Regulator of the Year

Phil Crawford

These awards, which continue the IMGL mission of “Advancing Gaming Law through Education”, are given annually to the Regulators whom we consider have been preeminent in the regulatory field and whose overall body of work as a regulator has made noteworthy contributions to the regulation of the industry so as to add to the stable regulatory environment in their jurisdiction. The recipient of IMGL’s award is identified as a person of the highest integrity who has demonstrated outstanding service to the gaming community.

Image of Phil Crawford

IMGL 2023 Regulator of the Year: Phil Crawford, Australasia

Philip Crawford’s career spans forty plus years in law and regulatory roles, enabling him to cultivate an understanding of the ways in which the liquor and gaming industries contribute benefits as well as harms to society. Mr Crawford was a leading practitioner in litigation, insolvency and restructuring, and alternative dispute resolution. Recognised as one of Sydney’s leading mediators, Philip served as the Chairman of Partners at law firm Henry Davis York from 2010 until 2015, before running his own mediation practice.

His professional association with the liquor and gaming industries began in 2016 when he was appointed Chairperson of the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA). As ILGA Chairperson, Philip played a crucial role in assessing the suitability of Crown Resorts to hold a license for the Barangaroo restricted gaming facility. He was instrumental in initiating two inquiries that led to significant NSW legislative reform and higher standards for casino operators in NSW and across Australia. Philip was appointed as Chief Commissioner of the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) in 2022; a new regulatory agency set up in response to the inquiries, for the sole purpose of regulating The Star and Crown Sydney casinos.

Philip has continued to apply his legal and regulatory expertise to ensure a balance between supporting a sustainable hospitality industry and meeting community expectations for the safe supply of liquor and gaming products. He emphasises the importance of identifying and addressing contexts that increase the risk of harm, such as poor governance and compliance cultures, ineffective internal controls, and a reliance on gaming revenue. Philip has overseen the remediation efforts of Crown Sydney and The Star, including their board and executive renewals and the implementation of deep structural change around governance, anti-money laundering measures, and corporate culture.

Philip’s awareness of gambling as a popular form of entertainment on the one hand and a potentially dangerous product on the other, informs his approach to risk-based regulation. Philip is committed to providing NSW casinos with the appropriate level of support and supervision to provide safe, responsible, and compliant operations that are resistant to criminal infiltration and equipped to minimise gambling harm

2023

  • 2023

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Latin America

    Martín García Santillán

    President of Loteria de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

  • 2023

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Australasia

    Phil Crawford

    Chair of NSW Independent Casino Commission

2018

2017

2016

  • 2016

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    North America

    Alan Godfrey

    Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission

2015

  • 2015

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    North America

    Mark Ostrowski

    Administrator/Executive Director, Illinois Gaming Board

  • 2015

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    South and Central America

    Manuel San Roman Benavente

    General Director of Casino Games and Slot Machines, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Peru

  • 2015

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    Jenny Williams

    Commissioner and Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, Great Britain

2014

  • 2014

    Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

    Peter Bernhard

    Former Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Commission

  • 2014

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Americas

    Stephen Martino

    Director, Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency

  • 2014

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    Carlos Hernandez

    General Director of the DGOJ, Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations, Spain

  • 2014

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Indian Country

    Thomas Russell

    Commissioner, Pokagon Band Gaming Commission

  • 2014

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Asia / Australasia

    Malcolm Richardson

    Director of Compliance and Investigations, Department of Business, Northern Territory Australia

2013

  • 2013

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Americas

    David L. Rebuck

    Executive Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

  • 2013

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Indian Country

    John N. Roberts

    Deputy Commissioner, San Manuel Gaming Commission

  • 2013

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    No award was given

  • 2013

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Evolving Jurisdictions

    Giselle Ivelin Brea Rodriguez

    Executive Secretary, Gaming Control Board of Panama

2012

  • 2012

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Americas

    Kevin O'Toole

    Executive Director, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

  • 2012

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Indian Country

    Jamie Hummingbird

    Director, Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission

  • 2012

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    Guido Schluetz

    Senior Government Official, Gambling Regulation and Supervision, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

  • 2012

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Evolving Jurisdictions

    Kaye McDonald

    Director of Gaming, Financial Services Regulatory Commission of Antigua & Barbuda

  • 2012

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Americas

    Mark Lipparelli

    Chairman, Nevada State Gaming Control Board

2011

  • 2011

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Indian Country

    Norman H. DesRosiers

    Commissioner, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission

  • 2011

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio

    Deputy General Director, General Direction of Gambling, Spanish Ministry of Finance

  • 2011

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Evolving Jurisdictions

    Manuel Joaquim das Neves

    Director, Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau

2010

  • 2010

    Gaming Regulator of the Yearx

    Americas

    Jack Ketterer

    Administrator, Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission

  • 2010

    Gaming Regulator of the Yearx

    Indian Country

    Brett Barnes

    Gaming Commissioner, Eastern Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission, Missouri

  • 2010

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Europe

    Morten Ronde

    Head Legal Advisor, Danish Gaming Board

  • 2010

    Gaming Regulator of the Year

    Evolving Jurisdictions

    Francisco Javier Leiva

    Superintendent, Superintendence of Casinos of Chile

2009

  • 2009

    Randall E. Sayre

    Member of the Board / Administrative Division, Nevada Gaming Control Board

2008

  • 2008

    Francesco Rodano

    Head of Remote Gaming, Amministrazione Autonoma Monopoli di Stato (AAMS)

2007

  • 2007

    Dennis Neilander

    Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Board

2006

  • 2006

    Peter Dean

    Chairman, Gambling Commission, Great Britian

2005

  • 2005

    Larry Gregory

    Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission

2004

  • 2004

    Phil Hogen

    Member - National Indian Gaming Commission

  • 2004

    Nelson Westrin

    Member - National Indian Gaming Commission

  • 2004

    Cloyce Choney

    Member - National Indian Gaming Commission

2003

  • 2003

    Bobby Siller

    Member, Nevada Gaming Control Board

2002

  • 2002

    Harlan Goodson

    Director of the Division of Gambling Control, Department of Justice, State of California Attorney General's Office