AGA’s second-in-command resigns from her post

judy-pattersonJudy Patterson, second only in command to American Gaming Association president Geoff Freeman, has resigned from her position as the organization’s senior vice president and executive director.

Patterson, who helped found the Washington D.C.-based trade organization and gaming industry lobbying group, was one of the driving forces in the birth of the AGA back in 1995, having played a key role with former president Frank Fahrenkopf Jr.

Fahrenkopf Jr. stepped down from his position back in June and now, Patterson is following him out the door.

“She has been a key player in the creation and growth of Global Gaming Expo and G2E Asia, the two premier gaming industry events in the world,” Freeman said upon announcing Patterson’s departure from the organization.

“She also created and spearheaded industry task forces to study and address issues as diverse as regulatory reform, taxes, bank secrecy act provisions, communications and responsible gaming.”

News of Patterson’s resignation from the AGA was quickly met with a mix of surprise and appreciation for her work in the past 18 years.

“The gaming industry and its members owe a great deal of gratitude to Judy and Frank,” MGM Resorts International Chairman Jim Murren said.

Patterson will remain a consultant for the AGA, a position that will undoubtedly less taxing than her previous role in the company, but one that will also allow her to still be involved in the industry at some capacity.

During her time with the AGA, the attorney by trade has been credited as one of the pillars of the organization, spearheading numerous initiatives to promulgate the gaming industry in the US. One of her biggest achievements was the creation of Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Through her leadership, Patterson was one of the key players in developing the event and turning it into the largest and most successful gaming industry conference and trade show in the world.

Patterson was also the brains behind the creation of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the country’s only independent, nonprofit organization that’s solely dedicated on funding research and education to help understand pathological and youth gambling and find effective treatments to help those in need of it. More recently, Patterson also helped found Global Gaming Women in 2011, an organization that promotes women’s participation and involvement in the international gambling industry.

Happy trails to Judy Patterson. Here’s to hoping she finds success in her future endeavors.