Former Las Vegas Sands President and Chief Working Officer George Markantonis has been appointed to the Nevada Gaming Fee (NGC) by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). Markantonis replaces Commissioner Steve Cohen, a Las Vegas legal professional who opted to not search reelection to the state’s prime gaming regulatory panel.
Then-Las Vegas Sands govt George Markantonis speaks on the Obama Fellows 2022 Local weather Institute at The Palazzo on line casino resort in Las Vegas on April 21, 2022. Markantonis is becoming a member of the Nevada Gaming Fee after being appointed to the company by Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo. (Picture: Las Vegas Solar)
Markantonis is a profession hotelier born in South Africa and has led luxurious resorts and hospitality corporations worldwide. His most up-to-date function was at Sands, the previous proprietor and operator of The Venetian and Palazzo on line casino resorts on the Strip and the previous Sands Expo.
Markantonis joined Sands in 2015 and led the corporate’s Nevada operations together with the corporate’s late proprietor, Sheldon Adelson, who died in 2021. Simply two months after the founder’s passing, Sands officers, on the course of Adelson’s successor, CEO Rob Goldstein, opted to promote The Venetian, Palazzo, and Sands Expo to New York non-public fairness agency Apollo World Administration and on line casino landlord Vici Properties for $6.25 billion.
The brand new possession group introduced by itself handpicked govt to supervise the operations of the 2 built-in resorts. Patrick Nichols turned CEO of The Venetian and Palazzo in August of final 12 months, with Markantonis transitioning to an advisory function.
Fee Capability
The Nevada Gaming Fee, created by way of the state’s legalization of on line casino playing in 1959, is a five-person company that oversees all playing within the state.
The Fee’s subordinate, the Nevada Gaming Management Board (NGCB), immediately regulates licensed gaming institutions. The NGCB moreover makes regulatory suggestions to the NGC, as warranted. NGC commissioners work part-time, whereas NGCB members are in full-time positions.
Markantonis, who, earlier than becoming a member of Sands, labored at Westin Inns & Resorts for 17 years after which at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as its vp of lodge operations, finds the regulatory function enticing and believes his experience will present worth to the company.
“I’m honored to serve on the Nevada Gaming Fee, and I’m grateful to Governor Lombardo for entrusting me with this function,” stated Markantonis. “I look ahead to using my business experiences to serve the fee in its work defending the integrity of Nevada’s gaming business and the pursuits of all of the Nevadans who depend on its ongoing success for his or her livelihoods.”
Markantonis is simply the second gaming business govt appointed to the Nevada Gaming Fee.
“George is an skilled gaming govt with worldwide and multijurisdictional expertise, and I respect his willingness to serve our state,” Lombardo commented. “I do know that George’s confirmed management, excellent character, and many years of expertise shall be an amazing asset to the Nevada Gaming Fee.”
Gaming Appointments
Markantonis is the third state gaming regulator appointed by Lombardo. In January, the brand new governor named former state Treasurer and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki to the NGC after former Commissioner Ben Kieckhefer agreed to resign from the fee to function Lombardo’s chief of employees.
Additionally in January, Lombardo named Kirk Hendrick to the NGCB to interchange outgoing board member J. Brin Gibson. Hendrick is an legal professional by commerce. Gibson resigned to pursue skilled alternatives exterior of public service.
