Senior Vice President and Executive Director

Judy L. Patterson is senior vice president and executive director of the American Gaming Association (AGA).  In this capacity, Patterson administers the association’s day-to-day activities and has set up industry task forces to study issues as diverse as taxes, bank secrecy act provisions, communications and responsible gaming.  She was instrumental in the organization of the National Center for Responsible Gaming, an independent, nonprofit organization that administers the nation’s only peer-reviewed research grants program focused exclusively on problem and underage gambling.  She also was a key player in the creation of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) and has led the development of the event into the largest and most successful gaming industry conference and trade show in the world.  In addition, she has shepherded the expansion of the G2E family of events to include G2E Asia.  Patterson also works with consultants, academic institutions and state gaming associations to develop independent studies of gaming issues.

Prior to joining the AGA, Patterson served as special assistant to the president of the American Bar Association (ABA), where she continued her involvement with developing public-private partnerships to build and sustain support for justice system improvements; she also served the ABA as director of the Public Liaison Office. Patterson is a co-founder and member of the board of directors of the D.C. Coalition Against Drugs and Violence.  

A summa cum laude graduate of Wichita State University (1974) and a cum laude graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center, (1985), she also holds a master’s degree in education from Boston University (1975).  Patterson is a member of the Washington, D.C., and Maryland bar associations.  She lives in Washington, D.C., with her son and daughter.