The Interactive Gaming Council turned a new page in October by naming Mark Stone its next chairman. Stone, a California lawyer and the CFO of Creative Edge Enterprises, is only the second person to chair the association in its eight years of existence. He succeeds longtime chairman and cofounder Sue Schneider.
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"We will continue to work against prohibition and work toward regulation in all jurisdictions around the world. Regulated, online gambling is the most effective way to keep the industry above refute."
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Despite being new to the position, Stone, having previously served on the group's board of directors, is quite familiar with the workings of the IGC. He leads a group of industry representatives who have become new directors and officers of the IGC.
Stone is tasked with leading the IGC through a transition period. The group elected this year to amend its membership requirements to no longer include sports books that accept wagers from U.S. bettors. The decision was seen as a preemptive move made to gain more cooperation in the U.S. Congress.
Interactive Gaming News caught up with Stone to discuss his new role and where he envisions the IGC going.
IGN: What are your thoughts on becoming only the second Chairman for the IGC?
Mark Stone: Sue (Schneider) is going to be a hard act to follow, I can tell you that. But at the same time it is an extreme honor to be put into this position and have the support of so many key people in this industry. I hope I can live up to her standards. I have been involved in the IGC since its inception, and it is flattering to have so much support.
IGN: What will be your main focus as the chairman of the IGC?
MS:The main focus of the IGC is to prevent prohibition of the industry. Right now that means a lot of our attention and focus will be centered in the United States, since it seems that every other leading jurisdiction in the world is looking at regulation instead of prohibition.
We will continue to work against prohibition and work toward regulation in all jurisdictions around the world. Regulated, online gambling is the most effective way to keep the industry above refute.
IGN: That must play right into the IGC's strategy of keeping themselves at arms-length from sports book operators who accept wagers from the United States. What kind of an impact has that had on the group?
MS:It was a very difficult decision to make and a lot of thought and consideration went into it. A number of our members think that we shouldn't limit the focus of our membership like that, but there would have been a conflict of interest among the membership had things remained how they were, and that would have put us on tumultuous ground.
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"I think it would be good to see all of the different (industry trade) groups come together in some fashion or another and have more focused direction to their causes in terms of the bigger goal."
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No one was really happy with what we had to do, but in the long run we had to do it for the IGC to be beneficial to the entire industry. Maybe sometime down the road we can reconsider our decision and welcome back those members with open arms, but at this stage in the development and evolution of the IGC and the industry as a whole, it was really the only decision we could make.
IGN: What kind of a hit did the IGC take in terms of its membership numbers?
MS:In terms of numbers, it was an insignificant one. We valued their contributions and knowledge, and we lost some great people in the process, and we will miss them.
We aren't where I would like us to be in terms of numbers on our membership, but that isn't a reflection of our decision this year. We are always active in trying to pursue new members and approach owners and operators as well as suppliers and ancillary vendors. If they have a relationship in this industry we want them onboard.
IGN: The United Kingdom is moving forward with its bill to broaden regulations for the industry. Will the IGC have any input in that process?
MS:It would be our hope that all jurisdictions around that world that are either involved in I-gaming, or looking at the issue, would involve us in the process. However, we are not the experts when it comes to writing regulations and legislations, we would gladly defer to the experts in terms of drafting anything official, but acting as a consultant during the process is a role we take seriously all around the world.
Many of our board members and our membership at large have taken active rolls in drafting legislation in their home jurisdictions or have given guidance to others as they have expanded their gambling laws and codes to include online and interactive wagering.
IGN: There seems to have been an influx of new trade groups and associations representing the online gaming industry over the last few years, Is this good or bad for I-gaming?
MS:The more people out there and included in the discussions about online gaming, the better for the industry. But it is kind of a double-edged sword. Sometimes if there are too many different voices or segments of the industry trying to be heard, it can be hard for an industry to show a united front. Sometimes the focus isn't a directed focus. When that happens, you might be bringing the attention you need to the industry but don't serve the greater purpose of the industry. I think it would be good to see all of the different groups come together in some fashion or another and have more focused direction to their causes in terms of the bigger goal. There needs to be a united front, and maybe that is something the IGC can help facilitate in the future.
IGN: What do you see as your biggest challenge as you embark on this journey as chair?
MS:There are lots of challenges, but what the primary challenge will be I am not sure. I am still getting my feet wet in terms of being the chairman and getting my pulse on exactly all the issues.
The challenges with the new Congress in the U.S. will take a lot of time, effort and energy to combat, I am sure. We also want to publish some white papers for the industry, with the first one focusing on money laundering issues and the inaccuracies in the arguments against our industry because it is so susceptible to money laundering. That will be no easy task but I am looking forward to playing a key roll in that paper and others.
As long as we are presented with the current legislative environment in the U.S., there will always be challenges for us.
IGN: So what are you looking forward to the most now that you are the new chair?
MS:The thing that I am looking forward to the most is getting to meet more people in the industry and getting involved with the things that Sue did outside of the industry in terms of representing the IGC. My views aren't different or more significant than Sue's or anyone else in this industry; it is just an honor for me to be picked as a spokesperson for our industry and to be the one that will be carrying the banner for not only the IGC but for the whole sector.