Mike Dreitzer To Begin New Role As Chairman Of The Nevada Gaming Control Board In June

_{Mike Dreitzer is set to take over as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board this June. (Image: Nevada Gaming Control Board)}

This week, Gov. Joe Lombardo announced Mike Dreitzer as the incoming chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Dreitzer will replace Kirk Hendrick.

This week, Governor Joe Lombardo announced Mike Dreitzer as the incoming chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Dreitzer will replace Kirk Hendrick, who announced earlier this year that he would step down from the position after the 2025 legislative session. He will assume Hendrick’s term on June 23 and finish the remaining 18 months of Hendrick’s four-year term.

In a statement about the addition, Governor Lombardo said: 

“Mike has an extensive background in gaming compliance and brings decades of industry experience to the role. I’m confident that Mike will lead the Nevada Gaming Control Board with integrity and honor while furthering its recent innovation and progress." 

Dreitzer is joining the board at a tumultuous time. The board has reached an agreement with two casino operators who were previously involved with an illegal bookmaker. 

Last week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and MGM Resorts International reached an agreement for an $8.5 million fine. In March, Resorts World agreed to pay a $10.5 million fine.

A Decade Working With Slot Machines

Dreitzer joins the Nevada Gaming Control Board after more than a decade overseeing two slot machine manufacturers.

He spent the past seven years as CEO of Gaming Arts, a full-service gaming equipment supplier with more than 150 gaming licenses. You may know the company from its Brian Christopher's Pop'N Pays More slot machine.

Previously, he was president of the North America division for Ainsworth Game Technology, COO of BMM Americas, a global gaming test lab and consultancy, and co-founder and COO of G3, a gaming content company.

Gov. Lombardo sees Dreitzer’s background with gaming manufacturers and a gaming testing lab as a perfect fit for the position.

“Mike has an extensive background in gaming compliance and brings decades of industry experience to the role. I’m confident that Mike will lead the Nevada Gaming Control Board with integrity and honor while furthering its recent innovation and progress.”

The timing works well for Dreitzer as Merkur Gaming plans to acquire the interests of Gaming Arts. The company is expected to appear before the Gaming Control Board in May, before Dreitzer begins his new role. 

Plenty To Do Looking Forward

Based on the governor’s statements, Dreitzer will also continue bringing statewide regulations into the 21st century. Last year, Hendrick and the board updated 16 regulations. Dreitzer’s involvement with the gaming manufacturer should come in handy in outgoing regulatory updates.

He could also oversee the decision on a new Nevada online poker room. A year ago, BetMGM asked the Nevada Gaming Control Board to extend its online poker license for another year so it could finish building the new room.

Well, the year is up, and BetMGM will either ask the board for another extension or open the poker room as projected. The news comes as Pennsylvania is expected to join Nevada, New Jersey, and three other states sharing liquidity as part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement.

Late last year, the board held a meeting to discuss changes for high-limit gaming salons. Ideas pitched included poker games in the private salons, lowering the minimum bet per spin for high-limit slots, and more.

All members of the board at the time seemed open to many of the changes. Dreitzer will likely be part of further discussions about the potential changes.