Former Sands Exec George Markantonis Named to Nevada Gaming Commission
Posted on: April 28, 2023, 10:09h. 
Final up to date on: April 28, 2023, ten:09h.
Former Las Vegas Sands President and Chief Operating Officer George Markantonis has been appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). Markantonis replaces Commissioner Steve Cohen, a Las Vegas attorney who opted not to look for reelection to the state’s prime gaming regulatory panel.
Markantonis is a profession hotelier who was born in South Africa and has led luxury resorts and hospitality firms about the world. His most recent position was at Sands, the former owner and operator of The Venetian and Palazzo casino resorts on the Strip, as effectively as the former Sands Expo.
Markantonis joined Sands in 2015 and led the company’s Nevada operations along with the company’s late proprietor Sheldon Adelson until finally he died in 2021. Just two months after the founder’s passing, Sands officials — at the route of Adelson’s successor, CEO Rob Goldstein — opted to sell The Venetian, Palazzo, and Sands Expo to New York personal equity firm Apollo International Management and casino landlord Vici Properties for $six.25 billion.
The new ownership group brought on its personal handpicked executive to oversee the operations of the two integrated resorts. Patrick Nichols became CEO of The Venetian and Palazzo in August of last year, with Markantonis transitioning to an advisory part.
Commission Capability
The Nevada Gaming Commission, created by way of the state’s legalization of casino gambling in 1959, is a 5-particular person company that oversees all gambling in the state.
The Commission’s subordinate, the Nevada Gaming Management Board (NGCB), right regulates licensed gaming establishments. The NGCB in addition can make regulatory recommendations to the NGC as warranted. NGC commissioners work on a component-time basis, whilst NGCB members are in full-time positions.
Markantonis, who prior to joining Sands worked at Westin Hotels & Resorts for 17 years and then at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as its vice president of hotel operations, finds the regulatory role attractive and believes his expertise will supply value to the agency.
I’m honored to serve on the Nevada Gaming Commission, and I’m grateful to Governor Lombardo for entrusting me with this role,” mentioned Markantonis. “I seem forward to making use of my industry experiences to serve the commission in its perform defending the integrity of Nevada’s gaming industry and the interests of all the Nevadans who depend on its ongoing achievement for their livelihoods.”
Markantonis is only the second gaming business executive to be appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission.
“George is an experienced gaming executive with worldwide and multijurisdictional experience, and I enjoy his willingness to serve our state,” Lombardo commented. “I know that George’s proven leadership, outstanding character, and decades of experience will be a incredible asset to the Nevada Gaming Commission.”
Gaming Appointments
Markantonis is the third state gaming regulator to be appointed by Lombardo. In January, the new governor named former state Treasurer and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki to the NGC soon after former Commissioner Ben Kieckhefer agreed to resign from the commission to serve as Lombardo’s chief of personnel.
Also in January, Lombardo named Kirk Hendrick to the NGCB to change outgoing board member J. Brin Gibson. Hendrick is an lawyer by trade. Gibson resigned to pursue skilled options outside of public support.