Nevada Gaming Board Appoints New Chair Kirk Hendrick

Governor Joe Lombardo of Nevada has introduced the latest member and chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Kirk Hendrick. The 58-year-old will commence his four-year tenure in the position at the first NGCB meeting towards the end of January.

Hendrick is taking over from interim chairwoman Dr. Brittnie Watkins, who filled the position for a month following the resignation of chairman J. Brin Gibson in November. Dr. Watkins still has two years left on the board.

Phil Katsaros, a member of the NGCB, has announced his resignation from his position, effective at the end of the month. A successor is expected to be announced shortly.

Gov. Lombardo stated in a statement:

I’m thrilled to declare that Kirk Hendrick has been chosen as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and I’ve appointed him as the upcoming chair of the board.

“I am confident that Kirk, with his astute business acumen, exceptional legal background, and enthusiasm for Nevada gaming, will thrive in this crucial leadership position.”

Hendrick, a local of Las Vegas, completed his high school education at Chaparral High School in 1983. He furthered his education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where he graduated in 1988.

Hendrick’s public service with Nevada gaming

Hendrick is quite familiar with Nevada gaming.

In 1991, he began his career in a private legal practice before moving on to work with Frankie Sue Del Papa, the Nevada attorney general.

Hendrick was employed in the gaming division of the attorney general’s office, providing legal advice to both the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) and the NGCB.

He continued his public service role as the senior deputy attorney general for the gaming division’s Las Vegas office, then went on to serve as the chief deputy for the statewide gaming division.

Hendrick’s role at the NGCB will involve supervising the 400-person agency responsible for regulating and enforcing gaming laws in Nevada.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) oversees all facets of Nevada’s gaming industry, including the issuance of gaming licenses. The upcoming Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) meeting is set for Jan. 26, while the subsequent NGCB meeting is slated for Feb. 8.

Hendrick’s also worked as the legal counsel for the Nevada Athletic Commission before he went back to private practice in 2021.

Henricks resume includes legal sports work

After returning to the private sector, Hendrik continued his involvement in the sports and gaming industry. He served as a counsel at the Jones Vargas law firm.

Hendrick’s practice specialized in gaming and sports law, with a particular emphasis on legal issues related to boxing and mixed martial arts.

His subsequent move was to become the general counsel at Zuffa, LLC, a company that operates under the name Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Hendrick started his own company, Hendrick Sports & Entertainment, in 2019 after serving as executive vice president and chief legal officer for Zuffa.