Longtime MGM Resorts International leader Jim Murren has been appointed to head a new board of directors for Resorts World Las Vegas.
The $4.3 billion Resorts World, developed by Malaysia-based Genting Berhad, opened in June 2021. It reported its worst quarterly results in two years in the third quarter of 2024. Revenue was $177 million in Q3, down from $218 million in the second quarter. Its third-quarter occupancy rate was 85.1%, down from 91.1% in the prior quarter.
In a securities filing, Genting said “an abnormally hot summer in Las Vegas and economic uncertainty in an election year” affected the property.
A substantial Vegas resume
Jim Murren
Murren, who joined MGM Resorts in 1998, was CEO and chairman of the board of directors from 2008 to 2020 and led the company through a period of expansion. In 2020, then-Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak appointed Murren to lead a task force to coordinate private sector support for the government response to Covid-19 outbreak.
Another member of the board is A.G. Burnett, a partner in the gaming and administrative law group with the McDonald Carano law firm. Burnett previously served as the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board from 2012 to 2017.
Other members are Michelle DiTondo, a human resources industry executive, and Kong Han Tan, president, COO and executive director of Genting Berhad.
Alex Dixon, a Las Vegas native, was appointed CEO, effective Jan. 16. He was previously CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association.
Legal matters
In addition to the poor financial results from the quarter, Resorts World is facing a 12-count disciplinary complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in August. The complaint, stemming from allowing known illegal bookmakers to gamble millions of dollars at the Strip resort for more than a year, could result in millions of dollars in fines.
Correction: Kong Han Tan of Genting Berhad serves on the new board of Resorts World Las Vegas. His name was misspelled in the original version of this report.