The privileged license is critical across multiple highly regulated industries including commercial and tribal gaming. The licensing process is now one of the most important aspects of smartly regulated jurisdictions to ensure licensees maintain a culture of compliance.

Who should attend: Local, state, federal, tribal and international law enforcement and licensing background investigators, tribal and state gaming commissioners and regulatory/compliance personnel.

UNLV is now offering this intensive program giving you practical strategies and tactics on how to execute comprehensive investigations. Join an internationally diverse group of instructors and cohorts selected to maximize their collective experience and to develop lifelong international networking relationships.

Agenda:
Day 1 – Licensing Public Policy and Opening Foundations

• Introduction
• Public Policy and Regulatory Landscape - Gaming
• Culture of Compliance and Post Licensing Compliance
• Anti-Money Laundering
• Investigation Case Preparation

Day 2 - Government Oversight and Investigative Assistance

• Human Trafficking and Its Impact on the Gaming Industry
• Role of Internal Revenue Service and Investigations
• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN)
• Cyber Security - Central Intelligence Agency
• Nevada Gaming Control Board Investigations Process
• FinCEN – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
• Open Resources for Background Investigations
• Evening guided tour and reception at the Mob Museum

Day 3 - Gaming Investigations

• Access & Use of Public Records and Social Media in Licensing Investigations
• Identification of Financial Documents & Terms Used in Licensing Investigations
• Understanding & Use of Financial Documents in Licensing Investigations
• Understanding Risk by Position/License
• Financial and Background Investigations

Conclusion and Certificate Presentation

Featured Speakers

Tyler Burtis

Director of Investigations, Burtis Investigations

Burtis served more than 20 years with the California Department of Justice, with many of those years dedicated to the Bureau of Gambling Control and working joint federal task forces. Burtis honorably retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the Compliance and Enforcement Section for Southern California, which is comprised of the highest density of Tribal Casinos and the largest Card Rooms in the United States. Burtis worked extensively with John Kucera on the High Intensity Financial Crime Area (HIFCA) Task Force where they led several different casino, financial crime, and money laundering investigations, including the Normandie Casino prosecution. Burtis was a supervisor on the Tran Organization Cheat Case and managed the investigation against the world-famous poker player Archie Karas. Burtis organized and facilitated several Anti-Money Laundering courses across the nation and developed “Building a Culture of Compliance” symposiums, bringing casino executives and compliance professionals together to address money laundering issues in casinos.

John Kucera

Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner, LLP

John Kucera joined Boies Schiller Flexner in the summer of 2020 as a partner in the Los Angeles office. Kucera’s practice focuses on white collar litigation, asset recovery, and Bank Integrity Act compliance. Prior to joining BSF, beginning in 2008, Kucera served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, where he prosecuted cases ranging from alien smuggling and human trafficking to bank robbery, firearm offenses, and narcotics trafficking. In 2012, Kucera became the Coordinator of the High Intensity Financial Crimes (“HIFCA”) Task Force for the Central District of California. As HIFCA coordinator, Kucera led a multi-agency law enforcement unit that included the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security, Los Angeles Police Department, California Department of Justice Bureau of Gaming, and other various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Adam N. Torres

Chief Gaming Regulator, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission

Adam N. Torres is the Chief Gaming Regulator for the San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission (SMTGC). In this role he leads the agency's strategies, goals and policies, along with day-to-day operations. The SMTGC is an independent tribal government agency established to regulate activities in the casino and gaming activities within their jurisdiction. In this position he oversees regulatory and compliance operations, with an emphasis on integrity of gaming, audit and internal controls, employee and vendor gaming license, prevention of fraud, waste and abuse, internal investigations, anti- money laundering regulatory oversight and surveillance.  Torres is a direct report to the Tribal Council and regularly reports significant issues including, but not limited to, casino compliance, AML, employee and public safety, game integrity and emerging industry regulatory matters. 2016 to Present

Philip Katsaros

Former Member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board

Phil Katsaros was appointed a Board Member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board by Governor Steve Sisolak in April 2019. He completed his term on January 28, 2023. Katsaros has over 25 years of gaming industry experience, having served in a variety of positions and leadership roles during that time, including time spent as a regulator with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Much of Katsaros’ career has been focused on the international and online gaming sectors, where for example, he led efforts on a number of fronts for IGT’s international land-based business during a period of record growth. All told, Katsaros has gaming industry experience in over 70 international markets.

Julie Damavandi
Owner-Consultant, JKD Consulting

Julie Damavandi started her gaming career after college working in positions such as an Internal Auditor with Hilton Hotels Corporation, an Internal Control Specialist with Boyd Gaming Corporation at Sam’s Town, and Director of Compliance at the Venetian Casino Resort. She spent 18 years with the Nevada Gaming Control Board where she started as an agent in the Investigations Division. She was promoted several times and served the last 5 1/2 years as a supervisor managing the investigations of a team of 5 to 7 agents while overseeing their caseloads that may number a total of 20 to 30 separate investigations at any given time. Damavandi spent many years conducting and supervising field investigations. These assignments ranged from simple key employees to complex foreign investigations, and covered issues ranging from personal backgrounds and criminal activity to complex financial structures. Damavandi has conducted investigations throughout the United States and in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia. Damavandi has instructed numerous training and educational programs in the area of financial and background investigations. She has provided in-service training programs for the Gaming Control Board, and has represented the State of Nevada in presentations before various groups. This includes training presentations to regulatory officials from the U.S., and a number of foreign jurisdictions.