Former Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chair Recruited by Penn Entertainment
Penn Entertainment has formally confirmed the addition of former Louisiana Gaming Control Board (LGCB) Chair Ronnie Jones to its Compliance Committee. The company's board of directors officially approved Jones' appointment, positioning him as an independent member of the committee that oversees regulatory adherence and integrity across Penn's gaming operations.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Jones brings extensive experience to the role, having spent nearly five decades in public service, including over 30 years with the Louisiana State Police. From 2013 to 2020, he served as Chair of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring the operational integrity of gaming in the state. His oversight extended to 15 riverboat casinos, a land-based gaming venue, four racetrack-based slot machine facilities and a network of over 2,000 licensed video poker locations throughout Louisiana.
Related: Nevada Gaming Commission Puts Penn Entertainment Executives in the Hot SeatDuring his tenure as LGCB Chair, Jones worked closely with lawmakers and regulators to shape the future of gaming in Louisiana. His leadership contributed to the groundwork that later supported the legalization of sports betting in the state, which was formally implemented in 2022.
In recognition of his regulatory contributions, Jones was honored in 2017 as the North American Regulator of the Year by the International Masters of Gaming Law, an acknowledgment of his role in promoting best practices in gaming governance.
Penn emphasized that Jones' inclusion strengthens the company's dedication to regulatory compliance and industry integrity. The company's President and CEO, Jay Snowden, said that Jones is a respected figure within the regulated gaming sector and that his knowledge will add significant value to the committee's responsibilities. Snowden highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance as central to Penn's operational standards and long-term success.
Jones will join Thomas N. Auriemma, who serves as the chair of the Compliance Committee in a non-director, independent capacity. Two recently elected members of Penn's board, Johnny Hartnett and Carlos Ruisanchez, also sit on the committee. The composition reflects Penn's continued focus on maintaining strong governance frameworks as it expands its gaming and entertainment offerings across the US.
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Penn Looks to Boost ESPN Bet's Position with FanCenter
In parallel with strengthening its compliance infrastructure, Penn is enhancing its customer-facing offerings through product innovation. The company announced the upcoming launch of FanCenter, a major new feature designed to enrich the ESPN Bet Sportsbook experience.
FanCenter will serve as a personalized betting hub tailored to users' preferences, fantasy football interests, and betting history. The integration will be powered by account linking technology between ESPN and ESPN Bet.
FanCenter aims to streamline the user experience by surfacing betting markets based on individual player and team preferences. It will provide a curated "For You" section that highlights player props, game wagers and custom parlay opportunities directly relevant to each user's fantasy roster or wagering trends.
Additionally, the Fantasy Bet Builder will present markets associated with a user's ESPN Fantasy Football lineup, creating a direct bridge between fantasy participation and real-money sports betting.
Further enhancing the experience, FanCenter will incorporate ESPN Bet's player insights feature, allowing users to analyze player performance trends and statistics before placing wagers. The interface will also allow for quick navigation to the Mint Club, Penn's promotional rewards program, enabling users to view available promotions and benefits directly within the FanCenter environment.
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