Gambling in the USA
MGM Resorts International Announces Leadership Changes
Corey Sanders Appointed Chief Financial Officer and Bill Hornbuckle Named President and Chief Operating Officer
MGM Resorts International announced changes to its leadership team and a streamlining of responsibilities to empower leaders to drive the Company’s strategic direction and implement change as part of its MGM 2020 initiative.
Current Chief Operating Officer Corey Sanders will be appointed Chief Financial Officer and will lead the strategic financial transformation that is part of MGM 2020 and will integrate that work with the departments he currently leads including information technology, enterprise analytics, sales and consumer marketing. Prior to his role as COO of MGM Resorts, Mr. Sanders served as Executive Vice President (EVP) and CFO of MGM Grand Resorts and EVP and CFO of MGM Grand Las Vegas. Prior to those responsibilities, he held roles in corporate finance and tax for MGM Grand, Inc.
Current Chief Financial Officer Dan D’Arrigo has chosen to take advantage of the voluntary resignation program offered as part of MGM 2020 and will be resigning from the Company and the Board of Directors of MGM China. Mr. D’Arrigo will remain with the Company over the next month in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.
Bill Hornbuckle will expand his role and be appointed Chief Operating Officer of MGM Resorts, in addition to his current role as President. Mr. Hornbuckle will oversee operations at all enterprise properties and will lead casino marketing, design and development, human resources and entertainment. Bill’s vast experience in operations will be leveraged as he leads the operational changes that are part of the MGM 2020 transformation. All changes will take effect March 1.
“In the more than 23 years of service to the Company, Dan has shown great leadership and is leaving us with an exemplary set of professionals who will support Corey in his new role,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Dan’s contributions to our organization have been invaluable. Over the years, in addition to establishing an incredibly strong finance team, Dan has led billions of dollars in capital market transactions and was instrumental in the acquisitions of Mirage Resorts and Mandalay Resort Group. We thank Dan for his tireless dedication and lasting impact to the Company and wish him the best in his next endeavor.”
Mr. Murren continued, “As we implement our MGM 2020 plan and undertake the reorganization of the Company’s operating model, and given Dan’s decision, we took the opportunity to thoughtfully examine our leadership roles. Corey’s expertise and intimate knowledge of both the operational and financial structures of MGM Resorts make him uniquely positioned to integrate those operational and financial activities in order to drive efficiency and execute our strategic priorities. The priorities include maximizing the performance of our premier properties and driving consolidated free cash flow growth. By appointing Corey CFO, we are well positioned to reach our financial and strategic targets.”
Mr. Murren added, “Bill is bringing exceptional breadth and depth of industry experience to his expanded role and will be instrumental in driving change as part of MGM 2020. I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with him and the rest of the management team as we evolve our organization.”
Mr. D’Arrigo said, “It has been a privilege to serve as MGM’s Chief Financial Officer and to work with the most talented employees in the industry. I am excited to watch members of the team take on new roles and further contribute to MGM’s growth and success as they infuse the organization with their tireless energy and bold ideas. I am confident that now is the right time to transition to a new CFO who will lead the MGM 2020 program and the Company’s next chapter. I look forward to working with Corey and the rest of the management team to ensure an orderly transition.”
Mr. Sanders said, “I am looking forward to taking on this new role at such a transformative time for the Company. I am enthusiastic about continuing to work with the rest of the team as we implement MGM 2020 and execute our strategy to position the Company for further profitability.”
Mr. Hornbuckle said, “This is an important time at MGM Resorts and I am excited to take on these additional responsibilities as we work together to successfully execute our strategic priorities. We have built a strong foundation that has been solidified over the past few years and I look forward to working directly with our property teams to successfully meet our 2020 goals and continue to grow the Company.”
The recently announced MGM 2020 program is a company-wide, business-transformation initiative aimed to leverage a more centralized organization to maximize profitability and, through key investments in technology, lay the foundation for the Company’s digital transformation to drive long-term revenue growth. The program was first announced in May 2018. MGM 2020 is expected to deliver annualized Adjusted EBITDA uplift of $300 million in aggregate, consisting of $200 million by the end of 2020 and an additional $100 million by the end of 2021. MGM 2020 builds on the work accomplished as part of the Profit Growth Plan (PGP) (2015-2017) which realized over $500 million in incremental EBITDA. The highly successful program was designed and led by Mr. Sanders, making him uniquely qualified to step into this new role as MGM 2020 continues.
“Part of MGM 2020 is clarifying responsibilities and driving change. We are creating the path to success through the transformation with this team,” said Mr. Murren.
Additionally, the Company reaffirmed its previously announced 2020 free cash flow targets.
ABOUT COREY SANDERS
Corey Sanders has been an operations and financial leader with MGM Resorts for more than two decades. He served as the COO of MGM Resorts International since 2010, and previously served as the COO for the Company’s Core Brand and Regional Properties. In his tenure with the Company, Mr. Sanders has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for MGM Grand Resorts, Executive Vice President and CFO for MGM Grand, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Finance, and Tax Director for MGM Grand. Mr. Sanders began his career as a tax specialist at Arthur Andersen where he held a CPA certification.
ABOUT BILL HORNBUCKLE
A four-decade veteran of the gaming industry, Bill Hornbuckle has served as the President of MGM Resorts since 2012. He was previously Chief Marketing Officer of MGM Resorts from 2009 until 2012, overseeing the creation of the M life Rewards loyalty program and positioning the portfolio of MGM Resorts International destination resorts for growth. Prior to that, he was President and COO of Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and President and COO of MGM Grand. Mr. Hornbuckle is the former President and Chief Operating Officer for Caesars Palace, Las Vegas and earlier in his career served in various senior management positions with Mirage Resorts.
ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500ÂŽ global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 29 unique hotel and destination gaming offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company acquired the operations of Empire City Casino in New York in 2019, and in 2018, opened MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM COTAI in Macau, and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. The over 82,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNEÂŽ Magazine’s World’s Most Admired CompaniesÂŽ. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.
Source: MGM Resorts International
Gambling in the USA
Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the companyâs efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiatiâs legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.
âThis partnership is about more than market entry â itâs about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiatiâs commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,â said Hawkins.
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: âWe have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Rogerâs knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.â
Gambling in the USA
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.
Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.
The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.
The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.
The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:
⢠4300 slot machines
⢠100 table games
⢠11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, cafÊ, and grab-and-go outlet
⢠A players lounge
⢠11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar
⢠A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces
The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.
âThis casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,â Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.
Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.
The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.
âOnce again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nationâs efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,â Harris said.
Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.
Gambling in the USA
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.
With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word âjackpot,â and 19 even referenced a âhand pay.â
Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
âI hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,â wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.
âWeâve always known this was a lucky casino, but itâs exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. Itâs a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,â said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampaâs reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.
Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.
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