The American Gaming Association announced five individuals will be inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016. They are: gaming technology pioneer John Acres; casino visionary Lyle Berman; landmark architect Don Brinkerhoff; Atlantic City’s first African American casino executive Redenia Gilliam-Mosee; and tribal gaming leader Richard A. “Skip” Hayward. The inductees will be recognized at an invitation-only ceremony Wednesday, September 28 during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
AGA President and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Freeman said, “Each inductee shaped today’s gaming industry in a distinct way, from paving the way for opportunities for employees of all backgrounds, revolutionizing the player experience and pushing the boundaries of what casinos look like and where they exist. We’re proud to recognize their lifelong achievements by inducting them into the Gaming Hall of Fame.”
Acres started his gaming career in 1972 as a slot technician at Mr. Sy’s casino. His significant slot innovations include progressive jackpots, free play, the first electronic loyalty system and bonusing and system-based rewards. Acres is the chief executive officer at Acres 4.0, where his previous inventions are integrated with mobile technology to further enhance the player experience.
Berman co-founded Grand Casinos Inc. in 1990 on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, establishing a model for building resorts rather than limiting gaming to riverboats. Named the fastest-growing company in America in 1995 by Fortune Magazine, Grand Casinos under Berman’s leadership grew from a three-person startup to a $1 billion organization with 20,000 employees. Berman also is a world-class poker player and a three-time champion of the World Series of Poker.
Las Vegas changed forever when Brinkerhoff designed for Steve Wynn a massive volcano that regularly erupts in front of the Mirage. Since then he has designed numerous iconic Las Vegas Strip landmarks, including Bellagio’s conservatory and the 140-foot mountain in front of the Wynn Resort. Brinkerhoff also impacted landscape architecture by shaping unique environments for more than 15 Las Vegas properties plus 80 other casino-resorts across the U.S., Asia and Europe.
Gilliam-Mosee made history as Atlantic City’s first African American, female vice president in the casino industry. In her executive role, Gilliam-Mosee created the gaming industry’s first diversity program, and served as a role model and mentor to hundreds of women in the gaming industry, including Isle of Capri’s former Chief Executive Officer Virginia McDowell.
In 1983, Hayward led the effort to gain federal recognition for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, paving the way for Indian gaming—today a $30 billion industry. That federal legislation led to the opening of Foxwoods Resort Casino, one of the most profitable gaming operations in the world. To date, Hayward’s efforts on behalf of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe have generated $4 billion for the state of Connecticut through the first-ever slot revenue sharing agreement, which became the model for similar agreements nationwide.
