Harrah's Satre Elected New AGA Chairman

WASHINGTON—The American Gaming Association (AGA), at its annual board of directors meeting this week in Las Vegas, announced the election of new officers and the nomination of new board members.

Phil Satre, chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., has been elected chairman of the AGA board of directors, replacing Chuck Mathewson, chairman of IGT, who had served as the association’s founding – and only previous – chairman. Satre, who had been AGA vice chairman since December 2001, will serve a two-year term. Bill Boyd, chairman and CEO of Boyd Gaming Corporation, was elected as the new AGA vice chairman, also for a two-year term. In recognition of and appreciation of Mathewson’s many years of service, the AGA board of directors named him chairman emeritus. Mathewson also will continue to serve as a member of the AGA board of directors.

“With leadership from the best minds in our business, the AGA has come a long way in a relatively short period of time,” said AGA President and CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. “We’ve had outstanding leadership from Chuck during our first years, and we’re fortunate to have Phil and Bill step in, bringing their extensive industry knowledge and experience to guide our organization into the future. Of course, the AGA will continue to benefit from Chuck’s presence on the board.”

In addition to electing officers, the AGA board approved the following nominees to stand for election or re-election at the AGA annual member meeting to be held later this month:

• Wally Barr, president and CEO of Park Place Entertainment Corporation; Dan Lee, chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; Bob Miodunski, president and CEO of Alliance-Bally Gaming; and Jim Perry, president and CEO of Argosy Gaming Company, all were nominated to join the AGA board of directors as new Class I directors.
• Boyd; Frank Fertitta, president and CEO of Station Casinos, Inc.; Jack Gallaway, president of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., Terry Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM MIRAGE; and David Thompson, chairman of Mikohn Gaming Corporation, were nominated for re-election to the AGA board of directors as Class I directors.
• Finally, Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada, and Bill Newby, managing director of Bank of America, were re-elected to continue to serve as at-large directors on the AGA board of directors.

Others currently serving on the AGA board of directors are Sol Kerzner, chairman and CEO of Kerzner International; Des Randall, CEO of Aristocrat Technologies; and Steve Wynn, managing member of Wynn Resorts, LLC.

In addition to Satre and Boyd, officers of the association are Fahrenkopf; Judy Patterson, senior vice president, treasurer and secretary; Wally Chalmers, vice president; and Brett Hale, vice president.

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