Zona de Azar USA – AGA Unveils Inductees for 2023 Gaming Hall of Fame
USA.- August 8th 2023 www.zonadeazar.com The American Gaming Association (AGA) Monday introduced the latest class of the Hall of Fame. The new inductees are:
- Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
- Robert Miodunski, Former CEO, American Gaming Systems; former President & CEO, Alliance Gaming; and President, Bally Gaming
- Jim Murren, Former Chairman and CEO, MGM Resorts International
- Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts
“This year’s Gaming Hall of Fame class enshrines industry leaders that have positively transformed businesses and communities through their contributions to gaming,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller in a statement. “From leading casino and supplier operations to advancing industry regulation and tribal gaming, Bill, Ellen, Jim and Robert’s far-reaching impacts on gaming are indelible—and undoubtedly worthy of inclusion in the Hall of Fame.”
The Gaming Hall of Fame was founded in 1989. The Class of 2023 will be honored at an invitation-only ceremony in October at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors the diverse ways gaming leaders elevate our industry,” said AGA Chairman of the Board, and Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen. “This year’s class epitomizes this principle, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at G2E 2023.”
The new inductees have a wide range of experiences.
Anoatubby has served as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. During his tenure, Chickasaw Nation employees have expanded from 250 to more than 14,000, and the Tribes assets have increased two-hundredfold. Anoatubby also played an integral role in establishing the Indian Gaming Association and Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, and helped negotiate the 2004 Oklahoma gaming compact that solidified the future of tribal gaming in the state.
Miodunski, during his tenure as president of the United Coin Machine (a division of publicly traded Alliance Gaming Corp.) from 1994-99, developed and launched Gamblers Bonus, the first patented cardless player tracking and bonusing system for route operation in Nevada, and built the largest gaming route operation in the U.S., totaling more than 8,000 gaming devices. He was promoted to president and CEO of Alliance Gaming and president of Bally Gaming in 1999. After he retired in 2004, Miodunski returned to the industry in 2010 to head American Gaming Systems. Most recently, Miodunski served as a board member of Golden Entertainment from 2015 to 2021.
Murren served as chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International from 2008 to 2020. During his tenure with MGM Resorts, Murren guided the company through the Great Recession, overhauled the company’s healthcare policy to better serve employees, led tech innovation in gaming, and drove increased tourism to Las Vegas.
Appointed by the governor, Murren led Nevada’s COVID-19 Response, Relief, and Recovery Task Force. He helped bring professional sports to Las Vegas, leading the construction of T-Mobile Arena, becoming a founding partner of the Vegas Golden Knights, and organizing the purchase and relocation of the Las Vegas Aces. Murren currently serves as chairman and CEO of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Whittemore is currently Wynn Resorts’ Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. She leads the company’s global legal affairs and its philanthropic, community relations and government affairs activities. Whittemore is also a member of the board of directors of Wynn Macau, Limited.
Before her career in private and corporate practice, Whittemore served in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Gaming Division, authoring multiple Nevada Gaming Commission regulations that are in place today. She is currently the chair of the Nevada Resort Association, and the former president of the International Association of Gaming Advisors.
Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee includes:
- Brett Abarbanel, executive director, University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute
- Hard Rock International Chairman, and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen
- Kirsten Clark, executive director, International Association of Gaming Advisors
- Interblock CEO John Connelly
- Delaware North President, Gaming Brian Hansberry
- Bill Lance, Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
- International Center for Responsible Gaming Chairman Mark Lipparelli
- Cassie Stratford, SVP, Legal Operations & Compliance, Boyd Gaming, and Global Gaming Women President and Chair
- Howard Stutz, senior reporter, The Nevada Independent
Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com
