AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Gaming Association (AGA) today announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing four individuals whose careers have profoundly shaped the legal gaming industry:
- Holly Gagnon, Board Member, Bragg Gaming Group
- Bill G. Lance, Jr., Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
- Scott Olive, Principal & Founder, HRG Studios
- Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, Retired Chief Executive Officer, PENN Entertainment
“The Gaming Hall of Fame recognizes the individuals whose vision, innovation, and dedication have helped shape today’s legal gaming industry,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Holly, Bill, Scott, and Tim have each left a lasting mark through decades of service and leadership. Their contributions have set a high standard for those who follow.”
“This year’s inductees reflect the remarkable breadth of the gaming industry – from commercial and tribal gaming operators to suppliers,” said AGA Chairman Lou Jacobs. “Each of them has helped advance gaming in significant ways, and we’re proud to welcome them to the Gaming Hall of Fame.
Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has celebrated the achievements of industry legends who have driven the commercial and tribal gaming industry forward. The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this fall.
This year’s selection committee members include:
- Eric Schippers, SVP, Public Affairs & Government Relations, PENN Entertainment, Inc.
- Mark Fulton, President, Cherokee Nation Entertainment
- Trevor Croker, CEO & Managing Director, Aristocrat Technologies
- Sherri Sosa, SVP, Human Resources, Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
- Mark Lipparelli, Chairman Emeritus, International Center for Responsible Gaming
- Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, IAGA
- Siobhan Lane, Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, Gaming, Light & Wonder; Chair, Global Gaming Women
- Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
- Lou Jacobs, Co-CEO, Delaware North; Chairman, AGA
About the 2026 Inductees:
Holly Gagnon, Board Member, Bragg Gaming Group
Holly began her 34-year gaming career on the opening team of Foxwoods Resort Casino in 1992, at the birth of modern tribal gaming in America. She went on to hold senior financial and operational roles at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International before serving as President and CEO of Pearl River Resort, CEO of Chumash Enterprises for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation for the Seneca Nation of Indians. Named NAFOA Executive of the Year in 2016, Gagnon is a recognized champion of tribal economic development. As a founding member of Global Gaming Women and Distinguished Fellow at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, she has helped develop more than 300 gaming executives. She currently serves as a board member of Bragg Gaming Group.
Bill G. Lance, Jr., Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
Bill has served the Chickasaw Nation for decades in senior leadership roles spanning commerce, healthcare, and governance. As Secretary of Commerce for more than thirteen years, he oversaw more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism businesses employing approximately 7,000 people. He also served as Administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, overseeing construction of the 370,000-square-foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma. Lance currently serves as Secretary of State, representing the Chickasaw Nation in civic, business, and governance capacities.
Scott Olive, Principal & Founder, HRG Studios
Scott is one of the most influential game designers in the history of the slot machine industry. His career spans more than three decades, beginning at Aristocrat Gaming in 1997, where he helped drive the adoption of penny and Australian-style slots in U.S. gaming markets. After co-founding True Blue Gaming in 2007, Olive established HRG Studios in 2012, where he went on to create some of the most commercially successful slot titles ever produced.
Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, Retired Chief Executive Officer, PENN Entertainment
Tim spent more than three decades as one of the gaming industry’s most respected operational leaders. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Penn National Gaming from 2013 until his retirement in 2019, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2013. Before joining Penn National, Wilmott served as Chief Operating Officer of Harrah’s Entertainment and Division President of its Eastern Division, holding a series of leadership positions at Harrah’s properties dating back to 1988.
Headshots and expanded bios are available here.