The American Gaming Association Friday announced that Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen has been elected by its board as the AGA’s next chairman.

Allen succeeds Aristocrat Technologies CEO and Managing Director Trevor Croker, who has served as AGA chairman since January 2020. Allen’s two-year term begins January 2022.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jim as AGA chairman,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller in a statement. “Jim brings decades of experience in commercial casino operations and tribal gaming — a perspective that will be invaluable as we work to set the industry’s agenda, accelerate gaming’s comeback and strengthen our value to communities across the country.”

Allen has served on AGA’s board of directors since 2015. For twenty years, Allen has led all gaming, hospitality, and entertainment operations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, vastly expanding the tribe’s gaming operations across the state and country.

“This is a pivotal juncture for the gaming industry, and I’m honored to serve as the AGA’s next chairman,” said Allen in a statement. “The AGA has played an essential role in uniting the industry throughout the pandemic, and I’m thankful to Trevor and the AGA board of directors for entrusting me to help lead the industry’s continued recovery.”

“Trevor has been a tremendous chairman of the AGA and trusted advisor to me over the past two years, guiding the industry through the most challenging time in its history,” Miller said. “The AGA and entire gaming community are indebted to his service to the industry.”

The AGA’s executive committee recently extended Miller’s contract to remain the association’s president and CEO for an additional three years. Since joining in 2019, Miller and the AGA have helped the gaming industry recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, secure a favorable regulatory environment for the industry and expanded responsible gaming efforts as the industry grows through the establishment of AGA’s Have A Game Plan, Bet Responsibly campaign.

Rege Behe is lead contributor to CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at rbehe@cdcgaming.com. Please follow @RegeBehe_exPTR on Twitter.