The American Gaming Association (AGA) 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. 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,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

“This year’s inductees reflect the remarkable breadth of the gaming industry – from commercial and tribal gaming operators to suppliers. Each of them has helped advance gaming in significant ways, and we’re proud to welcome them to the Gaming Hall of Fame,” said AGA Chairman Lou Jacobs.

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 7000 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.

Registration is now open for G2E 2026, presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by RX. Global Gaming Expo returns to The Venetian Resort Las Vegas from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, convening gaming leaders, innovators and decision-makers from around the world for the industry’s premier event. Exhibitors, media, and attendees can find more information and register now by visiting www.globalgamingexpo.com.

Supported by the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), top highlights of the show include the debut of the Business Solutions & Tech Zone, showcasing the technologies and enterprise solutions powering today’s integrated resorts on and off the casino floor. The highly-anticipated G2E Dealer Championship will return, expanding to include dealers from Canada and Mexico to compete for the best dealer in North America.

“Gaming is always evolving, and G2E remains the industry’s premier destination for global collaboration, business growth and innovation. By convening operators, suppliers, regulators and industry leaders from around the world, G2E creates opportunities to explore emerging technologies, exchange ideas and explore the trends taking place across gaming. We look forward to welcoming the industry back this September,” said Korbi Carrison, RX’s Event Vice President for G2E.

For more than 25 years, G2E has been the most influential trade event for the legal, state, tribal and globally regulated gaming industry, driving advancements across casinos, hospitality, technology, iGaming, sports betting and more. The event will welcome over 25,000 industry professionals from more than 120 countries, regions and territories and nearly 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest global gaming technologies.

“What has always set G2E apart is the show’s ability to bring together people from across the gaming ecosystem for meaningful conversations that shape the future of the industry. From emerging technologies to evolving regulations, G2E provides a forum for the conversations that matter most. The continued growth and momentum across the industry are reflected in the strength of the event itself, and we expect another impactful year in 2026,” said Maureen Beddis, AGA’s Senior Vice President of Membership and Events.

G2E 2026 will reflect the dynamic gaming industry with a diverse range of offerings and experiences:

• The G2E Main Stage will feature timely discussions with industry leaders and leading gaming operators to converse on what is shaping the future of legal gaming.

• The G2E Dealer Championship makes its grand return after the success of its inaugural appearance in 2025. This competition brings together the most skilled casino dealers to compete for recognition as the best gaming professional in North America, now expanding to include dealers across Canada and Mexico.

• The all-new Business Solutions & Tech Zone is a dedicated showcase for innovative tools and services like AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, payments, CRM and MarTech that help integrated resorts improve efficiency, personalization and revenue growth.

• The New Exhibitor Zone is a dedicated area for first and second time G2E exhibitors. This is the perfect area to connect with G2E’s newest exhibitors.

• In the iGaming Hub, attendees can explore the innovations shaping the future of online gaming. Through dedicated sessions and built-in networking opportunities, attendees can gain insights and discover what’s next in this rapidly evolving space.

• The G2E Networking Lounge and Media Zone returns in 2026, providing dedicated spaces for industry networking and media engagement directly on the expo floor.

• The 2026 education program features over 100 sessions and 330 speakers, offering insights from leading voices across gaming.

Education sessions will run from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, and the expo hall will be open from Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.

Gaming executives report a positive outlook on future industry conditions as key performance indicators continue to improve. At the same time, emerging risks – particularly from prediction market platforms offering sports event contracts – are increasingly shaping industry concerns, according to the American Gaming Association (AGA) Gaming Industry Outlook.

The Gaming Conditions Index (GCI) shows real economic activity – measured across gaming revenue, employment, wages, executive sentiment, and casino hotel event activity – grew 1.5 percent year-over-year, reflecting sustained confidence and momentum in the industry.

“The legal state- and tribal-regulated gaming industry continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in a dynamic economic environment. Operators are focused on investing in innovation and delivering world-class entertainment, while also navigating an evolving competitive and regulatory landscape,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

Key Findings Include:

• More than 60 percent of executives expect increased capital investment, higher revenues, and stronger balance sheets over the next six to 12 months.

• Executive sentiment reached its highest level since Q3 2022, with a 21.4 percent net positive outlook across key business indicators.

• 62 percent of executives plan to increase capital investments over the next six to 12 months, while promotional activity is expected to decline for the second consecutive survey.

Emerging Threats

Despite strong fundamentals, prediction markets offering sports event contracts have emerged as a leading concern, with 81 percent of executives identifying them as a “very significant” risk to the regulated gaming industry.

“Illegal sports betting through sports event contracts is increasingly encroaching on legal, state-and tribal-regulated operators. It’s clear the legal, regulated industry views this is a threat, and will continue to fight back and protect the integrity of our industry,” said Miller.

Executives also cited several additional evolving risks impacting operations:

• Inflation, tariffs, and geopolitical risk continue to be major factors limiting operations, while federal regulatory concerns increased sharply.

• 54 percent of respondents cite employee wages as the top expense pressure, followed by tax and regulatory policy changes.

• 42 percent pointed to competition from new forms of gaming (up from 25 percent in Q3 2025).

Methodology

The AGA Gaming Industry Outlook is prepared biannually by Oxford Economics. It provides a timely measure of recent industry growth and future expectations based on executive sentiment, gaming activity, and economic indicators. The Q1 2026 survey was conducted between March 23 and April 8, 2026. A total of 26 executives participated, representing senior level AGA member executives from major international and domestic gaming companies, gaming equipment suppliers, and iGaming and sports betting operators.