January 2018 – Message from the President

2018 promises to be a very active year for IMGL and its members, and I hope that you are able to participate in one or more of the many IMGL events that will be taking place this year.

IMGL members have been, and will continue to be, at the forefront of all leading developments in the gambling sector globally. This recognises the expertise of those persons who join IMGL and are involved in the IMGL events that take place.

The IMGL year comprises a number of events that will be held throughout the world. This will include numerous IMGL Masterclasses – the first for 2018 has already been held in Miami, while others will be taking place in locations across the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as in Asia and Australia. We invite you to visit the website at www.imgl.org for further details.

Many members will be present at ICE (being hosted by Clarion Events) and will be presenting at the full day IMGL Masterclass to take place on Wednesday 7 February at ExCel. Our IMGL year will be launched at the IMGL function on Tuesday 6 February at Skinners’ Hall in London (to be co-hosted with the support of Gordon Dadds).

Plans are well underway for the IMGL conferences taking place in 2018 in Las Vegas (7-9 March) and Prague (5-7 September). Bob Stocker has arranged with the American Bar Association and the University of Nevada Las Vegas a programme for the IMGL Spring Conference in Las Vegas covering matters that are extremely topical for all persons interested in the gambling sector. Steve Ketteley and Robert Skalina and their committee are well advanced in their preparations for the IMGL Autumn Conference in Prague. This will be focused on issues relevant to developing gambling markets, not just in Central and Eastern Europe but also other parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia and South America and will provide a forum to discuss the pertinent legal and regulatory challenges facing the industry across the globe. Please put these dates in your calendars – we look forward to welcoming you in Las Vegas and Prague.

As the incoming IMGL President, I am honoured to have been elected to assume this position. It’s a particular honour in view of the eminence of the Presidents who have made IMGL the leading gambling lawyer association that it is today. It is also a recognition of the global reach of the IMGL – as the first non-North American and European holder of this position, I appreciate that it is a recognition of the global nature of IMGL. I very much hope to build on the success of IMGL that has been achieved through the efforts of the distinguished IMGL Presidents who have held this position previously and given so much of their time, effort and expertise in developing this organisation.

I would like to particularly thank Mike Zatezalo for his contribution as President to the IMGL as well as his counsel and friendship. He leaves a significant role to follow.

I would also like to welcome, and congratulate, the newly elected Leadership Committee of IMGL for 2018-2019 – Mike McBride, Marc Ellinger, Quirino Mancini, Justin Franssen, Marie Jones and Marc Dunbar – thanks for your support to date, and I look forward to working with you in 2018.

Finally, thanks to all of the supporters of IMGL, and particularly our sponsors. Also, thanks to Sue McNabb and Morten Ronde for their continuing efforts on behalf of IMGL.

I look forward to meeting you in London at ICE

Best wishes

Jamie Nettleton
Presiden