Two More Appointments To Gaming Commission

The remaining two appointments on the Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission are Ms. Judith Hall-Bean and Mr. Derek Ramm, Minister of Tourism Shawn Crockwell said in the House of Assembly on Friday [May 15].

Minister Crockwell said, “In December of last year, Parliament approved the Casino Gaming Act 2014. This Act makes provision for the creation of a Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission that is made up of five members, including a chairman who has to be a barrister with more than five years’ experience.

“Earlier this year on February 17th, I announced the appointment of the first three members of the Commission and they are Mr. Alan Dunch [Chairman], Mr. Garry Madeiros [Deputy Chairman] and Mr. Denis Tucker, and today I am pleased to report and announce that I have completed the remaining two appointments and they are Ms. Judith Hall-Bean and Mr. Derek Ramm.

“Ms. Judith Hall-Bean recently retired as Assistant Cabinet Secretary [Head of the Civil Service]. Ms. Hall-Bean has over forty years of Public Service experience having served as the Director of the Department of Human Resources and the Director of Tourism and she has also served as the lead Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiator for the Bermuda Government.

“Mr. Derek Ramm is an overseas appointment and Mr. Ramm currently serves as the Director of Anti-Money Laundering Programs for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, and is responsible for the oversight of anti-money laundering compliance at 24 casinos. Prior to that, he spent over seven years as an officer with the Government of Canada’s financial intelligence unit.

“Over the course of the past few months, Commission members have been steadily acclimatizing themselves with the full scope of their duties and responsibilities as members of the Gaming Commission.

“I am pleased with the progress that we have made thus far and I will continue to keep this Honourable House updated as we continue with implementation of the Bermuda Gaming Commission,” the Minister added.

Minister Crockwell’s full statement follows below:

Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to provide this Honourable House an update on the progress that has been made with the set up and implementation of the Bermuda Gaming Commission.

Mr. Speaker,
In December of last year, Parliament approved the Casino Gaming Act 2014. This Act makes provision for the creation of a Bermuda Casino Gaming Commission that is made up of five [5] members, including a chairman who has to be a barrister with more than five years’ experience. Earlier this year on February 17th, I announced the appointment of the first three [3] members of the Commission and they are Mr. Alan Dunch [Chairman], Mr. Garry Madeiros [Deputy Chairman] and Mr. Denis Tucker, and today I am pleased to report and announce that I have completed the remaining two [2] appointments and they are Ms. Judith Hall-Bean and Mr. Derek Ramm.

Mr. Speaker,
I will take this opportunity to provide members a brief background on these members. Mr. Alan W Dunch, JP is the Director responsible for the litigation practice group of MJM Limited. He has over 35 years of practice at the Bermuda Bar, and has developed specialized skills and expertise in the areas of labour and employment disputes, telecommunications and regulatory law, planning law, hospitality law, corporate and commercial litigation and insurance litigation.

Mr. Garry A. Madeiros, OBE, JP is a Chartered Accountant by profession and is the retired [2007] President & Chief Executive Officer of BELCO Holdings Limited. Mr. Madeiros has served on a large number of corporate, community and Government boards and is presently the Chairman of the Sustainable Development Round Table.

Mr. Denis Tucker is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Hotel Pension Trust Fund. Prior to that he served as the Vice-President and Managing Director of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. Mr. Tucker has served as a Director for the Bank of Bermuda [now HSBC] from 1995-2012, and he is presently a Director of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation and was recently elected as a Common Councilor and Alderman for the Corporation of Hamilton.

Ms. Judith Hall-Bean recently retired as Assistant Cabinet Secretary [Head of the Civil Service]. Ms. Hall-Bean has over forty years of Public Service experience having served as the Director of the Department of Human Resources and the Director of Tourism and she has also served as the lead Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiator for the Bermuda Government.

Mr. Derek Ramm is an overseas appointment and Mr. Ramm currently serves as the Director of Anti-Money Laundering Programs for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, and is responsible for the oversight of anti-money laundering compliance at 24 casinos. Prior to that, he spent over seven years as an officer with the Government of Canada’s financial intelligence unit.

Mr. Speaker,
Over the course of the past few months, Commission members have been steadily acclimatizing themselves with the full scope of their duties and responsibilities as members of the Gaming Commission. This process has involved their participation in training and various meetings with gaming administrative and regulatory officials and officers in other jurisdictions. On March 23rd and 24th, 2015, I accompanied the Commission members [with the exception of the two most recent members], when we met with their counterparts from the states of Maryland and Ohio. The meetings were very high level and very productive. From Maryland we met with;

• Robert Fontaine – Principal Counsel
• John Mooney – Assistant Director for Enforcement
• Phil Metz – Licensing Manager
• Jennifer Wetherell – Director, Electronic Gaming Device Operations
• Michael Eaton – Director of Audit and Regulatory Compliance
• Jaclyn Vincent – Director of Gaming Research & Chief of Staff
• Charles LaBoy – Assistant Director for Gaming

From the state of Ohio, we met with;

• Matthew Schuler – Executive Director
• John Barron – Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel
• Patrick Martin – Director of Regulatory Compliance
• Laura Clemens – Director of Government Affairs and Problem Gambling Program Coordinator
• Michael Masterson – Director of Enforcement
• Mark Leatherman – Deputy Director of Enforcement
• Keith Cox – Gaming Agent Investigator
• Himbert Sinopoli Vice President & General Manager

Over the two days of meetings the agenda items included:

• Licensing Process
• Procedures for Opening New Casino
• Staffing
• Training
• Internal Controls Approval Process
• Tax Collections
• Oversight of Security and Surveillance
• Audit Procedures
• Technology and Games Approval Process
• Oversight of Promotions/Advertising
• Problem Gambling Programs
• Disciplinary Process
• Hearing Process
• Safety Standards
• Forensics
• Contract Approval Process

Again, the meetings were extremely beneficial as Commission members got to hear first-hand from experienced regulators and legislators some of the issues and challenges that will potentially arise once Casinos are operating in Bermuda, and learn from these regulators what steps we can take in advance to address the potential issues. Some of their comments and recommendations will be considered and factored into our domestic regulatory processes.

Mr. Speaker,
On Monday of this week, May 11th, 2015 I and Commission members visited and toured a gaming facility in Florida that utilizes a Central Network Gaming System to gain an understanding of the technology, its inherent benefits, its suitability and compatibleness for use with the Bermuda Integrated Resort Model.

Mr. Speaker,
I am pleased with the progress that we have made thus far and I will continue to keep this Honourable House updated as we continue with implementation of the Bermuda Gaming Commission.

Thank you Mr. Speaker

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