ONE-ON-ONE
An important link in the supply chain DARON DORSEY , PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INDUSTRY’S SUPPLIER TRADE ASSOCIATION, TALKED TARIFFS TO EDITOR-IN CHIEF SIMON PLANZER .
Simon Planzer: AGEM has been a partner of the IMGL for many years, but I wonder how many people are clear what the organization is and who you represent. Could you start by telling us a bit more about it. Daron Dorsey: Sure, AGEM is the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, and it’s the global trade association established to be a voice for equipment suppliers, system providers and others on the B2B side of regulated gaming. It’s a networking and information sharing organization for member companies and that includes the large global companies with brand names like IGT, Aristocrat, Light and Wonder. It also includes payment companies like JCM and CPI and some of the niche but growing companies like TCS John Huxley, ZITRO or Bluberi. Then it’s also the suppliers to the suppliers. Gaming is a technology business now, so our members are making computer and technology products. So there are touch screen monitor companies, computer circuit board manufacturers and a myriad of other suppliers right around the world. AGEM is the voice for that side of the industry with regulatory authorities, with government bodies, with the responsible gaming community all the stakeholders our members deal with.
SP: And does this also include the online guys? DD: It does and that’s a good point to make especially as this industry is migrated from the traditional, land-based environment. The key is that all suppliers to regulated and authorized gaming markets around the world, whether online only or land based, are part of the AGEM community. SP: That’s a very broad membership and one which won’t always align in terms of interests. How do you handle that as president? DD: Great question and you’re right: our members have different perspectives and diverse interests, and when that is an issue, we try to pursue a consensus. But if we get to a point where views are diametrically opposed, then we take the position that we will not come down on one side or the other. We’re not working for the benefits of certain members or against others. We just let the market work through its outcome. SP: And you serve as a president and CEO of the organization. Can you tell us a bit about your double role and how that’s changed over the years. DD: AGEM started over 20 years ago and, like the gaming
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IMGL MAGAZINE | JUNE 2025
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