Governor Joe Lombardo Appoints George Markantonis to the Nevada Gaming Commission

Governor Joe Lombardo (R) recently appointed George Markantonis, Las Vegas Sands’ former Chief Operating Officer and President, to the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC). He replaced Commissioner Steve Cohen, a lawyer who decided to vie for reelection to the gaming regulator.

Markantonis made a speech on April 21, 2022, in Las Vegas during The Palazzo Casino Resort’s Obama Fellows 2022 Climate Institute. Some people didn’t expect the governor to name him to the gaming commission.

Even so, Markantonis is a professional hotelier who was born in South Africa. He has served several hospitality firms and luxury resorts globally in the past.

The new NGC commissioner last worked at Las Vegas Sands. It is the previous operator and owner of the former Sands Expo, the Palazzo Casino Resorts, and The Venetian.

The Sands hired Markantonis in 2015. He partnered with Sheldon Adelson, its late owner in leading its Nevada operations. Adelson passed away in 2021.

Yet, the remaining Sands officials led by CEO Rob Goldstein, Adelson’s successor, decided to sell Sands Expo, Palazzo, and The Venetian for $6.25 billion to Vici Properties and Apollo Global Management, a New York equity firm, two months after the founder’s demise.

The new owners came with their executives to supervise the two integrated resorts’ operations. They appointed Patrick Nichols as the Palazzo and The Venetian’s CEO in August 2022, while Markantonis held an advisory position.

What Is the NGC’s Capacity?

Nevada legalized casino betting in 1959, resulting in the creation of the Nevada Gaming Commission to monitor all gambling operations. The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) is the NGC’s subordinate which controls licensed gaming venues.

It presents necessary regulatory recommendations to the state’s gaming commission. The NGC commissioners are part-time workers, yet NGCB members work full-time.

Markantonis served for 17 years at Westin Hotels & Resorts and later as Caesars Palace’s vice President of hotel operations before moving to Sands. His new role as the gaming regulator thrills him, and he pledged to use his expertise to increase the agency’s efficiency.

He thanked Markantonis for appointing him to the NGC and said that he was glad to join it. He is determined to serve it to his best level and help protect Nevada’s gaming sector’s integrity. Moreover, he is concerned about the interests of local communities that depend on gaming.

Markantonis is the NGC’s second gaming sector executive to get appointed. Lombardo stated that George has vast experience in multijurisdictional and international experience.

He acknowledged Markantoni’s determination to serve the state. Lombardo added that his great character, vast experience, and great leadership skills will aid the NGC.

Lombardo named Markantonis as the third Nevada gaming regulator. He appointed Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and former state treasurer to the commission after Commissioner Ben Kieckhefer left the commission and moved to Lombardo’s office as the chief of staff. The governor appointed Kirk Hendrick to NGCB as J. Brin Gibson’s replacement.

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