LAS VEGAS - Two legends of the gaming-entertainment industry will be inducted this week into the Gaming Hall of Fame, while two other industry leaders will receive special recognition for their roles in responsible gaming and innovation.

J. Terrence Lanni will be inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame in recognition of 25 years of industry leadership at the helm of Caesars World, MGM Grand, Inc., and currently as chairman of MGM MIRAGE, as well as his two-year tenure as a member of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. ‘This recognition really belongs to the thousands of men and women who’ve made so many contributions to the companies with which I’ve associated,’ Lanni said. ‘It is their dedication and creativity which, in truth, is being honored by the Hall of Fame.’

Wayne Newton, who began performing in Las Vegas at age 15, is being inducted for his contributions as an entertainer - and to local charitable causes - that have spanned several decades. ‘My career has been intertwined with Las Vegas from the very start,’ Newton said. ‘What’s guided me has been hard work and a passion for my home and my craft. I am humbled by this prestigious award. To think my name is even thought of with those honored in the past is most unexpected and thrilling. It’s a great privilege to be recognized by the gaming industry for the contributions I’ve made and will make.’

This year is the first year the Gaming Hall of Fame has bestowed special achievement awards. Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., is being honored for its pioneering programs in responsible gaming. ‘Harrah’s takes great pride in its leadership role in responsible gaming, and we’re honored that the Gaming Hall of Fame would recognize those
achievements,’ said Phil Satre, chairman and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. ‘Responsible gaming has been and will remain a top priority for our company.’

Del Webb, who is being honored posthumously, will receive a special achievement award for innovation. ‘Del was a trailblazer in the ‘new’ Nevada gaming industry,’ said Frank Pankratz, senior vice president of Del Webb Corporation and general manager of Sun Cities Las Vegas. ‘He would have been extremely gratified to know that the industry recognized his contributions through this special achievement award for innovation.’

More than 700 people are expected to attend the 2000 Gaming Hall of Fame Charity Dinner and Induction Ceremony Thursday, Oct. 19 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. A reception preceeding the dinner and induction ceremony will feature the city’s top chefs, and the entertainment program will include Cirque du Soleil and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. The event already has raised in excess of $200,000 for its beneficiaries, the National Center for Responsible Gaming and SafeNest. Don Snyder, president of Boyd Gaming Corporation, will serve as master of ceremonies, while American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., will introduce the honorees and bestow the awards.

‘Few define the best of the gaming industry better than this year’s honorees,’ Fahrenkopf said. ‘I’m proud to be honoring some of the most outstanding leaders of our industry. Each has had a unique impact on our business, and the entire industry will be coming out this week to express our gratitude for their contributions.’

The Gaming Hall of Fame is the highest honor accorded on behalf of the gaming-entertainment industry. Each year, two or more individuals who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the industry receive this honor. This year, a new awards category has been added to recognize special industry achievements in innovation and responsible gaming. Forty-one people have been inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame since its inception in 1989.

The Gaming Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony is co-sponsored by the AGA and International Gaming & Wagering Business (IGWB). 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. IGWB, part of GEM Communications, Inc., is widely regarded as the premier trade publication covering issues affecting the commercial gaming entertainment industry. IGWB produces World Gaming Congress & Expo, the official trade show and conference of the AGA.

For ticket information, call the National Center for Responsible Gaming at 1-877-499-5387.