Inside AGE 2022

austgamingexpo.com | #1 AUG 2022 | INSIDE AGE | 33 Ben Bl as chke : F i r s t of a l l Jinesh, congratulations on your appo i ntment as CEO of the Gaming Technologies Association. You’ve been in the role for about eight months now – how have you been spending that time? Jinesh Patel: Thanks Ben. It has been a busy eight months for the GTA. We are engaging in several policy and regulator consultations in Australia and New Zealand. I’ve been catching up with our colleagues in the clubs and hotels sector, affiliate i ndus t r y bod i es and ot he r government stakeholders. On top of that, AGE has also kept me on my toes! BB: Can you tell us a bit about your previous work and how that complements your role with the GTA? JP: I have been involved in the gaming and hospitality sec t o r fo r t he ma j o r i t y of m y p r o f e s s i o n a l c a r e e r . I was for t una t e to ge t my start working for the NSW Shadow Minister for Gaming George Sour i s wh i l e I was studying in university back in 2008. I really got a good understanding of the issues and the regulatory side of things in my apprenticeship in opposition and was fortunate to follow George who appointed me as a policy advisor when he was appointed as a cabinet minister. In the portfolio we oversaw significant taxation, legislative and depa r tmen t a l re fo rm. In my role prior to joining the GTA I worked as a Director at public affairs firm GRACosway, advising clients in the sector on government relations, and regulatory and investment risk. BB: You have come on board at a time when the industry is finally getting back on its feet after two years of COVID. To what extent do you feel the industry has returned to normal? JP: Having attended a number of industry events in the last few months, you can really s e n s e t h e o p t i m i s m a n d