Brian Krolicki took over as president of the International Association of Gaming Regulators from Ben Haden, as the global body moves to crack down harder on illegal gambling.
IAGR illegal gambling work is the focus of the new leadership. Krolicki of the Nevada Gaming Commission succeeds Ben Haden as president. Vice president David Phillips of the AGCO also co-chairs the Illegal Gambling Working Group. CheckBeforeYouPlay.org launched during IAGR’s first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week.
- Krolicki’s Background and the Role
- Phillips Joins the Illegal Gambling Push
- Illegal Gambling Awareness Week
- The Road to the 2027 Annual Conference
Brian Krolicki moved from vice president to president of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, as the association turned its attention to unlicensed gambling. Krolicki serves on the Nevada Gaming Commission. He arrives with a long record in public service, including two terms as Nevada’s lieutenant governor and two as state treasurer.
Ben Haden, the president from Great Britain’s Gambling Commission, completes a three-year term. He will remain on the IAGR board of trustees. Krolicki said Haden broadened the association’s ambitions and strengthened its international ties. David Phillips of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario steps in as vice president.
AGBrief has been covering how regulators are coordinating on illegal gambling markets.
Krolicki’s Background and the Role
Krolicki’s public service record makes him a familiar name to gaming regulators. Nevada’s lieutenant governor and state treasurer positions put him at the centre of policy work on taxation and oversight. That background matters as IAGR prepares to coordinate anti-illegal-gambling efforts across jurisdictions.
Krolicki said he wants to build on the momentum created in 2026. His plan pairs Phillips with chief executive Kevin Mullally and the board to turn short-term initiatives into durable programmes for the regulatory community. The stated goal is consumer protection, with regulators exchanging expertise across borders.
Phillips Joins the Illegal Gambling Push
David Phillips serves as chief operating officer of the AGCO. His tenure there has covered licensing, compliance, enforcement and technology oversight. He also helped build Ontario’s competitive online gambling market and co-chairs IAGR’s Illegal Gambling Working Group, one of the body’s busiest committees.
Krolicki said Phillips’ operational experience is exactly what the association needed in 2027. The Illegal Gambling Working Group will likely focus on enforcement, consumer tools and the spread of unlicensed operators through technology platforms.
Illegal Gambling Awareness Week Delivers a Consumer Tool
IAGR ran its first Illegal Gambling Awareness Week in 2026, launching CheckBeforeYouPlay.org. The tool lets consumers check whether an operator holds a licence. The campaign also covered Model Rules Committee work, a Technology Working Group, consumer education and outreach to policymakers.
The illegal gambling campaign sits alongside a record annual conference in Lima, Peru. More than 150 regulators from every region attended, along with over 100 industry experts and stakeholders. Krolicki said the 2027 mandate is to convert that participation into practical tools and shared standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has taken over as IAGR president?
Brian Krolicki, a Nevada Gaming Commission member, replaced Ben Haden as president. Krolicki previously served two terms as Nevada’s lieutenant governor and two as state treasurer. Haden, from the Gambling Commission, moves to the board of trustees.
Who is vice president?
David Phillips, the chief operating officer of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, took over as vice president. He has led licensing, compliance, enforcement and technology oversight, and co-chairs IAGR’s Illegal Gambling Working Group.
What is the association’s illegal gambling focus?
IAGR is strengthening its work on unlicensed gambling, including enforcement, consumer education and technology oversight. Krolicki and Phillips intend to carry the momentum of Illegal Gambling Awareness Week into 2027 with the Illegal Gambling Working Group.
What new tools did IAGR launch?
Illegal Gambling Awareness Week introduced CheckBeforeYouPlay.org, which lets consumers verify an operator’s licence. The 2026 programme also included a Model Rules Committee, a Technology Working Group, consumer education and outreach to policymakers.
How many people attended the 2026 conference?
IAGR’s annual conference in Lima, Peru, drew more than 150 regulators from every region, alongside over 100 industry experts and stakeholders. Krolicki said the 2027 mandate is to turn that participation into lasting benefits for consumer protection.
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