The Gaming Hall of Fame was established in 1989 to recognize individuals who have played a significant role in the American gambling-entertainment industry.
Ceremony and administration The Gaming Hall of Fame Ceremony takes place annually during G2E Las Vegas and is organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and its members to honor achievements in industry leadership and entertainment. Induction into the Gaming Hall of Fame is the highest honor accorded by the American gambling-entertainment industry. Each year, individuals who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the industry receive this distinction. More than 100 people have been inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame since its inception.
Inductees People who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame are listed below, with their year of induction. +YearInducteesKnown For2026Holly GagnonBoard member, Bragg Gaming Group; former CEO of Pearl River Resort, Chumash Enterprises, and Seneca Gaming CorporationBill G. Lance, Jr.Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation; former Secretary of CommerceScott OlivePrincipal and founder, HRG Studios; slot-machine designerTimothy J. WilmottRetired CEO of Penn Entertainment2025David BermanCo-Head of Macquarie Capital, Americas; Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & LeisureAnn Simmons NicholsonFounder and CEO, Simmons GroupCharles LombardoFormer SVP of Gaming Operations, Seminole Hard Rock Gaming; former SVP of Slot Operations, Caesars Palace / Bally’s / Paris Las Vegas2024James F. AllenChairman, Hard Rock International; CEO, Seminole GamingAlan FeldmanResponsible gaming expert; Distinguished Fellow, UNLV International Gaming InstituteDebra NuttonFormer MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts executive; first female craps dealer2023Bill AnoatubbyGovernor of the Chickasaw NationRobert MiodunskiExecutive at AGS and United Coin MachineJim MurrenCEO of MGM Resorts InternationalEllen WhittemoreExecutive at Wynn Resorts2022Gavin IsaacsGambling industry executiveVirginia McDowellExecutive at Isle of CapriMichael D. RumbolzExecutive at Everi and Chairman of the American Gaming Association2021Jeremy M. JacobsChairman of Delaware NorthJim ShoreGeneral counsel of the Seminole TribeKnute Knudson Jr.Executive at IGT2020James R. MaidaCo-founder of Gaming Laboratories InternationalJeffrey A. SilverAttorneyDr. Mark YoseloffChairman and CEO of Shuffle Master2019Elaine HodgsonCo-founder of Incredible TechnologiesStanley MallinCo-founder of Caesars Palace and Circus CircusErnie MoodySlot machine pioneer2018Peter CarlinoCEO of Gaming and Leisure PropertiesRichard HaddrillChairman and CEO of Bally TechnologiesPhilip HannifinChairman of the Nevada Gaming Control BoardSteven PerskieNew Jersey state legislator, led effort to legalize casinos in Atlantic City2017Diana BennettCo-founder and CEO of Paragon GamingJohn BreedingFounder and CEO of Shuffle MasterJoe KaminkowSlot machine designerMel WolzingerCasino investor2016John AcresFounder of Acres ManufacturingLyle BermanCofounder of Grand CasinosDon BrinkerhoffLandscape architectRedenia Gilliam-MoseeAtlantic City casino executiveRichard A. "Skip" HaywardLed effort to gain recognition for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, enabling the development of Foxwoods Resort Casino2015Victor SalernoCo-founder, chairman and CEO of American Wagering Inc.Larry WoolfChairman, President and CEO of MGM Resorts InternationalLynn ValbuenaChairwoman of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation2014Patricia BeckerGaming attorney; former president of the International Association of Gaming AttorneysJan Jones BlackhurstMayor of Las Vegas, executive at Caesars Entertainment Robert FaissGambling attorneyErnest L. Stevens Jr.Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association2013Gary LovemanCEO of Caesars EntertainmentFrank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.Founder of the American Gaming AssociationCeline DionSingerGuy SavoyRestaurateur at Caesars Palace2012Dennis GomesCEO and co-owner of Resorts Casino HotelWilliam RaggioUnited States Senator from NevadaGuy LaliberteFounder of Cirque du Soleil Julian SerranoRestaurateur at Las Vegas casinos2011Sheldon G. AdelsonChairman of Las Vegas SandsWilliam EadingtonAcademic who studied the gaming industryBlue Man GroupPerformance artists at Las Vegas casinosCharlie PalmerRestaurateur at Nevada casinos2010Tim ParrottCEO of Shuffle Master2009Michael GaughanFounder of Coast Casinos 2008Bernard GoldsteinFounder of Isle of Capri Casinos, "father of riverboat gaming"Robert ArumBoxing promoterDon KingBoxing promoterEmeril LagasseRestaurateur at casinos2007John WilhelmPresident of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International UnionClifford PerlmanCEO of Caesars WorldDavid CopperfieldMagician at casinos Michael MinaRestaurateur at Las Vegas casinos2006Steve WynnChairman of Mirage Resorts, founder of Wynn ResortsAlex StrattaRestaurateur at Las Vegas casinosFranco DragoneDirector of Cirque du Soleil shows and Le Rêve2005Craig H. NeilsenFounder of Ameristar CasinosLarry RuvoLiquor distributor in Las Vegas, philanthropistDebbie ReynoldsSinger at casinosWolfgang PuckRestaurateur at casinos2004Fred BennigerChairman of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and MGM Grand, Inc.Jack BinionFounder of Horseshoe GamingDon RicklesComedian at casinos2003Phil SatreChairman and CEO of Harrah'sTom JonesSinger at casinos2002Merv GriffinOwner of Resorts International, investor in Players International2001Harry ReidUnited States Senator from Nevada, chairman of the Nevada Gaming CommissionPaul AnkaSinger at casinosRick HillChairman of the Indian Gaming Association2000J. Terrence LanniChairman of MGM Mirage, executive of Caesars World Wayne NewtonSinger at casinos1999Steve Lawrence & Eydie GormeSingers at casinosElaine WynnDirector of Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts, philanthropistJack EntratterExecutive at the Sands Hotel1998Siegfried & RoyMagicians at casinosAnthony Marnell, IIArchitect; chairman and CEO of Rio Hotel & CasinoLud CorraoArchitectJ.K. Houssels Jr.Chairman of ShowboatThomas Young Sr.Founder of Young Electric Sign Company1997Charles MathewsonChairman and CEO of IGTFrank SinatraSinger at casinos; part-owner of Sands Hotel and Casino and Cal Neva Lodge & Casino1996Donald CaranoFounder of Eldorado Resort CasinoPaul EndyFounder of Paul-Son Gaming GroupMichael RoseAttorney; Chairman of Holiday Corp.1995Len AinsworthFounder of Aristocrat LeisureBurton CohenExecutive at the Desert InnDonald TrumpDeveloper of casinos in Atlantic City and Indiana1994Frank ModicaExecutive at ShowboatBud and Jean JonesFounder and CEO of Bud Jones Co.1993William BoydCo-founder of Boyd GamingHenry GluckChairman of Caesars WorldHarvey and Llewellyn GrossFounders of Harveys Resort & CasinoLeonard PrescottChairman of Little Six1992John AscuagaFounder of Nugget Casino ResortSol KerznerDeveloper of casinos in South Africa and at Paradise Island Claudine WilliamsChairwoman of Harrah's1991Sam BoydCofounder of Boyd Gaming James CrosbyChairman of Resorts InternationalKirk KerkorianFounder of MGM Resorts International, developer of the International Hotel and MGM Grand Hotel and CasinoDon LaughlinNamesake of Laughlin, Nevada, developer of the Riverside Resort Hotel & CasinoBill PenningtonExecutive at Circus CircusWilliam "Si" ReddFounder of International Game Technology1990Bill BennettCofounder of Circus Circus Enterprises, owner of the Sahara Hotel and CasinoBenny BinionOwner of Binion's Horseshoe, founder of the World Series of PokerJackie GaughanOwner of several casinos in Downtown Las Vegas Barron HiltonPresident of Hilton HotelsRaymond SmithCo-founder of Harold's Club1989Warren NelsonOwner of Club Cal-NevaJay SarnoDeveloper of Caesars Palace and Circus Circus Las VegasWilliam HarrahDeveloper of Harrah's Reno and Harrah's Lake TahoeGrant SawyerGovernor of Nevada, influential in development of gaming regulationsE. Parry ThomasBanker who financed numerous casinos in Las Vegas
See also
Blackjack Hall of Fame Poker Hall of Fame
References
External links