The American Gaming Association on Tuesday announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The inductees have, over the course of their careers, “profoundly shaped the legal gaming industry,” according to a news release.
The inductees are:
- Holly Gagnon, Board Member, Bragg Gaming Group
- Bill G. Lance Jr., Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
- Scott Olive, Principal & Founder, HRG Studios
- Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, Retired CEO, Penn Entertainment
“The Gaming Hall of Fame recognizes the individuals whose vision, innovation and dedication have helped shape today’s legal gaming industry,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement. “Holly, Bill, Scott, and Tim have each left a lasting mark through decades of service and leadership. Their contributions have set a high standard for those who follow.”
“This year’s inductees reflect the remarkable breadth of the gaming industry – from commercial and tribal gaming operators to suppliers,” said AGA Chairman Lou Jacobs. “Each of them has helped advance gaming in significant ways, and we’re proud to welcome them to the Gaming Hall of Fame.”
Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has celebrated the achievements of industry legends who have driven the commercial and tribal gaming industry forward. The Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this fall.
About the 2026 inductees:
Holly Gagnon
Gagnon began her 34-year gaming career on the opening team of Foxwoods Resort Casino in 1992, at the birth of modern tribal gaming in America. She held senior financial and operational roles at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International before serving as Pearl River Resort President and CEO, CEO of Chumash Enterprises for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Seneca Gaming Corporation CEO of for the Seneca Nation of Indians.
Named NAFOA Executive of the Year in 2016, Gagnon is a recognized champion of tribal economic development. As a founding member of Global Gaming Women and Distinguished Fellow at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, she has helped develop more than 300 gaming executives.
Bill G. Lance Jr.
Lance has served the Chickasaw Nation for decades in senior leadership roles spanning commerce, healthcare, and governance. As Secretary of Commerce for more than 13 years, he oversaw more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism businesses employing about 7,000 people. He also served as administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, overseeing construction of the 370,000-square-foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma.
Scott Olive
Olive is one of the most influential game designers in the history of the slot machine industry. His career spans more than three decades, beginning at Aristocrat Gaming in 1997, where he helped drive the adoption of penny and Australian-style slots in U.S. gaming markets. After co-founding True Blue Gaming in 2007, Olive established HRG Studios in 2012, where he went on to create commercially successful slot titles.
Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott
Wilmott spent more than three decades as one of the gaming industry’s most respected operational leaders. He served as CEO of Penn National Gaming from 2013 until his retirement in 2019, having previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2013. Before joining Penn National, Wilmott served as Harrah’s Entertainment Chief Operating Officer and Division President of its Eastern Division, holding a series of leadership positions at Harrah’s properties dating to 1988.
This year’s selection committee members include:
- Eric Schippers, Penn Entertainment Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Government Relations
- Mark Fulton, Cherokee Nation Entertainment President
- Trevor Croker, Aristocrat Technologies CEO & Managing Director
- Sherri Sosa, Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel & Casino Senior Vice President, Human Resources
- Mark Lipparelli, International Center for Responsible Gaming Chairman Emeritus
- Kirsten Clark, IAGA Executive Director
- Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder Executive Vice President & CEO Gaming, and Global Gaming Women
- Dr. Brett Abarbanel, UNLV International Gaming Institute Executive Director
- Lou Jacobs, Delaware North Co-CEO and AGA Chairman
