A mega-resort on the north end of the Strip announced a new senior executive.
Fontainebleau hotel-casino has appointed Patrick Crockett as chief financial officer, according to a press release. Crockett has nearly two decades of industry experience with financial roles in both Las Vegas and Macau.
“This is an exciting time to join Fontainebleau Las Vegas, as this resort raises the bar for both luxury hospitality and the gaming experience,” Crockett said in the release. “Fontainebleau Las Vegas represents a bold vision for the future of the Strip, and I look forward to building on that momentum and contributing to what is already extraordinary leadership.”
Crockett will guide the finance strategy with oversight of the resort’s finance and accounting, financial planning and analysis, purchasing and inventory and business transformation teams, the casino said.
A graduate of UNLV, Crockett’s gaming resume includes roles at MGM/Mirage Resorts, SLS Las Vegas and Wynn Resorts, in addition to consulting for Oak View Group, Maddox Hospitality and Sariton Development Group.
“Patrick brings a global perspective to Fontainebleau Las Vegas, having shaped the financial direction of iconic properties across Las Vegas and Macau over a more than 20-year career,” said Fontainebleau President Maurice Wooden. “The depth of experience makes Patrick an exceptional addition to our leadership team, and we look forward to his contributions as we continue to shape the future of Fontainebleau Las Vegas.”
Visits to Las Vegas are increasing
Visitation to Southern Nevada increased in February for the first time in 13 months, and Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said first-quarter numbers will be up significantly year over year.
“The first quarter of 2026 will be up meaningfully from the first quarter of 2025,” Hill said Thursday at the 2026 Las Vegas Housing Outlook event. “Some of what you saw in February. January was basically flat from last year and March is going to be a very good month.”
Hill said one of the main reasons for the increase is ConExpo, the massive ConExpo-Con/Ag construction industry trade show that comes to Las Vegas every three years and drew more than 140,000 in early March to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Room revenue will also increase year over year, thanks in part to the all-inclusive deals offered at several properties.
“In the first quarter, we’re seeing a pretty big difference between this year and last year at this time,” Hill said. “The resorts capitalize on what is strong and respond to what has been weak. The all-in offers and sales are focused on driving the consumer and making it easier for them to make the choice that is coming.”
In February, Kevin Bagger, vice president of the LVCVA Research Center, said 3 million visitors, a 2.1 percent increase over last year, arrived in the city.
Sportsbooks open new kiosks
Boomer’s Sportsbook has partnered with Gold Mine Tavern on Water Street in Henderson as the latest location to install a deposit kiosk. The independent sports betting operator now has nine sportsbooks and 17 betting kiosks across the state.
William Hill sportsbook is now taking bets at two new betting kiosks at the Verdi Grillhouse and Casino outside of Reno. The launch comes after William Hill began accepting bets in March at Barton’s Club 93 hotel-casino in Jackpot, near the Nevada-Idaho border.
The end of an era in Atlantic City
The longest-serving general manager of any Atlantic City casino is leaving at the end of the week.
Tom Pohlman, who has overseen the Golden Nugget hotel-casino in the city’s Marina District for 15 years, told The Press of Atlantic City, “it’s just time.”
Pohlman wrote on his social media accounts that being the general manager of the Golden Nugget Atlantic City was “the privilege of a lifetime.” Before landing in New Jersey, Pohlman served as senior vice president and general manager of the Golden Nugget Laughlin.
A UNLV graduate, Pohlman, who has spent more than 25 years in the industry, is not retiring and is actively exploring other opportunities at the executive level.
Gotham City’s first full-scale casino takes bets on the first table on Tuesday
Resorts World New York City will become the first of New York’s three downstate licensees to open a full commercial casino, with live dealer table games set to debut Tuesday pending final approval from the New York Gaming Commission. The license allows operators to offer non-lottery slot machines and live dealer table games.
The other two licensees, Hard Rock’s planned Queens project and Bally’s proposed Bronx casino, are still early in development.
The Queens property’s third floor has been reconfigured to host more than 240 table games, including blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette, along with more than 2,500 slot machines. Thousands of additional machines are expected later in 2026.
Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said the opening follows a major recruiting push that has doubled the workforce to more than 2,200 employees. The casino has added about 1,250 jobs this year, including 950 table game dealers. Employment is expected to exceed 2,700 by the summer.
Resorts World’s workforce development pipeline includes an “Introduction to Gaming” program launched in 2022 and a dealer school that has trained more than 400 local residents. Another 500 dealer-school graduates are expected in May.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Tuesday will include Genting chairman KT Lim, musician Nas, elected officials and community leaders.
Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@ theplayerlounge.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.
Contact Todd Dewey at tdewey@ theplayerlounge.com. Follow @tdewey33 on X.
