in 1995 he worked for a Minneapolis-based electronics and software company.

Joerg Hoffman

Dr. Joerg Hofmann is senior partner of MELCHERS law firm in Germany with offices in Heidelberg, Berlin and Frankfurt. He is one of the Past Presidents of the International Masters of Gaming Law (2014 and 2015) and the group leader of the gaming law practice group of his law firm. Hofmann has practiced gaming law since mid of the 90th as one of Germany’s leading gaming lawyers. MELCHERS’ legal advice is highly valued by global market leaders in all sectors of gaming law. The firm’s scope of clients include operators, manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment or devices as well as software and testing companies and regulators. Joerg has been frequently ranked as a “Leading Individual” in Gaming & Gambling by Chambers Global since 2011 and is recognized as best German Gaming lawyer by “Best Lawyers” and “HANDELSBLATT” since 2014. Hofmann acts regularly as speaker or moderator in international gaming law conferences domestic and abroad. He frequently publishes articles in international experts’ magazines and periodicals and serves as a member of the editorial board of Gaming Law Review and Economics.

Ian Ince

Ian joined Playtech as Head of Regulation and Compliance in 2013 previously he worked for Sportingbet as Head of Regulatory Affairs. During this time he has firsthand experience of regulation across Europe and now has a deep understanding of regulation and the on-line gaming environment. Ian came to gaming through professional services, with Deloitte consulting in their Programme Leadership division, delivering business change to the BBC, and the NHS. He was also seconded to HM Treasury where he spent a year in the defense spending team analyzing and advising to cabinet level on maritime procurement. The remainder of Ian’s career to date was spent in the British Army throughout the world. Unusually for a regulatory position Ian is not a lawyer! He has a degree in Engineering and an MBA.

Hitoshi Ishihara

Mr. Ishihara is providing advice concerning the Japanese Integrated Resort and other gaming regulations to various gaming companies, casino operators, equipment manufacturers, foreign law firms, and state agencies. He has received multiple awards in the gaming sector such as “Japan Leading Gaming Law Advisor of the Year” by Acquisition International Magazine; “Gaming Lawyer of the Year in Japan” by Corporate Intl Magazine and “Gaming Lawyer of the Year – Japan” by Global Law Experts Magazine.

Mr. Ishihara also has excellent track record In areas other than gaming of providing accurate and timely advice matching clients’ needs, backed by over seven years’ experience in the United States, with an exceptional focus on cross-border business negotiation, dispute resolution, M&A, international trade, and corporate/commercial matters (including advice concerning corporate governance, compliance, joint venture management, and internal investigations).

Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly is a Partner with A&L Goodbody Solicitors in Dublin, one of Ireland’s largest law firms. For almost 20 years Kelly has advised clients active in the Gaming, Leisure and Licensed Trade Sectors. He heads up the specialist Gaming Law Group which advises land based casinos, suppliers to the sector, internet gaming operators and trade associations, many of whom were attracted to Ireland by a favorable tax and business regime. A&L Goodbody is playing a leadership role in creating the conditions for regulating and legislating the land based and online sectors in Ireland. Legislation reforming Ireland’s gaming laws and establishing an up to date licensing system to regulate gaming, is due to be published this year and Kelly has contributed a number of position papers to those involved in writing the legislation. He is a frequent contributor to the media in Ireland, including radio, TV and print, on the subject of legislating for Ireland’s gaming industry.

Steve Ketteley

Steve Ketteley is a partner at Wiggin, a leading firm in the media, entertainment and gaming spaces. He is based in London. By background, Stephen is a commercial, regulatory and technology lawyer and concentrates on advising clients on all operational and regulatory aspects of their businesses, with a particular expertise in the infrastructure that underpins the on-line gambling industry. He acts for operators and suppliers alike by drafting, negotiating and advising on matters such as intellectual property, software licensing and development, white-label supply agreements and affiliate arrangements and advises on the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions and the corresponding issues affecting investors, lenders and intermediaries. He regularly speaks at the sector’s major conferences, regularly writes for its major publications and is noted in Chambers and the Legal500 as an expert on legal matters relating to the online gambling industry.

Jeremy Kleiman

Jeremy Kleiman focuses his practice on gaming regulatory and business law, representing casino operators, gaming equipment suppliers, technology providers and financial institutions involved in the gaming and lottery industries. He specializes in gaming-related corporate, regulatory, licensing and compliance matters, with an emphasis on the online and mobile gaming industry. Prior to rejoining the firm, Jeremy served as Executive Vice President, Regulatory & Business Affairs for Coastal Development, LLC, a developer, investor and operator in casino resorts and racetracks. In that role, he was responsible for the company’s legal affairs, government relations and compliance functions, as well as sourcing, negotiating and executing on a number of business transactions. Jeremy’s background and experience on the business side of the gaming industry uniquely positions him to counsel and advise clients on transactional and regulatory matters while understanding the clients’ business objectives. Jeremy had previously been a member of the Firm and head of its Gaming Law Practice Group prior to his time at Coastal Development. He advised financial institutions, gaming equipment manufacturers, lottery providers and casino operators on all matter related to licensing, compliance and other regulatory matters. He served as worldwide lead regulatory counsel for a European lottery company in what was, at the time, the largest acquisition of a publicly traded gaming and lottery provider.

Lau Kok Keng

Lau Kok Keng has been in practice in Singapore since 1990. He currently leads Rajah & Tann LLP’s Gaming practice. His team handles advisory, regulatory, transactional and disputes work relating to gambling and the industry. Kok Keng is recognized as a leading lawyer in his fields by following publications such as Asian Legal Business’s Legal Who’s Who, Asia Pacific Legal 500, AsiaLaw Profiles, PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook Singapore and Who’s Who Legal Singapore. Kok Keng has also been consistently named in The International Who’s Who of Internet, e-Commerce & Data Protection Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Sports & Entertainment Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Information Technology Lawyers and the Asia Pacific Legal 500, placing him amongst the world’s pre-eminent lawyers in these respective fields. Since 2001, Kok Keng has been actively involved in representing and advising clients in the gambling industry. His practice is arguably the most experienced and extensive gambling law practice in Singapore and in the region. Kok Keng is one of only 2 Singapore lawyers who are members of the International Masters in Gaming Law.

Alfredo Lazcano

Alfredo Lazcano is chairman of Lazcano Samano, S.C., one of the law firms with major experience and reputation in the Latin-American gaming sector. He advises and represents several leading technology companies of the Gaming, Fintech and Media Industries (major Nevada licensed manufacturers; the most important testing and certification gaming lab in the world; biggest transnational iGaming and eSports operators and suppliers; a major bank with a few centuries of history; premier globally recognized payment services providers; and other substantial and reputable eCommerce, Internet and media platforms) most of them listed on the stock exchange and/or which hold a wide range of regulatory licenses in the strictest jurisdictions worldwide. Based in Mexico City, Lazcano leads a multidisciplinary team of experts (including residing Lawyers in other Latin-American jurisdictions) in the legal fields of Gaming, Sports & Entertainment; Corporate & Regulatory Compliance; Administrative & Taxation; Anti-Money Laundering & Risk Control; Banking & Financial; Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution; Governmental Relations; Industrial Property & Copyrights; International Trade & Customs; and Information Technology, Security & Processes. On a regular basis, he contributes as speaker on the main international events, as well as article contributor for the top gaming publications. His academic work in those fields usually focuses in regulatory improvement, combat against illegal operations, responsible gaming, protection of vulnerable individuals, as well as best practices and technical standards. Lazcano serves as General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL); Editor of the IMGL publication La Ley del Juego (the Law of the Game); Member of the Editorial Board of Gaming Law Review (Economics, Regulation, Compliance & Policy); Affiliate Member of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), and Legal Advisor of the AGEM Mexico Committee. He is authorized to practice law in Mexico, at the federal and state levels.

Michael Lipton

Michael Lipton is a Senior Partner of Dickinson Wright LLP, based in Toronto and heads the Canadian gaming law group. For over 25 years, he has served as senior counsel on several complex gaming law matters including advising on Requests for Proposals from governments to operate commercial and charitable casinos and advising applicants who seek registration with the gaming regulatory authorities throughout Canada. He regularly represents and counsels gaming equipment suppliers, institutional investors, governments, racetracks, casinos, First Nations and pari-mutuel operators in all aspects of gaming law from both a land based and internet perspective. He has presented numerous papers on the various aspects of gaming law at international legal conferences and his gaming law articles have been published on a global basis including the Canadian chapter of the Internet Gaming Report. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the World Online Gaming Report and the founding editor of Canadian Gaming Lawyer. Michael’s vast expertise and knowledge in gaming law have been recognized by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in Canada and by Chambers Global from 2008 to 2016. He is a founding member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and a past President. In 2011, the Canadian Gaming Association presented him with an award for Leadership and Outstanding Contribution to the Gaming Industry. Michael has earned a global reputation for the strength and substance of his practice.

Yahaya Maikori

Yahaya is the founding partner of Law Allianz – a law firm with core expertise in Entertainment law (which consists of Gaming, technology, Media, ecommerce & Intellectual Property) and Corporate/Commercial law. A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife; He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1993 and admitted as a solicitor England and Wales recently. During the course of his professional career He has been legal adviser to Aso Savings and Loans Plc., Company Secretary to First Alliance Pension and Benefits Limited (now ARM Pensions). He seats on the Entertainment committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, the Nigeria Copyrights Commission’s Copyright law Review committee, and was recently inducted as a member of the International Masters of gaming lawyers (IMGL) – an invitation only non-profit association of gaming attorneys, regulators, educators, executives and consultants from around the world who are dedicated to education and the exchange of professional information concerning all aspects of gaming law. Yahaya has advised federal and state government institutions and helped several companies establish as well as navigate issues involving licensing, taxation, issues regarding jurisdiction, online gaming in Nigeria/Africa’s growing gaming industry. He was also the winner of – Legal Monthly’s “Entertainment lawyer of the year – Nigeria’ 2013. A co winner of the 2011 Omidyar/Legatum sponsored “Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship” held in Nairobi, Kenya. Yahaya seats on several boards, he was recently appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Digiteam (a body saddled with the responsibility of driving Nigeria’s migration from analogue to digital broadcasting); currently president of the Nigeria Gaming Association, he is also a member of the WRB/ICE advisory board for Africa.

John K. Maloney

John K. Maloney is the founder of the Law Offices of John K. Maloney with offices in Las Vegas and Sacramento. Maloney specializes in the area of gaming regulatory law and assists gaming clients in domestic and international markets. The work includes representation of gaming vendors, to include gaming manufactures and distributors in such markets. Maloney has more than 30 years in the gaming field and spent 8 years with the State of Nevada Gaming Control Board in the Investigations Division and four years with the Casino Control Division in Queensland, Australia. This work involved complex forensic accounting investigations of large multinational companies and interactions with law enforcement and regulatory bodies worldwide. Maloney is a founding member of the International Masters of Gaming Law. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Gaming Law Section and The Chambers Guide. Maloney is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley, earned a Masters degree from the American Graduate School of International management (Thunderbird) and a JD from the University of Pacific’s Mc George School of Law.

Quirino Mancini

Quirino Mancini is a partner at Tonucci, a top ten Italian general practice firm with offices in Rome, Milan, Brescia, Padua and Florence as well one of the leading Western firms in the key Eastern European markets such as Romania, Serbia and Albania. Quirino has a vast experience and a solid as well as long-established professional background in the sports, entertainment, media, and e-commerce fields. In particular, over the past fifteen years he has developed an almost unique know-how and specialist practice in national/EU gaming & gambling law acting on behalf of several foreign-based operators in connection with their Italian market entry plans as well as advising them on joint-venture and M&A deals, commercial partnerships sponsorship arrangements and contract matters in general. He also advises market analysts, investment houses and venture capital funds involved in the Italian gaming business. He also offers a bespoke match-making service aimed at devising the most sensible Italian business strategies and introducing foreign companies planning to enter the Italian market to suitable local businesses for purposes of joint venture, acquisition or commercial deals. Quirino is a regular speaker at the most important European and international gaming conferences and sits in the editorial board of various gaming and sports publications. He is a member of the advisory board of the International Research for Gambling and Gaming of Bonn, Germany. He is the Secretary of the International Masters of Gaming Law and a member of its Leadership Committee. Awarded Top Rank (Band 1) status by Chambers Global as the leading lawyer in Italy in the gaming and gambling field for six consecutive years (2009-15). Rated by Who’s Who Legal as one of the Italian leading sports & entertainment lawyers. He is a co-founder and editor of www.gaminglaw.eu, a pan-European information and commentary portal focusing on legal and regulatory issues under European and national gaming laws.

Mike McBride

D. Michael McBride III chairs CROWE & DUNLEVY’s “Indian Law & Gaming Practice Group.” He is Attorney General for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and General Counsel to the Comanche Nation and the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town. Mike’s professional peers have recognized him Chamber’s U.S.A. in “Band 1” for “Native American Law” and a “Star Individual”, its highest designation. Peers have also recognized Mike as a “Super Lawyer” in Oklahoma Super Lawyers for Indian Gaming, Political Law and Business Law. He is also recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Native American & Gaming Law and by as “A-V” rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mike is a past Justice of the Supreme Court of the Pawnee Nation and the Kaw Nation. He is past chair of the Federal Bar Association’s and the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Indian Law Section. He served three years on FBA’s national Board of Directors and as the organization’s General Counsel. He has authored more than fifty articles and book chapters and speaks frequently on Indian law and gaming matters. He is one of only two Oklahoma General Members of the International Masters of Gaming Law and is Treasurer of IMGL. He has previously served as IMGL’s Membership Chair and Treasurer of the organization.

Sean McGuinness

Mr. McGuinness is a partner at Butler Snow LLP. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of gaming, tribal affairs, administrative and corporate law. He is also involved with gaming bankruptcy matters. Mr. McGuinness has represented clients with licensing and regulatory matters before the Nevada State Gaming Control Board, the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Colorado Division of Gaming, the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission and the National Indian Gaming Commission. He has also participated in gaming- related matters in other jurisdictions such as California, Louisiana, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Canada, Switzerland and Hungary. Mr. McGuinness has represented clients in gaming bankruptcy matters, including the Herbst Gaming, Station Casinos, Fitzgeralds Gaming Corporation, the Aladdin Hotel and Casino, and the Resort at Summerlin proceedings. He is also a frequent speaker on gaming issues at the State Bar of Nevada and the American Bar Association continuing legal education seminars. He has also assisted Professor Keith Miller at Drake University Law School with his alma mater’s gaming law course. Mr. McGuinness is listed in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers, by Chambers and Partners Publishers, in the category of Gaming and Licensing. Mr. McGuinness was previously with Beckley Singleton, which partnered with Lewis and Roca in 2007. Prior to joining the firm, he was Vice President and General Counsel for The Resort at Summerlin Hotel & Casino (1997-2001), had a private gaming law practice in Mississippi (1994-1997) and served as Compliance Director for the Mississippi Gaming Commission (1992-1993).

Keith Miller

Keith C. Miller is the Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Law at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Professor Miller earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the UMKC Law Review. After practicing law in Kansas City, Missouri, Professor Miller received his L.L.M degree at the University of Michigan Law School. At Drake University, Professor Miller teaches and writes in the areas of gaming law, torts, and products liability, and his scholarship includes articles and treatises on torts, products liability, and gaming law topics. In 2011, he co-authored a casebook, The Law of Gambling and Regulated Gaming, with Anthony Cabot. The book, published by Carolina Academic Press, is used both in law schools and other departments of universities. Professor Miller has acted as Drake University’s Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA, and he has served as the Faculty Advisor to the Drake Law Review for twenty years. Professor Miller also teaches at the University of Nantes (France) where he has been a Professeur Invitée since 1992. He has also lectured at the University of Foggia (Italy), and was a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin.

Neil Montgomery

Neil Montgomery is the founding and managing partner of Montgomery & Associados, a Brazilian law firm headquartered in São Paulo and with a presence in Rio de Janeiro, which has pioneered the innovative business model of Lean Full Service – LFS® and specializes in assisting foreign companies doing business in Brazil and Brazilian clients willing to expand their operations overseas. Neil, who is a dual national (British/Brazilian), holds a Master’s degree in International Law from the University of São Paulo and has more than 21 years of practice (more than 10 of them dedicated to gaming law). He is the only Brazilian qualified lawyer to have been ranked in four different categories by Chambers and Partners and is also a published author and speaker at both Brazilian and international conferences (in many areas of law including gaming law), the last being the IMGL Masterclass at ICE 2018. He is the IMGL General Member for Brazil and is the co-author of the Brazilian chapter of the 2017 and 2018 editions of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Gambling, published by the Global Legal Group and supported by the IMGL.

Donna More

Donna provides compliance, regulatory, corporate and transaction services to clients in Illinois and throughout the United States in highly regulated industries such as gaming, medical cannabis, liquor, sweepstakes and contests. Drawing upon her experience as general counsel to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) and her tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, Donna advises clients on all licensing and regulatory issues in hearings before administrative agencies. She also represents clients in commercial and regulatory disputes involving competitors.

Donna regularly represents casinos, video gaming terminal operators, manufacturers and distributors, game developers and other companies involved in the gaming industry in Illinois and nationwide. As the first general counsel to the IGB, she was involved in the process of legalizing gaming in Illinois and helped write the regulations governing the state’s gaming industry that remain in place today. This first-hand knowledge enables Donna to provide extensive insight and counsel to companies in the gaming industry in Illinois regarding licensing, compliance, investigations and commercial disputes. Additionally, she advocates for clients before agency boards and commissions, litigates compliance issues in administrative and disciplinary hearings, and negotiates settlements.

Donna also helps clients comply with Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act. This includes working with clients to secure cultivation licenses from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and dispensary licenses from the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. In addition to helping them comply with regulations, Donna assists growers and dispensaries with general business matters, shareholder agreements and operational plans. For banking clients, she provides counsel regarding U.S. Department of Treasury issues related to medical cannabis.

Donna has sat on the board of directors of two publically traded companies. She is a past president of the International Association of Gaming Advisors and is a current member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL). Donna formed and is the current co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Gaming Law Committee. She participates as a speaker in numerous gaming conferences each year.

Diane Mullenex

A French Advocate and English Solicitor, Diane started her career in Singapore in 1994 and has worked for more than seven years in South-East Asia, before coming back to practice and create her own firm in France in 2001. Diane specializes in telecommunications, technology and other regulated industries, such as gambling. More specifically, she dedicated herself to corporate, technology and telecom matters and, in particular, to complex issues requiring the co-ordination of these three areas of law. Diane’s work encompasses corporate, technology transactions and litigation in various sectors (such as drafting network management agreements, setting-up e-gambling web sites, managing landmark cybercrime cases). Her experience in the telecommunications and technology (including new services, such as gambling online) sectors has earned her the reputation of an expert. “”A new entry to these rankings, this compact but increasingly visible TMT practice wins glowing reviews for its IT and telecoms work. It has been particularly active on the IT front of late, and has built up notable expertise in the gambling sector. Recent work highlights include acting for gambling operator on its agreements with sports federations and sports events organizers relating to online sport betting. Sources say: “Brilliant TMT lawyers.” “Extremely professional, attentive and pragmatic.” Clients rave about founding partner and TMT practice head Diane Mullenex, describing her as “extremely knowledgeable, creative, reassuring and realistic” as well as “pragmatic and commercially aware.” They also appreciate that she is “very accessible and hands-on” and has “excellent language skills and an international approach.” (Chambers 2011) Diane regularly advises governments on regulatory issues and has contributed to the French report leading to the opening of the gambling sector. She is a Foreign Trade Advisor appointed by the French Government. Diane is also an Officer with the Communications Committee of the International Bar Association.

Jamie Nettleton

Jamie advises extensively on all aspects of Australian and international gambling regulatory issues. He acts for gambling industry organizations, gaming machine suppliers, testing agencies, bookmakers, poker industry participants (e.g. operators and tournament organizers), lottery providers as well as commercial organizations conducting promotional campaigns. Many of the international organizations that he has advised have subsequently established successful businesses in Australia. Jamie first became involved in the gambling area over 15 years ago in connection with the establishment of Sydney’s casino and advising on the then new internet gaming sector. Since that time, he has given presentations on gambling issues throughout the world and has advised on, and been involved actively in, most material recent Australian gambling industry developments.

Nick Nocton

Nick Nocton is a Partner at Michcon de Reya LLP in London, UK. He has 20 years experience advising on UK and international gambling issues, specialising in licensing, regulatory, compliance, corporate and general commercial matters. Nick is the Editor of IMGL’s European Gaming Lawyer magazine, a contributor to various legal and trade journals, and a regular speaker at international gaming conferences.

Simon Planzer

Dr. Simon Planzer is partner at PLANZER LAW, a Zurich-based gaming law boutique. PLANZER LAW’s team provides strategic, regulatory and legal advice to companies, regulators and other stakeholders across all areas of the gaming and entertainment industry. He has specialized in gaming law and EU/EEA law through many years in practice and academic work. He worked on gaming cases at the European Free Trade Association Court (Luxembourg) and on European law matters with the legal service of the EFTA Secretariat (Brussels) and the Institute of European and International Business Law (University of St.Gallen). Simon frequently speaks at key international gaming conferences and writes extensively on gaming matters. Inter alia, he is the contributor of the chapter on ‘Gambling Law’ for the official ‘Handbook of EEA Law’ by Springer International Publishing (2016). He is also the author of ‘Empirical Views on European Gambling Law and Addiction’ (2014), a comprehensive monograph (PhD) on EU/EEA gaming law, published with Springer and endorsed by some of the world’s leading gaming lawyers.

Michael Pollock

Michael Pollock oversees a broad portfolio of Spectrum services, including policy and impact studies for country, state and local governments, and financial and market studies for private-sector clients. Pollock – a pioneer in the study of the economic impacts of gaming — is the author of the award-winning book Hostage to Fortune: Atlantic City and Casino Gambling, published by the Center for Analysis of Public Issues in Princeton. The book examines the impact of casinos on Atlantic City and New Jersey.

He has led economic-impact studies around the world from Spain and Korea to Guam and Cyprus, as well as in Florida, Georgia, Washington State, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and other states, provinces and municipalities in North America.

Pollock began analyzing the casino industry in 1978 and served as spokesman for the New Jersey Casino Control Commission from 1991 through 1996. He was a close advisor to the chairman, and oversaw the Office of Legislative Liaison. During this period of rapid deregulation, his charge was to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the regulatory system.

He has testified before the International Tribunal at The Hague, the World Bank in Washington DC, the US Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the US Senate Select Committee on Indian Gaming, and has been a featured speaker at the Congressional Gaming Caucus, a group of US House of Representatives members from gaming jurisdictions. He has also testified before numerous legislative committees throughout the United States.

He has led Spectrum economic analyses in markets throughout North America, as well as in Latin America, Guam and Korea.

Pollock has won 20 journalism awards, and is the former editorial page editor of The Press of Atlantic City. Pollock is often cited by national media outlets, including The New York Times, Star-Ledger, BBC, MSNBC, ABC News and National Public Radio.

Pollock earned his MBA, with high honors, from Rutgers University, and has served as a member of the adjunct faculty of New York University, Rutgers University and Stockton University.

Adam Rivers

Adam joined KPMG in 2011 and is an Associate Director in the Economics team. He leads the team’s work on the economics of the betting and gaming sector, advising clients across a wide range of regulatory and strategic issues both in the UK and internationally. His work in the sector has included modelling vulnerability and loss limits, the economic estimation of demand, game design and risk simulation, competition economics assessments in M&A, market size estimation, and the impact of taxation. Adam is a regular speaker at international gambling conferences.

Francesco Rodano

Francesco, born in Rome, Italy, is Playtech’s Chief Policy Officer. He engages with policy-makers and advises company executives on governmental policies at local, state, national and EU levels as well as provide Playtech with further business opportunities.

From 2007 to 2016 he was the Italian regulator for online gambling, building from scratch the Italian regulatory framework and leading it to a size of €1B – Europe’s second largest regulated market.

Francesco has more than 20 years’ experience in e-business related jobs. He began his career in IT, then worked in a variety of roles for private companies, focusing on B2B marketing.

Tal Itzhak Ron

Advocate and Notary Tal Itzhak Ron – LLB, BSc, MSc, International Master of Gaming Law (IMGL), a Financial Entertainment, i-Gaming and Crypto veteran, working with the biggest names in online gaming and financial trading since 2003. Tal graduated from Haifa University School of Law and Faculty of Computer Science in 2001, and while working as a software developer at the publicly-traded software company Ness Technologies, has further obtained a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Bar Ilan University in 2006. Tal founded Tal Ron, Drihem & Co., Law Firm 15 years ago, focusing from its start on Online Gaming, Fintech, Hi-Tech, and Ad-Tech, quickly becoming one of the first international firms focusing solely on these areas and one of the best known names on the market. His firm today advises the world leading operations, affiliates, platforms and governing bodies in Europe and Asia, and is considered a first point of contact for entrepreneurs searching for turnkey solutions in the online space.

Morten Ronde

With over 15 years of experience from the private and public sector Morten is the Director of Education and Association Development in the International Masters of Gaming Law. Morten’s background is in gaming regulation. He worked 12 years as legal counsel for the Danish Gambling Authority and during his time as a regulator he drafted the Danish online gambling reform that allowed licensing of betting and online casino operators in Denmark. Morten received the IMGL European Regulator of the Year Award in 2010. He moved to the private sector in 2012 and has since been involved in advising governments and industry operators about European regulatory affairs. He acts as the CEO of the Danish Online Gambling Association (DOGA), a trade association for online gambling operators in Denmark. Furthermore does works in partnership with the Brussels based public affairs agency Instinctif and the London based law firm Harris Hagan. Morten is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Tom Russell

Tom Russell is the General Counsel of Genius Sports Group with overall responsibility for the Group’s legal function. He has extensive experience in sports and gambling law, having previously worked at global law firm DLA Piper where his clients included U.S. and European sports leagues as well as global sports betting operators.

Having joined Genius Sports Group in 2014, Tom has established himself as an expert voice on sports betting regulation, sports integrity and the commercialization of official sports data. He is a regular contributor to a number of leading sports industry publications and has recently appeared on the Bloomberg Technology channel and before the New York Senate Standing Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering to discuss the dangers posed by illegal betting markets and the importance of integrity in sport.

Hugo Luz dos Santos

Hugo Luz dos Santos is a Magistrate of Public Prosecutor of Portugal with 10 years of hands-on experience on Portuguese courts. Hugo was granted a sabbatical leave on late 2016. He currently acts as an International Legal Consultant. He has written several doctrinal articles regarding the Gaming in Macau, United States of America, United Kingdom, and Canada, addressing specifically (candent) issues such as “Walking”, “Side-Betting”, “Surveillance and Privacy”, “Tip-Pooling”, “Artificial Intelligence”, and “Responsible Gambling”. He has published a few scientific articles concerning the money laundering crime in Macau, SAR, where he is currently working. He is the author of the book “The Gaming Legal Framework in Macau, SAR: an overview”, recently published in Germany and distributed worldwide. He is the co-author of a cutting-edge proposal of Law regarding corporate criminal liability in Macau, which is being currently analyzed by the Macau Government. He is the author of the book chapter “Artificial Intelligence: Are you sure? Beware of what you wish!”, Intech Open Science, Croatia/UK, 2018, which is the most viewed and downloaded of the whole book “Simulation and Gaming”.

Hugo is the Chair of the Board of the Panel of Vantage 10, leading in Dispute Resolution Worldwide (London, United Kingdom). Hugo has been recently appointed Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Law and Society of Science Publishing Group (New York, United States of America). Hugo is a PhD Researcher of the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau.

Stefano Sbordoni

Mr. Sbordoni has an highly-qualified reputation in the Gaming and Betting industry in Italy, and abroad. He has been a professor of IT Law at Università della Tuscia, adjunct professor at Italy’s Superior School of Economy and Finance, has been teaching at the University of Malta, and is now teaching at the University of Salerno on Tax Law in Gaming. In addition to being a consultant to AAMS (Autonomous Administration of the State Monopolies) on matters of administrative law related to the gaming industry, Mr. Sbordoni is a consultant to many Italian and foreign leading operators. In his multi-year experience he has played a substantial role in the introduction of Bingo in Italy, in the re-organization of the gambling licensing system, in the privatization of the instant and traditional Lotteries, in the marketing of new pool games and lottery networks in more than 40 foreign countries. Mr. Sbordoni has attended as a speaker several conferences worldwide (ERA, EIG, EGB, Betmarkets, etc.) and in Italy (governmental agencies and AAMS). He is the author of the chapter on Italy in two editions of the Internet Gambling Report. He has been published by the Academy of European Law “Licensed games and on line gaming in Italy” published in March 2010, and “Web. Freedom and Law”, published in May 2014, by Poligrafico dello Stato. As a journalists Mr. Sbordoni cooperates with TS, the major trade publication on betting in Italy, with Jamma (the first website on gaming in Italy), and with Atlante and Technet (web newspapers specialized on Economy and IT). He is a member of IMGL (International Masters of Gaming Law), member of the Osservatorio Internazionale sul Gioco at the University of Salerno. He is Secretary General of UTIS, the trade union of gaming retailers in Italy, and has been Vice President of the Italian Center for Studies on Gaming.

James Scicluna

James Scicluna, Partner at WH Partners in Malta is a dual-qualified English solicitor and Maltese advocate. Prior to co-founding WH Partners, he was General Counsel and Chief of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs for Betclic, the European online gaming & betting group. Previously, worked as a solicitor with Jeffrey Green Russell’s (now Gordon Dadds) company and commercial team in London. James has strong cross border expertise in regulatory affairs and significant experience in acting for gaming clients in M&A deals and big ticket sports sponsorship. He provides advice mainly to the Gaming, Financial Services, Real Estate and Hospitality industries. His areas of expertise are: government relations, gambling regulation, devising strategic commercial solutions within a regulated environment, IPR licensing, sport sponsorship, brand development and protection, mergers and acquisitions, international corporate and tax structuring, joint ventures, crowd funding and European Union law, especially in so far as the Internal Market is concerned. He has also acted on the financing of corporate deals with underlying investments in real estate and the trade financing of businesses in the UK. James is ranked as a leading lawyer in several practice areas, including Gaming & Gambling by the foremost independent legal directories. He is also a lecturer in Gaming Law at the University of Malta. James holds a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Malta and an LLM in International Business Law from University College London, UK. Besides being a General Member of the International Masters of Gaming Law, he is also a member of the Malta Chamber of Advocates and the International Bar Association.

Alla Serebrianskai

Alla Serebrianskaia is a specialized lawyer in Gaming Law and expert in licensing procedures and public tenders. Alla joined ASENSI in August 2011 and she has been deeply involved both in the first and in the second Spanish licensing process, representing the interest of most of the major operators. Prior to this, she was an in-house lawyer working at Indra Sistemas S.A. providing comprehensive legal advice for the company, particularly in the public procurement sector, administrative concessions, commercial matters and corporate contracts of national and international nature. Alla studied a bachelor of Law and a also bears the title of a Master in Business Law, both at ESADE Business School. Alla is included in the Global Gaming & Gambling section of the leading publication Chambers Global. Asensi Abogados has been awarded as the “best service provider” in Spain for the gambling industry by the Association Jdigital in 2014 & 2016. Alla is co-author of the Gaming Law Book published by Thomson Reuters (Editions 2012/2014/2016). Alla speaks English, Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew, Czech, Croatian and Catalan.

Cosmina Simion

Cosmina is a Partner with NNDKP, one of the most preeminent business law firms in Romania, where she co-head the Gaming and Consumer Protection & Advertising practices together with Ana-Maria Baciu. In addition to the gambling industry, her practice focuses on intellectual property issues, media & entertainment, online industries. She is a licensed European trademark and design attorney and a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA). Previous coordination roles include heading the Intellectual Property, Media and Technology Romanian Practice of a global law firm, as well as acting as in-house counsel for a US media group, in CEE jurisdictions where the group was a market leader. In the gaming field, her experience encompasses the full range of regulatory and operational gaming aspects, including assistance and representation before the gambling regulator of betting and gaming operators, software & platform suppliers, financial services providers, international testing laboratories, industry relevant associations or marketing affiliates. She has been actively involved in the review and drafting of the Romanian gaming legal framework and has participated in the technical meetings of the Consultative Committee organized at the level of the National Gambling Office. She regularly contributes to industry dedicated publications as well as working groups seeking to improve the business and regulatory approaches in gaming, technology, media and communication fields.

Rolf Sims

Rolf graduated with a law degree from the University of Oslo in 1995, specializing in intellectual property and international human rights. He has previously worked on land concessions and area planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and legislation and individual cases related to oil pollution in the North Sea at the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority.

Between 1998 and 2018 he worked as a gaming regulator, first with the Ministry of Justice and Police, and from 2001 with the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry is responsible for the regulation of all gaming in Norway except gaming connected to equestrian activities. His scope of work encompassed EU/EEA-law, all aspects of legislation connected to gaming machines, I-gaming, bingo, provisions and regulations on lotteries and sportsbetting. He has also supervised the administration of Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian state-owned gaming company, as well as the Norwegian Gaming Authority. He was particularly involved in the Norwegian Slot machine case and Ladbrokes case which questioned the compatibility of Norwegian gaming law to EU/EEA-law. Rolf also participated as the Norwegian Government`s representative in the European Commission’s Expert Group on Gambling Services, which provides the Commission with advice and expertise in relation to the preparation of policy initiatives and facilitates the exchange of regulatory experience and good practices between EEA Member States. He was also a director on the board of the Gaming Regulators European Forum. In August 2018 Rolf took up a new position as public affairs manager for Kindred Group in Norway.

Britt Singletary

Britt earned his BA and JD degrees from the University of Mississippi. He served as law clerk for the Mississippi Supreme Court and the US District Court. He was attorney for the US Senate Judiciary Committee for three years before being appointed US Magistrate Judge for eight years. Britt has been actively representing gaming clients since 1993. He was retained as lead counsel for licensure and construction of the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, all located in Biloxi, Mississippi. Britt was local counsel for licensure in Mississippi for several manufacturers and distributors including, Konami, Shufflemaster, Interblock and Cadillac Jack. Britt has litigated numerous cases for clients in the industry in several states. Britt is currently a member of the Appeal Panel resolving the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. It is the largest class action settlement in world history. Britt is a founding member of IMGL and is a frequent speaker at gaming conferences.

Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier

Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier is the partner coordinator of Native American Law & Gaming Law Services for Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P., where she is based in the firm’s Phoenix, Arizona office. She was named to “Top Ten Great Women of Gaming for 2006” and is listed in “Best Lawyers in America” for both Native American Law and Gaming Law. She also was named “Phoenix BEST LAWYERS Gaming Lawyers of the Year” for 2011 and 2016, Chambers USA: AMERICA’S LEADING LAWYERS FOR BUSINESS, Chambers Global: THE WORLD’S LEADING LAWYERS FOR BUSINESS, Southwest Super Lawyers, and Arizona Business Names Most Influential Women of 2016. Heidi is a Founding Member and Past President of the International Masters of Gaming Law. She also is a member of the International Association of Gaming Advisors. She serves as Executive Editor of the “Gaming Law Review”. Heidi is former Chair of the State Bar of Arizona Indian Law Section and Past President of the Maricopa County Bar Association. Staudenmaier is a past member of the Executive Council for the American Bar Association Section of Business Law, Past Editor in Chief of “Business Law Today”, Chair Elect of the Business & Corporate Litigation Committee, Chair of Programs for the Gaming Law Committee, and a former Section Fellow. She is a past Officer of the ABA Young Lawyer’s Division and served in the ABA House of Delegates. Heidi is a 1985 graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and serves on the Iowa College of Law Foundation Board of Directors. She is a frequent writer and speaker on Federal Indian law and gaming issues.

Hilary Stewart-Jones

Hilary Stewart-Jones is a partner in the firm’s London office and part of the Intellectual Property and Technology Group. She focuses solely on gambling related issues. Having spent five years holding the position as in house head of the gambling division at Ladbrokes, she recognized the need when coming back into private practice in 2000, of creating a legal service to support all the needs of gambling clients from regulatory issues, general commercial and corporate support (including fund raising) to structural and tax planning, and to provide this on a multi-jurisdictional basis. She has played a role in most of the online sector floats/acquisitions since 2000, but continues to advise bricks and mortar businesses from tracks to casinos. She has also written legislation and regulations for offshore governments as well as drawing up industry codes of practice.

Ola Wiklund

Dr. Wiklund has been legal counsel for major online gaming operators for almost 10 years. His sector expertise ranges from commercial and regulatory to M & A. He is also advising private operators in the Health Care-sector. He has acted as counsel in proceedings before the European Courts in Luxemburg and has represented clients in the European Commission and the Swedish Competition Authority. He is acting for clients in a number of pending high profile monopoly EC law suits (gaming, tax and alcohol) against the Swedish government. He has also acted for clients in two of the major infrastructural public procurements in Sweden; new communication system for the police, fire brigade etc (RAKEL) and traffic congestion charges for the City of Stockholm, as well as an arbitrator in telecom cases. Dr. Wiklund has published several articles and books in his field of practice.

David Zeffman

David Zeffman is Head of the Gambling practice at CMS. David has extensive experience in providing strategic, commercial and regulatory advice to clients in the gambling sectors.  Chambers and Partners describes David as “unbelievably smart, practical and commercial” and “widely respected as one of the leaders in the market”.

IMGL 2018 Autumn Conference

Filter

Overview

September 5-7, 2018
Prague, Czech Republic

Host Hotel: Carlo IV (formerly known as Boscolo Prague)

Register

Delegate fees for the conference will increase by $100 after August 13.

Sponsorships

Gala Dinner Sponsor

Opening Reception Sponsor

Closing Reception Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Schedule

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, September 5

Thursday, September 6
Morning – Plenary
Aida Room

Thursday, September 6
Afternoon Tracks
Aida + Tosca Room

Friday, September 7
Morning – Plenary Sessions
Aida Room

Friday, September 7 Afternoon
Discussion Groups

Events

Events

Accommodations

Host Hotel

Speakers

See & Do

IMGL 2018 Autumn Conference

Filter

Overview

September 5-7, 2018 Prague, Czech Republic

Host Hotel: Carlo IV (formerly known as Boscolo Prague)

Register

Delegate fees for the conference will increase by $100 after August 13.

Sponsorships

Gala Dinner Sponsor

Opening Reception Sponsor

Closing Reception Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors​

Schedule

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, September 5

Thursday, September 6 Morning – Plenary Aida Room

Thursday, September 6 Afternoon Tracks Aida + Tosca Room

Friday, September 7 Morning – Plenary Sessions Aida Room

Friday, September 7 Afternoon Discussion Groups

Events

Events

Accommodations

Host Hotel

Speakers

See & Do

September 5-7, 2018
Prague, Czech Republic

Bronze Sponsors

Thursday, September 6
Morning – Plenary
Aida Room

Thursday, September 6
Afternoon Tracks
Aida + Tosca Room

Friday, September 7
Morning – Plenary Sessions
Aida Room

Friday, September 7 Afternoon
Discussion Groups