NCLGS Announces Confirmed

Speakers for Summer Meeting in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA: The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) will convene its 2026 Summer Meeting from July 8-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, bringing together a distinguished lineup of lawmakers, regulators, tribal leaders, industry executives, academics, responsible gaming advocates and media. Now in its 30th year, NCLGS remains the only national gaming conference that focuses on legislative decision‑makers and the future of gaming policy in the United States.

More than 60 confirmed speakers will participate in four days of committee meetings, general sessions, and in‑depth policy discussions. The conference already has 125 legislator/regulators confirmed from more than 33 jurisdictions and states.

• David Aron, Special Counsel, Lowenstein Sandler; former Special Counsel, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Cooley Arroyo, Chief Compliance Officer, New Hampshire Lottery Commission
• Senator Jason Barrett, West Virginia; NCLGS Secretary
• Scott Bearby, Chief Legal Officer, NCAA
• Steve Bodmer, General Counsel, Pechanga Band of Indians
• Representative Christie Carpino, Connecticut; NCLGS Vice President
• Julie Brown, Chair, Florida Gaming Control Commission
• Paul Buck, CEO and Founder, EPIC Global Solutions
• Joseph Bunevith, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Gaming Laboratories International
• Anthony Cabot, Distinguished Fellow in Gaming Law, UNLV
• Scott Chaney, Executive Director, California Horse Racing Board
• Nelson Clemmens, CEO of AmWest
• Senator Bill DeMora, Ohio; NCLGS Executive Committee Member
• Desiree Dickerson, CEO & Co-Founder of THNDR
• Ali Emdad, Ph.D., Executive Director of Research Centers, Morgan State University’s Graves Business School; Founding Director of the Center for Data Analytics & Sports Gaming Research
• Delegate Shawn Fluharty, West Virginia; NCLGS President
• Dr. Timothy Fong, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and board-certified addiction psychiatrist at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
• Dena Freeman-Patton, Vice President/Director of Athletics, Morgan State University
• Kim Freudenberg, President, Parents Standing Together
• Kurt Freudenberg, Co-Founder, Parents Standing Together
• Travis Geiger, Co-Founder, WagerWire
• Steve Geller, former Senator Florida; NCLGS founder and General Counsel
• Howard Glaser, Global Head of Government Affairs and Legislative Counsel, Light & Wonder
• Representative Emily Gise, Oklahoma
• Fredric Gushin, President and CEO, Spectrum Gaming Group
• Felepe Hall, Assistant Attorney General – Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, Michigan Department of Attorney General
• Johnny Hernandez Jr., Vice Chairman, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation
• Matt Hortenstine, General Counsel, J&J Gaming
• Brad Humphreys, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Research Professor of Economics, West Virginia University
• Brian Kane, Executive Director, National Association of Attorneys General
• Representative Chris Kannady, Oklahoma; NCLGS Executive Committee Member
• Helene Keeley, Director, Delaware Lottery; former NCLGS President
• Representative Shelley Kloba, Washington
• Adam Koenig, Executive Director, Kentucky Quarter Horse Racing Association; former Kentucky legislator
• Senator Tim Lang, New Hampshire; NCLGS Executive Committee Member
• Ed Martin, President and CEO, Association of Racing Commissioners International
• JB McCuskey, Attorney General, West Virginia
• Ryan Mindell, Director of State Government Relations, FanDuel
• Kevin Mullally, CEO of the International Association of Gaming Regulators
• Craig Newby, First Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Nevada Attorney General
• Brian L. Oliner, General Counsel, Federation of Tax Administrators
• Peggi O’Keefe, Executive Director, Colorado Gaming Association
• Michelle Painter, Deputy Director, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer, West Virginia Lottery
• John Pappas, State Advocacy Director, iDEA Growth; Founder and CEO, Corridor Consulting
• Roger Parkes, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Gaming Associates
• Paul Pellizzari, Vice President – Global Social Responsibility, Hard Rock International
• Fernando Quiñones Bodega, Vice President, BSN (Puerto Rico Basketball League); FIBA Integrity SPOC, Puerto Rico Basketball Federation
• Dave Rebuck, former Director of New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
• Erica Schenk, Chairwoman, Cahuilla Band of Indians
• James Schultz, Executive Vice President, Global Legal and Public Policy, Scientific Games
• Dr. Jennifer Shatley, Executive Director, Responsible Online Gaming Association
• Harjinder K. Shergill Chima, Director, California Lottery
• James Siva, Chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association; Vice Chair for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians
• Nicolas Sorin, Regional Director, Sharp Vision
• Sam Ross, Senior Program Lead, Group Strategy, at FDJ United
• Mary Beth Thomas, Executive Director, Tennessee Sports Wagering Council
• Marlene Warner, CEO, Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health
• Eric Weiss, Managing Director, North America, IC360
• Jessica Welman, Deputy Director, Campaign for Fairer Gambling
• Representative Al Williams, Georgia; NCLGS President Elect
• Kevin Winters, CEO, Almond Digital Health

Sponsorship opportunities remain for organizations seeking to engage directly with lawmakers and industry leaders during NCLGS’s 30th anniversary year.

NCLGS has a block of rooms available at two San Diego hotels:

• Hard Rock Hotel San Diego: You must book your room prior to June 5, 2026 in order to receive the group rate. Click here to book your room at Hard Rock.
• Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter: The Hilton is just a short walk from the Hard Rock. You must book your room prior to June 16, 2026 in order to receive the group rate. Call 1-800-Hiltons and use the group code 90C or click here to book your room at Hilton.

The NCLGS Summer Meeting will feature two evening receptions, July 8^th and 9^th, as well as a late-night event (sponsored by FanDuel), taking place July 9^th at nearby Rustic Root Gaslamp. These gatherings offer legislators, regulators, and gaming industry stakeholders the chance to connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships outside of the formal meeting sessions – an important complement to the policy discussions and educational programming that define the NCLGS experience.

NCLGS meetings are produced and organized by Spectrum Gaming Group, which serves as Executive Director and has supported the organization’s growth for more than a decade.

For more information, visit NCLGS.org



Key Contacts:

Sponsorship: Josh Faber

Events: Jenna Wheeler

Legislative: Wayne Marlin

Media: Sherry Amos

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss gaming-related issues. The NCLGS semiannual meetings, which are open to the public, attract numerous state legislators as well as regulators, gaming operators and suppliers, attorneys, lobbyists, media, and other stakeholders to discuss all aspects of regulated gaming, as well as the risk implications of unregulated gaming. NCLGS meetings are proudly produced and organized by Spectrum Gaming Group, which serves as Executive Director.

2026 Summer Meeting Sponsors

MEDIA PARTNERS

NCLGS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR