Successful gaming operators understand the importance of building and maintaining cultures of compliance within the jurisdictions they operate. This program provides a curated review of compliance protocols and processes, including techniques for planning, monitoring, and reporting.

This program is open to gaming regulators, policy makers, manufacturers, operators, suppliers, or integrated resort professionals who would benefit from a better understanding or refresh of the principles of a sound compliance system. All functional areas - including compliance, HR, finance, gaming operations, etc. - are welcome to attend.

AGENDA TOPICS INCLUDE:

A Nevada Perspective on Gaming Regulation and Pre- & Post-Licensing Gaming Compliance –

• What is Compliance?
• Pre- & Post-Licensing Compliance
• Core Principles of Gaming Compliance

Role of Compliance in Your Organization

• Historical Context for Compliance Plans
• Legal Concepts
• Addressing Compliance in an Organization

Compliance Audit (Regulatory & Licensee Perspectives)

• Why audit your compliance plan?
• Audit preparations and document review
• What are regulators looking for?
• Common issues with compliance audits
• What is an audit?
• Goals of an audit
• Items to prepare for review
• Tips to help prepare

Post Licensing Compliance and Case Studies – Jennifer Roberts – 50 minutes

• Why post licensing compliance?
• Compliance records
• Compliance committee
• Case studies

Newly added! Spotlight on tribal gaming compliance - 40 minutes
Tribal gaming operations and personnel are subject to many of the same or similar requirements as commercial operations. Yet there are some key differences for tribal casinos, most fundamentally, the need to comply with law and regulation from three different jurisdictions: tribal, federal, and state. This session on tribal gaming compliance will include a brief overview of relevant federal law and regs, tribal-state compacts, and agency authority.From risk profiles and planning, AML to KYC, and audit to reporting, learn the best basic strategies for tribal casinos to build an effective gaming compliance program and regulators or compliance officers to establish their commitment to compliance.

Speakers

Julie Damavandi, JKD Consulting

Julie Damavandi holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) and a Master of Business Administration. She earned both degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). While studying at UNLV, she taught Introduction to Business and Principles of Finance.

Julie started her gaming career after college working in positions such as an Internal Auditor with Hilton Hotels Corporation, an Internal Control Specialist with Boyd Gaming Corporation at Sam’s Town, and Director of Compliance at the Venetian Casino Resort. She spent 18 years with the Nevada Gaming Control Board where she started as an agent in the Investigations Division. She was promoted several times and served the last 5 1/2 years as a supervisor managing the investigations of a team of 5 to 7 agents while overseeing their caseloads that may number a total of 20 to 30 separate investigations at any given time. Julie spent many years conducting and supervising field investigations. These assignments ranged from simple key employees to complex foreign investigations, and covered issues ranging from personal backgrounds and criminal activity to complex financial structures. Julie has conducted investigations throughout the United States and in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia.

Greg Gemignani, Attorney, Dickinson Wright

Greg Gemignani is an attorney at the law firm of Dickinson Wright with more than 20 years' experience practicing gaming, technology and intellectual property law. He is also a lecturer and instructor at the International Center for Gaming Regulation teaching courses on Sports Wagering, Gaming Compliance, Gaming Regulation, and Gaming Policy.  Gemignani has provided direct gaming and regulatory instruction to operators, governments, and regulators in dozens of jurisdictions and has provided onsite instruction in South Africa, Japan, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Minnesota, California, and Ghana. Gemignani’s practice emphasis is primarily on gaming regulatory law, intellectual property law, technology law and online promotions law.

Gemignani has had articles published in several law review journals, gaming industry publications, and has been a guest in radio and televised interviews for several international news organizations on internet law and gaming related topics. Gemignani has been teaching courses at the Boyd School of Law since 2005. Prior to practicing at Dickinson Wright,  Gemignani was a shareholder at the law firm of Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Prior to practicing law, Gemignani was a software systems engineer and systems architect with EDS.

Jennifer Roberts, Vice President and General Counsel, WynnBet

Renowned lawyer, educator, and gaming expert, Jennifer Roberts brings to the table 20 years of experience serving in both public and private sectors.

Jennifer started her career as a law clerk with the Utah Court of Appeals and later with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She then became a partner at Lionel Sawyer & Collins, where she served for more than 11 years with the gaming, liquor, and zoning/land use practice. She continued that work at Duane Morris LLP, incorporating other areas of expertise including live entertainment, licensing, and compliance. In 2016, Jennifer opened Roberts Gaming Law, Ltd, where she assisted and advised clients on federal, state, and local alcohol beverage licensing and compliance; land use and zoning; business counseling and licensing; and regulatory and administrative law.

Understanding the importance of education and training, Jennifer joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) family in 2009 as an adjunct professor in the William S Boyd School of Law, teaching courses covering gaming law, gaming law policy, casino law, and casino operations and management. As she continued teaching, Jennifer also became the Associate Director of the UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation in 2016. Jennifer has also taught at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law since 2015.

Jennifer returned to the private sector with roles at the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, GameCo LLC, and at WynnBett, where she currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel.

Luke Rippee, Deputy Chief, Nevada Gaming Control Board

Luke Rippee is currently a supervisor with the Nevada Gaming Control Board with over 15 years of regulatory, compliance, and investigations experience. He supervises a team of agents and is responsible for day-to-day management of compliance audits as well as all compliance reviews and compliance plans submitted for Chair approval. The Compliance Unit also handles special investigations. He holds a Masters in Business Administration and Management from University of Nevada, Reno.

Kathryn Rand, Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota

Kathryn Rand is Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota. In spring 2022, she will be the Inaugural Visiting Professor in Indian Nations Gaming & Governance at the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she also is Senior Distinguished Fellow in Tribal Gaming at the International Center for Gaming Regulation (ICGR). At UND, the Tribal Gaming Institute is the first university research center dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of Indian gaming. With Institute Co-Director Steve Light (UND College of Business & Public Administration), Rand has published and presented extensively on the law, policy, regulation, and socioeconomic impacts of gaming. Their most recent book is Indian Gaming Law: Cases and Materials, 2d ed. (2019). Rand serves on the Editorial Board of the Gaming Law Review, is Vice President for Educator Members of the International Masters of Gaming Law, and is a member of the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s Gaming Law Committee. She has been quoted extensively in such media as the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and Indian Country Today.

Steven Light, Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota

Steve Light is Professor of Political Science and Public Administration and Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota. In spring 2022, he will be the Inaugural Visiting Professor in Indian Nations Gaming & Governance at the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he also is Senior Distinguished Fellow in Tribal Gaming at the International Center for Gaming Regulation (ICGR). At UND, the Tribal Gaming Institute is the first university research center dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding of Indian gaming. With Institute Co-Director Kathryn Rand (UND School of Law), Light has published and presented extensively on the law, policy, regulation, and socioeconomic impacts of gaming. Their most recent book is Indian Gaming Law: Cases and Materials, 2d ed. (2019). Light serves on the Editorial Board of the Gaming Law Review and is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s Gaming Law Committee. He has been quoted extensively in such media as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Indian Country Today.