The International Association of Gaming Advisors and the International Association of Gaming Regulators held their annual conference in Washington, D.C. on October 9-13, where executives of both companies spoke about where the gaming industry presently stands.
Executives who spoke at the conference covered topics including general views on the industry, ideas on how to navigate through financial burdens, opportunities of development abroad, Native American gaming, and compliance. Speakers included Gary Loveman, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.; Virginia McDowell, president and chief operating officer of Isle of Capri Casinos; Keith Smith, president and chief executive officer of Boyd Gaming Corporation; Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association; James Maida, president and CEO of Gaming Laboratories International, Inc.; Anthony Sanfilippo, president and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment and many other national and international gaming industry heads.
The conference attracted over 300 advisors, executives, financial experts, regulators and other gaming industry workers who all came to discuss present issues affecting the gaming world.
At the conference, the IAGA/IAGR officers for 2011 were elected. The new officers are:
President: Gavin Isaacs, chief operating officer, Bally Technologies, Las Vegas, Nevada
Vice President: Marc Rubinstein, senior vice president, law and administration and secretary, Tropicana Entertainment Inc., Las Vegas
Secretary: Julian Harris, partner, Harris Hagan, London
Treasurer: Thomas B. Shepherd, III, shareholder, Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, Jackson, Mississippi
General Counsel: Katie Lever, executive vice president and general counsel, Global Cash Access, Inc., Las Vegas, Nevada
Immediate Past President: Paul West, vice chairman, gaming industry service team and shareholder, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
