Ilse started her career with the Auditor General in 1992 after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at the University of Pretoria.During her time at the Auditor-General she obtained a BCom Hons Business Management degree.

In 2000 she joined the Gauteng Gambling Board and obtained her Master of Business Leadership from UNISA.

In 2015 she completed an executive development programe in Reno, Nevada focusing on the development of an integrated casino resort and the gaming industry, as a whole.

Besides auditing, she is also responsible for the monitoring of licensees’ compliance with the then bid deliverable's and later the BBBEE Act,she formed part of various bid committees and has been part of the Employment Equity committee.

Wow, that it quite the resume, let us take a look at her Women In Gaming Q&A:

What do you like most about working in the industry?

The gaming landscape is forever changing, from the addition of new licensees, game types, payment methods to the enhancement of current systems. To add value to the industry, you need to be agile, keep abreast with latest best practices and realize that you are constantly on a learning curve. I enjoy the mental challenge the industry provides; no two days are the same and you need to be able to adapt to every change. If you cannot adapt, you stagnate and become irrelevant.

What are the challenges that you face being a woman in the industry?

The industry has, from the onset been male dominated and seemingly an “old boys club”  When I entered the Gambling Board in 2000, I would be, on numerous occasions, the only women in a meeting, if there were any other women present, she would be the human resources manager!

This has slowly changed, but slowly is the operative word! It has taken 20 years for women to represented in the industry.  

The challenge I faced from the onset was to be taken seriously by the men in the room. As a woman you must work harder, learn more and put extra effort into your job to be recognised. This challenge still exists.  

Gina Carey said “A strong women looks challenge right in the eye and gives it a wink” I believe a challenge is an opportunity you have not explored yet. By saying yes to being challenged you create an opportunity to learn, to grow and to be a better version of yourself. By saying yes to the challenges there are no limit to what you can achieve.  

Please can you kindly elaborate on the FIC Audit that you recently had a part to play in?

South Africa previously underwent a FATF (Financial Action Task Force) Mutual Evaluation in 2009, and in 2019 I was privileged to be part of the PLA (Provincial Licensing Authority) that presented the gaming industry during the current evaluation.

The evaluation’s focus was mainly on compliance to the FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) which includes anti money laundering and terrorist financing.

The peer review included all industries ranging from banks, estate agents, attorneys, dealers in precious metals and stones as well as gambling.

Each sector had time to prepare submissions, firstly to FIC and finally, after a process of inclusion, correction, and elimination of information to the FATF team.

This evaluation team consisted of IMF (International Monetary Fund) representatives as well as experts in the financial and legal field from all over the world.

The process was long and intense, at times draining. After interviews with the PLA representative, and site visits with the chosen licensee, a preliminary report was issued.

This first draft report gave the representatives a chance to correct and further clarify aspects that the evaluation team had questions about.

The second draft took the route of the first draft and the report was finalised in February 2020.

The PLA’s are awaiting the outcome of the mutual evaluation and should have had it by now, but as we know Covid-19 put a lock down on the world.

Bounce Back Beyond Tomorrow and keep a look-out for more inspirational Women In Gaming Interviews!