March 2019 President’s Message

We are looking forward to the upcoming IMGL 2019 Spring Conference in New Orleans, which will take place at the Windsor Court Hotel next week from 27-29 March 2019.

Kelly Duncan, John Maloney and Donna Moore have put together a fascinating and fulsome programme of interest to gaming law professionals and other stakeholders interested in the gambling sector.

Of particular note are our keynote speakers – Jim Allen, the Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, Tim Wilmott of Penn National and Ronnie Jones, the Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. We are honoured to have these eminent industry leaders being able to join us. In addition to the keynote presentations, there are a considerable number of panels on topics of fundamental importance to the gambling sector, including ‘eSports’, ‘Sports League Entitlements’ in the context of sports betting, ‘Gaming, Elected Officials and the Media’, ‘Sports Betting – Lessons from Europe’ and ‘Card Rooms and Tribal Gaming’. Further, there are a number of discussion panels covering current topics such as: ‘Sexism in the Gaming Industry’ and ‘the Wire Act’.

There will also be a number of social events including our Gala Dinner at the renowned “Brennans”, a Welcoming Event at the Windsor Court Hotel and a Closing Reception at the Tableau.

If you have not booked your attendance yet, we urge you to do. Bookings close this Friday.

I am pleased to report that the IMGL events at ICE in London from 5-7 February were very successful. Our drinks reception at Skinner’s Hall (which were sponsored by Gordon Dadds), was once again one of the highlights of the ICE week. Thanks again to Marc Ellinger and Tony Coles for co-ordinating the IMGL Master Class at ICE, which was also very well attended.

As for upcoming events, I would like to remind you of our Autumn 2019 conference which is taking place in Munich from 11 to 13 September 2019. The Munich conference committee (led by Wulf Humbach) is arranging a fulsome conference to be held at the famous Charles Hotel.

Registrations for both accommodation and the Conference will be available soon on the IMGL website.

Also, please note 1-3 April 2020 in your diaries for the IMGL 2020 Spring Conference which is to take place in Europe. Plans are well underway and we will be making an announcement soon. Suffice it to say, IMGL has chosen a venue that will be a first for IMGL and will be a very attractive destination for our members and their guests.

The Executive Committee has been busy, not just arranging events but also thinking about the future. A Publications Committee has been formed, comprising Marc Dunbar (Chair), Kok-Keng Lau, Simon Planzer, Christine Masse, Peter Kulick, Anna Soilleux-Mills and Veronique dos Reis. This Committee will focus very much on the outward facing aspects of IMGL, including the development of the IMGL website, IMGL publication platforms and social media. More details will be announced in New Orleans.

We are looking forward to hearing from the Committee, on their proposals for the manner in which we can provide more content and information relating to IMGL and its services; both to its members and more generally.

For the moment, I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans and at a future IMGL event.

Best wishes,

Jamie Nettleton

President