2003-12-05






Chair ~ Sue Schneider

Sue Schneider is CEO and President of River City Group LLC, St. Louis, Missouri. The company publishes a subscription-based electronic magazine, Interactive Gaming News (www.igamingnews.com), as well as syndicated research such as the Wagering on the Internet report and Gambler Monitor. It offers a wide range of industry-related services such as market research, an international summit and expo, desktop conferences, executive placement and brokerage.Schneider writes a column on interactive gambling for Global Gaming Business magazine. She has been a contributing writer for each edition of the Internet Gambling Report, which is now published by River City Group.Schneider is a frequent speaker at international gaming conferences and has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. National Gambling Impact Study Commission. Her prior experience in the gaming industry includes a six-year stint running charitable bingo.






Vice Chair ~ John Chalmers

John Chalmers is a lawyer who practices in the area of gaming law, with a particular emphasis on Canadian gaming policy and regulation. John began his public service career as a member of the Ontario Provincial Police force, serving for 16 years. During his tenure with the OPP, John received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He joined the Ministry of the Attorney General in 1979, and was assigned to the Ministry of the Solicitor-General where he became Senior Counsel. In 1987, John was asked to develop a regulatory framework for charitable gaming in Ontario, and became Director of the Entertainment Standards Branch with the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations. He was subsequently appointed Director of Policy and Aboriginal Gaming for the Ontario Casino Project. John is a former member of the Board of Directors of the North American Gaming Regulators Association, a founding member of the Canadian Gaming Regulators Association and a member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys. He is considered one of Canada’s leading authorities on gambling law, regulation and enforcement. John co-developed and teaches a credit course on gaming law at Queen’s University Law School, the only such accredited program in Canada.






Secretary ~ Mark Stone

Mark Stone is co-owner and Vice President/CFO of Creative Edge Enterprises, Woodland Hills, Calif. The company is a recognized leader in the design of a variety of personal and business Web sites, as well as in the development of proprietary email software and Web-based content management applications. Stone has more than 25 years of experience as legal counsel and corporate manager. He has provided guidance in legal, corporate finance, accounting, asset management and investment management functions for several multi-industry corporate clients.For both startups and established businesses, Stone has shaped management strategy, managed financial and investor relations and established MIS systems.






Treasurer ~ Joanne Assheton

Joanne Assheton formerly Finance Manager of VIP Management Services, Joanne joined VIP in January 2000 and served as Finance Manager to a group of online gaming companies. The role included developing relationships with e-commerce processors and financial institutions as well as maintaining the financial records for the company. With extensive experience in finance and accounting, Joanne qualified as a Chartered Accountant (UK qualification) with Coopers and Lybrand in 1998. She continued to work for the firm as it became PriceWaterhouseCoopers before moving to Curacao in the Dutch Antilles with her husband in 1999. Joanne graduated from Aston University with an honours degree in International Business and Modern Languages. Fluent in French and with a working knowledge of German, she has spent time at the International Graduate Business School in Rouen, France. Outside her work, Joanne is an active member of the Britannic Club of Curacao and has held the position of Treasurer there since January 2002.






Executive Director ~ Rick Smith

Prior to joining the IGC in 2000, Rick Smith spent 15 years as a gaming regulator with the Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation in Australia and with the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand. In the former position, he was responsible for drafting rules and regulations for interactive gambling, based on the draft model known as the “AUS Model.” His regulatory background also includes extensive knowledge and experience with traditional land-based gaming.As Executive Director, Smith manages the resources of the IGC in its dealings with regulatory, governmental and political representatives. He prepares guidelines, codes and policies for the Internet gaming industry and provides input for industry white papers and government reviews worldwide.Smith’s work includes the drafting of IGC policies and programs that deal with issues of responsible and underage gaming, advertising code of practice, money laundering and suspicious transactions, financial issues in the industry, Internet content labeling and the Seal of Approval program.Smith has been quoted on a wide range of interactive gaming issues in various trade and general-interest publications. He has spoken at numerous international gaming conferences.