PROFESSIONAL PROFILE At the top of her game By Maria Tzavaras
With the rules and regulations constantly evolving in the casino world, as corporate counsel you have to be at the top of your game, says Jacquie R. Castel, who has worked at some of Canada's largest casinos.
By Maria Tzavaras I PHOTO: CHRIS MCCALLAN
n the world of casinos, following and complying with regulations can mean the difference between a casino that runs smoothly and one that loses its gaming licence.
For over 15 years, Jacquie R. Castel has
been a lawyer in the fast-paced gaming industry, either drafting policies for some of Canada's biggest casinos or working within them to make sure senior execu- tives follow the rules. Castel has worked as in-house counsel
at Ontario's Casino Niagara, and most recently at Casino Rama, along with a va- riety of other positions in between — all related to the gaming industry. Interest- ingly enough, her early career ambitions had nothing to do with law. "I did an undergraduate degree in in-
ternational relations at the University of Toronto and I considered continuing in international relations and pursuing more of an academic career, as I really loved it," says Castel. "But the practical side of me won over and I thought law might be a more practical in terms of job
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