The American Gaming Association (AGA) has unveiled the 2026 Gaming Hall of Fame Class, celebrating four prominent figures whose impact has profoundly influenced the legal gaming sector.
The 2026 honorees include Holly Gagnon, a Board Member of Bragg Gaming Group; Bill G. Lance Jr., Secretary of State for the Chickasaw Nation; Scott Olive, Founder and Principal of HRG Studios; and Timothy J. “Tim” Wilmott, former Chief Executive Officer of PENN Entertainment.
“The Gaming Hall of Fame honors those visionary individuals whose creativity and commitment have played a crucial role in defining today’s legal gaming landscape,” stated Bill Miller, AGA’s President and CEO. “All four have made indelible contributions over the years, establishing benchmarks for future leaders.”
AGA Chairman Lou Jacobs remarked that this year’s class illustrates the diverse spectrum of the gaming industry, encompassing both commercial and tribal gaming entities, along with various gaming suppliers.
“Their efforts have propelled the gaming industry forward in meaningful ways, and we are delighted to induct them into the Gaming Hall of Fame,” Jacobs mentioned.
Founded in 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame honors individuals whose accomplishments have significantly enhanced both commercial and tribal gaming. The Class of 2026 will be officially recognized at an exclusive ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this autumn.
The selection committee for the 2026 Gaming Hall of Fame consisted of leaders across the gaming domain. It included Eric Schippers, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Relations at PENN Entertainment; Mark Fulton, President of Cherokee Nation Entertainment; Trevor Croker, CEO & Managing Director of Aristocrat Technologies; Sherri Sosa, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hard Rock Las Vegas Hotel & Casino; and Mark Lipparelli, Chairman Emeritus of the International Center for Responsible Gaming.
Committee members also included Kirsten Clark, Executive Director of the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA); Siobhan Lane, Executive Vice President and CEO of Gaming at Light & Wonder and Chair of Global Gaming Women; Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute; and Lou Jacobs, Co-CEO of Delaware North and AGA Chairman.
Holly Gagnon, currently a board member of Bragg Gaming Group, embarked on her 34-year gaming journey at Foxwoods Resort Casino. She has held key leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International, served as President and CEO of Pearl River Resort, CEO of Chumash Enterprises for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation.
Named NAFOA Executive of the Year in 2016, Gagnon actively promotes tribal economic development and leadership initiatives through Global Gaming Women and the UNLV International Gaming Institute.
Bill G. Lance Jr., serving as Secretary of State for the Chickasaw Nation, has overseen over 60 enterprises in gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism, employing approximately 7,000 individuals. He was instrumental in the development of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center located in Ada, Oklahoma, and now represents the Chickasaw Nation in various civic, corporate, and governmental capacities.
Scott Olive, the founder and principal of HRG Studios, is recognized for expanding the appeal of penny and Australian-style slot machines in the U.S. His career began at Aristocrat Gaming, and he co-founded True Blue Gaming in 2007 before founding HRG Studios in 2012, where he created some of the gaming industry’s most successful slot titles.
Tim Wilmott dedicated over 30 years to the gaming sector, serving as CEO of Penn National Gaming from 2013 until his retirement in 2019. Before that, he held the roles of President and COO at Penn National, having also been COO of Harrah’s Entertainment and President of its Eastern Division. His career in leadership commenced in 1988 with various executive roles in Harrah’s properties.