IAGR postpones Boston regulator conference to 2021

Monday 25th of May 2020

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has announced the postponement of its annual conference: Disrupting the Regulator: Sparking innovation in regulatory practice, which was scheduled to be held in Boston in September this year.

IAGR said it made the decision after monitoring governmental public health advice and associated jurisdictional developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic over recent months. The new date of the conference is 12-17 September 2021.

In making the announcement Mr. Paul Newson, IAGR President, said: “It’s profoundly disappointing to delay this exciting event, but I’m confident our focus on innovation in regulatory policy and practice will be increasingly important as we transition out of lockdowns towards normality.

“The decisive public health response to the pandemic has saved lives. I think we also need to acknowledge that the abrupt shutdown of economic activity and social interaction has devastated many businesses and livelihoods, but I think it also presents tremendous opportunity for bold innovation to overcome previous policy and regulatory inertia.

“We have assembled an impressive line-up of leading speakers to share insights, challenge thinking and spark a contest and ideas and new ways of working at #IAGR2021. We will be liaising with each of our speakers to ensure we build on the program to best capture lessons from the pandemic that can help advance efficient and effective gambling regulation.”

The conference will still be held at the Boston Marriott, hosted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and in partnership with the International Masters of Gaming Law we will be offering back to back conferences including a joint conference day and networking events.

“We had an extraordinary response to our call for speakers and I wish to thank all those individuals for their patience while a decision on the timing of the conference has been pending” Mr Newson said.

IAGR is exploring a number of options for webinars and virtual events for its members and industry stakeholders in the lead up to #IAGR2021.