Ford to Fill Two Gaming Control Board Seats
Nevada's incoming governor will make two appointments to the Gaming Control Board as terms for its chairman and a member expire January 29.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Gambling
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Gov.-elect Aaron Ford will make two Nevada Gaming Control Board appointments in his first month in office, as the terms of Chairman Mike Dreitzer and board member George Assad end January 29. Dreitzer and Assad together hold a two-thirds majority of the Control Board.
Why it matters
The Control Board makes monthly recommendations to the five-member Nevada Gaming Commission, so its membership shapes regulatory decisions affecting the state's gambling industry. The appointments could also determine how the board's expertise and geographic makeup look under the new administration.
Dreitzer and Assad hold a two-thirds majority of the Control Board, and their terms end January 29, 2026. Ford has not announced who will fill the seats or whether he will reappoint the current members.
The players
Aaron Ford
Ford is the governor-elect of Nevada who will make the Control Board appointments after taking office.
Mike Dreitzer
Dreitzer is a gaming law and regulation veteran who has served as Nevada Gaming Control Board chairman since June 2025.
George Assad
Assad is a former Las Vegas Municipal Court judge who has served on the Nevada Gaming Control Board since January 2023.
The details
Assad was appointed to the Control Board in January 2023 after nine years as a Las Vegas Municipal Court judge. Dreitzer was named chairman in June 2025 and brings 25 years of experience in gaming, gaming law and regulation.
Timeline
January 2023: Assad is appointed to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
June 2025: Dreitzer is appointed Control Board chairman.
January 2026: Ford takes office as governor.
January 29, 2026: The terms of Dreitzer and Assad end.
April 27, 2026: The term of Gaming Commissioner George Markantonis ends.
Season Trajectory
The Nevada Gaming Control Board operates under a statutory structure that assigns members specific expertise roles and channels monthly recommendations to the five-member Nevada Gaming Commission. These scheduled term expirations place the board's composition under new gubernatorial control in early 2026.
Nevada residents and gaming industry participants should watch the Control Board's composition after January 29, since its monthly recommendations shape Gaming Commission decisions. Changes in membership could affect the timing and substance of regulatory actions that impact casinos and gambling operators.
The takeaway
Gubernatorial appointments to the Control Board can shift regulatory priorities without changing the underlying statute. Watching who fills the seats after January 29 offers a clear signal of the state's direction on gaming oversight.
What happens next
Ford takes office in January 2026, and the terms of Dreitzer and Assad end January 29, 2026, when he is expected to make the appointments. The term of Gaming Commissioner George Markantonis ends April 27, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the state's regulatory framework, see Gambling coverage.
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