Compliance Updates
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Names Director of Investigations and Enforcement Bureau and Executive Director
The MGC met on January 31 in a public meeting to interview candidates for the role of IEB Director. Following those interviews, commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Caitlin Monahan Director of the agency’s IEB. Monahan served as Interim Director of the IEB and before that served for three years as a member of the MGC’s legal division, recently as deputy general counsel. Prior to joining the MGC, Monahan was a litigator in the Boston office of the law firm WilmerHale. She started her career as an assistant in the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Monahan graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
“I am excited for this important opportunity to lead the Commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. Having served in the MGC’s legal division previously and in this role on an interim basis, I know the essential work in front of us and look forward to continue to collaborate with my colleagues across the MGC to ensure the integrity and safety of gaming in the Commonwealth,” said Monahan.
The IEB is the largest division at the MGC and is responsible for ensuring the integrity of Massachusetts gaming operations. The IEB has an investigatory side, staffed with members of the Massachusetts State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit and financial investigators, who complete background checks and ongoing suitability determinations on operators, vendors and employees of the gaming establishments. The IEB is a law enforcement agency, with subpoena power and broad investigatory authority to make sure that the people and business entities involved with gaming meet the established standards of integrity, honesty and good character. The IEB also has an enforcement side, staffed with Gaming Agents, who ensure that the Massachusetts casinos are in compliance with all regulations promulgated by the Commission. Additionally, the IEB oversees the MGC’s licensing division.
“Caitlin has been a valued member of the MGC team for a number of years, first in the legal division and recently as interim IEB Director – this experience will help ensure her success as she begins this new role. Her contributions have been essential to the work of the MGC in the regulation and oversight of casino gaming, horse racing, and establishing sports wagering in the Commonwealth, and I know she will continue to meet and surpass our high expectations as a leader of our organization,” said Chair Cathy Judd-Stein.
Much like final interviews for the IEB Director, Commissioners met in a public meeting on Monday March 18 to interview two final candidates for the role of executive director. Following interviews and deliberations, commissioners voted 4-0 to appoint Dean Serpa as executive director of the MGC. Throughout his career, Serpa has served in multiple senior roles throughout Massachusetts state government including leadership roles for the office of Governor Charlie Baker. He currently serves as the chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC).
“I want to thank the commissioners for entrusting me with this important role, and I look forward to joining the committed team at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. I am passionate about moving projects from inception to competition and working with teams to get things done – I am excited to build on my experience with GPAC as I get started as executive director of the Commission,” said Dean Serpa.
The executive director serves as the executive and administrative head of the MGC and is responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of the law relative to the commission and each of the agency’s administrative units. The executive director reports to the five-member Commission.
“Dean’s unparalleled operations experience and record of leadership and service to the Commonwealth will allow him to step into the role of executive director and have an immediate impact on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. His time as chair of the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee will provide him with an essential level of familiarity regarding MGC policies and programs as he begins his tenure,” said Commissioner Eileen O’Brien.
Commissioners Nakisha Skinner (chair) and Brad Hill served on the initial screening committee for the new IEB director and were joined by Chief People and Diversity Officer David Muldrew. Commissioners Eileen O’Brien (chair) and Jordan Maynard served on the initial screening committee for the executive director and were joined by Chief People and Diversity Officer David Muldrew and Chief Financial and Accounting Officer Derek Lennon. Former interim IEB director, Heather Hall, also served on the ED screening committee until she departed the Commission.
Compliance Updates
JCM Global Receives Approval to Operate in West Virginia
JCM Global announced that it has successfully passed regulatory review and received a manufacturer’s license from the West Virginia Lottery Commission. The license enables JCM to directly sell to and service customers in the state.
“At JCM, we are committed to our customers. While attaining licensing was not required, we pursued it because it allows us to directly provide JCM’s leading technology and advanced systems, backed by our world-class service, and support, resulting in faster service times and simplifying the entire relationship between JCM and our customers,” said JCM SVP – Sales, Marketing & Operations Dave Kubajak in a statement.
JCM recently announced it has attained licenses in Colorado and New Mexico, bringing the company’s total number of active gaming licenses to 177.
In West Virginia, JCM will provide technology, including the iVIZION bill validator; ICB Intelligent Cash Box System, which boosts security and efficiencies across the gaming floor; and the GEN5 thermal printer, which delivers TITO, personalized promotions, and rewards directly to the player.
Compliance Updates
SYNOT Games Officially Certifies Over 140 Games in Brazil
SYNOT Games has announced that more than 140 of its games have now been officially certified in Brazil.
“We are delighted to announce that more than 140 of our games have now been officially certified in Brazil. This significant achievement allows us to expand our reach and introduce a diverse selection of games to this dynamic market. Brazil represents a key opportunity for growth, and we are committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Brazilian audience,” the Company said.
“We are thrilled to introduce our portfolio in Brazil, offering innovative and engaging gameplay that promises to captivate and entertain players,” Martina Krajci, CCO at SYNOT Games, said.
Compliance Updates
Delasport Now GLI-Certified for Sports Betting in Brazil
Delasport has just become one of the first suppliers to obtain a GLI certification for its sportsbook in Brazil, two weeks before the historical regulation comes into effect.
Continuing its global growth, Delasport is bringing several operators on board in Brazil. In order to complete the process, operators that are applying for a new Brazilian license have 30 days to provide all relevant platform certificates from the moment that they are notified by the regulator that their initial submission has been accepted. This is also the moment that they can pay the license fee. Still, failure to provide platform certificates will result in the application being placed on hold.
Delasport turned to Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) for the certification of its sportsbook against Brazilian technical standards. The historical partnership with GLI was further strengthened by the news, a few months back, that GLI had become the first laboratory to achieve the local accreditation to certify for betting systems, live game studios, and online games by the Secretaria De Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) in Brazil.
Delasport has successfully met all technical requirements for providing its sports betting solution to the largest country in South America. The certificate is evidence of the team’s experience, expertise, and determination to lead the way in key jurisdictions.
Obtaining a GLI certification for Brazil is a step towards cementing the trust players and operators have for Delasport’s products. This serves to show that the award-winning supplier is capable of meeting even the strictest industry standards for integrity and fairness.
“When we learnt that providing platform certificates to the regulator was on our partner operators’ critical path for obtaining the license, we immediately prioritized submitting the system to GLI for testing”, Delasport’s Chief Compliance Officer Filippo Ferri said. “Needless to say, GLI did a tremendous job of working with us to conduct the tests in record time, to match the submission deadline of some of our clients. I am also very proud of how our internal departments worked together to obtain this certificate, and of how they continue to push forward with the delivery of a datavault system that complies with SIGAP requirements.”
Operators that plan on entering the newly regulated Brazilian market will now have numerous advantages if they partner with Delasport. They will be able to provide their players with personalization features like My Sportsbook, My Event Builder, and My Combo that skyrocket revenues and retention.
Furthermore, Delasport’s KYC and AML provider is a market leader that guarantees the highest level of compliance for all operators that choose to go on this route.
Also, Delasport has already partnered with numerous local payment system providers and offers a real-time AI-powered Responsible Gambling system which can easily adapt to local regulations.
Last, but not least, operators will feel Delasport’s support from the get-go all the way to establishing themselves as a market leader. Delasport is knowledgeable of cultural and regional differences and can address all localization needs from the early stages of engagement.
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