IMGL Gaming Regulators of the Year

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. 

 

Gaming Regulator of the Year Criteria

• Overall body of work in career as regulator
• Contributions to the gaming industry
• Noteworthy achievements in the regulation of the gaming industry
• Provides a stable regulatory environment in the jurisdiction
• Identified as a person of high integrity
• Demonstrates service in the community

 

Recipients

2018

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Australasia
Michael Sarquis
Executive Director, Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Australia

Outstanding Achievement Award  – Americas
A.G. Burnett
McDonald Carano, Reno, NV

Regulator of the Year – Americas
Sara Gonso Tait
Executive Director, Indiana Gaming Commission 

Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
Gordon Dickie
Executive Director, Seminole Tribal Gaming Commission

Regulator of the Year – Europe
Juan Espinosa Garcia
Director General de Ordenación del Juego, Spain

Outstanding Achievement Award – Europe
Joseph Cuschieri
Executive Chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority, Malta

 

2017

Gaming Regulator of the Year – North America
Ronnie Jones
Louisiana Gaming Control Board

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country (two selected)
Dave Vialpando
Iipay Nation

Terry Hale
Seminole

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Birgitte Sand
Copenhagen Gaming

 

2016

Gaming Regulator of the Year – North America
Alan Godfrey
Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission

 

2015

Gaming Regulator of the Year – North America
Mark Ostrowski
Administrator/Executive Director, Illinois Gaming Board 

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

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Jenny Williams
Commissioner and Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, Great Britain

 

2014

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Peter Bernhard
Former Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Commission

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Americas
Stephen Martino
Director, Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Carlos Hernandez
General Director of the DGOJ, Ministry of Finance and Public Administrations, Spain

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
Thomas Russell
Commissioner, Pokagon Band Gaming Commission

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Asia / Australasia
Malcolm Richardson
Director of Compliance and Investigations, Department of Business, Northern Territory Australia 

 

2013

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Americas
David L. Rebuck
Executive Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
John N. Roberts
Deputy Commissioner, San Manuel Gaming Commission

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
No award was given

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Evolving Jurisdictions
Giselle Ivelin Brea Rodriguez
Executive Secretary, Gaming Control Board of Panama

 

2012

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Americas
Kevin O'Toole
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
Jamie Hummingbird
Director, Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission 

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Guido Schluetz
Senior Government Official, Gambling Regulation and Supervision, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Evolving Jurisdictions
Kaye McDonald
Director of Gaming, Financial Services Regulatory Commission of Antigua & Barbuda

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Americas
Mark Lipparelli
Chairman, Nevada State Gaming Control Board

 

2011

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
Norman H. DesRosiers
Commissioner, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio
Deputy General Director, General Direction of Gambling, Spanish Ministry of Finance

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Evolving Jurisdictions
Manuel Joaquim das Neves
Director, Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau

 

2010

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Americas
Jack Ketterer
Administrator, Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Indian Country
Brett Barnes
Gaming Commissioner, Eastern Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission, Missouri

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Europe
Morten Ronde
Head Legal Advisor, Danish Gaming Board

Gaming Regulator of the Year – Evolving Jurisdictions
Francisco Javier Leiva
Superintendent, Superintendence of Casinos of Chile

 

2009

Randall E. Sayre
Member of the Board / Administrative Division, Nevada Gaming Control Board

 

2008

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

 

2007

Dennis Neilander
Chairman, Nevada Gaming Control Board

 

2006

Peter Dean                                                  
Chairman, Gambling Commission, Great Britian

 

2005

Larry Gregory
Executive Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission

 

2004

National Indian Gaming Commission
Phil Hogen, Nelson Westrin, Cloyce Choney – members NIGC

 

2003

Bobby Siller
Member, Nevada Gaming Control Board

 

2002

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