EXPERIENCE IN VIRGINIA CHARITABLE GAMING.
After more than twelve years working in Virginia charitable gaming, I founded Charitable Gaming Compliance Solutions, LLC to put that experience to work directly for qualified organizations.
My experience in charitable gaming began in March 2014, when I joined Powerhouse Gaming, a manufacturer of electronic pull tabs. I started in sales and later became the company's Virginia State Sales Manager.
Working directly with organizations throughout Virginia gave me an opportunity to learn much more than the gaming business. I developed an understanding of the fraternal and veterans organizations that conduct charitable gaming—their structure, their volunteer leadership, the challenges their officers face, and the importance of charitable gaming to their organizations and communities.
FROM SALES TO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
My role eventually expanded into Special Projects and Government Affairs, giving me the opportunity to become deeply involved in the legislative and regulatory side of charitable gaming.
I worked closely with the company's lobbyist and spent considerable time at the Virginia General Assembly, following legislation affecting charitable gaming.
That work included supporting legislation that would benefit charitable gaming and working to oppose proposals that could negatively affect qualified organizations and the charitable gaming community.
The experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how Virginia's charitable gaming laws develop—and, just as importantly, how changes in those laws can affect organizations at the local level.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.
After eight years with Powerhouse Gaming, I joined Grover Gaming, another electronic pull-tab manufacturer, as Government Relations Manager.
In that role, I continued working extensively with Virginia's charitable gaming laws, regulations, and public-policy issues.
My responsibilities included working with the Virginia Department responsible for charitable gaming regulation, attending Charitable Gaming Board meetings, following regulatory developments, participating in the legislative process, and representing charitable gaming at government and political events.
That experience provided an opportunity to see how charitable gaming policy moves from legislation and regulation into the requirements organizations ultimately have to follow.
A Broader Regulatory Perspective
My experience also extended beyond Virginia.
I attended two annual conferences of the North American Gaming Regulators Association (NAGRA), where gaming regulators and industry professionals from across North America come together to discuss regulatory issues, compliance, enforcement, and developments within the gaming industry.
Those experiences provided an additional perspective on the relationship between effective regulation, responsible gaming operations, and practical compliance.
Understanding the Organizations Behind Charitable Gaming
One of the most valuable things I've learned during my career is that charitable gaming isn't simply about regulations, financial reports, or gaming products.
It's about the organizations behind them.
Over the years, I've developed a strong understanding of fraternal and veterans organizations, their officers and volunteers, and the important role charitable gaming can play in supporting their programs, charitable activities, and communities.
That understanding is an important part of CGCS.
When I work with an organization, I'm not approaching it simply as a set of financial records. I want to understand the organization, how it operates, and the people responsible for its charitable gaming activities.
WHY I STARTED CGCS
After more than twelve years working in Virginia charitable gaming, I founded Charitable Gaming Compliance Solutions, LLC to put that experience to work directly for qualified organizations.
My goal is to provide practical, personal compliance assistance—not to make compliance more complicated.
CGCS is intentionally a small business. When you work with CGCS, you work directly with me. I'll get to know your organization, understand its charitable gaming activities, and be available when questions arise.
I believe regular review, clear communication, and a practical understanding of the regulations can help organizations identify potential problems early—before small issues have an opportunity to become bigger ones.
Bob Jekanowski
Founder & Principal Consultant