Pull Up A Chair: J. Brin Gibson Appointed As Head Of Nevada Gaming Control Board

A new member has joined the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced last week that J. Brin Gibson will take over as the new chair and executive director of the Nevada regulator starting from Nov. 18. Gibson is stepping in to replace Sandra Douglass Morgan, who recently resigned to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Sisolak conveyed his happiness in introducing “precisely the kind of dedicated public servant required in this crucial role during this pivotal time.”

Given Brin’s in-depth experience and knowledge in heavily regulated industries, combined with his tenure as the Chief of the Gaming Division, he is ideally suited for this role. I eagerly anticipate observing his outstanding performance in this position.

Nevada Gaming Control Board welcomes experienced Gibson

Gibson is familiar with both Sisolak and Nevada politics.

Gibson held the position of general counsel to the governor from January 2019 to January 2020, prior to taking up a role in the private sector. In his capacity as general counsel, he functioned as the Chief Legal Counsel handling ethics, legislative, and transactional issues. He also played a significant role in safeguarding state interests in the gaming and cannabis sectors.

As the Chief of Gaming, Gibson acted as the main legal advisor for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Gaming Commission, and Nevada Gaming Policy Committee. He supervised all legal proceedings against Nevada gaming licensees, addressing both regulatory matters and infringements.

Gibson stated that he is “humbled and honored” to take on the role of chair for the NGCB.

The role has been previously held by individuals of great integrity and skill, including the outgoing chair, Sandra Douglass Morgan, who has performed exceptionally well under challenging conditions. I am committed to working relentlessly to uphold the same levels of honor and dignity demonstrated by my predecessors in this position.

What’s on the to-do list for Gibson?

Gibson, in his new position, will be tasked with various responsibilities. Currently, Nevada is experiencing a second “stay at home” order from Sisolak, clearly intended to minimize the spread of the coronavirus across the state.

The newly implemented stay-at-home procedure will be in effect for 14 days. Following this period, additional restrictions could potentially be imposed on Nevada residents and businesses. There’s also a possibility that casinos may be instructed to shut down once more.

Gibson will also be in charge of issuing a license to a new sportsbook operator in Nevada. Betfred is set to run the sportsbook at the Mohegan Sun Casino within Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. However, the operator still needs to obtain a Nevada gaming license.

A public workshop, which was expected to include discussions about remote mobile sportsbook account registration throughout the state, was scheduled for November 5 before Morgan left her post. However, it has since been postponed and is awaiting rescheduling.

In other words, Gibson could potentially pave the way for the Silver State to introduce online account registration for Nevada sports betting apps.

Status of online Nevada sports betting account registration

At present, in Nevada, players are required to visit a retail sportsbook within a casino to establish a mobile sports betting account.

As more states legalize betting, the role of remote account setup in enhancing the revenue of sportsbooks has become evident. For instance, states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania are benefiting from the increased revenue generated by these remote setup provisions.

Some Nevada casinos and sportsbook operators have historically opposed mobile sportsbook app registration. They favored a system where bettors are required to visit a casino at least once to fund a mobile sports betting app.

William Hill and Station Casinos have shown a preference for in-person account registration. Now under the ownership of Caesars, William Hill might alter its position. The future will reveal this.

Upside of expanding to online account sign-up

The possibility of remote sportsbook account setup could pave the way for DraftKings Sportsbook to break into the Nevada sports betting market.

Furthermore, if retail locations have to close again in the future, remote online sign-ups could potentially assist casinos and sportsbooks in generating revenue.

In Nevada, bettors have the ability to fund their existing sportsbook account directly from a mobile app. However, the procedure doesn’t allow new customers to open an account without physically visiting a casino. Consequently, during the pandemic, when casinos were closed, a significant number of bettors were unable to place bets on sports.

Setting up a curbside account can only offer limited assistance to bettors and sportsbook operators. However, enabling remote account setup can aid sportsbook and casino operators in generating income, irrespective of whether a casino is operational or not.