Founding AGA Board Member Bill Boyd Retires, Isle of Capri's McDowell, Boyd Gaming's Smith Join AGA Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Bill Boyd, gaming industry icon and executive chairman of Boyd Gaming Corporation, has stepped down from the American Gaming Association (AGA) board of directors, and Virginia McDowell, president and COO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. was elected the first female member of the AGA board.  Boyd remains the president of the AGA’s affiliated charity, the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

Boyd was a founding member of the AGA board of directors, serving with distinction for nearly a dozen years.  During that time, he also served as the AGA’s vice chairman for multiple terms. He recently stepped down as Boyd Gaming Corporation’s chairman and CEO, but remains the company’s executive chairman.  Keith Smith, who succeeds Boyd as CEO of Boyd Gaming, also has been elected to succeed Boyd on the AGA board.

The election of McDowell to the AGA board also represents another milestone for an industry that increasingly is seeing female executives advance to senior leadership positions. She was named president and COO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. last July and succeeds to the AGA board seat previously held by Isle of Capri’s Timothy M. Hinkley.

“Bill played a crucial role in establishing and developing the AGA, and his leadership, integrity and vision have helped to make the AGA the organization that it is today,” said Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the AGA.  “The addition of Virginia and Keith to the board adds fresh perspective that will complement our already outstanding collection of talent and experience and will help us to continue to develop programs and strategies that benefit our entire industry.”

In addition to the election of McDowell and Smith, Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., founder, chairman and CEO of Colony Capital LLC; Brian R. Gamache, president and CEO of WMS Gaming Inc.; Gordon R. Kanofsky, co-chairman and executive vice president of Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Russell H. McMeekin; CEO of Progressive Gaming International Corporation;  William Newby, managing director of Bank of America; Larry Ruvo, senior managing partner of Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada; and Stephen A. Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, Ltd., were all re-elected to the AGA board of directors.

AGA board members Gary Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., and Thomas J. Matthews, chairman, president, CEO and COO of International Game Technology, remain the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the AGA board of directors.

The other remaining directors of the AGA board are Peter M. Carlino, chairman and CEO of Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Lorenzo J. Fertitta, vice chairman and president of Station Casinos, Inc.; Richard Haddrill, president, CEO and director of Bally Technologies, Inc.; J. Terrence Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE; Daniel R. Lee, chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; and Tim J. Parrott, president and CEO of Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.

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The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.