IAGR then and now: Reflections, challenges and a call to action

At IAGR’s annual conference in October 2025, a packed room of 300+ regulators and industry stakeholders gathered to listen in on a rare conversation between two leaders from different eras of IAGR’s history: current President Ben Haden and former Chair Thomas N. Auriemma.

The conversation offered an honest look at how far IAGR has come, what’s changed, what’s stayed the same and where it needs to go next.

The conversation traced IAGR’s journey from informal beginnings to the diverse global network it is today, while reinforcing a critical message: the strength and future impact of the organisation depend on its members.

An annual conference born in Monte Carlo

Auriemma recounted IAGR’s beginnings in the mid-1990s, when a small group of regulators from jurisdictions like the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand would meet informally at events hosted by the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA).

Those early gatherings led to a more formal initiative, driven at the time by Bill Galston from the Gaming Board of Great Britain and Trevor Garrett from the Casino Control Authority in New Zealand.

‘They were the two motivators for this,’ explained Auriemma.

In 1996, IAGR held its first dedicated program in Monte Carlo, with around 15 regulators in attendance.

‘They asked me put together a program,’ said Auriemma. ‘It was a one-day program. There were only about maybe 15 regulators there, from just a few jurisdictions.’

The one-day event in Monte Carlo went well, and Auriemma explained that they decided to do it again the following year.

‘And we did. We had it in London in 1997, and some more people came from other jurisdictions. South Africans came. People from the Bahamas came.

‘Then we had another one in 1998 in Prague, and we had individuals from Norway, the Netherlands and elsewhere, and things started to grow exponentially.’

Auriemma served as Chair of the 2005 conference before stepping down from regulatory service in 2006.

‘My last year as a regulator was 2006. That conference was in Barcelona, and I dare say there were probably 50 to 55 regulators there at the time.’

IAGR’s first website in 2000

What’s changed — and what hasn’t

More than two decades on, with a vibrant annual conference that now attracts more than 300 attendees from across 50 jurisdictions, the conversation highlighted both continuity and change in the challenges regulators face.

Auriemma noted that responsible gambling, money laundering, and the emergence of internet gambling were already on the agenda in the late 1990s and remain live issues today.

‘The more things change, the more they stay the same,’ he mused.

‘Perhaps the issues become a little more complex. Issues manifest that simply didn’t exist before. Sometimes issues go away because technology changes so fast… But really, in my decades of being in the casino business, whether as a regulator or in the private gaming sector, I think some of the issues stay the same.’

Haden echoed this, outlining five contextual shifts that he believes shape today’s regulatory landscape:

The gambling industry’s challenge to position all its parts as mainstream entertainment
Rising consumer expectations, particularly around service, care and transparency
The growing availability of gambling in both legal and illegal spaces
A global expansion of regulatory frameworks
The complex and often unpopular role of the regulator

‘If we wanted to be popular, we’d have sold ice cream,’ Haden said, quoting his CEO at the British Gambling Commission, Andrew Rhodes.

Where IAGR is now

Today, IAGR represents over 90 jurisdictions – a significant expansion from its early days. But Haden was clear that membership growth is not the only metric that matters.

‘It’s important that all those regions of the world are well represented,’ he said. ‘We need to be able to flex our regulatory muscle as a group, rather than simply as individuals.’

He also acknowledged that while IAGR’s reach is extensive, there are still pockets of the world the organisation is keen to connect with. ‘There are still regions I’m keen to get to know better, and bring into our fold,’ he said. Increasing geographic diversity remains a key strategic focus as IAGR moves forward.

Haden also emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability to members. ‘We’re taking your money, but we are using it in the right way,’ he said, underlining the Board’s focus on financial sustainability, sound governance and delivering a clear, effective plan.

In recent years, IAGR has launched new streams and working groups to respond to members’ evolving interests, including a dedicated lottery stream at the 2025 conference and increased output from the Illegal Gambling Working Group.

Opportunities to engage are no longer limited to the annual conference. From member webinars to industry representation at events and cross-regional working groups, IAGR continues to expand ways for members to collaborate and contribute throughout the year.

Just as importantly, the IAGR Board has been building its visibility beyond its own conference, participating in regulator-led and industry forums to present a global regulatory perspective.

Numbers steadily increasing – IAGR’s 2012 conference in Singapore

Looking ahead: from conversation to collective action

Both Haden and Auriemma stressed that IAGR’s true power lies in what its members do with it.

‘What we’ve done really well… is be that conduit for conversation,’ said Haden. ‘The trick for us is how we move more towards providing a conduit for collective action.’

Auriemma agreed: ‘The most important thing anyone can do is get involved. It’s easy to say, harder to do… but if you can volunteer your time and be part of this organisation, move into leadership positions and direct the group — that’s the most effective thing that comes out of this.’

Their message was clear: the strength of IAGR comes not from its structure or events, but from its people — the regulators, advisors and thought leaders who choose to contribute.

‘If you want to do it, you can,’ said Haden. ‘There are plenty of spaces within the working groups… come along, get involved in projects, and you can genuinely make a difference.’

Make your voice count

IAGR continues to grow as a global platform for regulatory exchange, but its impact depends on members stepping forward.

Whether through working groups, thought leadership, or event participation, IAGR offers many ways for members to get involved:

Join or lead a working group
Submit a session idea for the next IAGR conference or a member webinar
Write a guest feature or insight article for IAGR’s website and newsletter
Nominate yourself or a peer for a Board role
Share your team’s innovative work through the IAGR International Regulatory Award program

This conversation between Ben Haden and Thomas Auriemma was a powerful reminder that IAGR’s past was built by volunteers, and its future will be too.

Thinking of joining? Become a member https://iagr.org/membership/

IAGR and IMGL’s joint 2024 conference in Rome attracted over 400 attendees

Past IAGR Presidents: A timeline of leadership

IAGR’s history is closely intertwined with the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) in its early years. Today, IAGA and IAGR retain a close collaborative relationship.

IAGR began to take shape in the early 1990s as a network of regulators who met alongside IAGA’s annual conferences. While formalised programming began in 1996 with a dedicated one-day event in Monte Carlo, IAGR formed from 1992 onward with Presidents including Norman Ward-Jones, Bill Curran and Bill Galston, reflecting the early leadership and coordination of this emerging regulatory community.

Bill Galston and Trevor Garrett are recognised as key figures in establishing IAGR’s independent structure and annual conference from 1996.

History of IAGR Presidents/Chairs