Resorts World Las Vegas announced Dec. 5 that it has established a board of directors, to be chaired by industry veteran Jim Murren. Murren, the longtime CEO and chairman of MGM Resorts, also currently serves as chairman of the recently formed General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In addition to Murren, three other members were appointed: A.G. Burnett, Michelle DiTondo and Kong Han Tan, all of whom assumed their board roles Dec. 4. Resorts World also announced that Alex Dixon would take over as CEO of the property effective Jan. 16. Dixon most recently served as CEO of Q Casino & Resort and the Dubuque Racing Association in Dubuque, Iowa.
“As Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the premier resort destination in Las Vegas, we are excited to welcome this group of industry leaders overseeing and guiding the Leadership Team to deliver unparalleled guest experiences while fostering our commitment to compliance,” Kok Thay Lim, chairman and CEO of parent company Genting Berhad said in a statement. “With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are confident that Alex and Jim, alongside the Board, will help drive the company forward in pursuing our strategic goals for years to come.”
The announcement comes at a pivotal time for the casino, which is heavily embroiled in a money laundering scandal but was recently granted an extension to respond to state regulators. Resorts World will have until Dec. 9 to respond to the 12-count disciplinary complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) in August. The extension was first noted last week in the Q3 earnings report from Genting. The NGCB confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal Dec. 2 that the casino applied for and was granted the extension.
Originally filed Aug. 15, the 31-page complaint lays out serious misconduct on behalf of the Strip property. The board alleged that “individuals with suspected and actual ties to illegal bookmaking,” illegal gambling and organized crime were welcomed at Resorts World, which resulted in an “overall lack of control.”
The NGCB has requested the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) to take formal action against the casino. In Nevada, the NGCB acts as the prosecutor and NGC is the judge and jury with regulatory matters. Potential disciplinary actions include licence suspensions or revocations, fines, or placing the property under state oversight.
