American Gaming Association Announces 2011 Gaming Hall of Fame Inductees

WASHINGTON—One of the driving forces behind gaming in Las Vegas and Asia, a staple of the Las Vegas entertainment scene and a celebrity chef of the highest caliber will be inducted this year into the Gaming Hall of Fame.

Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman of the board and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp.; Blue Man Group, one of Las Vegas’ best-recognized headliners; and Charlie Palmer, a world-renowned chef with restaurants in gaming properties across Nevada, will be honored for their unique achievements on Tuesday, November 1 at the 23^rd annual Gaming Hall of Fame Charity Dinner and Induction Ceremony.  The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas will host the event, which benefits the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG).

“To its credit, the gaming industry is constantly innovating to provide a richer experience for our customers, and it is visionaries like Sheldon, Charlie and the Blue Man Group that continue to drive the industry forward,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA).  “Their contributions are truly one-of-a-kind, and we are thrilled to add them to the illustrious roster of legends in the Gaming Hall of Fame.”

Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman of the board and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., a company with world-class gaming properties in Las Vegas, Macau, Singapore and Bethlehem, Pa., is widely credited for helping transform the city of Las Vegas from a gaming-centric regional location into an international business and leisure destination.

In 1989, Mr. Adelson purchased the Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and subsequently constructed the Sands Expo and Convention Center, the only privately owned and operated convention center in the United States. In 1995, Mr. Adelson proceeded with the implosion of the Sands Hotel & Casino and the construction of the $1.5 billion Venetian Resort Hotel Casino. Upon its opening, The Venetian catered to a blend of tourism, gaming, and business travelers, helping to change the perception of Las Vegas by offering visitors celebrity chef restaurants, world-class entertainment, all-suite accommodations, expansive shopping and spa and fitness facilities all under one roof.

Mr. Adelson also has lead Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s successful entry into the Asian gaming market with properties in Macau and Singapore.  In May 2004, Las Vegas Sands Corp. opened the Sands Macao, the first U.S. operated casino in the region, and set the stage for the next phase of development in Macao, the world’s most lucrative gaming market. The opening of The Venetian Macao, which opened in 2007, took this a step further as the cornerstone of the Cotai Strip^®, a master-planned collection of hotel-resort properties that upon its completion will combine to feature more than 20,000 guest rooms, millions of square feet of retail and meeting and convention space, and nearly 30,000 seats of live entertainment. Last year, under Mr. Adelson’s leadership, the company opened the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore – an iconic integrated resort that has helped turn Singapore into an international tourist destination.

“Sheldon Adelson truly is one of our industry’s greatest innovators. His vision has expanded and transformed the gaming experience not only in Las Vegas, but around the world.” Fahrenkopf said.  “Without him, the gaming industry that our customers have come to expect would not exist.”

Blue Man Group has been a Las Vegas headliner for more than a decade and during that time they have become one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most popular acts.  Blue Man Group’s performances have been described as everything from a musical feast and roller coaster of comedy to a stunning mix of technology and raw imagination.  This intense, exciting and, most of all, successful show began its Las Vegas run at the Luxor Las Vegas before moving to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.  Starting in the fall of 2012, Blue Man Group will entertain guests at a third Strip property – the Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino.

Blue Man Group was founded by longtime friends Chris Wink, Philip Stanton, and Matt Goldman as a way to celebrate the human spirit through music, science, art, and theatre.  After giving more than 1,000 performances in New York, the original three Blue Men stepped off-stage to focus on building Blue Man Productions into a successful global creative company.  What started as a three-person operation has expanded into a decades-long partnership encompassing live theatre, Grammy Award® -winning original music, two rock concert tours, various children’s educational offerings, including the founding of the Blue School, and multiple appearances on major television shows. 

Since the beginning of his celebrated career, master chef and hospitality entrepreneur Charlie Palmer has received critical acclaim for his signature progressive American cooking, a style built on rambunctious flavors and unexpected combinations with a deep and lasting infusion of classical French cuisine. Influenced by his childhood experiences working in his family's vegetable garden, Mr. Palmer was an early advocate of farm over factory food.

Over the years, Mr. Palmer has opened 13 notable restaurants across the country – including five associated with gaming properties – a growing collection of food-forward wine shops and award-winning boutique hotels. Las Vegas visitors can experience Mr. Palmer’s handiwork at Michelin-starred Aureole at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons, Las Vegas; while in Reno they can visit Charlie Palmer Steak, Fin Fish and Briscola, all in the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Mr. Palmer also oversees dining for The Stirling Club at Turnberry Place, an exclusive residential community in Las Vegas. In addition to his restaurant work, he was inducted into the James Beard "Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America” in 1998, is a frequent guest on the Today Show and is also the author of four cookbooks. Mr. Palmer is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and vice chairman of CIA board of trustees.

“Over the years the casino experience has developed into far more than just the gaming floor, and this is especially true in Las Vegas where the Blue Man Group’s shows and Charlie’s restaurants have become staples,” Fahrenkopf said.  “They both have helped to create a full-scale entertainment experience for scores of casino visitors.”

Induction into the Gaming Hall of Fame is the highest honor accorded by the gaming-entertainment industry.  Each year, individuals who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the industry receive this honor.  More than 70 people have been inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame since its inception 1989. 

For information about sponsorship opportunities for the dinner, contact Brian Lehman at 202-552-2680. 

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the national trade association for the commercial casino industry. In addition to representing the interests of its members on federal legislative and regulatory issues, the AGA serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern. Follow the AGA on Twitter (@AGAupdate) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/americangaming).

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) is the only national organization exclusively devoted to funding research that helps increase understanding of pathological and youth gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the NCRG is the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) affiliated charity. For more information, visit www.ncrg.org. NCRG funds provide grants to researchers to increase understanding of pathological gambling and find effective methods of treatment for the disorder.