Pollard Banknote Limited congratulates Riva Richard, Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary, Pollard Banknote, and her team of in–house lawyers and staff on being shortlisted for the category of In-House Counsel/Legal Team of the Year at the VIXIO GamblingCompliance Global Regulatory Awards 2020.

With a record number of entries across 18 categories, the Global Regulatory Awards are the biggest and most influential awards in the gambling compliance sphere, recognising individuals, teams, and businesses that have excelled in the field of compliance, corporate social responsibility, and responsible gaming. The In-House Counsel/Legal Team of the Year Award, for which Riva Richard was shortlisted, celebrates, “an individual or team who safeguards the reputation of the company by guaranteeing that it strictly follows regulatory guidelines and proactively advises management to help steer the business”.

As chief legal strategist for Pollard Banknote—a global market leader in providing high-performing games and solutions, and the leading iLottery provider in North America through its joint venture company, NeoPollard Interactive (“NPi”)—Riva has played an integral role in establishing the compliance framework for U.S. iLottery operations, as well as supporting clients in navigating through a complex regulatory landscape. In 2019, when the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) threatened the iLottery industry with a revised interpretation of the Wire Act that would criminalize interstate transmission of all bets or wagers, Riva forged a collaborative partnership with the New Hampshire Lottery and multiple external legal experts to launch a strong challenge to the DOJ’s revised opinion.

Riva’s passionate commitment to leading this legal challenge has resulted in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruling in favour of upholding iLottery operations, confirming that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting activities. While the plaintiffs were ultimately successful at trial, the DOJ appealed the decision. Oral arguments were heard in June. Under Riva’s continued leadership, Pollard Banknote mounted a strong defence of the New Hampshire court’s ruling. A decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is expected later this year.

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“We are proud to congratulate Riva and her team on this deserving recognition from the prestigious Global Regulatory Awards,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Pollard Banknote. “Her outstanding leadership efforts have given our clients confidence in their ability to operate iLottery and paved the way for others to explore introducing iLottery services, which ultimately benefit the good causes these lotteries support.”