IMGL 2022 Spring Conference

Wednesday, April 27

10:00 am - 12:15 pm
Registration
Ballroom Foyer

3:45 pm – 5:15 pm
IMGL Members Meeting
Grand Pacific A & B

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Welcome Back Opening Reception presented by Play'n GO
Hook & Plow Bar
 

7:30 pm+
"Next-Gen" Pub Crawl in Conjunction with Emerging Leaders in Gaming
Join other young lawyers (and the 'young of spirit') in exploring the many unique pubs, joints and speakeasies of Seattle’s hipster nightlife scene! Begin your night at The Zig Zag Cafe, followed by Bathtub Gin & Co., and end the night at Fog Room! 
Zig Zag Cafe, Bathtub Gin & Co., Fog Room

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Thursday, April 28
MORNING SESSIONS
Grand Pacific D - G

8:00 am - 4:45 pm
Registration
Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast
Ballroom Foyer

8:30 am – 8:40 am
Welcome and Conference Overview from IMGL President Marc Ellinger

8:40 am - 8:45 am
Planning Committee Welcome from Seattle 2022 Co-Chair Chris Masse

8:45 am – 9:00 am
Washington State, the Gambling Powerhouse of the U.S. Pacific Northwest!
Bud Sizemore, Chair, Washington State Gambling Commission

9:00 am – 9:45 am
Celebrating [email protected] Signature Session: The Next Technology Wave for Indian Gaming and What It Means for the Gaming Industry Worldwide

Starting with the first deployment of client-server technology gaming products a generation ago, the U.S. Indian gaming market has long been recognized as the “innovation factory” for the gaming industry worldwide. Now the next wave of technology advancements is coming, moving gaming further past the analog and deeper into the 21st Century digital environment. Hear three of the foremost leaders in the Indian gaming sector discuss the next-generation megatrends expected to transform gaming products everywhere.
Speakers:
Ron Allen, Chairman, Washington Indian Gaming Association, USA
James Maida, CEO, Gaming Laboratories International, USA
E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission

9:45 am – 10:00 am
Networking Break
Ballroom Foyer

10:00 am – 11:00 am
Breaking News: Gaming Technology Related Developments that Every Gaming Lawyer Should Know

The biggest challenge facing any gaming lawyer today is being aware of the basic nature of the new technology components in gaming tech products, how they fit into the gaming system operations, and understanding the options available to the supplier, operator or regulator for addressing any necessary legal “fixes” to make the gaming product compliant under applicable laws and regulations. This requires gaming lawyers by necessity to become “gaming technologists” with a good understanding of the “mechanics” of the technology to be used. In this session emerging gaming technologies will be examined and explained so you are ready for gaming’s future era of groundbreaking technology.   
Moderator: Luiz Felipe Maia, Partner, FYMSA Advogados, Brazil
Speakers:
Alfredo Lazcano, Chair, Lazcano Samano, S.C., Mexico
Peter Sullivan, CEO, Jackpocket, Inc., USA
Tony Morelli, Pilot Games, Inc., USA
Kevin Mullally, General Counsel, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC, USA 
Filippo Ferri, Chief Compliance Officer, Delasport, Spain

11:05 am – 12:05 pm 
Mobile Gaming App Technology: Implications for Cross-Border Regulatory Jurisdiction Disputes/Cooperation between International, US, and Indian Country Regulators

Deployment of mobile gaming app-based operations raise many “cross-border” regulatory issues – what agency gets to license the activity and who exactly should be licensed, which agency will have enforcement authority, what technology will be licensed, how will this be done, etc. This development can create significant tension between regulators in the EU, US and Indian gaming markets. This session will explore how such tensions can impact disputes/cooperation between these agencies and discuss best practices for regulators.   
Moderator: Ron Segev, Partner, Segev LLP, Canada
Speakers:
James Baldaccino, Senior Legal Counsel, Malta Gaming Authority, Malta
Caitlin Caputo, Agency Counsel & Executive Officer, Arizona Department of Gaming, USA
Peter Larson, Attorney, Lewis Roca, USA
Andrew Cotton, Director of Betting and Gaming, INCE, UK
             

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
IMGL Awards Luncheon
Eric Pettigrew, VP Government Relations & Outreach, Seattle Kraken
Hook & Plow Bar

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Thursday, April 28
AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Tribal Sessions: Grand Pacific A - C
US/EU/International Sessions: Grand Pacific D - G

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Tribal Gaming Spotlight Session:
Cybersecurity, Ransomware and Novel Gaming Technologies Licensing: Best Practices for Tribal Gaming Suppliers, Operators and Regulators

Tribal casinos have unfortunately learned firsthand that modern technology developments cut both ways. As more novel gaming technologies are introduced to aid tribal gaming offerings, the risk of loss and infiltration can reach code-red levels. An effective cybersecurity threat assessment, prevention, and response plan is essential to protecting vital tribal gaming assets. This session explores the licensing implications raised by technology threats embedded in gaming tech systems and the best methods, procedures, and tech tools available to the tribal gaming industry to safeguard gaming operations in the digital age.      
Moderator: Tom Foley, Partner, Quigley Foley Law, USA
Speakers:
David Vialpando, Executive Director, Pokagon Band Gaming Commission, USA
Melissa Aarskaug, VP Business Development, Bulletproof, Canada
E. Sequoyah Simermeyer, Chairman, National Indian Gaming Commission, USA
Chris Stearns, Councilmember, Auburn City Council, USA
 

US/EU/International Spotlight Session:
Crypto-Currency, Payment Processing Systems and New Value Transfer Technologies – understanding [the latest] mobile gaming transaction technology [linchpins] [links] between bettors, operators, regulators and banks

Mobile gaming app systems require a high degree of coordination between bettors, operators, regulators and banks, and transaction technology links – which facilitate the transfer of value in exchange for participation – are the hinge that makes it all possible. This session will examine the unique tech components “behind the screen” that will drive the growth of app-based gaming, and address issues like how may/will patrons “pay” to play the games, how will this be regulated, what technology will be licensed, how will this be done, etc.
Moderator: Ernest Matthews, President, ISI-Maritime/Islands, Ltd., USA
Speakers:
Chris Cheung, Chief Strategy Officer, PlayUp, USA
Jennifer Carleton, Chief Legal Officer, Sightline Payments, USA
Michael Fabius, Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP, USA 
Tony English, Director of Operations, BIG Cyber,  LLC, Canada
Ryan Best, Compliance, Risk and Governance Officer, Ambassadeurs Group, UK


2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Networking Break
Ballroom Foyer

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tribal Gaming Spotlight Session:
Unraveling the Technology Gordian Knot Hanging Over Indian Country: Innovations for Mobile Tribal Gaming Operations Arising from the Interplay Between the Wire Act, IGRA and UIGEA

New tech-driven gaming products and operations raise several legal and public policy issues that must be sorted out, and federal, state and tribal interests may not always align in their resolution. Remote access to digital gaming activities conducted at tribal casinos is the proverbial “Gordian Knot” hanging over Indian Country, arising from the interplay between the Wire Act, IGRA and UIGEA. Sometimes federal and state interests are in favor of the mobile tribal gaming operation when offering revenue-sharing Class III sports-wagering (Seminole Tribe compact case) but opposed when the tribe offers Class II e-bingo without any payments to the state (Desert Rose Bingo litigation). This session will look at possible solutions for unraveling the knot so Indian gaming can flourish in the digital gaming age.  
Moderator: Christine Masse, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, USA
Speakers:
Scott Crowell, Owner, Crowell Law Office Tribal Advocacy Group PLLC, USA
Joe Valandra, Chairman/CEO, Great Luck Inc., USA
Steve Bodmer, General Counsel, Pechanga Tribal Government, USA
Joseph Webster, Partner, HOBBS STRAUS DEAN & WALKER, LLP, USA

 

US/EU/International Spotlight Session:
Countdown to the Launch of the New Lottery Age: Technology, Legal and Public Policy Considerations for a Successful Liftoff

The evolution of government sponsored lotteries is going into hyper-speed with innovative digital tech sales and new product delivery solutions being tested for launch in multiple jurisdictions in the US and international markets. Each tech innovation raises the chance that technology, legal and public policy considerations could lead to a “system glitch” that aborts liftoff. This session will offer suggestions on how lotteries can gain higher orbit using the best legal engineering ideas that work for the new lottery age.    
Moderator: Kevin Quigley, Indian Affairs & Gaming Business Counsel, Foley & Quigley PLC, USA
Speakers:
Ben Freedland, General Counsel, Minnesota State Lottery, USA
Carter Vance, General Counsel, Jackpocket, Inc., USA
Mark Hichar, Shareholder, GreenbergTraurig, USA
Riva Richard, General Counsel, Pollard Banknote, Canada

4:05 pm – 5:05 pm
Tribal Gaming Spotlight Session:
Exploring New Frontiers in Tribal Gaming: The Rise of Tribal Sports Books and Esports Gambling in Indian Country

Innovation in gaming offerings has always been a hallmark of Indian gaming in the United States. The challenge today is how to appeal to the next generation of players, many with non-traditional gambling profiles. Tribal gaming operations looking to meet this challenge by ramping up new tech-aided offerings like sports books and esports can face considerable legal hurtles. This session will examine the current and likely future legal landscape for tribal sports books and esports wagering, the technologic issues associated with these gaming offerings, and what the industry can do to advance the use of technology tools that enhance the player experience and grow operation revenues.
Moderator: Harry Jackson, Partner, Fox Rothschild, USA
Speakers:
Kara Fox-Larose, President and General Manager, ilani, USA
Alan Meister, CEO & Principal Economist, Meister Economic Consulting, USA
Christine Masse, Partner, Miller Nash LLP, USA
Eric Weiss, Vice President Technical Compliance, Odds on Compliance, USA

US/EU/International Spotlight Session:
The New Responsible Gaming Age: Practical Technology Tools and Solutions for Players and Operators

The continuous innovative tech developments are being certainly reflected in the RG tools available and the management of players risks through technology.  Considering that these tech advancements are, in addition, taking place in a global environment that is becoming more and more regulated and, which legislative trend is becoming more interventionist and restrictive with respect to the gambling operator’s activity vs player protection, this session will examine relevant and interesting aspects as to consider where the balance between responsible gambling and the business is, what are the current and emerging RG tools available to identify player trends and protect players from risk and where is the actual line to offer the best player experience vs illegal market.
Moderator: Santiago Asensi, Partner, Asensi Abogados, Spain
Speakers:
William J. Pascrell III, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group, USA
Eric Frank, CEO and Co-Founder, Odds on Compliance, USA
Jessica Maier, Head of Government Affairs, Play'n GO, Malta

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
[email protected] Celebration Gala 
Chihuly Garden and Glass 
**Shuttle buses will begin leaving the hotel at 5:45 pm; the last bus will leave at 6:10 pm from the Marriott. 
**Shuttle buses will begin leaving Chihuly Garden & Glass at 9:30 pm; the last bus will leave at 10:00 pm from the venue. 

10:30 pm+
Lobby Bar Social Hour
Seattle Marriott Waterfront

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Friday, April 29
MORNING SESSIONS
Grand Pacific D - G

8:00 am - 4:15 pm
Registration
Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am - 9:30 am
Continental Breakfast
​Ballroom Foyer

8:50 am – 9:00 am
Welcome by IMGL President Marc Ellinger

9:00 am – 10:00 am
Data Protection Issues in Gambling Regulation: How New Technologies Raise New Concerns and Opportunities

Not only as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the online gambling industry collects an ever-increasing amount and variety of data through its technology stacks. The role of the data itself has also been evolving; originally used for KYC purposes and tailoring of promotion offers, data serves much wider and much more multifarious purposes these days, crucially consumer protection, including AML, responsible gambling and integrity. Amongst other issues, this session will discuss whether there is a risk of customer behavioral data being misused for untoward purposes or how far operators may go to use customer data to protect customers potentially even against their will. At the same time, the data creates a plethora of opportunities for operators to offer more customer centric as well as safer products – the panelists will tackle this matter as well. 
Moderator: Martin Lycka, SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling, Entain, USA
Speakers:
Stuart McMaster, Partner, Mishcon de Reya, UK
Kate Lowenhar-Fisher, General Counsel, Everi, USA
Jessica Maier, Head of Government Affairs, Play'n GO, Malta

Networking Break
10:00 am – 10:15 am
 

10:15 am – 11:15 am
Spotlight on Start-up Gaming Tech Entrepreneurs: The Lawyer Services They Need and How to Earn Their Trust

With the coming digital gaming age, legacy gaming device suppliers face significant challenges from start-ups offering innovative new gaming tech products. These new entrants into the gaming marketplace will need gaming-centric legal services as their products rollout and evolve. But start-up gaming tech entrepreneurs often have a different set of expectations and needs for lawyer services than long established gaming companies. This session will focus on this emerging legal business opportunity and how lawyers wanting to be active in the gaming field over the next decade can best take advantage of it.
Moderator: Ali Bartlett, Attorney, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, USA
Speakers:
Luke Pergande, Founder, PropSwap, USA
Bill Gantz, Partner, Duane Morris, USA
Tony Morelli, Pilot Games, Inc., USA
Gabrielle Angle, Regulatory Counsel, GeoComply Solutions, USA
Andrew Fries, EVP, Jackpocket, Inc., USA 

11:20 am – 12:20 pm
The New EU Digital Services Legislation: What it Means for the Coming Worldwide Revolution in Digital Gaming Technologies

The European Union embarked on an ambitious plan to introduce a revolutionary digital regulatory package by 2023, in line with the announcement of “Europe's Digital Decade” by the European Commission. The Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Data Act, Artificial Intelligence Act, Digital Governance Act and ePrivacy Regulation are just a few of the most important pieces of this new regulation regime, which will have an important effect not only on the digital gaming industry within the 27 EU Member States, but also for the US and worldwide digital gaming markets. Most of the legislation will be drafted and/or adopted in 2022 and will be binding to every global company or individual placing gaming products and services on European markets and significant changes in development of new gaming technologies and business models is foreseen.
Moderator: Jaka Repansek, Founder, RePublis, Slovenia
Speakers:
Frieder Backu, Partner, Witzel Erb Backu & Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB, Germany
Joseph F. Borg, Partner, WH Partners, Malta
Jeremy Kleiman, Member, Saiber LLC, USA

12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
IMGL Past President’s Roundtable Luncheon
Celebrating IMGL @ 20: How We Got Here and Where We Are Going Championing Gaming Law Education Around the Globe
Hook & Plow Bar

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Friday, April 29
AFTERNOON DISCUSSION GROUPS & SESSIONS
 

Grand Pacific A - C
​2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
HOT TOPICS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ROUND 1: eSports Technologies Issues
Faciliator(s): Luiz Felipe Maia, Founding Partner, FYMSA, Brazil; Alla Serebrianskaia, Partner, Asensi Abogados, Spain

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
HOT TOPICS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ROUND 2: Advertising & Payments
Faciliator(s): Matthias Spitz, Partner, Melchers, Germany; Michael Fabius, Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP, USA

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Networking Break
Ballroom Foyer


3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Grand Pacific D - G
Ethics in the Digital Age: Technology Related Pitfalls to Avoid (1 hour of ethics credits!)

Technology innovations have not only impacted gaming products and operations, but they have also fundamentally reshaped the way gaming lawyers practice. Electronic data collected by the lawyer can trigger different obligations for data protection at a client level and a law firm level. Expansion of a client’s gaming products to new jurisdictions can trigger the need for consultation with other legal counsel directly from those jurisdictions to avoid running afoul of professional responsibility standards of competency and the unauthorized practice of law. The rising use of social media and podcasts to expand a client base can trigger considerations about client confidentiality and restrictions on business solicitation in existence across the jurisdictions where clients see or hear these offerings. In this session gaming lawyers from different jurisdictions across the globe will highlight pitfalls that arise from the weaving of new technologies into your legal practice and servicing clients doing business across multiple jurisdictions.  
Moderator: Jennifer Lamirand, Shareholder, Crowe & Dunlevy, USA
Speakers: 
Barth Aaron, Consultant/Business Lawyer Gaming Attorney, Barth F. Aaron, Esquire, USA
Stephanie Bell, Partner, Ellinger and Associates, LLC, USA

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
IMGL Presidents Honors Closing Reception presented by Miller Nash LLP and Foley Quigley Law
Closing Remarks by IMGL President Marc Ellinger
**It is approximately a 10 minute walk from the hotel to Miller Nash Law Office at Pier 70