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AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Published

9 months ago

August 8, 2023

Anoatubby, Miodunski, Murren, Whittemore to be Inducted

The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023, honoring four leaders for their significant contributions to the industry:

* Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
* Robert Miodunski, Former Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Systems; Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming
* Jim Murren, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 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,” the President and Chief Executive Officer for the AGA, Bill Miller, said. “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.”

Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has recognized gaming legends, pioneers and business leaders for their lasting impacts on the industry. The Class of 2023 will be honored during an invitation-only induction ceremony at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this October.

“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 Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen. “This year’s class epitomizes this principle and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at G2E 2023.”

Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee members include:

* Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, International Gaming Institute, UNLV
* Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International, and Chief Executive Officer, Seminole Gaming
* Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, International Association of Gaming Advisors
* John Connelly, Chief Executive Officer, Interblock
* Brian Hansberry, President, Gaming, Delaware North
* Bill Lance, Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
* Mark Lipparelli, Chairman, International Center for Responsible Gaming
* Cassie Stratford, Senior Vice-President, Legal Operations and Compliance, Boyd Gaming; President and Chair, Global Gaming Women
* Howard Stutz, Senior Reporter, The Nevada Independent

Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation

Anoatubby has served as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. Early in his tenure, Anoatubby recognized the important role gaming could play in advancing sustainable economic development and self-determination for the tribe. Since 1987, gaming operations have helped drive the number of Chickasaw Nation employees from 250 to more than 14,000, expanding tribal assets two-hundredfold. As Governor, Anoatubby oversees the tribe’s operation of more than 100 diversified businesses, including 24 tribal gaming locations, generating funding for 200-plus programs and services that benefit education, healthcare, housing and more for Chickasaw families, Oklahomans and their communities. Anoatubby also played an integral role establishing the Indian Gaming Association and Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association as well as negotiating the 2004 Oklahoma gaming compact that solidified the future of tribal gaming in the state. Under Governor Anoatubby’s direction,?the?Chickasaw Nation also places a strong emphasis on preserving and sharing its heritage, history, language and culture.

Robert Miodunski, Former Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Systems; Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming

As President of United Coin Machine Company (a division of publicly-traded Alliance Gaming Corporation) from 1994 to 99, Miodunski built the nation’s largest gaming route operation, totaling more than 8,000 gaming devices. He also led the development and launch of Gamblers Bonus, the first patented cardless player tracking and bonusing system for route operation in Nevada. Promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Gaming and President of Bally Gaming in 1999, he led a team that resurrected the venerable Bally brand to its place as one of the global gaming industry’s top casino suppliers, eventually transforming into Bally Technologies. Miodunski retired in 2004 and then returned to the industry in 2010 to head American Gaming Systems (AGS) as Chief Executive Officer, expanding the company’s footprint in Class II and Class III gaming before AGS was acquired by a private equity firm in 2014. Most recently, Miodunski served as a board member of Golden Entertainment from 2015 to 2021.

Jim Murren, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM Resorts International

Murren is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MGM Resorts International, serving in the role from 2008 to 2020. During his time leading MGM Resorts, Murren guided the company through the wake of the ‘Great Recession’, overhauled the company’s healthcare policy to better serve employees, led technological innovation in gaming and drove increased tourism to Las Vegas. Following his tenure at MGM Resorts International, Murren headed Nevada’s COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force as its gubernatorially-appointed chairman, working closely with local government leaders and the private sector to secure personal protective equipment, establish a robust statewide testing system and ensure Nevada students were provided with the resources to learn remotely. Murren has also been an integral figure in bringing professional sports to Las Vegas, leading the construction of T-Mobile Arena, becoming a founding partner of the Vegas Golden Knights, organizing the purchase and relocation of the Las Vegas Aces and more. He currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts

Whittemore serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Wynn Resorts. In her role, she leads the company’s global legal affairs as well as the entirety of its philanthropic, community relations and government affairs activities. She has been instrumental in Wynn Resorts’ efforts to enhance its workplace culture as well as its corporate ethics and governance and was integral in crafting the company’s global response to the pandemic. Whittemore is also a member of the board of directors of Wynn Macau Limited. Her legal career spans more than 30 years in gaming and hospitality, during which she has represented many of the industry’s largest companies in noteworthy regulatory matters. Before her career in private and corporate practice, Whittemore served in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Gaming Division, where she authored several Nevada Gaming Commission regulations that remain in place today. Whittemore has long been an active community and industry leader and is the current Chair of the Nevada Resort Association and the former President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors.

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NetBet Casino Elevates Offering in Mexico with IGT PlayDigital Content

Published

16 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Niji Narayan

NetBet has announced that it will expand NetBet Mexico’s library of games with the addition of IGT PlayDigital titles.

While there will be many exciting games from IGT PlayDigital that will be made available for NetBet Mexico customers, the library of new titles will be led by omnichannel player-favorite IGT PlayDigital games such as Cleopatra, DaVinci Diamonds, and Golden Goddess.

NetBet Mexico’s PR manager, Claudia Georgevici, said: “At NetBet, we strive to offer our players the widest-possible range of games, while also selectively partnering with the best iGaming companies in the industry. This supports our mission to provide our customers with the most exciting titles, and also ensures that there is enough variety in our library to provide something for everyone. IGT PlayDigital’s reputation in the iGaming industry speaks for itself, and we are excited to be offering their games in Mexico.”

Players in Mexico can now experience IGT PlayDigital’s games by visiting the official NetBet Mexico website.

eSports

Motorsport Games Launches RaceControl.gg and Announces Partnership with Coach Dave Academy

Published

25 mins ago

May 13, 2024

Niji Narayan

Motorsport Games Inc., a racing game developer and esports ecosystem provider, announced the launch of RaceControl.gg, a new dedicated platform designed to enhance player engagement with the latest news, updates, tips, and tricks its most recent game, Le Mans Ultimate. As part of this exciting initiative, Motorsport Games has partnered with Coach Dave Academy (Speed Capital Ltd) to manage the content and development of RaceControl.gg.

Under this partnership, Coach Dave Academy (CDA), renowned for their expertise in creating car setups in racing simulations, will curate and manage the content on RaceControl.gg, ensuring fans and players have access to the most relevant and useful information. CDA will further contribute to the Le Mans Ultimate gaming experience by providing new and optimized car setups directly in the game in a future update – allowing players to enhance their performance on the track.

Stephen Hood, CEO of Motorsport Games, commented on the launch and partnership: “We are excited to unveil RaceControl.gg as a brand-new destination for Le Mans Ultimate lovers, in collaboration with Coach Dave Academy. This platform is not just a news site; it’s a comprehensive resource that will grow, with time, to include live schedules and account functionalities to boost game engagement even when players are not logged into the app. Our partnership with Coach Dave Academy ensures that the site will be managed by the best in the business, enhancing the game experience with top-tier content and cutting-edge racing setups.”

Dave Perel, Founder of Coach Dave Academy, said: “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Motorsport Games on RaceControl.gg and our contribution of setups for Le Mans Ultimate. This partnership marks a significant milestone for us, underscoring our broad expertise in the sim racing domain. We’ve built our reputation on delivering first-class setups and tutorials. We’re excited to bring this proven formula to the Le Mans Ultimate player base, enhancing their gaming experience with the same dedication and quality that have been key to our success. Together with Motorsport Games, we are committed to enhancing the user experience, providing both novices and seasoned players with the tools they need to succeed on the track.”

The launch of RaceControl.gg and partnership with CDA marks a significant step forward in Motorsport Games’ strategy to expand the accessibility and visibility of Le Mans Ultimate and its RaceControl service beyond the traditional game environment. This initiative is designed and expected to create a more connected and engaged community around the game, providing a dynamic platform that evolves with the needs of its users.

Latest News

AGHANIM RESEARCH GAUGES DMA AWARENESS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2024

Peter Tolan

Aghanim, a mobile gaming fintech company founded by the former CEO and CTO of Xsolla, today reveals fascinating new research among mobile game developers relating to the recently launched Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The research is based on interviews with 300 mobile game developers across the US, UK and Germany in the weeks leading up to the introduction of the Act. The new European Union legislation aims to ensure a higher degree of fairness and competition in European digital markets and designates a number of major tech corporations including Apple and Alphabet (Google) as “gatekeepers”.

The key findings of the study shows:

62% of mobile game developers are aware of the Digital Markets Act
82% have at least some understanding of how it will impact their business. Almost a fifth (19%) feel they have a complete understanding of the DMA’s impact
31% of mobile game developers feel they will have more freedom under the DMA, though just 9% are confident they’ll be able to keep more of their revenue
Only 13% have ruled out making changes to their payment processes. A third (33%) have begun implementing them
Awareness of the DMA is highest in Germany (70%), followed by the UK (68%). Less than half (47%) of US developers are aware of the legislation. While the DMA is a European framework, it applies to US developers operating in the EU

Constantin Andry, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, commented: “This data shows that there’s an appetite for change among game developers. Yes, the platform holders instigated the $92 billion mobile games industry, but we need to be asking why game developers – the people who make the games – now only see about 10% of this. With direct-to-consumer distribution, there’s an opportunity to ensure a further $18 billion of annualized value remains within the video games industry, with game creators, which will help soften many ongoing issues including layoffs. Otherwise, the business of making mobile games could soon become unviable.”

Konstantin Golubitsky, Co-founder and Co-CEO at Aghanim, added: “The opportunity for game developers is to create a web-based game hub for their titles which provides added value for their most engaged and valuable users, keeping them coming back regularly. Ultimately, players spend where they see the most value, and our goal is to help developers provide them with the greatest value at the lowest cost.”

A key promise of the Digital Markets Act is to provide fairer competition and greater choice to gamers and game studios. However, Apple’s latest business terms introduced a Core Technology Fee which, for many game developers, cancels out the potential benefits of third-party distribution. Despite the game developers being surveyed before the introduction of the Core Technology fee, just 40% said Apple is a positive force for the games industry. 39% were neutral, while 21% felt Apple was having a negative impact. Since the introduction of App Tracking Transparency in 2021, game developers have increasingly explored direct-to-consumer platforms such as browser stores to supplement on-platform monetization with lower-fee options.

An online survey was conducted on behalf of Aghanim by Atomik Research among 305 mobile game developers in the UK (101), Germany (103), and the USA (101). The research fieldwork took place between 18-22 February 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides by MRS code.