Las Vegan appointed to Gaming Control Board post
Technology company owner Mark Lipparelli was named to the three-member Gaming Control Board late Wednesday by Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Lipparelli, 43, who lives in Las Vegas, spent four years as an executive vice president at Bally Technologies and two yeas as president and vice president of Shuffle Master. Lipparelli also held several positions with Casino Data Systems, a technology company purchased by Aristrocrat in late 1999.
He left Bally about 18 months ago and formed Gioco Ventures, a technology development company specializing in technology, marketing and finance.
“I saw this as a window of opportunity,” Lipparelli said Wednesday. In the 1980s, he spent five years as a research analyst and securities analyst for the control board.
In remarks released by the governor’s office, Lipparelli said he would use his experience to work with the other two members of the control board.
“Mr. Lipparelli has the perfect background and experience to continue the effectiveness and efficiency we have on the Gaming Control Board,” Gibbons said in a prepared statement. “His energetic attitude and excellent work ethic will be valuable assets for the board.”
The Gaming Control Board is the state’s enforcement and investigative agency for gaming. The board makes recommendations on matters to the Nevada Gaming Commission. Its three members are full-time state employees.
The control board position pays $125,112 annually.
The position is Gibbons’ fourth gaming regulatory appointment. He appointed Randy Sayre to the control board on New Year’s Eve 2006 in a controversial move that superceded an appointment by former Gov. Kenny Guinn.
Gibbons reappointed Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Pete Bernhard to a four-year term in January 2007. In March, he named Las Vegas physician Dr. Tony Alamo Jr. to the gaming commission to replace former state Sen. Ray Rawson, whose term expired.
Lipparelli replaces Mark Clayton, who didn’t seek reappointment to a new four-year term. Clayton was general counsel of Caesars Entertainment when Guinn appointed him to the control board in 2005. Caesars was in the process of being purchased by Harrah’s Entertainment at the time. Previously, Clayton held general counsel positions with Aladdin Gaming Holdings and Showboat.
From 1993 to 1995, Clayton served as the control board’s chief of corporate securities.
Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.
