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AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 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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Grand View Research: Global Sports Betting Market Size is Estimated to Reach USD 187.39 Billion by 2030

The global online gambling market size is estimated to reach USD 153.57 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 11.9% from 2025 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research.
Sports Betting Market Report Highlights:
• The offline segment accounts for a significant revenue share in the sports betting industry in 2024, particularly in regions with a mature gambling infrastructure such as Europe and Australia.
• Based on the sports type football segment dominated the sports betting market, holding the largest share due to its vast international fan base and the continuous presence of domestic and international tournaments.
• Live/In-Play Betting emerged as the leading segment in the sports betting market in 2024, thanks to its real-time and interactive nature.
• Europe sports betting market accounts for the largest revenue share of around 48% in 2024. The sports betting market in Europe is continually evolving, bolstered by established regulations in several countries and increasing digital engagement.
The growth of the global sports betting market is driven by the proliferation of internet infrastructure and evolving regulatory landscape of the entire gambling industry across the world. In addition, the increase in the number of sports events and leagues worldwide such as the NFL, FIFA World Cup, Carabao Cup, and UEFA Europa League has positively influenced the growth of the market. Furthermore, an increase in disposable income and the rising usage of AI and blockchain technologies to improve the prediction algorithms in betting software are likely to boost the growth of the market during the forecast period.
Esports, which is an organized, multiplayer video game competition, played by professional players, individuals, or teams, has gained massive popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and witnessed a surge in the number of events worldwide. Market players are utilizing the increased number of esports events to offer an opportunity for their customers to bet on such esports competitions and earn extra income. The surge in online sports events backed up by a rise in the number of esports tournaments offers stable growth opportunities for the betting industry. For instance, according to the report by the UK Gambling Commission, there was a huge 2922% year-on-year rise in esports betting revenue from March 2019 to March 2020.
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CANJ Launches “Casinos United Against Hunger” Campaign

In an effort to address food insecurity in New Jersey, the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) has launched the Casinos United Against Hunger campaign in partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). Atlantic City casinos collectively are donating more than $170,000 to support CFBNJ’s mission.
“Ending hunger will take all of us stepping up to do more for our neighbors. Atlantic City casinos are coming together to form Casinos United Against Hunger, a new campaign dedicated to strengthening our efforts to combat food insecurity in New Jersey. By supporting important organizations like the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, we will help address hunger by providing meals to families throughout the state,” said Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey.
The donation was presented at CFBNJ’s Night of 300,000 Meals on May 1, 2025, a culinary event that brings together local chefs, restaurants and community members to help provide 300,000 meals for neighbors in need. Chefs from Atlantic City casinos participated in the annual event.
“Atlantic County has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state. We’re grateful to the Casino Association of New Jersey for helping to honor the FoodBank’s 50th anniversary with their generous support and for uniting the Atlantic City casino community to help address hunger. Through this partnership, we can provide more meals to local families in need and make a lasting impact in the area,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, president & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
In addition to the CFBNJ’s 50th anniversary, the partnership between the CANJ and CFBNJ comes at an especially crucial time given the level of food insecurity in New Jersey. Nearly 1 million people in the state, including more than 260,000 children, are at risk of hunger. Atlantic County, home to Atlantic City’s casinos, has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, with 12.2% of residents and 17.4% of children affected.
The casinos involved in the Casinos United Against Hunger initiative – Bally’s Atlantic City Casino Resort, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City Resorts, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort and Resorts Casino Hotel – are joining a long-standing tradition of support for CFBNJ. Many properties in Atlantic City are longtime supporters of CFBNJ, and this collective effort demonstrates their commitment to addressing this critical issue. Through this partnership, CFBNJ will be able to distribute more meals to families in need, especially in areas that are most impacted. The $170,000 donation is a total of all financial, grant and in-kind contributions from each Atlantic City casino to the CFBNJ this year.
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Austin to Host Inaugural Global Esports Industry Week in June 2025

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), in partnership with The Esports Radar and strategic event partner BLAST, announced Global Esports Industry Week 2025 (GEIW), a week-long series of executive-level forums, summits and experiential gatherings and socials taking place 18–22 June 2025 in Austin, Texas.
Staged alongside the sold-out BLAST.tv Austin Major Finals (21–22 June), GEIW will convene hundreds of publisher representatives, executives, tournament organisers, team owners, brands, investors, legal specialists, and technology innovators for five days of focused dialogue, deal-making, and industry celebration.
Designed in response to mounting calls for global strategic alignment as the esports sector matures, GEIW offers a purposely neutral environment for stakeholders to tackle shared challenges, set collective priorities, and chart sustainable growth. Anchored at the Downright Austin Hotel, the program blends high-impact content with curated networking and “only-in-Austin” social experiences, ensuring every conversation can translate into actionable collaboration.
Agenda highlights include:
• Esports Leaders & Evening Garden Party (19 June) – a more intimate decision makers only gathering for 120 C-suite leaders in and around the sector, hosted in an off-stage setting with excellent hospitality focused on real conversations and great meetings.
• International Games & Esports Tribunal (IGET) Arbitrators Workshop (19 June) – first-of-its-kind masterclass exploring the revolutionary IGET dispute-resolution framework for video games and esports.
• ESIC Global Esports Summit (20 June) – thought-leadership keynotes and think-tank panels tackling integrity, commercialization and player welfare.
• Premium Networking Experiences (20-21 June) – uniquely local experiences designed to deepen relationships beyond the conference room, including a GEIW Padel Tournament, Texan BBQ Dinners, and more.
Additional activations, partner MOU-signing sessions, and BLAST.tv behind-the-scenes arena tours will run throughout the week.
Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of Esports Integrity Commission, said: “The global esports ecosystem has reached a tipping point where sustainable growth depends on collective action. Global Esports Industry Week 2025 is our answer to that need—a neutral space where publishers, tournament operators, teams, investors, regulators and technology partners can leave day-to-day business at the door and focus on the bigger picture.
“Over the course of five days, we’ll tackle integrity risks head-on, debate commercial models that reward everyone in the value chain, and map out practical frameworks for player welfare and dispute resolution. By convening the industry’s most influential decision-makers in Austin—alongside the energy of the BLAST.tv Major—we’re setting the stage for agreements and initiatives that will shape esports for the next decade.
“ESIC was founded to safeguard fair play; GEIW extends that mission by championing transparency, accountability and long-term business viability. I look forward to welcoming our global peers to what I believe will become the cornerstone event on the esports business calendar.”
Sam Cooke, CEO & Co-Founder of the Insights Group (owners of The Esports Radar), said: “As co-organiser, The Esports Radar team is thrilled to launch its first event alongside our good friends over at ESIC and BLAST. We couldn’t have hoped for a better city than Austin to host the first GEIW; an accessible, brilliant, proudly weird city for all to enjoy in and around the programmed events, and one with so many major corporations there or close by, alongside a sold-out CS Major no less.
“This’ll be a great few days, with a lot of hands shook and deals done, and if you’re a stakeholder or just interested in the business of esports, and its broader development as an industry, we sincerely hope to see you there!”
James Woollard, Director of Market Development at BLAST, said: “Bringing the BLAST.tv Major together with Global Esports Industry Week will further help position Austin at the global centre of esports and gaming next month. This partnership underscores our commitment to building meaningful, sustainable connections across the global esports ecosystem. We’re proud to play a role in creating an unforgettable week that combines world-class competition with forward-looking industry dialogue, helping shape growth for our industry.”
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