Global Gaming Awards Americas 2024: Shortlist for American Executive of the Year revealed

The 11th annual Global Gaming Awards Americas are just one month away. The full Shortlist across all categories will be revealed in the coming days but today we present to you the 25 nominees for American Executive of the year, sponsored by Bragg Gaming.

For over a decade now, the Global Gaming Awards’ flagship event in Las Vegas has rewarded success achieved by operators and suppliers across the Americas. These remain the most prestigious Awards in the industry, due to the strict rules put in place during the shortlisting and voting processes.  

“The Global Gaming Awards are the only industry Awards that give a reason why each company and individual is nominated,” said Mariya Savova, Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards. 

“Gaming is one of the fastest-moving industries globally and that is only because of the remarkable individuals that are driving innovation in their companies. 

“Congratulations to the 25 nominees for American Executive of the Year! You have earned this recognition,” she added. 

Without further ado, and listed in no particular order, the full Shortlist for this year’s American Executive of the Year is: 

• Dana Jackel, VP Commercial & Managing Director, US iGaming, Light & Wonder: Dana Jackel is a driving force at Light & Wonder’s iGaming division. Her visionary approach to mobile transformation and expanding the company’s jackpot strategy has generated unprecedented growth and market dominance, propelling L&W to the forefront of iGaming. Her dedication to fostering a positive culture cultivates an environment of innovation and collaboration. She leads by example and demonstrates L&W’s core values, setting her apart as an exemplary leader. 

• Brooke Fiumara, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, OPTX: Brooke Fiumara is a leader in the gaming industry, driving innovative solutions for casinos nationwide. Leveraging her expertise in casino operations, marketing, and tech, she has propelled OPTX to become an industry leader in Analytics and AI software for casinos. She saw a void for a complete software solution, leading to the evolution of OPTX. Under her leadership, OPTX launched three new products in 2023, and continues to upgrade its offering. 

• Chris Hill, Chief Legal Officer, Aristocrat Gaming: Gaming is the most regulated industry on the planet and as Chief Legal Officer, Chris Hill leads Aristocrat’s global legal and compliance functions. Her job is massive, as the company is licensed in 300+ jurisdictions, operates in more than 90 countries, and offers a unique blend of products and services for Class II, Class III and online gaming. She also served as a Board Member for Global Gaming Women, helping to bring mentorship and inspiration to women across the industry. 

• John Connelly, Global CEO, Interblock Gaming: John Connelly is a proven leader, with over 30 years of experience in gaming and a distinguished track record of business development, innovation, and M&As. His extensive background within US and international markets has played a pivotal role in increasing Interblock’s market share, development, and profitability over the past 8 years. Interblock’s strategic acquisition of Aruze’s ETG assets demonstrates Connelly’s unwavering commitment to the company. Under his leadership, Interblock continues to push the boundaries of innovation. He is a driving force not just for the ETG sector but for the gaming industry as a whole.  

• Kenji Hall, General Manager, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel: Kenji Hall leads the strategic execution and performance of daily gaming and hospitality operations at Yamaava’ Resort & Casino. Since taking over the General Manager role in June last year, he has scaled the property’s gaming offerings, making Yamaava’s casino the largest in the West with 7.2k slots, 11 world premieres and 14 first-to-market games in 2023. Hall prioritizes the well-being of his teams and leads initiatives to maintain the unique work-place culture for 7,000 employees. 

• Adam Greenblatt, CEO, BetMGM: Amid a tumultuous year for BetMGM’s parent companies, BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt’s transparent and steady leadership solidified the online operator’s path to profitability and being self-funded. BetMGM demonstrated strong 2023 performance with net revenue growing 36% YoY to $1.96bn. The strong momentum continued during H1 this year. Greenblatt differentiated BetMGM through innovative collaborations and several “first, best and only” offerings (i.e. partnership with X). This year, he is laying the groundwork for the company’s future growth by focusing on improving customer experience and stepping up investment in players. 

• Robert Willenborg, CEO, J&J Ventures Gaming: Robert Willenborg has overseen J&J Gaming’s growth to serve 3,600+ locations, making it the United States’ largest revenue-producing terminal operator. He joined the American Gaming Association Board of Directors in 2023, becoming the first distributed gaming operator to hold a board member seat. In addition to his efforts in the gaming industry, he is an active supporter of youth education, community and veteran support. 

• Jordan Levin, CEO, OpenBet: Levin’s leadership and profound industry insight have been instrumental in guiding OpenBet through a period of remarkable growth and success under the Endeavor network. He also led OpenBet during last year’s acquisition of Neccton and the merger with IMG Arena. His passion for innovation helped the company maintain its leading market position with 44% of all US bets made in legalized markets placed through the OpenBet platform, more than any other sports betting platform.  

• Jennifer Aguiar, Chief Compliance Officer, DraftKings: Aguiar has played a pivotal role in DraftKings’ growth journey over the years. She has been instrumental in successfully navigating the company through the emergence of daily fantasy sports and the state-by-state licensing and regulatory process. The compliance framework developed by her has been a critical element in positioning DraftKings to enter newly legalized states quickly. She is also one of the executives involved in the development of the company’s new RG tool, My Stat Sheet, which was launched earlier this year. 

• Kim M. Barker, EVP & Chief Legal Officer, Bally’s Corporation: Since 2022, Barker has overseen Bally’s global legal, compliance and public affairs teams, supporting the company’s global strategic initiatives. The depth and breadth of her legal expertise, especially in gaming and lottery, have been instrumental as Bally’s continues to evolve and pursue new projects. She plays a pivotal role in a company helping to reshape the gaming landscape nationwide, especially in Chicago. She is not just a legal expert in the gaming industry, she’s a trailblazer and a global DEI leader and advocate. 

• Mary Cheeks, President & General Manager, Jamul Casino: With over six years as the President and General Manager at Jamul Casino, Mary Cheeks has led the Tribal casino from strength to strength. In the last 12 months, a $515m expansion project to the casino’s luxury hotel began, yet the casino remained humble and true to its Tribal roots, with charitable donations to organizations in San Diego supporting causes including injured veterans and the LGBT community. 

• Andre Carrier, CEO, Eureka Casinos: With almost 18 years of experience as the COO (and now CEO) of Eureka Casinos, Andre Carrier has been with the operator since its inception. Adopting an employee-owned model, all Eureka Casinos belong completely to their staff, making it the only gaming company in the US adopting this model throughout. Carrier is also set to oversee a multi-year, $100m remodel and development of Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite, Nevada. 

• Ray Pineault, President & CEO, Mohegan: Ray Pineault has guided Mohegan through its development and launch of Mohegan INSPIRE in South Korea and its highest recorded net revenue in its 27 years of operations at the end of 2023. In the past year, under his leadership, the Tribe has also significantly scaled its online business, opened a smoke-free lounge at Mohegan Pennsylvania and is one of several operators battling it out for a lucrative New York land-based casino license, which will be in place for as long as 30 years. 

• Kerry Hemphill, Sports Betting Products Manager, Oregon Lottery: Having been a part of the Oregon Lottery since 2008, now Product Manager of Sports Betting, Kerry Hemphill has played a significant part in leading the state’s sports betting market via the agency. In the last year, she has seen the Oregon Lottery integrate over 1,000 Light & Wonder video lottery terminals, receive top bond ratings from three nationally accredited agencies and many other innovations, culminating in the lottery returning over $900m to the state. 

• Steven Salz, Co-Founder & CEO, Rivalry: In one month alone, Rivalry launched shareable bets and an Android app, while also hosting its own esports tournament in Ontario. Now, imagine how much the company has done in a year. The rapid pace of development at the esports betting operator has been spearheaded by Co-Founder and CEO Steven Salz. He has guided Rivalry to show itself to be ahead of the competition in appealing to the elusive Gen Z, with products including 90’s-inspired iGaming platform Casino.exe. 

• Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce, Choctaw Nation: Heidi Grant is a key executive at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and has been instrumental to the growth and expansion of the Choctaw Nation’s gaming business. She provides strategic direction to a diverse leadership team in our ever-changing competitive industry. In her 22+ years with Choctaw Nation she held various positions as gaming grew in Oklahoma and since joining the leadership team, she has overseen a number of casino renovations and new construction projects for the Tribe, including the luxury expansion at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant and the newly-opened $238m Choctaw Landing in Hochatown. 

• Amy Howe, CEO, FanDuel: Amy Howe continued to brilliantly execute Flutter Entertainment’s US strategy. Under her leadership in the past year FanDuel extended its lead with the largest player base of 3.5m Average Monthly Players (as per Flutters’ Q2 report). Howe has spearheaded FanDuel to become and continuously maintain its position as the nation’s #1 online sportsbook. Moreover, she led the company to grow its iGaming market share, overtaking the competition in Q1 this year to become the number one iGaming brand based on GGR share. 

• David Horn, Vice President and General Manager, Durango Casino & Resort: Having worked across multiple departments, developing an expert-level understanding of casino operations, gaming analysis, player evaluation and team member development, David Horn was tasked to oversee Station Casinos’ $780m project – Durango Casino & Resort. He oversaw all phases of the pre-opening of the property, as well as last year’s grand opening. During pre-opening, he focused on building a great team, creating a property culture and introducing the Durango brand to the Las Vegas community. He now leads the day-to-day operations of the resort, which has been off to a great start. 

• Diallo Gordon, CEO, Passport Technology: With over 25 years of experience within the gaming industry (including roles at Everi, Aristocrat and the Mississippi Gaming Commission), Diallo Gordon took on the role of CEO at Passport Technology at the start of this year. His entrepreneurial spirit and unparalleled industry knowledge are leading Passport into a new era of growth and reaffirming the company’s position as the fastest growing and leading innovator within casino payments, automation and loyalty. Previous to Passport, he served as the Founder and CEO of Phi Gaming, where his team built innovative loyalty products for the B2B systems industry, leading to the acquisition of Phi by Passport. 

• Paul Pellizzari, Vice President, Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock International: Pellizzari has been in charge of Hard Rock’s social responsibility programs and initiatives since 2018, serving all of the business’ verticals – casinos, hotels and cafes. He leads three operational programs – PlayersEdge (HRI’s responsible gaming program), Save The Planet (HRI’s environmental sustainability program) and Hard Rock’s anti-human trafficking initiatives, which involve both operational programs and lots of public engagements. Under his guidance, Hard Rock has been proactive in not just bringing awareness but also combating important issues such as problem gambling and human trafficking. Pellizzari has been instrumental in ensuring HRI partners with the right companies to address those issues.  

• Eric Hession, President, Caesars Digital: Eric Hession is leading Caesars’ efforts in the highly competitive online sports betting and iGaming business. He guided Caesars Digital to become EBITDA-profitable last year. Under his leadership, the company launched Caesars Palace Online Casino which has been a huge success and helped Caesar’s online casino set new quarterly records for active customers, volume, GGR and net gaming revenue in Q1 this year. He is also taking steps in accelerating Caesars Digital’s growth in the sports betting vertical with the recent acquisition of Australian trading technology company ZeroFlucs. 

• Zoe Ebling, VP, Interactive, AGS: In just over a year with AGS, Zoe Ebling has transformed the company’s interactive business. Under her leadership, AGS has expanded its reach in the online vertical by entering new markets and increasing the number of titles it releases. She was one of the key executives involved in the cross-platform launch of Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey, which this February arrived in person at Caesars Atlantic City and online at Caesars Palace Online Casino in NJ. This joint launch of a slot online and on land was a first not just for AGS but for the industry.  

• Brian Gullbrants, COO-North America, Wynn Resorts: After serving as the President of Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, Brian Gullbrants was promoted to COO-North America at the start of last year. In his current role, he is responsible for all operations in both Las Vegas and Boston, while supporting all of Wynn’s future developments in North America. At present Wynn Las Vegas is on track to have its best year on record and a lot of it is thanks to Gullbrants’ leadership. He is one of the key figures who ensure Wynn’s US resorts remain at the pinnacle of the market.  

• Maureen Adams, EVP of Gaming Operations, Churchill Downs Incorporated: With a career in gaming spanning more than 25 years, 11 of which with Churchill Downs, Maureen Adams has been one of the key executives driving CDI’s evolution and transformation which we have witnessed in recent years. She oversees the operations of Churchill Downs’ gaming properties. With a keen aptitude for inspiring others to achieve their goals, she leads a team which plays an important role in the opening of new entertainment venues and CDI’s introduction of new and innovative gaming products.  

• Brian Christopher, President and CEO, BC Ventures: Brian Christopher turned his love for entertaining into a career and is the original social media influencer for casino floor slots. His videos have collectively had over a billion views. An innovator in the industry, Christopher has a designated BCSlots section at Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas. He also co-created a slot machine with Gaming Arts (Brian Christopher’s Pop’N Pays More). He has now taken his experience of understanding slots and created BC Ventures – a content production and marketing firm, which helps operators reach casino players monthly through professional programming, immersive events and the most engaged social community. 

Online gaming content and technology supplier Bragg Gaming is the sponsor of the American Executive of the Year award. Other category sponsors include: Spribe, Aristocrat Gaming, Interblock Gaming, Light & Wonder, Playtech, Novomatic, Play’n GO, Soft2Bet and Kambi. 

The Global Gaming Awards Americas are powered by Gaming America and Gambling Insider, with KPMG in the Crown Dependencies independently adjudicating the voting process. BetConstruct is the event’s Lead Partner. The winners will be chosen by 100 senior industry executives, all with years of experience in the Americas market, with only one executive per company allowed to participate in the voting.

The full Shortlist across all categories will be released here on Gaming America’s website next week, so watch this space. 

This year’s winners will be revealed at a luncheon ceremony on Day 1 of G2E, October 7, at The Venetian Las Vegas. The event will be live-streamed from 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET on the day for those who can’t be in attendance. 

Companies can book their tables at the event on the Awards’ official website. Only a limited number of tables are still available so act fast.

David Thompson

Editor

Good iGaming content works like a well-balanced system. When the math, structure, and testing align, players can see exactly where the value lies.

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