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 revealed last week that J. Brin Gibson will be taking over as the new chair and executive director of Nevada regulator starting Nov. 18. Gibson is set to replace Sandra Douglass Morgan, who has recently stepped down to pursue an “exciting professional opportunity.”

Sisolak conveyed his delight in introducing “precisely the kind of dedicated public servant required for this significant role during this crucial period.”

Brin’s comprehensive experience and proficiency in heavily regulated sectors, coupled with his tenure as Chief of the Gaming Division, render him an excellent candidate for this position. I am eager to see him thrive and excel in this role.

Nevada Gaming Control Board welcomes experienced Gibson

Gibson is familiar with both Sisolak and Nevada politics.

Before moving to a private sector job, he worked as the governor’s general counsel from January 2019 to January 2020. In this role, Gibson was the Chief Legal Counsel dealing with 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 principal legal advisor to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Gaming Commission, and Nevada Gaming Policy Committee. He supervised all legal proceedings against Nevada gaming license holders and addressed regulatory issues and infringements.

Gibson expressed his humility and honor in serving as the chair of the NGCB.

The position has been held by individuals of high character and ability, such as the outgoing chair, Sandra Douglass Morgan, who has performed exceptionally well under challenging circumstances. I commit to serving with the same level of honor and dignity that my predecessors have demonstrated.

What’s on the to-do list for Gibson?

Gibson will undertake a range of responsibilities in his new position. Nevada is presently experiencing its second “stay at home” order from Sisolak, clearly aiming to curtail the spread of coronavirus across the state.

The new protocol of staying at home will be in effect for 14 days. Following this period, Nevada residents and businesses could face additional restrictions. There is also a possibility that casinos may be instructed to shut down once again.

Gibson is also in charge of authorizing a license for a new sportsbook operator in Nevada. Betfred is lined up to run the sportsbook at Mohegan Sun Casino within Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. However, the operator still requires a Nevada gaming license.

A public workshop, anticipated to discuss remote mobile sportsbook account registration statewide, was scheduled for Nov. 5 before Morgan vacated her position. However, the workshop has been postponed and is pending rescheduling.

Consequently, Gibson could potentially be the driving force behind Nevada’s decision to provide online account registration for sports betting apps in the Silver State.

Status of online Nevada sports betting account registration

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

As more states legalize betting, the ability to set up accounts remotely has significantly impacted sportsbooks’ revenue generation capacities. States such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for instance, are benefiting from the increased revenue brought in by these remote account setups.

Over the years, certain Nevada casinos and sportsbook operators have opposed mobile sportsbook app registration. Instead, they favored the idea of bettors visiting a casino at least once to fund a mobile sports betting app.

William Hill and Station Casinos have typically preferred in-person account registration. However, now that Caesars owns William Hill, this preference could change. As the saying goes, time will tell.

Upside of expanding to online account sign-up

Permitting the establishment of remote sportsbook accounts could pave the way for DraftKings Sportsbook to penetrate the sports betting market in Nevada.

Furthermore, should retail locations need to shut down again in the future, remote online sign-ups could potentially aid casinos and sportsbooks in generating revenue.

Bettors in Nevada have the ability to replenish an existing sportsbook account directly through a mobile app. Nevertheless, prospective customers are unable to establish an account without physically visiting a casino. This restriction prevented numerous bettors from placing sports bets while casinos were shut due to the pandemic.

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