Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan is stepping down as the state’s top full-time gaming regulator to pursue “an exciting professional opportunity,” according to a statement from the governor’s office late Thursday.
Morgan, 41, was the second woman and first African American to oversee the more than 60-year-old state agency when she was appointed to the post by Gov. Steve Sisolak in January 2019. She will leave the position next Friday following the Control Board’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Sisolak will name a replacement to fill out the last two years of her term. The three-member Control Board makes recommendations on licensing and other gaming policy matters to the part-time Nevada Gaming Commission.
Morgan, an attorney, did not provide any hint on her next job. The chair of the Control Board earns $158,879 a year. Sisolak named her chairwoman when she was a member of the Gaming Commission, having been appointed a year earlier by Gov. Brian Sandoval. She was the director of external affairs for AT&T Services, Inc. when Sisolak elevated her to the Control Board.
“It has been a privilege to lead the Nevada Gaming Control Board with such a rich and proficient history in gaming regulation,” Morgan said in a statement provided by the governor’s office. “Working with an outstanding and dedicated staff throughout the state has been the honor of a lifetime.”
Nevada Gaming Control members Terry Johnson, left, and Sandra Morgan (Jeff Scheid-Nevada Independent)
In the statement, Morgan highlighted some of the board’s achievements in the last two years, including approval of a regulation change requiring that gaming licensees adopt and implement policies for all types of discrimination and harassment, and modernizing the state’s regulations to allow cashless wagering at slot machines and table games.
In July, she oversaw the hearing on the $17.3 billion merger between Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, the largest-ever transaction in the casino industry.
Much of this year has been dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, which caused a 78-day shutdown of the state’s gaming industry starting March 18 in an effort to slow the COVID-19 spread. Ahead of the casinos’ reopening in June, Morgan held a public hearing with health and safety experts in order to adopt COVID-19 mitigation measures and protocols for the resumption of gaming.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, board agents have worn multiple hats, beyond their normal job duties, to regulate a safe reopening and continued safe operations of gaming establishments for employees, residents, and visitors,” Morgan said. “I was and will always be proud to have been a part of these numerous accomplishments. I want to thank Governor Sisolak for the opportunity to serve in this position.”
Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine commended Morgan’s leadership during the casino industry’s closure and subsequent reopening.
“Sandra’s unflappable leadership, extensive legal experience, and incredible foresight were critical in navigating the complex issues before the board and the licensees,” Valentine said. “She has overseen the creation and implementation of a number of high-profile and significant regulations that continue to advance Nevada’s gaming industry and protect its reputation as the international gold standard in regulatory oversight and enforcement. Beyond her impact on gaming’s regulatory structure, she serves as a role model and trailblazer opening the door for others to follow.”
Sisolak said he was “grateful” to Morgan for her hard work and dedication to the state.
“Her steady hand and unmatched leadership has been critical in guiding Nevada’s gaming industry through one of the most turbulent periods in its history,” Sisolak said. “She will be greatly missed, but her leadership and ability to put together a talented team has left the State in a great position to fill the role with another accomplished individual.”
Morgan has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Reno, and was awarded a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Morgan previously served as the City Attorney for the City of North Las Vegas and was the first African American city attorney in Nevada. She also a litigation attorney for MGM Mirage, now MGM Resorts International.
In addition to Morgan, Sisolak appointed Philip Katsaros to the board in 2019. Control Board member Terry Johnson has been on the panel since 2012. His current term expires in 2021.
Sisolak has appointed three of the five members of the Gaming Commission and recently elevated John Moran Jr. to the chairmanship.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
