Boyd Gaming, Seneca, Galaxy and Bluberi reshuffle senior leadership

Four gaming companies moved on senior appointments this week, according to SBC Americas, with operations, finance, product development and board-level changes spanning commercial casinos and the supplier side of the business.

Boyd Gaming has promoted Rick Goldstein to senior vice president of operations, a role that adds Aliante and Cannery to his portfolio while he keeps his existing post as general manager of Suncoast Hotel & Casino. Boyd confirmed the move on LinkedIn.

Goldstein joined the company in 2016 as assistant general manager at Kansas Star Casino and has worked through several leadership posts since. He became vice president and general manager of Suncoast in 2023, was later elevated to senior vice president and general manager there, and now takes on responsibility for operations across the three properties.

Seneca Resorts & Casinos has named Wade Howk as chief financial officer. Howk joins from Inspire Entertainment Resort in South Korea, where he served as chief operating officer and led the integrated resort through its development and opening. He has also held the CFO role at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati and senior posts at PENN Entertainment, in addition to prior leadership experience at Hard Rock International.

In his new position, Howk will take charge of financial and operational accounting across Seneca's properties, covering budgeting, income audit, reporting and purchasing. He is also tasked with monitoring the company's liquidity, financial performance and capital structure, overseeing departmental budgets and filings, and advising the Seneca Gaming Corporation board on fiscal governance.

Seneca Resorts & Casinos President and CEO Kevin Nephew said Howk's operational and strategic background, along with his industry experience and leadership record, made him a strong fit for the CFO role as the company navigates what he called a rapidly growing and changing gaming market.

Galaxy Gaming has appointed John Boushy to its board of directors with effect from Wednesday, replacing Meredith Brill after her four years as a Class II director. Boushy's career spans more than 45 years across gaming, hospitality, technology and entertainment, including a stint as chief executive, president and director of Ameristar Casinos and over two decades at Harrah's Entertainment in roles that included chief information officer and chief integration officer.

He has also run his own advisory firm, Boushy Consulting, working with gaming operators and investors, held executive positions with the parent company of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, advised creditors during the bankruptcy of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, and later sat on Caesars' board following its emergence from that process. Since 2015 he has been co-founder and chairman of the parent company behind ReelMetrics.

Galaxy Chairman Mark Lipparelli said Boushy's breadth of experience in strategic planning, technology, mergers and acquisitions, operations and governance would support the company's long-term growth plans. The appointment comes after Evolution dropped its planned acquisition of Galaxy Gaming earlier this autumn.

Bluberi has appointed David Bollesen as senior vice president of its U.S. studios, giving him oversight of development teams in Reno, Austin, Las Vegas and Atlanta. Bollesen previously served as chief product officer at Ainsworth Game Technology and held a vice president role at IGT, bringing more than two decades of product and studio leadership experience to the position.

The hire follows Bluberi's expansion to four North American development studios, including its first dedicated iGaming operation. Bluberi Chief Product Officer Mike Brennan said the studios had "doubled to four almost overnight" and that Bollesen's background would help the company balance efficient production with what Brennan described as a "quality-first, player-centric" approach to game design.

Bollesen said the company's investment in its people gave it a strong footing for its next growth phase, adding that he was looking forward to working with the studios to build on that momentum.