Ferhan Hamid is the President and CEO of LaunchPoint Government Affairs, a strategic advisory and government relations firm focused on gaming, lottery, technology, and highly regulated industries.

A nationally recognized government affairs executive, attorney, gaming policy leader, and former government official, Mr. Hamid brings more than two decades of experience advising companies, government agencies, boards of directors, investors, and public officials on legislative strategy, regulatory matters, public policy, and stakeholder engagement. Throughout his career, he has served in senior leadership positions in government, law, finance, and technology, providing him with a unique perspective on how public policy decisions are developed, implemented, and enforced.

Mr. Hamid served on the Virginia Lottery Board for over a decade and was elected Chairman by his fellow board members for nine consecutive terms. During his tenure, he has helped oversee one of the nation's most dynamic gaming markets, including the introduction of internet lottery (iLottery), online sports betting, casino gaming, licensing, compliance, responsible gaming, and consumer protection initiatives. He also formed the Board's Operations and Gaming Compliance Committees, strengthening regulatory oversight and accountability across the Commonwealth's gaming ecosystem.

As Chairman, Mr. Hamid has worked closely with four Virginia governors, legislators, regulators, attorneys general, gaming operators, technology providers, and industry stakeholders on some of the most significant gaming policy issues facing states today. His experience provides clients with a unique understanding of how governments evaluate, regulate, and procure gaming and lottery services. Having served as both a regulator and a government executive, Ferhan understands how public officials evaluate policy proposals, procurement decisions, regulatory applications, and stakeholder engagement efforts.

Mr. Hamid previously served as Managing Director of Red Fort Strategies, advising Fortune 1000 companies on multi-state government affairs and public policy initiatives. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Inadev, a government technology company serving federal and state agencies, and as a Director at FBR Capital Markets, where as an investment banker focused on public private partnerships, he led government affairs initiatives involving governors' offices, state legislatures, and regulatory agencies nationwide.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Hamid served under Mayor Richard M. Daley as Managing Deputy Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller and Assistant Comptroller for the City of Chicago, where he held executive responsibility for major operational, financial, risk management, labor relations, and intergovernmental affairs functions. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and as Counsel to the Chicago Park District, advising government agencies and senior officials on legal, regulatory, fiscal, compliance, and public policy matters.

A respected thought leader on gaming and public policy, Ferhan has spoken before the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, the Government Finance Officers Association, Georgetown University, the University of Chicago, and Morgan State University. He has also been featured in CNBC online and numerous national, state, and industry publications discussing gaming regulation, lottery modernization, government affairs, and emerging public policy issues.

At LaunchPoint Government Affairs, Ferhan leverages his unique combination of regulatory, legal, political, executive, and government experience to help clients navigate complex government environments, develop winning market-entry strategies, build stakeholder coalitions, and successfully engage with policymakers across the United States.