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WGPC 2023 great!

 

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A conference and expo held annually in Las Vegas
to keep casino professionals up to speed with current operational risks

 

Since 2006 the World Game Protection Conference (WGPC) has helped thousands of casino professionals deal with the challenges of running a casino operation. The WGPC connects people responsible for observing, detecting, reporting, investigating or acting on undesirable activity in a casino.

CORE TRAINING

Eight casino operational risk seminars taught by subject matter experts

GUEST SPEAKERS

Experts and thought leaders share their knowledge and insight on risk related topics

INTEL SHARING

An interactive campfire on industry hot topics, threats and possible solutions

TECHNOLOGY EXPO

A product expo with demos of the latest casino surveillance and security solutions

What to expect

I have sent many surveillance and table games staff to the World Game Protection Conference over the years, and after finally being able to attend myself, I can see what all of the excitement is about. The WGPC is one of the most well-planned and executed conferences I have ever attended. They bring in some of the most diversely talented professionals in the gaming industry to keep attendees interested and informed, from start to finish. I am a strong advocate for the World Game Protection Conference.

- Brian Decorah

I have attended World Game several times and this time I thought the flow was excellent. As a person who has been in the gaming industry for many years, I really appreciated the change of pace with your speakers. My focus stayed much sharper and for a longer time as the speakers (instructors) and topics changed. It was those moments away from the normal gaming topics that made me more attentive once the topic swung back to gaming. I really appreciated it. My capacity to focus on number percentages, strategies, war stories starts to wane when classes with those subjects are one after the other.

- Frank Arzaga

Willy’s show, by the way, is one of the most fascinating of all gaming shows. He brings together experts from the field, both inside and outside the gaming industry, to discuss how to do it right. And it’s not just for security and surveillance professionals. Almost any casino executive— especially GMs—could learn a lot about what’s important in a casino environment by attending World Game Protection.

- Roger Gros
WGPC 2023 Preview (1 min video)

2023 Speakers

Terry Rich
Former CEO Iowa Lottery
Shawnee Delaney
Insider Threat Expert
Steven Bridges
Card Counter, YouTube Star
Michele Albo
Ex-Roulette Cheat
Houston Curtis
Poker Protection Expert
Mike Howard
Retired CSO for Microsoft
Shannon Walker
CEO, Whistleblower Security
Weston Smith
Ex-CFO, Convicted Fraudster
Dr. Eliot Jacobson
Advantage Play Authority
Bill Zender
Table Games Guru
Sal Piacente
Cheating Expert
Willy Allison
Casino Riskologist
Paul Camacho
VP of Casino Compliance
Megan Munoz
OSINT Analyst/Instructor
Mac Segal
Hotel Security Expert
Matt Toler
Gaming Technology Advisor
Scott Melnick
Casino Game Hacker
Gus Fritschie
Information Security Expert
Anthony Clark
Surveillance Director
Buddy Frank
Retired VP of Slot Operations
George Joseph
Game Protection Expert
Tony Weiss
Chief Surveillance Executive
Dacia Schuitema
Director of Surveillance
Kevin Duffey
Director of Surveillance
Mike McKiski
Sr. VP, Light & Wonder
Frank Stroembo
IACS Chairman
Kevin deBruyckere
AML Compliance Director
Kevin Ho
Cardist

2023 Program

day-1-graphic-CORE Training
8:00-11:00 CORE TRAINING: Investigating Gaming Losses

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance, Table Games.

Overview
(Table Games Managers) When there’s something strange…in your neighborhood. Who you gonna call? Sur-veil-lance! From time to time casinos get the bejeebies whacked out of them by a player. A fire is lit on the casino floor and the smoke rises to Surveillance. Investigating a major gaming loss on table games is a major responsibility that shines a light on the competence and knowledge within a surveillance operation.

In this class Bill Zender a sought after gaming consultant who has investigated table game losses of over $100M in his career will reveal how he conducts a comprehensive review/evaluation in response to a large player win or a sustained game loss on blackjack, baccarat, roulette and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. Topics covered include: taking a systematic approach, checklists, information required from table game management, indicators something is not right, writing a professional report and how to explain (and convince) senior management that nothing untoward is going on.

  • Speakers:
  • Bill Zender
8:00-11:00 CORE TRAINING: Table Games Protection

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance, Table Games

Overview
If you want to know the secret of how to make yourself a lesser target for cheats, thieves and advantage players, quite frankly it’s easy – good management. This class is a 3 hour summary (from a veteran surveillance professional perspective) of the most common ways people have cheated, stolen and beaten casino table games over the last twenty years and what we have learned to better safeguard our games. Spoiler alert: he believes prevention is better than cure.

Willy Allison doesn’t pull any rabbits in this class. He breaks it down to the brass tacks of protecting table games. You will learn the biggest threat to the game is your own staff. You’ll see videos of common cheating methods as well as multi-million dollar scams. Other topics covered include: collusion, employee theft, advantage play, counterfeit chips, faulty equipment, flawed math and the use of computers to cheat the game.

 

  • Speakers:
  • Willy Allison
8:00-11:00 CORE TRAINING: Risk Management

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance Managers, Security, Risk Manager, General Manager.

Overview
Risk management and crisis mitigation from A-Z, from operator to CEO and what role each plays. A look at the impact and resolution of a catastrophic event from liability and litigation to general and overall preparedness. 

In this training session Tony will explore risk management and crisis mitigation and the impact and resolution of a catastrophic event from liability and litigation to general and overall preparedness. Some of the topics covered will include: a) How to prepare for the inevitable and the plans you should have in place.  b) Best practices for when an incident occurs and the preparation and evidence chain needed for a rock solid case. c) How to actively prepare for an incident as a team and the communication factors required before, during and after a crisis arises.  d) How to protect your business from the public relations aftermath that will arise from a crisis event. As Tony reminds us,  it’s not the factor of IF incidents will occur but WHEN.

 

  • Speakers:
  • Anthony Clark
8:00-11:00 CORE TRAINING: OSINT Investigations

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance, Investigations, anyone who searches for answers on a computer.

Overview
Module 1: Online Investigations and Open Source Primer

Every investigation involves, at some level, social media, and open source examinations. This introductory module examines the different types of open source and social media platforms and the language of this unique investigative world. In this introductory hands-on course, participants will learn the types, differences, and jargon of open source investigations. During the training, you will conduct open source research, driven by a case study. Upon completion, participants will be able to navigate the Internet and social media platforms for rudimentary online investigations as well as use time and resources more efficiently.

Module 2: Utilizing Advanced Google Searches
The ability to uncover information on the Internet is the primary skill of an investigator. The go-to resource for many is Google, yet not everyone knows how to utilize its full potential. This class expands your general knowledge of the search engine, making difficult searches more effective. In this intermediate to advanced hands-on class, participants will learn how to maximize Google searches, as we cover the basics, the hacks, and extra Google resources to create proper search strategies and run advanced Internet searches. Participants will also learn the expert tools of this common search application to make difficult searches more effective. Upon completion, participants will be able to hunt down deep web content, conduct advanced search strategies on Google, Bing, and other search engines, and use algorithms for surface finds and open source results

  • Speakers:
  • Megan Munoz
11:00-1:00 Lunch Break

Lunchtime

12:00-12:50 The Sal Report - Lunchtime Session

Sal Piacente is one of the most sought after game protection trainers in the world. Always on the road, he sees a lot in his travels. In this special lunchtime session Sal talks and demonstrates things he’s seen recently that are interesting and maybe a little concerning from a game protection standpoint. He’ll give you the skinny on the latest scams he’s seen. Spoiler Alert: Pitch games and Roll to Win Craps make an appearance in this year’s Sal Report.

  • Speakers:
  • Sal Piacente
1:00-4:00 CORE TRAINING: Advanced Advantage Play

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Table Games, Surveillance.

Overview
In a broad overview of advantage play, Dr. Jacobson will cover a range of methods APs are using to gain an edge over blackjack, baccarat, proprietary games and side bets. Covering methods like hole-carding, edge sorting, counting, sequencing, skilled cutting, top-carding, collusion and others, Dr. Jacobson will present up-to-date win-rates and strategies.

Drawing from his personal experience as an AP, Dr. Jacobson will share secrets APs use to maximize their winnings. Most importantly, Dr. Jacobson will cover what you need to know to identify APs using these methods and procedures to put in place to protect your casino against these vulnerabilities.

  • Speakers:
  • Dr. Eliot Jacobson
1:00-4:00 CORE TRAINING: Surveillance Management

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance Directors, Managers, Supervisors

Overview
 A knowledgeable surveillance professional with strong leadership skills and the ability to manage an efficient high-performance department is an asset to any casino organization. But how does one become a good Surveillance Director? How does one set up a surveillance operation that casino executives can rely on and brag about?

This class taught by 36 year casino surveillance veteran Willy Allison explores his Four Pillars of Surveillance: people, operations, communication and information. Breaking each pillar down, detailing specific practices, students will learn how to take a structured approach to organizing and maintaining an efficient high performance operation. Topics covered include: recruitment, training, performance management, leadership, surveillance equipment, information systems, monitor room procedures, new technologies, effective communication, customer service and global best practices.

  • Speakers:
  • Willy Allison
1:00-4:00 CORE TRAINING: Hotel Security

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance, Security, Risk Manager, Hotel Manager, General Manager

Overview
There is no one size fits all solution to hotel security. A comprehensive yet implementable security structure for an integrated entertainment resort complex is multi-faceted and requires creative thinking to achieve hospitality friendly yet effective security. 

Mac will delve into the various segments that make up hotel security and how they work together symbiotically to keep your guests, teams and assets safe. From simple fixes that are so easy to do but so many don’t implement to high tech solutions and the human element, we will address topics including but not  limited to:

  • threat landscape
  • security audits and master plans
  • current trends
  • what works and what doesn’t
  • preparing for emergencies
  • policies & procedures
  • training
  • CPTED
  • Speakers:
  • Mac Segal
1:00-4:00 CORE TRAINING: Electronic Games Protection

Duration 3 hours
Who will benefit most from this seminar? Surveillance, Slots

Overview
There is a reason why the G2E show floor is dominated by slot manufacturers. Slot machines make U.S. casinos the most money. Despite this fact, there are no general slot protection seminars for casino operators. Given the rapid technological advancements of electronic games, this area of our gaming floor has come to represent a knowledge blind spot for Surveillance. Until now.

In this class a team of electronic game and cyber threat experts from Gaming Laboratories International/Bulletproof will help you understand how electronic games work so you can better develop an in-house protection strategy for your biggest revenue generator. Topics covered include: the inner workings of a slot machine, how to monitor them digitally, threats and vulnerabilities, best protection practices, cheating and employee theft case studies and investigating losses. 

 

 

  • Speakers:
  • Gus Fritschie
  • Matt Toler
  • Scott Melnick
4:30-6:30 Welcome Reception

Duration: 2 hours

Overview:
Join us at the official WGPC welcome reception in the Havana Room at the Tropicana. The welcome reception is open to conference delegates, speakers, sponsors and registered exhibitors. Spouses of delegates and speakers are also welcome to attend.

Please wear your WGPC badge for entry and during the event.  Bring confirmation of your registration for access if you haven’t picked up your badge yet. 

 

 

8:00-9:00 The Changing Faces of Insider Threats: What it Means to Your Company & Why You Should Care

The gaming industry has a unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities, especially due to human risk. This presentation will provide an overview on what the term “insider threat” actually encompases, from unintentional acts to malicious acts and everything in between. It will provide details and cool case studies on fraud, sabotage, espionage, the Critical Pathway, and red flag indicators. In addition, this presentation will discuss how your company’s culture can affect insider threat, and how both spies and social engineers work similarly to target you and your employees to gain access to your organization’s most sensitive data.

  • Speakers:
  • Shawnee Delaney
9:00-9:45 I’m an Ex-CFO Who Went to Prison for Fraud: Here’s My Advice to Leaders

Despite annual audits and regulatory reviews of Healthsouth Corporation, a multi-year, $3 Billion dollar fraud occurred. Weren’t there red flags? Could the corporate culture of the company led to the fraud? Absolutely. The red flags were stiff in the wind. In this session, Weston Smith will make a case for ethical conduct within business and will further illustrate the following:

  • The importance of fostering true and effective corporate culture
  • The financial and non-financial red flags of fraud
  • Stereotypes versus realities of fraudulent behavior
  • Risks of one’s own culpability
  • Protection from unethical conduct of others
  • Speakers:
  • Weston Smith
9:45-10:15 Take a Breather
10:15-11:00 How To Implement a Successful Whistleblower Program

A critical topic for any ethics and compliance program is the ability for employees to raise concerns. Even in companies with strong cultures some employees will hesitate to speak their minds for fear of retaliation or being shunned by the team if they go through normal channels, like their manager or HR. In this presentation Shannon Walker talks about how to use an anonymous employee helpline to ensure that all voices are heard. Shannon will share the pros and cons of creating your own helpline or using a third party.

  • Speakers:
  • Shannon Walker
11:00-12:00 How a Rogue IT Security Director Rigged the Lottery and How He Got Caught

Your day’s going great… and then you get the unexpected call that a fraud may have occurred under your watch. Your decision and direction could affect jobs, your business and personal friendships. Terry Rich, former CEO of the Iowa Lottery and head of the team that cracked the Eddie Tipton lottery rigging scam will discuss the case and explore how established checks and balances (and a little luck) helped crack the largest lottery fraud in US history.

  • Speakers:
  • Terry Rich
12:00-2:00 Lunch Break
2:00-2:40 What’s Going On in the Poker World?

Houston Curtis is a poker protection expert, the author of Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist, and executive producer and TV show host of live streaming poker shows. Houston drops in to share his insight into the world of high stakes poker. He’ll talk about some of the recent poker cheating scandals, the recently formed Poker Integrity Council, live stream poker security and integrity measures, and give us some tips and advice on poker protection.

  • Speakers:
  • Houston Curtis
2:45-3:15 A Glass of Vino with an Italian Roulette Cheat from the 80s

Michele Albo takes you back to the golden age of roulette cheating when the Italian past posting teams toured the world and reaped havoc in casinos. Michele, a member of one of those cheating teams, shares the specifics of how his team executed “the move,” the roles that each team member had and the keys to success. He’ll also share colorful stories and the highs and lows of being an international professional cheat on the road.

  • Speakers:
  • Michele Albo
3:20-4:00 What We Can Learn From a Card Counter With a Concealed Camera

Steven Bridges shares some insights of what it’s actually like for card counters in 2022. Having experienced everything from police encounters to casinos refusing to pay out a blackjack, Steven has observed some clear patterns in casino behaviour that he believes are causing the casinos much more harm than they realise. Steven will be playing various clips from his backoffs and dissecting which backoffs went well and why. He’ll share his thoughts on how to de-escalate conflict which is a win-win for the casinos and the counters.

  • Speakers:
  • Steven Bridges
4:30-5:30 Happy Hour in the Expo

The Expo Happy Hour is the traditional end of the first day of our technology exhibition. Join us on the show floor to check out the booths, chat with end-users and network over a refreshing beverage.

Happy Hour Sponsored by

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8:00-9:00 How to Make Your Casino Launderproof

A lot of conferences and seminars cover the topic of money laundering by talking about AML compliance and business reporting obligations. In this presentation we fly our helicopter onto the casino floor and show you the “Top 5” methods used by criminals to launder money in casinos and then ascend to discuss current practices in casinos, our weaknesses and how we can make our casinos launderproof.
Topics covered in this session include:

  • Are current casino practices and internal controls adequate?
  • Best practices for prevention/deterrence of money laundering in a casino
  • Know your customer (KYC). Anonymity is a criminal’s best weapon.
  • Going cashless: no money, no problems?
  • Speakers:
  • Paul Camacho
  • Kevin deBruyckere
9:00-9:20 Take a Breather
9:20-10:40 Lessons Learned Since the Introduction of ETGs

In a survey at last years WGPC 86% of participants said they did not know enough about Electronic Table Games to protect them and 94% said they had not received good support and information from manufacturers. With little training or guidance on how best to protect these new games, the ETGs are falling victim to never-before-seen cheating scams. Casino operators – it’s time to take charge. What have we learned since these flashy alien ships from far far away started space invading our casinos?

In this discussion a panel of experts talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of electronic table games and analyze the reasons why they have become targets for cheats. Through a game protection lens panelists will share advice on how to best protect these mysterious and proprietary “games of the future.”

  • Speakers:
  • Dacia Schuitema
  • George Joseph
  • Kevin Duffey
  • Mike McKiski
  • Buddy Frank
10:40-11:00 Take a Breather
11:00-12:00 2023 Game Protection News and Views

A panel of seasoned industry veterans weigh in on the game protection topics of the day. The panel will discuss cheating and scams that made the news in the last 12 months and give their take on game protection trends, threats and opportunities. Questions asked in this discussion include:

  • What is the biggest challenge in game protection at the moment?
  • Where are casinos the most vulnerable right now and how can they fix that?
  • What is the most interesting trend or scam you’ve seen or heard about in the last 12 months?
  • What are the most critical changes that we must make to face the future effectively?
  • Who is making the greatest advancements in the field of game protection, and what are they doing?
  • Questions from the audience.
  • Speakers:
  • Bill Zender
  • Frank Stroembo
  • Tony Weiss
11:55-12:00 Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award
12:00-2:00 Lunch Break
2:00-3:00 How to Become a Masterless Samurai - The Art of Ronin Leadership

Ronin in Japanese means “masterless samurai.” Ronin Leadership is about learning, growing and executing as a leader and eventually forging your own path and style of leadership. Becoming a masterless leader. In this engaging and informative session, Mike will walk you through his leadership experiences with the emphasis on “Continuous Improvement.” Mike will provide practical and actionable best practices and strategies for leaders at all levels to up their leadership game. Come prepared with questions and to engage with a world renowned leader who walks the walk and talks the talk.

  • Speakers:
  • Mike Howard
3:00-3:45 Closing Remarks: Willy Allison’s 15 Minutes of Flame

How do you sum up the takeaways of a 3 day conference, the events of the last year (not to mention the state of the world) in 15 minutes? You don’t. You take at least 30 minutes, maybe longer.

  • Speakers:
  • Willy Allison

THE WGPC EXPO

Each year the Expo brings conference delegates and the leading manufacturers of casino game protection, surveillance and security products together to showcase new products. There is plenty of opportunity to visit the exhibition floor during the day to learn more about the latest technology and to interact with product experts and other casino end-users.

The WGPC is a private industry event and is not open to the public or non-exhibiting vendors. Admission to the WGPC expo is included with each conference registration. Casino and regulatory employees can purchase separate expo only tickets to visit the exhibition floor.

Expo hours: Wednesday, 3/8 from 11am-6pm and Thursday, 3/9 from 11am-4pm.

 

2023 EXHIBITORS

2023 Venue

Tropicana Las Vegas is the venue and official group hotel for WGPC 2023. We have booked a number of rooms over show dates for conference attendees and exhibitors. The group room rate is $95 per night (+ $20 discounted resort fee + applicable taxes).  Our block is available until February 13 or until sold out, whichever comes first.

Book your room now in our exclusive group booking portal at the Tropicana. To reserve a room over the phone, call Tropicana reservations 1-888-381-8767. Reference the World Game Protection Conference (SWGP23) for the group rate. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. Parking is free at the Tropicana for hotel guests and WGPC attendees.

Ready to register?

Early-bird

995 USD

Regular

1195 USD

Group

995 USD

Expo Only

495 USD

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Some of Our Past Speakers

  • STEVE FORTE
  • ED THORP
  • KEVIN MITNICK
  • DON JOHNSON
  • ARNOLD SNYDER
  • RICHARD TURNER
  • BILL ZENDER
  • ABE DAVIS
  • PAMELA MYER
  • PERSI DIACONIS
  • JOE NAVARRO
  • EVY POUMPOURAS
  • MICHAEL FRANZESE
  • LARRY BARTON
  • JEFF JONAS
  • SAL PIACENTE
  • PAUL WILSON
  • KEVIN KELLY
  • JEFFREY ROBINSON
  • MICHAEL SHACKLEFORD
  • LEROY CHIAO
  • COLIN JONES
  • JAYSON E. STREET
  • ADAM KURCHARSKI
  • MIKE APONTE
  • JASON ENGLAND
  • BO BERNHARD
  • BOB ARNO
  • MICHAEL BAZZELL
  • MIKE HOWARD
  • STAN WALTERS
  • ART BENJAMIN
  • BOB NERSESIAN
  • ELIOT JACOBSON
  • NORMAN BECK
  • PETER LISTON
  • NELSON DELLIS
  • GEORGE JOSEPH
  • MICHAEL BARNETT
  • DREW PORTER
  • TERRY ROSES
  • JASON ENGLAND
  • JAMES TAYLOR
  • MOHAN SRIVASTAVA
  • MAC SEGAL
  • JAMES GALEA
  • JOSH DAVIS
  • DUSTIN MARKS
  • AVI RUBEN
  • MICHAEL SMALL
  • STEVEN BRIDGES
  • SHAWNEE DELANEY
  • TERRY RICH
  • HOUSTON CURTIS
  • MICHELE ALBO
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