Trailblazers
The 2025 Casino & Sports Betting Trailblazers
The major players in New York’s expanding gambling industry.
City & State presents the 2025 Casino & Sports Betting Trailblazers. Michael Benabib Photography; Joe Swift; Bob Giglione
On June 27, bids for one of three downstate casino licenses in New York will be due. The possibility of siting casinos in the heavily populated, tourist-heavy New York City metropolitan region, which is largely an untapped market, drew the attention of many heavy hitters in the industry, and as many as a dozen bids were in the mix early on. As the deadline approaches, some bidders have been dropping out while others have doubled down, shoring up local support and securing required land use changes. If all goes according to plan, licenses could be awarded by the end of the year.
Of course, this is only one milestone in the steady expansion of gambling activities in and around New York. Native American tribes have long offered gambling on their lands, and over a decade ago the state authorized a few upstate casinos. Sports betting has exploded in popularity as well, with New York becoming an epicenter of activity for the sector.
City & State’s Casino & Sports Betting Trailblazers list recognizes the key players in this space, including major casino bidders, public officials, lobbyists, lawyers, academics and executives of an array of tech and financial companies that underpin the growing industry.
Joseph Addabbo Jr.
The longtime chair of the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. has made expediting the process for awarding up to three downstate casino licenses a priority. Representing a Queens district that borders the existing Resorts World New York City racino, Addabbo is supportive of its bid for a full license, citing the economic benefits for his district. Addabbo has also been working to close the sweepstakes casino loophole, which he says negatively impacts teens and young adults.
Mike Avella Jr.
Albany veteran Mike Avella Jr. has been deeply involved in Mets owner Steve Cohen’s bid to bring a casino to the Citi Field parking lots as the state gets closer to awarding up to three full downstate casino licenses. Avella’s efforts have been centered on parkland alienation for the Citi Field parking lots to allow the project to move forward – and state lawmakers just approved the change. Avella’s other clients include Rush Street Gaming, Capital Region Gaming LLC and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.
Phil Boyle
Former state lawmaker Phil Boyle has run the Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., or Suffolk OTB, and Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel since 2022. He has put his extensive legislative background to work, leading efforts to change state law to allow Jake’s 58 to host the only retail sportsbook on Long Island. He’s also in the process of overseeing a $210 million casino expansion project, which will double the size of Jake’s 58 and add new amenities. This year, he became chair of the New York Gaming Association, which represents existing casinos across the state.
Byron Brown
Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor Byron Brown left City Hall last fall to become the new president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and its affiliated Batavia Downs racino. Brown has quickly moved to make his mark on the gambling organization, introducing a series of internal management reforms to address past criticisms. Brown, who’s also a former state senator, has made increased outreach to state leaders a top priority in the new role.
Steve Cohen
Steve Cohen’s casino ambitions may soon overtake anything the Mets owner has accomplished on the ball field. Cohen is behind Metropolitan Park, one of the buzziest downstate casino proposals that features a new gambling, entertainment and park complex on top of what are now parking lots at Citi Field. Cohen secured state legislative approval to remove state parkland designation for the parking lots, paving the way for the casino – should a license be awarded. Cohen already showed his Albany prowess, outmaneuvering state Sen. Jessica Ramos’ opposition to get state Sen. John Liu to introduce the bill and ensure its passage.
Lloyd Danzig
The sports, gambling and entertainment industries often need financial backers to invest in growth opportunities, and Lloyd Danzig’s Sharp Alpha is a venture capital firm specializing in these sectors. New York-based Sharp Alpha recently led a $34 million investment into Poolhouse, a concept from the founders of Topgolf to create high-tech billiards halls of the future. Sharp Alpha manages capital for some of the world’s largest casino, hotel and restaurant groups. Danzig is also chair of the International Consortium for the Ethical Development of Artificial Intelligence.
Tim Drehkoff
Larry Silverstein isn’t done in his efforts to reshape Manhattan. In May, the iconic real estate developer brought in Rush Street Gaming as a partner in his bid to open a casino on Manhattan’s West Side. Silverstein’s casino bid, known as Avenir, is slated for 92,000 square feet of Silverstein-owned property north of the Javits Center. Tim Drehkoff, Rush Street Gaming CEO, said the company has enjoyed success bringing the first casinos to Schenectady, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and he sees the Silverstein proposal having the same outcome.
Taryn Duffy
One of the most well-known names in the New York casino industry is Taryn Duffy. Duffy this year launched her own consulting firm, Tarsam Public Affairs, after serving as vice president of public affairs for Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts. Duffy has played a key role in cultivating MGM’s reputation in New York and building broad-based local support for the casino in the competition for a full downstate casino license. Duffy is a former chair of the New York Gaming Association, where she was a statewide champion for the industry.
Daniel Etna
For New Yorkers, the Belmont Stakes is the most important part of horse racing’s Triple Crown. But in Maryland, it’s all about the Preakness Stakes – and a New Yorker is making sure the race stays put there. Daniel Etna was part of the team that represented Maryland in transferring ownership of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore to state control, allowing the race to continue there and renovations to commence. The co-chair of Herrick, Feinstein LLP’s Sports Law Group, Etna advises clients on a wide range of issues related to the business of professional sports.
James Featherstonhaugh
With more than a half century of experience in New York’s gambling and horse racing industries, attorney James Featherstonhaugh is a key player as the casino sector continues to evolve and expand in the state. Featherstonhaugh was the founding president of the New York Gaming Association and led the fight to legalize racetrack casinos in the state. He is also the corporate secretary and chief legal officer of the Saratoga Casino Hotel, which is one of the partners in The Coney casino bid in Brooklyn’s Coney Island.
Griffin Finan
A onetime baseball player at Bates College in Maine, Griffin Finan is now a top sports betting leader at DraftKings. Finan, who has been at DraftKings for a decade, now serves as the mobile sports betting app’s senior vice president and deputy general counsel, playing a key role in the legalization of fantasy sports in multiple states. He has developed legislative and government affairs strategies on sports betting and mobile gambling, with DraftKings launching in 25 states and Washington, D.C., on his watch.
Brad Fischer
Orrick has long been at the center of online fantasy sports and mobile sports betting, both nationally and on the state government affairs front. It is no surprise the law firm’s Gaming and Gambling Practice has recruited the field’s top leaders, including Brad Fischer. Fischer previously spent five years at the state Gaming Commission as the point person on interactive fantasy sports and policy development. Fischer has also served as a U.S. regulatory counsel at The Stars Group, deputy Albany County executive and counsel to the state Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
Sam Gerrity
When people think of Coney Island, what comes to mind is Nathan’s, the beach and the Wonder Wheel. If Sam Gerrity has his way, so will craps, blackjack and roulette. His Saratoga Casino Holdings has partnered with Thor Equities, Legends and the Chickasaw Nation on The Coney, a proposed casino on Coney Island. The $3 billion proposal would feature a convention center, hotel, restaurants and 2,500-seat concert venue. This is not Gerrity’s only expansion plan, as he recently inked a deal with SC Gaming on a proposed casino near the campus of Penn State.
Howard Glaser
A leading casino products company, Light & Wonder is in the process of legalizing iGaming in a number of states, including New York. Howard Glaser is driving that effort while arguing that it will result in a long-term revenue increase for states that get on board. Glaser, the former state director of operations, has cited statistics showing iGaming could produce $6 billion in revenue in six states while sports betting produced 35% more revenue in 38 states. In a recent investor presentation, Light & Wonder executives outlined plans to enhance their online products.
Melissa Gliatta
Melissa Gliatta is the chief operating officer of Thor Equities, one of the primary partners behind The Coney, a $3 billion Brooklyn-based bid for one of the three downstate casino licenses. The proposal’s land use application, by Thor, Saratoga Casino Holdings, Legends and the Chickashaw Nation, was approved in May by the New York City Planning Commission. The proposal includes a hotel, convention center, food hall and entertainment space. Gliatta, who has been at Thor Equities since 1995, oversees the firm’s asset management, capital markets and development across multiple countries.
Marcus Glover
In March, Marcus Glover transitioned from serving as the chief financial officer of Bally’s Corp. to executive vice president for the company’s Global Operations Group. Glover has over two decades of experience in the casino industry, having been a former president and chief operating officer of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City and also having held the same positions at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Glover’s promotion comes as Bally’s seeks a casino license on its property in the Bronx.
Jeffrey Gural
Real estate developer Jeffrey Gural is a battle-tested warrior in New York’s casino industry. When his Tioga Downs facility failed to win an upstate casino license back in 2014, he complained that the Southern Tier had been left out – and when bidding reopened, Gural got a license. Later, when Gural threatened to shutter his Vernon Downs casino due to financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers passed legislation changing an employment rule to keep it open. Gural also operates the harness racing track at Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey and even breeds racehorses.
Ray Halbritter
Ray Halbritter is having a major impact on Central New York’s economy. Halbritter brought the Oneida Indian Nation into the gambling market years ago by making it the first to have casino operations on native land. He is now leading a historic expansion of the tribe’s Turning Stone Resort Casino in Oneida County. The $370 million development will create the largest conference center in the state with a projected one-time economic impact of over $600 million, over 3,500 new jobs and a $22 million in new state and local tax revenue annually.
Jeff Hamilton
While Mohegan Sun is synonymous with the casino experience in Connecticut, it could soon become a fixture of Manhattan’s Turtle Bay. Mohegan is partnering with the Soloviev Group in a bid for one of three downstate casino licenses. Soloviev’s bid includes a casino, more than 1,200 hotel rooms, a food hall, a convention center and a proposed Museum of Democracy. Back in Connecticut, Jeff Hamilton, Mohegan Sun’s president and general manager, has proposed an initiative to reduce opioid deaths in the state and serves on that state’s Tourism Council.
Eglantina Haxhillari
Eglantina Haxhillari is the senior vice president of government relations at the Albany lobbying powerhouse Dickinson & Avella. Her client portfolio includes the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, Delaware North in Buffalo and International Game Technology. Haxhillari and her colleagues have driven legislative efforts around legalizing mobile sports betting and authorizing casino expansion in New York. She helped casinos navigate pandemic-era restrictions and, more recently, ensured the continuation of the upstate casino tax rate adjustment with the awarding of downstate casino licenses looming.
Michael Hershman
How about roulette to decide a United Nations resolution? The Soloviev Group has teamed with Mohegan to propose a residential development, park, museum, entertainment district and casino just south of the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay. Soloviev, led by veteran business leader Michael Hershman, recently announced a plan to allow New York City residents to become shareholders of the casino if the group is awarded a license. The proposal also includes a Museum of Democracy, which would overlook the East River, with the proposed casino below ground.
Brett Herschenfeld
Brett Herschenfeld is leading SL Green’s involvement in a proposed casino for Times Square. The real estate developer has teamed with Roc Nation and Caesars Entertainment to propose the casino for the popular entertainment and tourism district. Herschenfeld has made outside-the-box opportunities the hallmark of his two-decade career at SL Green, including teaming up with a casino company to pursue one of three downstate casino licenses.
David Isaacson
With 15 years experience in the economics of the casino and gambling industry, David Isaacson is well positioned to provide expert analysis to support the industry’s growth. At Spectrum Gaming Capital, he is part of a team at the company’s Spectrum Gaming Sports Group providing policy and business consulting services in the field of sports betting. Spectrum has advised clients on the economics of sports betting expansion in New York and has provided revenue estimation services to the state Gaming Commission.
Robert Jaen
Robert Jaen is hoping that a state casino license will be the next big thing to boost economic development in the Bronx. The Throggs Neck Business Improvement District executive director is supportive of the Bally’s Corp.’s proposal to build a casino on the site of the former Trump Golf Links, delivering influential local business backing for the project. Jaen also backed Bally’s creation of a shuttle bus route connecting commercial corridors in the Bronx. Jaen, who became the BID’s inaugural executive director in 2020, is also a proponent of improving public safety and quality of life.
Patrick B. Jenkins
A top lobbyist who is close to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Patrick B. Jenkins has played a key role in the development of gambling policy in New York. Jenkins was one of the lobbyists who worked to legalize racinos in New York, marking a key milestone in efforts to ultimately bring casino gambling to New York City. Jenkins remains deeply involved in state gambling policy, representing Resorts World New York City, which operates an existing racino in Queens, in its bid to get one of the state’s three full downstate casino licenses.
Dan Katz
Albany veteran Dan Katz is putting his deep knowledge of state government to work for his clients in the casino and sports betting industries. He has been part of the team that brought sports betting and fantasy sports laws to New York and is now focused on passing iGaming legislation, assisting the horse racing industry and strengthening the New York Lottery. Among his accomplishments are pushing for the adjustment of tax rates for upstate casinos, ensuring dedicated funding for youth sports statewide and advocating for the allowance of alcohol in movie theaters.
Matt King
Before Matt King joined the global digital sports platform Fanatics in 2021, he was a top executive at FanDuel, guiding the online gambling company as it grew from an annual revenue of $120 million to nearly $2 billion. He’s now tasked with generating similar returns at Fanatics Betting and Gaming, which offers both on-site sports betting as well as online sports betting and online casino gambling, or iGaming, with its sports betting app now available in 22 states. Earlier in his career, King was at investment firm KKR.
Jeremy Kudon
Jeremy Kudon is a founding father of online sports betting in the United States. The Orrick partner and president of the Sports Betting Alliance brought together DraftKings and FanDuel in the federal court case that determined that fantasy sports betting is a game of skill, not a game of chance. One of the nation’s leading experts in the inner workings of the country’s state legislative chambers, he has overseen lobbying efforts in every state that ultimately legalized fantasy sports betting and continues to lead the charge in the remaining states.
Bennett Liebman
A household name in New York’s gambling industry, Bennett Liebman is an attorney with years of experience dealing with the state’s betting and wagering regulations. An expert and frequent commentator on gambling and horse racing issues, he spent more than a decade as a member of the state Racing and Wagering Board, including a term as its acting co-chair. Liebman served for three years as then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s deputy secretary for gaming and racing. He was a longtime adviser to Mario Cuomo while the elder Cuomo was governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
Troy Mackey
While Troy Mackey has transitioned to a new role dealing with all things budget, he is well known in Albany as a go-to legislative staffer on casino and racing issues. The longtime aide to Assembly Member J. Gary Pretlow followed the lawmaker to the Ways and Means Committee this year, but he was previously the longtime committee coordinator for the Racing and Wagering Committee when Pretlow chaired that committee. Mackey has been involved in all aspects of gambling policy in state government, including crafting mobile sports betting legislation and obtaining 1,000 new video lottery terminals for Jake's 58 Casino Hotel.
Patrick McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy, the leader of Mercury’s Albany office, runs point on lobbying for Mercury’s casino clients, developing and implementing strategies to help his clients achieve their legislative and regulatory goals. With two decades of lobbying experience, McCarthy has been focused on the casino industry for over a decade. McCarthy was deputy secretary for appointments and government affairs in the Pataki administration and is a former executive director of the New York Republican State Committee.
Bill Miller
The voice of the nation’s $329 billion casino industry is Bill Miller, a Capitol Hill veteran who now leads the American Gaming Association. In December, Miller made news with an op-ed endorsing legalized sports betting in the United States, arguing that it generates money for state and local governments and is a form of entertainment with appropriate regulatory oversight in place. On its website, the AGA cites polling data saying 59% of Americans find gambling to be acceptable. This year, Miller unveiled a new responsible gambling initiative.
Brandon J. Moore
A pioneering real estate investment trust dedicated to buying casino properties, Gaming & Leisure Properties has 68 properties nationwide, including the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City. In New York, Gaming & Leisure owns the Tioga Downs Casino Resort property in the Southern Tier. Moore added the president’s title to his portfolio last year, retaining his prior roles as chief operating officer and secretary. Late last year, Gaming & Leisure announced a sale leaseback agreement with Bally’s Corp. for the casino’s properties in Kansas City, Missouri, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
Kevin Nephew
As the president and CEO of the Seneca Gaming Corp., Kevin Nephew is a top business leader in Western New York, overseeing 3,000 employees at casinos in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca. Nephew oversees strategic growth for the regional economic powerhouse, which is one of the largest private employers in Western New York. This year, Nephew inked a $1.3 million deal to buy the former Club Marcella near the Seneca’s Buffalo casino for future use. He recently hired a new chief operating officer and new chief marketing officer for the business.
Mark O’Hare
The Unit, a technology company focusing on designing, developing and implementing software for the gambling sector, is in the midst of a period of ambitious growth. Mark O’Hare is helping to drive the Irish-based company’s expansion in the United States, including opening an office in New York City in January. The new office comes on the heels of The Unit seeing growth of its American clientele. O’Hare says the company has also enjoyed growth in Ireland and Moldova.
Joshua Oppenheimer
A former staffer in the Assembly, at the state Attorney General’s Office and with the state Board of Elections, Joshua Oppenheimer brings his in-depth understanding of state government to his clients at Greenberg Traurig. Oppenheimer stands out in the government affairs sector with his background in casino and sports betting, having served as legislative counsel for the New York Racing Association and MGM Resorts International and as New York regulatory counsel for BetMGM. This experience has allowed Oppenheimer to become a go-to lobbyist and Albany counsel for the industry.
David O’Rourke
David O’Rourke is presiding over a major transformation of New York’s horse racing industry. The New York Racing Association chief is overseeing a renovation of Belmont Park, which includes the construction of a new grandstand and upgrades to the tracks, with the goal of making the facility the best in North America. Among the plans for Belmont include more luxury suites and other specialty seating to bring Belmont in line with other sporting venues. He has temporarily moved the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga Springs, boosting that region’s economy during the construction phase.
Jason Ortiz
Moonshot Strategies is an up-and-coming consulting and lobbying firm, and it’s no surprise that it’s involved with an industry that’s taking off in New York. Jason Ortiz, Moonshot’s co-founder and CEO, brings his and the firm’s acumen to representing such casino industry clients as Bally’s Corp., Genting New York, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, and the Hotel, Gaming, Restaurant & Club Employees and Bartenders Union Local 6. The veteran labor operative also brings a deep understanding of the critical role of unions in the downstate casino expansion.
J. Gary Pretlow
Few people have played as much of a role in shaping New York’s casino and sports betting industry as Assembly Member J. Gary Pretlow. The Westchester County lawmaker recently wrapped up a two-decade run as chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, where he passed legislation allowing video lottery terminals at racetracks, legalized online fantasy sports betting and mobile sports betting, and help move forward the process to authorize three downstate commercial casino licenses. While no longer atop the Assembly’s gambling committee, Pretlow is even more influential now as the chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
David Previte
A former majority chief counsel in the state Senate, David Previte knows how Albany functions and how to make legislative dreams come true. Having led Senate negotiations in the areas of casino, gambling and horse racing policy, Previte combines that subject matter with his legislative acumen to represent industry clients at Hinman Straub. When he was a legislative staffer, he was a top negotiator on all issues for state Senate leaders and served as majority parliamentarian. He now counsels racing and casino companies seeking state licenses, navigating regulations and weighing in on legislative proposals.
Jeffrey Reynolds
Jeffrey Reynolds is a mental health and substance use professional who is taking aim at problem gambling. As the leader of the Family & Children’s Association, he oversees programs to address gambling addiction. The venerable Long Island nonprofit opened two Nassau County gambling support and wellness centers in partnership with Las Vegas Sands, which was seriously exploring pursuing a downstate casino license. Reynolds has pushed state lawmakers to support increased investment in problem gambling support and in promoting responsible gambling to young male sports fans, who are often deemed most at risk.
Adam Richardson
Former state Senate staffer Adam Richardson has transitioned into a top government relations professional with extensive experience in the casino and gambling sectors. Experienced in state procurement issues, Richardson represented Everi when it was selected as the center system operator for the New York Lottery. He also represented Konami Gaming and Interblock when they successfully bid to be video lottery terminal vendors. He also represented Resorts World New York City in advocating for legislation for downstate casino licenses and is representing the company in its bid.
Al Roney
For more than a decade, Al Roney transitioned from journalism to communications, and he has carved out a niche as a consultant in New York’s casino industry. At Latham-based WAV Strategies, Roney advises clients in the medical, defense and energy industries as well. Roney helped to launch the first casino sportsbook in New York, based at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady. A U.S. Army veteran, Roney also worked in the state Office of Mental Health and was a WGY radio reporter.
Stacey Rowland
If Genting Americas secures a full downstate casino license to upgrade Resorts World New York City’s existing racino, it’ll be thanks in large part to Stacey Rowland. The company’s senior vice president and general counsel since 2022, Rowland is promoting Genting’s economic record, its status as the largest employer of Hotel and Gaming Trades Council members and the impact of a $5 billion investment into Southeast Queens. Rowland is a former state insurance deputy superintendent, a veteran of the state Attorney General and state Comptroller’s offices and was the first person of color to chair the New York Gaming Association.
John Sabini
John Sabini is a leading racing policy expert, bringing a background in developing legislation and regulations for the sector to his clients at Fontas Advisors. The former chair of the state Racing and Wagering Board presided over the opening of racinos in New York and worked on the expansion of Native American casinos while also implementing regulations relating to equine health and safety. A former New York City and state lawmaker, Sabini served as the top Democrat on the state Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, and he was chair of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.
Richard Schwartz
Online betting and casino products company Rush Street Interactive continues to expand its reach both domestically and internationally under the leadership of CEO Richard Schwartz. Among the brands Rush Street Interactive operates is BetRivers. Rush Street Interactive recently launched a new gambling literacy initiative for high school students and opened new markets in Delaware and in Mexico, Colombia and Peru. This year, RSI added former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell to its board. Rush Street Interactive is affiliated with Rush Street Gaming, which is a partner on Silverstein Properties’ Manhattan casino proposal.
Stuart Shorenstein
With deep relationships in Albany and a clear understanding of how to get stuff done at the state Capitol, Stuart Shorenstein delivers for his clients across the casino and sports betting industries. Among Shorenstein’s clients at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies – a lobbying and communications firm affiliated with the law firm Cozen O’Connor – are MGM Resorts, Bally’s Corp., PokerStars, DraftKings, Madison Square Garden and Bet365. He has worked closely with state legislative gambling policy leaders, the governor’s office and the state Gaming Commission on a number of policy and regulatory issues, including iGaming legislation.
Lisa Silverstein
Silverstein Properties wants to continue its history-making impact on Manhattan by bringing casino gambling to the borough. Lisa Silverstein, the firm’s CEO, is leading the bid for one of three downstate licenses for a casino just north of the Javits Center. The development group is partnering with Rush Street Gaming for that project, which would operate the casino, and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, a partner, adviser and investor. Silverstein says the mixed-use project would add new affordable housing and drive economic development in New York City.
Julissa Ferreras-Copeland
Hollis Public Affairs Partner Julissa Ferreras-Copeland is a key part of the team that New York Mets owner Steve Cohen has assembled to bring his dream of a casino at Citi Field to life. Ferreras-Copeland was once the influential chair of the New York City Council Finance Committee, and Cohen's planned casino is in her old Queens district. That connection comes in handy pushing for the high-profile bid, which recently notched a big win when state lawmakers passed a parkland alienation measure for the stadium’s parking lots where the casino would be sited.
Emily Sischo
Emily Sischo brings a deep background in developing state casino and sports betting policy to her work at Ostroff Associates. At the Albany lobbying firm, Sischo has helped Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel lower their procurement threshold, which will make the businesses more efficient. She is also advising the backers of the Times Square casino bid and has been successful in raising the commission for New York Lottery sales agents and to secure the state’s first daily fantasy sports betting license since 2015.
Karl Sleight
As a partner at the law firm Lippes Mathias and the managing partner of a horse racing stable, Karl Sleight knows the casino and racing industries well. He has been a legal adviser to companies competing for the state’s coveted casino licenses and a consultant in the racing industry and on the development of mobile sports betting. Sleight, a former executive director of the former state Ethics Commission, is also a special counsel for professional sports leagues as they navigate the sports betting ecosystem.
Evan Stavisky
One of the state’s top lobbyists and political consultants, Evan Stavisky for the past decade has established himself as a key player in casino and sports betting policy. Among Stavisky’s clients are FanDuel, DraftKings, the Sports Betting Alliance, Scientific Games and Las Vegas Sands, the world’s largest casino operator. Behind the scenes, Stavisky previously helped secure the passage of the state’s fantasy sports and mobile sports betting laws, which have generated $3 billion in revenue for the state since passing. His clients collectively make up a major share of the mobile sports betting market.
Michelle Stoddart
With Resorts World New York City proposing a $5 billion investment in Southeast Queens if it secures a full downstate casino license, Michelle Stoddart is emphasizing the potential benefits for the surrounding community. Stoddart spearheads Resorts World’s local outreach and runs the casino’s philanthropic arm, which has distributed over $5 million to over 300 organizations. The proposal includes a 7,000-seat event space, 3,000 units of union-constructed affordable housing, a community health and wellness center, and a Queens STEAM Institute.
Louis Theros
As MGM Resorts’ top executive overseeing casinos and properties in New York and Massachusetts, Louis Theros is hoping that the Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers secures one of the three downstate casino licenses. As an MGM executive in 2019, he was the industry’s lead drafter and negotiator on legislation to legalize online gaming and sports betting in Michigan. Theros previously led MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and was mayor of Grosse Point Farms, Michigan.
Christine Wechsler
A veteran of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office and a former prosecutor in Philadelphia, Christine Wechsler now leads litigation and public policy for Scientific Games, a top company for delivering lottery products, including iLottery products. Last year, Scientific Games and the New York Lottery announced the continuation of a 50-year partnership to provide New York’s popular scratch-off games. The scratch-off games are a $4.4 billion product line for the New York Lottery.
Michael Ventre
A former state Senate gambling policy staffer and aide to Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, Michael Ventre now works in state government relations for FanDuel, advancing the sports betting company’s interests in multiple states. Ventre recently helped pass legislation to legalize online sports betting in Vermont and is working to ban gambling advertising on college campuses in Connecticut and to have Connecticut join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Association. Ventre is a council member in the town of Minisink and a former deputy health commissioner in Orange County.
Scott Wexler
Scott Wexler knows the gambling industry and policy in New York, as he’s been working on the issue for decades. As a state legislative staffer in the late 1970s, he helped draft New York’s first bill to allow automated betting machines, and he has been engaged in the industry ever since. More recently, Wexler played a role in the five-year extension of current tax rates for upstate casinos. He also led a coalition to defeat a proposed casino in Rochester, helping the region’s existing casino industry. Wexler is the longtime executive director of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association.
Carrie Woerner
Assembly Member Carrie Woerner took over as chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee in January. The Saratoga Springs Democrat is no stranger to horse racing, a key economic driver for her district, and she is getting up to speed on the rest of her wide-ranging portfolio. Woerner indicated an early interest in problem gambling and care for racehorses, studying online casinos and talking with stakeholders about the industry’s future. She previously chaired the Small Business Committee as well as the Libraries and Education Technology Committee.
Lance Young
Since he was promoted to run the del Lago Resort & Casino in 2019, Lance Young has steered the Finger Lakes casino resort through a number of changes to help expand the business. He negotiated del Lago’s 2022 sale to Churchill Downs Inc., the Kentucky-based racing and gambling company that operates the home of the iconic Kentucky Derby. Young has overseen construction of the casino’s sports betting lounge, allowing another option for patrons. He previously held leadership positions at Cannery Casino Resorts in Las Vegas and what was then called the Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Pennsylvania.
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