Gaming Hall of Fame inducts David Berman, Ann Simmons Nicholson, Charles Lombardo

David Berman, Ann Simmons Nicholson, and Charles Lombardo are the 2025 Gaming Hall of Fame inductees.

Sponsored by the American Gaming Association, the Gaming Hall of Fame “honors the visionaries who’ve shaped today’s gaming industry,” AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement Thursday. “David, Ann, and Charlie have each made lasting contributions to the growth, integrity, and leadership of legal gaming, and we’re proud to recognize their impact.”

Berman’s is the co-lead of Macquarie Capital, Americas and Global Head of Consumer, Gaming & Leisure. Nicholson is the founder and CEO of the Simmons Group. Lombardo is the former Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations at Seminole Hard Rock Gaming, and former Senior Vice President of Slot Operations for Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas.

“This year’s inductees reflect the strength, diversity, and expertise that define our industry,” said AGA Chairman Mike Rumbolz, a Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2022 member. “The Gaming Hall of Fame honors leaders whose careers exemplify excellence and enduring influence – and these three couldn’t be more deserving of this recognition.”

The Class of 2025 will be inducted at an invitation-only ceremony during the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas in October.

Profiles:

• Berman has more than three decades of experience in gaming mergers and acquisitions and capital markets, having led more than 100 mergers and acquisitions worth more than $125 billion and helped clients raise more than $215 billion in debt and equity. He founded Regal Capital Advisors, a gaming-focused advisory firm acquired by Macquarie in 2011, and previously held senior roles at Credit Suisse, CIBC World Markets, and Oppenheimer & Co. Berman serves on the Board of Leaders at USC’s Marshall School of Business and is treasurer of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation.
• Nicholson is an expert in strategic planning and organizational consulting. Over a 40-year career, she has worked with nearly every major gaming company, supporting more than 60 property openings, expansions, and acquisitions. Her expertise spans human capital strategy, leadership development, organizational culture, and executive coaching, and her firm has provided training to more than 27,000 gaming professionals globally. A dedicated community leader and advocate, she has served on boards including the United Way of Southern Nevada, Global Gaming Women, and Noah’s Animal House.
• Lombardo has more than 50 years of experience in slot operations and game innovation. He held senior leadership roles at Caesars Palace, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, and Seminole Gaming, leading the development of Class II and III gaming standards, pioneering slot technologies, and helping to shape state and tribal regulatory frameworks. He consults on game development and casino openings and serves as a special gaming advisor to Seminole Gaming. Lombardo was the first inductee into the Eilers Hall of Fame for Slot Operations.

This year’s selection committee members include:

• Mike Palm, Circa Resorts Vice President, Operations
• Anika Howard, Wondr Nation CEO
• Ryan Comstock, Ainsworth Chief Operating Officer and AGEM chair
• Debi Nutton, industry consultant and Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2024
• Mark Lipparelli, International Center for Responsible Gaming Chairman Emeritus
• Kirsten Clark, IAGA Executive Director
• Lauren Bates, Light & Wonder Vice President, Sales, and Global Gaming Women Chair
• Dr. Brett Abarbanel, University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute Executive Director
• Mike Rumbolz, AGA Chairman