LAS VEGAS – (Press Release) -- The International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) announced today that Phil Hogen, the new Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) would address the groundbreaking legal conference, IMGL Presents California 2002, December 4-6, 2002 at the Silverado in Napa Valley. It will be Hogen's first public address since his confirmation as NIGC chairman earlier this month.
Phil Hogen is a tremendous choice as the chairman of the NIGC," says IMGL President Frank Catania, the former director of New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement, and president of Catania Consulting. "His integrity is unquestioned. The changing nature of the federal regulatory structure makes his first public address at our conference that much more important."
Hogen was appointed by President Bush in September and confirmed by the Senate in November. A South Dakota native and enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Hogen served as an associate member of the NIGC from 1995 to 1999. Hogen has the respect of both parties, as evidenced by testimony supporting him by the two rivals in the November election for the South Dakota Senate seat, Sen. Tim Johnson and Rep. John Thune. Prior to joining the NIGC, Hogen served as a U.S. Attorney for the district of South Dakota; director of the office of American Indian Trust, Department of the Interior; and a partner with the law firm of DeMersseman Jensen in Rapid City, South Dakota.
In addition to Hogen, two other keynote speakers will highlight the IMGL conference, Brian Sandoval, the Attorney General-Elect from the state of Nevada, and Anthony Pico, Former Chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. Harlan Goodson, the Director of the California Department of Justice's Division of Gambling Control, will receive the first IMGL Gaming Regulator of the Year award during the keynote luncheon on December 5.
Some of the issues covered during the seminar sessions at IMGL Presents California 2002 include: Compacts & Sovereignty: Relationships with Federal, State & Local Governments; Lotteries & Gaming: Slots at Tracks and VLTs; California Update: Slots, Racetracks, Cardrooms & the Regs; Boardroom Basics: The Role of Legal Counsel; Native American Gaming Regulation: State, Tribal, and Federal; State of the Art: Current Legal Issues; Internet Gaming: Legal or Not?; and International Update: Asia, Europe & Beyond.
The Co-Chairs of IMGL's California 2002 are John Maloney, Partner, Maloney & Tabor, Inc., Sacramento, CA and Heidi M. Staudenmaier, Partner, Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix. IMGL's California 2002 is produced by Global Gaming Business Conferences, a division of Global Gaming Business magazine.
IMGL is an invitation-only association and there are membership criteria and limitations. A general member must have at least five years' experience in gaming law and no more than two general members from a jurisdiction are permitted. In addition to general membership, IMGL has three categories of associate membership - regulator, educator and in-house counsel. While there are no limitations on the number of associate members, every member must fulfill certain experience criteria. The mission of IMGL is simple: Education.
Global Gaming Business is published twice a month and focuses on the casino gaming industry worldwide. A unique combination of features, columns and departments, the magazine is the most timely gaming trade publication available, providing innovative editorial coverage through alliances with some of the industry's most noted executives, consulting firms and experts. Global Gaming Business is an official publication of the American Gaming Association and the Global Gaming Expo (G2E).