NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LEGISLATORS FROM GAMING STATES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA
JANUARY 11, 2014
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
The Executive Committee of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) met at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida, on Saturday, January 11, at 11:30 a.m.
Rep. Jim Waldman of Florida, NCLGS President, presided.
Other legislators present included:
Rep. Kevin Ryan, CT
Rep. Helene Keeley, DE
Rep. John Viola, DE
Rep. Gwendolyn Clarke-Reed, FL
Sen. Bill Galvano, FL
Rep. Joe Gibbons, FL
Rep. David Richardson, FL
Rep. Louis Luchini, ME
Sen. Greg Brower, NV
Sen. William Coley, OH
Rep. Tom Stevens, VT
Others present were:
Susan Nolan, Nolan Associates, NCLGS Executive Director
MINUTES
The Executive Committee accepted the minutes of its last meeting on June 8, 2013, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
ADMINISTRATION
ATTENDANCE
Ms. Nolan reported that meeting attendance was 139, with 35 legislators, including ten scholarships from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maine, Delaware, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Louisiana.
DUES
Ms. Nolan reported that the organization was working on securing dues from all contributing member states as well as increasing the number of dues-paying members. She said that Iowa was one state in particular from which NCLGS is looking to secure dues.
FINANCIALS/AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Committee accepted the NCLGS and NCLGS Foundation unaudited financial statements for June 30, 2013.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Committee heard reports on NCLGS Committee activities and general sessions held at the meeting.
Committee on Casinos
Rep. Keeley reported that discussion was held on new casino technologies, casino expansion initiatives, Florida’s legislative gaming review, and electronic sweepstakes café enforcements. She said the session was well attended.
Committee on Lotteries
Rep. Ryan reported that the Committee received reports on Georgia’s internet lottery ticket sales program, lottery revenue statistics, and private management initiatives.
Committee on Pari-Mutuels
Rep. Gibbons reported that the Committee received information regarding competition with expansion in other gaming venues, advance deposit wagering, new wagering techniques, single pool wagering, international opportunities, developing consumer relationships, and testing and medication issues. He said the discussion was spirited and very informative.
Committee on Responsible Gaming
Rep. Waldman reported, in Rep. Thurston’s absence, that the Committee heard presentations on state implementation of problem gambling programs in Massachusetts and elsewhere, efficacy of treatment for disordered gaming in residential settings, and the U.S. Online Responsible Gaming Survey.
State-Federal Relations Committee
Rep. Waldman said that the Committee received reports during the internet gaming session on state and federal initiatives with a focus on prospects for interstate compacting, regulating social casino games, “freemium” play, and Internet gaming technology. He said that in the tribal gaming session, the Committee heard from experts on tribal gaming compacts, IGRA< off-reservation gaming litigation, and ongoing National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) initiatives. He said that the Committee also heard a report on a Tribal Internet Gaming Alliance.
SPECIAL SESSIONS
Gaming Expansion and the Role of the Regulator
Rep. Waldman spoke highly of the panel and said that it was very informative. He said the panel discussed the role of gaming commissions and regulators in state gaming expansion. He noted that there is a definite role for regulation, pointing to discussions now taking place in Florida.
Gaming Expansion and Resort-Based Casinos: What Are the Limits?
Sen. Galvano said that the panel looked at efforts to expand or revamp casino-style gambling in Florida, New Hampshire, and New York, as well as the potential for expansion in other states. He said that the panel also discussed implications for revenue and the tribal gaming market. He said that it was an informative panel and the feedback he has received has been very positive.
Recent Developments in Fantasy Sports: From Social Pastime to Legal Quagmire?
Sen. Brower said that fantasy sports are a major issue developing in the gaming world. He said that the panel addressed questions of whether fantasy sports should be regulated and, if so, how it should be regulated. Rep. Keeley concurred the panel was outstanding and the topic should continue to be discussed at future NCLGS meetings.
From Intrastate to Interstate: The ABCs of Internet Gaming Compacts
Rep. Viola said that the session would take place Sunday morning and delve into emerging Internet gaming laws as well as the role of states in developing minimum standards for interstate Internet gaming agreements.
Rep. Waldman noted that the keynote luncheon address by Geoff Freeman, President & CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), was very interesting and commended Mr. Freeman’s insight on AGA’s upcoming education efforts.
NEW BUSINESS
FUTURE SITES
Rep. Waldman announced that the NCLGS 2014 Summer Meeting would take place in La Jolla, California, and that the NCLGS 2015 Winter Meeting would be in Las Vegas.
The Committee then discussed the possibility of co-locating the NCLGS 2015 Summer Meeting with the North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA).
INTERNET GAMING
Jennifer Webb reported that NCLGS had reached out to interested parties to discuss the possibility of developing best practices for the regulation of internet gaming in the states. Rep. Waldman added that he hoped to have a product that the organization could vote on at the Summer Meeting.
FUTURE ATTENDANCE
The Committee discussed ways to increase participation, including outreach by legislators, fundraisings, scholarships, developing more actionable proposals, and future meeting topics.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
© National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS)
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