AGEM celebrates growth and activism at global level
On behalf of our 150 member companies from 22 countries around the world, it is an honour to share highlights of the past 12 months for the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and our members.
What started with AGEM’s inception in 2000 and a focus initially on Nevada has evolved into a trade organization with global influence as our members sell their products and technology into every legal and regulated gaming jurisdiction in the world. With membership hitting an all-time high during the past year, AGEM works to further the interests of the world’s gaming equipment suppliers through political action, regulatory influence, trade show partnerships, educational alliances, information dissemination and good corporate citizenship. With that in mind, 2016 has been another active year for AGEM, focused on these main categories:
INDUSTRY COOPERATION AGEM worked with the American Gaming
Association (AGA) on the G2E and G2E Asia events and with the European Casino Association (ECA) on ICE, the International Casino Conference (ICC) and the European Dealer Championship. AGEM also partnered on other issues and events with a wide variety of other industry associations, including the Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), Gaming Standards Association (GSA), International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) and the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA).
REGULATORY REFORM AGEM fulfilled its $250,000 commitment to the
new International Center for Gaming Regulation at UNLV in Las Vegas and celebrated the hiring of Andre Wilsenach as the Center’s first Executive Director. AGEM is pushing the idea of the Center becoming a true driver of effective regulatory reform to improve the gaming industry overall.
PARTNERS IN PROGRESS AGEM partnered with Bermuda Casino Gaming
Commission (BCGC) Executive Director Richard Schuetz, formerly with the California Gambling Control Commission, as he begins building a new regulatory framework for up to three new casino operations in the island paradise country of Bermuda. AGEM retained renowned gaming legal expert Dan Reaser to help craft the regulations and technical standards that will govern equipment and technology providers who want to do business in this new market. Te partnership between AGEM and the BCGC is both unique and a potential model for new jurisdictions going forward.
ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN GAMING AGEM supports the growth and elevation of
women in gaming and has become a leading supporter of Global Gaming Women, now a stand-alone organization, by contributing to its Charitable Education Fund, its “Power of Technology” conference and serving as the title
Marcus Prater, AGEM Executive Director
Looking back, it’s been another strong year for AGEM and our diverse membership that helps power the global gaming industry.
sponsor of its annual “Kick Up Your Heels” reception at G2E in Las Vegas. AGEM also provided financial support for the “Go Red for Women” movement that benefits the American Heart Association.
AGEM OFFICERS January brought an updated Officer team as the
AGEM Board of Directors approved the slate presented of President Tom Jingoli, Konami; First Vice President Dan Savage, Scientific Games; Second Vice President David Lucchese, Everi; Vice President Of Government Relations Steve DiMasi, GTECH / IGT; Secretary Mark Dunn, Aristocrat; Treasurer Tom Nieman, JCM Global; Co-General Counsel Harper Ko, Scientific Games, and Co-General Counsel Daron Dorsey, Ainsworth.
VARIABLE-PAYBACK FINALISED AGEM and its members worked closely with the
Nevada Gaming Control Board (GCB) to finalize regulations and technical standards governing variable-payback slots allowing for skill-based gaming and other new features. Te final technical standards were published in February of this year and AGEM is proud of its relationship with GCB Chairman A.G. Burnett and his dedicated staff.
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AGEM agreed to a 3-year extension of the
AGEM Scholarship at Drexel University in Philadelphia, highlighting a busy 12 months focused on the educational component in its mission statement. In addition to supporting Drexel, AGEM funded scholarships or contributions to the UNLV Lee Business School, Nevada State College, the American Indian College Fund, the Global Gaming Women Charitable Education Fund, Atlantic Cape (N.J.) Community College, the International Center for Gaming Regulation at UNLV, Las Vegas Discovery Children’s Museum and Spread the Word Nevada.
RESPONSIBLE GAMING Te AGEM Board in February approved the
contract renewal of AGEM Director of Responsible Gaming Connie Jones and she had a very active year as AGEM continued to
Insight AGEM Highlights 2015-16
financially support a wide variety of organizations dedicated to responsible gaming initiatives, including the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG), the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, Te Problem Gambling Center and GamCare in the United Kingdom. For a specific example, the annual AGEM-AGA Golf Classic presented by JCM Global raised more than $130,000 for the NCRG. And building on its relationship with Global Gambling Guidance Group (G4), the idea of responsible gaming accreditation for technology provides has been introduced to AGEM members.
NEVADA GAMING POLICY COMMITTEE AGEM in March addressed the Nevada Gaming
Policy Committee for the first time, joining representatives from the American Gaming Association (AGA) and the Nevada Resort Association (NRA). In convening the Committee for only the second time since the 1980s, Governor Brian Sandoval said the goal of several meetings throughout 2016 will result in recommendations for the Nevada Legislature to consider when it gathers in early 2017.
AGEM MEXICO COMMITTEE Along with operator-dominated trade groups
APPJSAC and AIEJA, AGEM worked with regulatory agency SEGOB on a conference in Mexico City in May. More than 300 people attended the event, including regulators from 12 different countries.
AGEM MEMORIAL AWARDS During G2E this year, AGEM will reveal the
inaugural winners of the Jens Halle Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Commercial Gaming Professionalism and the Peter Mead Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Gaming Media & Communications. Halle and Mead passed away in 2015 within weeks of each other at the much-too-young ages of 57 and 54, respectively.
GUESTS OF HONOR AGEM’s monthly Board of Directors meetings
have become very popular in part because of the appearance by special guests throughout the year, including Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) CEO Jonas Peterson, American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Geoff Freeman, Reed Exhibitions Senior Vice President Ed Several and AGA Vice President of Industry Services Andrew Ortale.
TRADE SHOWS AGEM exhibited at G2E, G2E Asia, ICE and NIGA
and continues to work with trade show organizers around the world on the important topic of maximizing value for exhibitors and attendees. Looking back, it’s been another strong year for AGEM and our diverse membership that helps power the global gaming industry.
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /
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