THE JOI N

SECOND LINE >>>NEW ORLEANS

MARCH 6-8, 2023

The Most Immersive Casino Marketing Training

Participate in a unique training opportunity designed by and for casino marketers. A Single Track, Shared Experience means you don’t have to choose which sessions to attend.

We keep the group small to create the highest level of participation and provide hands-on work to put all your great ideas into focus and actionable plans.

See what they're saying about Boot Camp at www.casinomarketingbootcamp.com

Bluberi Approved In Minnesota

Slot supplier Bluberi Gaming announced it has been approved for a gaming license by the state of Minnesota.

The original tribal gaming state in the U.S., Minnesota represents a great growth opportunity for the company and a chance to bring Bluberi’s content to the patrons of Minnesota tribal casinos.

“Bluberi is excited to enter the Minnesota casino and gambling market that is home to 19 casinos and more than 21,000 slot machines,” said Casey Whalen, Bluberi’s chief commercial officer.

Minnesota’s 19 casinos include the first-ever tribal casino in the U.S., established in 1988, and the state continues to be among the leaders in Class III gaming. “Bluberi is excited to bring top-performing content, including themes such as Devil’s Lock, Treasure Hunter, Fu Bamboo, and the upcoming Xing Fu 888 to Minnesota casinos in early 2023,” said Whalen.

SEMINOLES INSTALL FLORIDA’S FIRST ‘LIGHTNING LINK LOUNGE’

The Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee completed installation of Florida’s first “Lightning Link Lounge,” a dedicated area featuring 50 of Aristocrat Gaming’s popular Lightning Link and Dragon Link slot machines.

The lounge is a continuation of a longstanding relationship between Seminole Gaming and Aristocrat Gaming.

“We are always exploring ways to enhance the player experience at Seminole Casino Hotel,” said Tony Alves, the casino’s general manager. “This new Link Lounge concentrates 50 of the most popular games in the industry in one place, allowing players to more easily access these two top favorites.”

IAGA’S 2023 INTERNATIONAL GAMING SUMMIT COMING TO BELFAST

The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) has announced it will hold its 40th International Gaming Summit in Belfast, Northern Ireland June 20-22.

The event aims to bring together leaders from all global gaming sectors, providing operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other delegates with an opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing the industry.

Don’t miss your opportunity to reach tribal gaming executives from all corners of the industry!

More than just a directory or resource guide, Tribal Government Gaming features editorial coverage of cutting-edge issues such as tribal sovereignty, Indian gaming regulation, economic diversification, nationbuilding, compacts and more.

Tribal Government Gaming reaches key decisionmakers in the Indian gaming and traditional casino industries, including operators, regulators, manufacturers and vendors.

Tribal Government Gaming is a highly visible publication with a circulation of 20,000, including bonus distribution at NIGA in March 2023, OIGA in August 2023, G2E in October 2023 and other appropriate trade shows and conferences.

As an annual publication, Tribal Government Gaming will offer a one-year shelf life providing increased frequency and recall for advertisers. Sponsorship opportunities are available for increased marketing awareness.

For more information on advertising, please contact Terri Brady, Director of Sales & Marketing phone: 702-248-1565

Kirk Hendrick Appointed As Ngcb Chair

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has appointed Las Vegas-based attorney Kirk Hendrick as the new chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), with a four-year term.

The 58-year-old legal veteran has experience with Nevada government as well as sports-related litigation, having spent time at the attorney general’s gaming division as well as a long stint as chief legal officer for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Having joined the gaming division in 1996, he was eventually named senior deputy for the Las Vegas region in 1998 and chief deputy for the state the following year. He also assumed the role of chief legal counsel for the Nevada Athletic Commission in 1998.

After returning to private practice in 2001, Hendrick then joined Zuffa, UFC’s parent company, in 2002, where he stayed until the company was sold in 2016. He was working as an independent consultant before the recent appointment.

Hendrick will supersede Brittnie Watkins, who had been serving as interim chair since late November, when former chairman Brin Gibson stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Watkins has two years remaining in her current term.

AC HARD ROCK NAMES GOLDHOFF PRESIDENT, SAMPSON GM

George Goldhoff has been named president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Goldhoff reports directly to Jim Allen, chairman and CEO of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming.

Mike Sampson, who has been serving as interim general manager of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, has been promoted to general manager. He will report to Goldhoff.

Goldhoff replaces Joe Lupo, who moved from president of Hard Rock AC to assume the role of president of The Mirage, which will soon be the Hard Rock Las Vegas. Sampson had served as interim GM since the November departure of Anthony Faranca.

In his new role of president, Goldhoff will focus on financial performance, market share growth, team member engagement and development, guest experience and support of the greater Atlantic City community.

Goldhoff comes to Atlantic City from Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, where he was president for the past three years and worked to rebrand the casino as a Hard Rock. The casino is currently the market share leader in southwest Ohio. Before his work in Cincinnati, Goldhoff oversaw four properties as president and CEO of PURE Canadian Gaming in Western Canada. He also assisted in opening Bellagio Las Vegas and was general manager of Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.

Katsibouba Now Permanent

Cfo Of Star Entertainment

Australian operator Star Entertainment announced that interim Chief Financial Officer Christina Katsibouba has been promoted to permanent status as of January 1, after first taking on the position back in May.

Before taking on her current duties, Katsibouba had served as the company’s group executive of gaming.

The announcement is a positive development for Star, as Katsibouba appears to be filling in nicely after stepping into a firestorm of sorts—when she originally accepted the interim CFO role, numerous Star executives had resigned amid anti-money laundering violations and other failings, including her predecessor Harry Theodore.

In the months since, Theodore as well as former CEO Matt Bekier, former chief legal officer Paula Martin and former chief NSW casino officer Greg Hawkins have come under legal scrutiny, specifically regarding the use of China UnionPay cards to transfer gambling funds and the company’s relationship with junkets such as Suncity Group.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas Names Brett Mufson Ceo

Fontainebleau Development has announced the appointment of Brett Mufson as president and chief executive officer of Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The property is currently under construction and will debut in the fourth quarter of 2023. Mufson remains president of Fontainebleau Development.

Fontainebleau Development Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Soffer remarked, “Brett and I have spent years together as partners, and he is a brilliant leader whose expertise provides us an extraordinary amount of confidence to build our brand with unparalleled consistency and focus. After years of critical contribution to the overall Fontainebleau Development brand and the building in Las Vegas, we are now poised to successfully run our entry into the Las Vegas market and establish our legacy on the Strip.”

In 2021, Mufson’s leadership helped steer the company’s re-acquisition of the property along with the rekindling of its original strategic vision for Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

As president and CEO, Mufson will be responsible for leading the development of one of the largest construction projects in the United States, overseeing everything from design to operations and guest experience.

In addition, the company announced the following appointments:

• Colleen Birch, chief operating officer;

• Stephen Singer, chief financial officer;

• Marc Guarina, chief technology officer;

• Daniel Espino, chief people officer; and,

• Stacie Michaels, general counsel.