Hard Rock boss Jim Allen to chair AGA's board starting 2022

Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen is set to be the American Gaming Association’s next Board Chairman, Hard Rock announced on Thursday. His two-year term is set to begin in January 2022.

Allen was elected by the AGA board of directors in order to succeed Aristocrat Technologies CEO Trevor Croker, who has served as the association’s chairman since January 2020. Allen has served on AGA’s board of directors since 2015.

Moreover, for twenty years, Allen has led all gaming, hospitality and entertainment operations for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, vastly expanding the tribe’s gaming operations across the state and country.

“This is a pivotal juncture for the gaming industry and I’m honored to serve as the AGA’s next chairman,” said Allen. “The AGA has played an essential role in uniting the industry throughout the pandemic, and I’m thankful to Trevor and the AGA board of directors for entrusting me to help lead the industry’s continued recovery.”

“I’m thrilled to welcome Jim as AGA chairman,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller. “Jim brings decades of experience in commercial casino operations and tribal gaming—a perspective that will be invaluable as we work to set the industry’s agenda, accelerate gaming’s comeback, and strengthen our value to communities across the country.”

The AGA’s executive committee recently extended Miller’s contract to remain the association’s president and CEO for an additional three years. Throughout Miller’s presidency, AGA advanced a series of important industry priorities, including accelerating gaming’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and securing a favorable regulatory environment for the industry to help pave the way for casino payments modernization and other industry innovation.

Moreover, AGA has expanded its responsible gaming efforts as the industry continues to grow, including the establishment of its Have A Game Plan - Bet Responsibly initiative. It has also aimed at amplifying gaming’s voice to the public and policymakers through communications and research and building gaming champions on Capitol Hill.

“Trevor has been a tremendous chairman of the AGA and trusted advisor to me over the past two years, guiding the industry through the most challenging time in its history,” continued Miller. “The AGA and the entire gaming community are indebted to his service to the industry.”

Departing Board Chairman Croker said it had been “a privilege” to serve the association, and said he felt proud of the work carried out to recover the gaming industry after the pandemic. “I have the utmost confidence that Jim, Bill and the entire association will continue to lead the gaming industry forward,” he stated.