USDG hires Riahei as exec VP
Former Illinois general counsel Melissa Riahei has joined the intrastate platform provider.
US intrastate platform provider US Digital Gaming has named former Illinois general counsel Melissa Riahei as its executive vice president and general counsel.
USDG chairman Richard “Skip” Bronson, said: “Melissa is one of the true superstars and pioneers of the American online gaming industry. She brings unparalleled expertise and experience, as USDG continues to refine our technology platform and build a series of unique partnerships across public sector and private industry platforms.”
Beverly Hills-based USDG recently partnered with Intralot-owned and California-based software supplier CyberArts to develop an intrastate poker platform for roll out in California and other US states currently considering intrastate gambling systems to help bridge huge and growing budget deficits.
An Assembly vote on New Jersey’s multi-product proposal will take place from January 10, while Florida’s poker-only proposal will be considered by its legislature when it returns on the first Tuesday in March of this year.
Headed by CEO Richard Baskin, descended from the Baskin Robbins ice cream making dynasty and Grammy-nominated for writing several songs from the Robert Altman film Nashville, USDG’s co-founder Scott Painter was invited to testify at the California Senate Government Organization Committee hearings into intrastate internet poker held in February 2010.
With the three California bills “ Rod Wright’s SB 45, Louis Correa’s SB 40 and the Poker Voters-backed bill currently in legislative committee “ seen to favour California-based entities with gaming experience as operators of online poker hubs in the state, the USDG-CyberArts pairing is seen by industry observers as a frontrunner in any RFP process to run these.
Prior to joining the Illinois Lottery, Riahei was deputy chief legal counsel in the Governor’s Office and a litigation attorney in the Chicago law firm of Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, LLP.