Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval joins MGM Resorts

January 8, 2019 7:20 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports
January 8, 2019 7:20 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports

Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, one day after leaving office, has a new job.

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MGM Resorts International said Tuesday that Sandoval, 55, will join the company as President of Global Gaming Development.

In the position, Sandoval will lead the company’s international expansion efforts, primarily in Japan, where MGM Resorts is seeking one of three available integrated resort licenses.

“Few leaders are as widely respected, accomplished and knowledgeable as Brian Sandoval, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him as part of the MGM family,” said MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren. “Governor Sandoval brings an unparalleled level of skill, leadership and experience to the company, and we will benefit greatly from his in-depth expertise in gaming, public policy and economic development.”

In August, Sandoval led a trade mission to Japan on behalf of the National Governors Association. Sandoval also led Nevada trade missions this year to Ghana, South Africa and Spain. His other trade missions on behalf of the state have included Australia, China, Mexico, Canada, Europe, Peru and Chile.

Sandoval completed two terms as Nevada governor Monday, leading the state out of the economic recession.

Sandoval left a position as a U.S. District Court judge to run for governor in 2010. Previously, he served in the Nevada State Legislature, as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, and as the state’s Attorney General.

He entered the governor’s office with more hands-on gaming experience than any previous chief executive, and his understanding of gaming matters came from a broad background. Sandoval reinstituted the state’s Gaming Policy Committee and was a leading voice in favor of the legalization of sports betting and Internet gaming.

“For me, it was the perfect vehicle to introduce some of these issues to inform the Legislature going in, so they wouldn’t be overwhelmed,” Sandoval said in an interview with CDC Gaming Reports last June about the Gaming Policy Committee. “Hopefully, the next governor will see that there is a really strong template and that this is a way to introduce new and complicated issues to the Legislature and the public at large.”

In a statement, Sandoval said the position with MGM Resorts offered “the right professional opportunity to best suit my experience as a former legislator, gaming regulator, attorney general, federal judge and governor.

“MGM Resorts is a global leader in gaming and entertainment, and I look forward to joining the MGM team led by Jim Murren, someone who I greatly respect,” Sandoval said. “Jim has formed critical relationships in Japan and in sports, and I look forward to building upon this strong foundation.”

According to the statement, Sandoval will focus on state public policy efforts around sports gaming and the company’s leadership in the growing U.S. sports betting market.

Sandoval becomes the third high-profile former politician to join MGM. Former Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nevada, is affiliated with the company and he heads an MGM-sponsored think tank with ex-House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Previously, it was announced that Sandoval would join UNLV’s Boyd School of Law and teach a class at the school.

As part of the Sandoval announcement, MGM Resorts said company President Bill Hornbuckle will now lead global casino marketing and be responsible for leveraging MGM Resorts’ worldwide assets. Hornbuckle’s marketing focus will also help drive the company’s overall growth in Macau.

Murren said Hornbuckle will be part of the recently-announced MGM 2020, a business operations and digital transformation program.”

“Bill Hornbuckle has a proven record of developing and implementing marketing strategies that excite and entertain in ways that translate to revenue enhancement and value creation,” Murren said.

Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.