Dr. Aftab Rizvi

founder & ceo

gaming associates

panel: How Should Regulators Evaluate Products that Do Not Fit Today’s Standards?

Tuesday Oct. 20 | 9:15-10:00

New products are increasingly testing the limits of regulatory frameworks built for more conventional games and channels. This panel will examine how regulators can assess novelty without losing control, including which product characteristics matter most, where existing standards remain effective, where new tools or processes may be needed, and how technology-enabled supervision can support faster, more consistent decision-making. It will also address the extent to which rigid legacy technical standards can inhibit innovation and unintentionally push new concepts into non-regulated verticals or the black market, rather than creating a credible pathway for safe consideration within regulated markets.

Biography

Dr. Aftab Rizvi is a globally recognised gaming industry pioneer, entrepreneur, and regulatory strategist whose work has helped define the standards, frameworks, and compliance models underpinning regulated gaming markets across more than 60 jurisdictions worldwide.

As Chairman of The Associates Group and a member of corporate and advisory boards, he leads businesses operating across nine countries and five continents, providing independent regulatory compliance testing, technical assurance, cybersecurity, and certification services to regulators, operators, suppliers, and technology providers in some of the world’s most highly regulated gaming markets.

Widely regarded as a pioneer in the independent testing of online gaming systems, Dr Rizvi was involved in the testing of Lasseters Online in 1998, one of the world’s first regulated online casinos. He subsequently founded and built one of the industry’s leading compliance testing organisations, helping establish how remote and online gaming platforms are independently assessed for integrity, fairness, security, and regulatory compliance. His organisations have supported regulators globally, including contributing to compliance frameworks in Alderney, Denmark, and Portugal. In collaboration with the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), Gaming Associates also helped develop the industry’s first multi-jurisdictional testing framework for Random Number Generators (RNGs), advancing consistency and regulatory confidence across regulated gaming markets worldwide.

A recipient of the prestigious Information Security Leadership Award (ISLA), Dr Rizvi is recognised for bridging technology, regulation, and business strategy. He regularly participates in international gaming, technology, and regulatory forums and is regarded as a trusted advisor to regulators, boards, and industry leaders shaping the future of gaming worldwide.