MGM Resorts International has appointed former Foxwoods CEO Scott Butera to lead MGM’s interactive gaming division.
Butera joins as president of interactive gaming as the company seeks to establish a strong footing in the growing market of sports betting in the US.
MGM expects Butera to provide strategic leadership on the development of interactive gaming, including sports betting and skill-based gaming opportunities.
“Scott is joining the company at a really exciting time,” said Corey Sanders, chief operating officer for MGM Resorts. “Skill-based gaming is expanding exponentially and his experience will help us to dominate the field.
“As an industry leader in sports betting and cutting-edge interactive gaming offerings, MGM Resorts is well-positioned to bring our decades of experience and well-earned reputation to new markets throughout the country. Scott will play a key role as we continue to expand nationwide.”
MGM Resorts’ Nevada sportsbooks currently process more than four million wagers annually, worth in excess of $1bn.
As well as Foxwoods, Butera’s 25 years in the finance and hospitality sector include leading management positions at Tropicana Entertainment and Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino Resort.
COMMENT: The casino sector in the US – both the established land-based giants of Vegas and the fledgling online operations in New Jersey – have been rushing to gain an advantage in America’s sports betting gold rush. MGM has shown its hand and, for all his experience – including a recent four-year stint as Commissioner of the AFL indoor American Football league – Butera must bear the weight of MGM’s considerable expectation.
