The Nevada Gaming Control Board on Wednesday gave the green light to two key figures tied to Wynn Resorts Ltd., recommending top shareholder Tilman Fertitta and Chief Operating Officer Brian Gullbrants for licensing.
The matter now moves to the Nevada Gaming Commission, which is set to make a final decision on June 26. Board members voted unanimously to recommend Fertitta and Gullbrants in what marked Kirk Hendrick’s last meeting as board chair.
Fertitta, owner of Landry’s Inc. and the Golden Nugget casino chain, has increased his stake in Wynn to approximately 12.3%, or 13 million shares, after purchasing 400,000 additional shares in April through the company’s buyback program. He also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets and has real estate holdings along the Las Vegas Strip.
Fertitta has previously shared plans for a 43-story, 2,420-room resort on a 6.2-acre site at Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue, which remains in development.
In May, Fertitta accepted a diplomatic post as US ambassador to Italy and San Marino and began stepping away from business operations to comply with federal ethics rules. His attorney, Steven Scheinthal, told the board that Fertitta has relocated to Italy but remains a passive investor in Wynn, permitted to retain shares and collect dividends.
Scheinthal said Fertitta has concerns about the company’s stock performance and some recent decisions by Wynn’s leadership. However, he continues to support the company’s overseas project in the United Arab Emirates, Wynn Al Marjan Island, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
Wynn Resorts’ shares have dropped by roughly $10 over the past month, closing at $84.70 last Friday.
Meanwhile, Gullbrants, who led the opening of Encore Boston Harbor in 2019, was also recommended for licensing. He later moved to Las Vegas to manage both the Boston and Las Vegas resorts in his current role. He also sits on the board of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
At the meeting, Gullbrants spoke about the internal changes at Wynn since former CEO Steve Wynn left the company in 2018 and discussed the company’s direction on corporate governance, workplace conduct, and regulatory adherence.
Wynn Resorts was fined $5.5 million in May by the Nevada Gaming Commission after investigators found the company had engaged in an unauthorized high-roller recruitment scheme through unlicensed money transmitters.
The meeting also served as the final session for outgoing board chair Kirk Hendrick, who is stepping down following Nevada’s 2025 legislative cycle. Hendrick, who has held the position since early 2022, received public remarks of appreciation during the proceedings.
Mike Dreitzer, former CEO of Gaming Arts LLC and a former official in the state attorney general’s office, will assume the chairmanship in July.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/06/12/107907-nevada-gaming-board-recommends-fertitta-and-gullbrants-for-wynn-licensing
