Valerie Gonzalez - Marketing Compliance Analyst (BetMGM)
Valerie Gonzalez
Marketing Compliance Analyst I BetMGM
In our Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS) Spotlight, we showcase some of the individuals who have successfully completed the rigorous requirements of our certification program.
Describe your experience working in the gaming industry. What is your current role in the Casino Gaming Industry?
I am relatively new to the gaming industry. I am currently a Marketing Compliance Analyst at BetMGM, a role I have held for about a year and a half. I previously worked as a customer service agent for BetMGM for about a year before I joined the Compliance team.
What initially drew you to pursue a career in gaming compliance?
During my time as a CS agent, I realized how much I enjoyed learning about the gaming industry and the ways that regulation affected the way promotional terms are set up and how accounts are managed. I wanted to switch into a different department that dealt more with the behind the scenes aspect of promotions, so when a spot on the Marketing Compliance team opened up and I learned about what the Compliance team does, I was eager to join.
What prompted you to pursue the Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS) certification?
The most important part of any role for me is the opportunity to learn and grow. I strive to reach my full potential by acquiring as much knowledge as I can and putting it into practice. When I came across the CGCS, I immediately knew this would be a great way to learn about compliance as a whole and get exposure to the parts of compliance I do not work with in my day to day tasks. BetMGM encourages and supports employees to expand their education by providing a learning reimbursement, and I got the approval of my manager to sign up for the course.
What aspects of the certification program do you find particularly valuable or impactful in your professional practice?
I found the explanations of how the three lines of defense work within an organization and how different committees and individuals collaborate to identify and combat corruption to be extremely helpful. I have a much greater understanding of how the work I do directly affects other teams within the Compliance department and how I can help explain in greater detail the importance of creating a strong compliance culture.
How has obtaining the Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS) certification enhanced your professional capabilities and career prospects?
The CGCS has made me a stronger analyst now that I have a greater understanding of how and why certain procedures are in place. I have the ability to collaborate with other compliance teams in a more efficient manner because the CGCS gave me an excellent overview on the different areas of compliance and the standards each role must meet.
In what ways has the Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS) certification enabled you to contribute to ensuring compliance within your organization?
The CGCS certification taught me in depth about the different laws and regulations governing different jurisdictions. As the gaming industry expands into different international markets, this knowledge will be vital to ensure compliance.
How do you incorporate the knowledge and skills gained from the certification into your daily work?
It is much easier to collaborate with other teams because I have a general understanding of what role they serve within the organization and I can provide the information that is most relevant to them. On the flip side, it is also much easier to seek out answers when I know which section of compliance is responsible for certain information.
What skills or qualities do you believe are essential to be a successful Certified Gaming Compliance Specialist (CGCS)?
The ability to spot trends, keep up with a rapidly and always evolving regulatory environment, and communicate well with both internal and external teams.
In your opinion, what are the most pressing compliance concerns currently facing the gaming industry?
I think the most pressing concerns for operators are being able to adapt in an industry that is constantly changing. As the industry matures and expands into new jurisdictions, this means operators must keep up with more new sets of regulations while ensuring compliance in existing jurisdictions that are updating regulations as well.
Any final comments/thoughts?
Thank you for providing an excellent resource for the gaming compliance industry! I look forward to exploring other courses by the ACGCS.