Compliance Updates
GAMING LAW & REGULATORY ATTORNEYS LAUNCH GAMING LAW PRACTICE
Susan Hensel, the former Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) Director of Licensing, and former PGCB attorney Joseph Grad, announced today the launch of Hensel Grad P.C., a boutique law firm focused on providing legal services to domestic and international clients in the gaming industry. At the PGCB, Hensel and Grad’s collaborative work played a key role in developing the licensing regulatory structure for Pennsylvania, which is today the 2nd largest commercial gaming market in the United States.
Hensel and Grad are reuniting through the founding of Hensel Grad P.C. to expand beyond Pennsylvania in serving clients interested in entering or thriving in the rapidly expanding U.S. gaming industry. “We believe the time is right for a law firm with a solid understanding of how U.S. gaming regulation is created, implemented and enforced,” said Hensel.
She added, “we have the knowledge, experience and relationships necessary to serve all of a client’s regulatory needs and believe a boutique law firm is the ideal platform from which to deliver the highest quality gaming law services to clients.”
“The firm’s focus will be on servicing new and recent entrants to the U.S. gaming market, whether they are foreign entities, early stage U.S. companies, or state agencies charged with overseeing the development of new gaming verticals,” said Grad. Grad noted, “from a client’s decision to enter a jurisdiction to post-licensing compliance and at all points in between, we will be their partner in navigating the U.S. gaming landscape.”
The firm will serve gaming operators, manufacturers, suppliers, affiliates, equity investors, start-ups, non-gaming vendors, entrepreneurs, inventors, lenders, and others seeking to participate in the U.S. gaming industry. In addition, Hensel Grad will serve as a consultant to jurisdictions in the U.S. and throughout the world that are embarking on legalizing one or more gaming verticals.
About Susan Hensel
Susan Hensel was the PGCB’s first employee and first Director of Licensing. She has overseen the licensing of more than 100,000 individuals and entities as Pennsylvania evolved from a slots only jurisdiction to one offering the full range of gaming verticals including integrated casino resorts, online gaming, sports wagering, fantasy sports, and video gaming terminals at truck stop establishments. She stepped down from the position in April.
In addition to her work in Pennsylvania, Hensel is among the best known and respected U.S. regulators on an international stage. In 2020, Hensel was named one of the Ten Most Influential Women in gaming by iGaming Business. She is Past President of the International Association of Gaming Regulators having served in that position for two terms. She is an original member of the Advisory Board of the All-In-Diversity Project, an industry-driven not-for-profit initiative to benchmark diversity, equality and inclusion in the global gaming industry and is a strong advocate for women in the gaming industry.
Hensel is a frequent speaker on gaming law and regulation and has spoken throughout the world. She has published articles on gaming regulation and has collaborated with gaming regulators around the globe. Hensel is an adjunct law professor teaching gaming law and regulation.
About Joseph Grad
Prior to co-founding Hensel Grad P.C., Joseph Grad was the founder and Principal of the Law Office of Joseph W. Grad, LLC which had a successful ten-year run providing services in the areas of gaming, corporate and healthcare law to clients of all shapes and sizes.
In his gaming practice, Grad represented individuals and entities in all aspects of gaming law across numerous U.S. jurisdictions, including matters relating to licensing such as multi-jurisdictional and contested licensing, regulatory compliance with state and federal laws, suitability investigations, approval of corporate transactions, appellate litigation and emerging gaming law issues. He has also been a frequent speaker and contributor to gaming conferences around the world and has served as an advisor to U.S. state gaming authorities, including a recent appointment to the Colorado Sports Betting Working Group.
Prior to starting his firm, Grad was one of the first attorneys hired by the PGCB and served in the positions of Assistant Chief Counsel and Special Counsel for Corporate Finance & Governance. During his tenure with the PGCB, he drafted, developed and shaped many of the PGCB’s regulations, policies and procedures, including the PGCB’s licensing regulations. In addition, he served as the PGCB’s legal advisor on matters involving corporate licensees, including all mergers and acquisitions within the PGCB’s jurisdiction.
More information about Hensel Grad P.C. can be found at HenselGrad.com.
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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