Bill Hornbuckle is the Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International, one of the largest hospitality and gaming companies in the United States. In this position, he holds ultimate responsibility for the company’s strategy, property operations, and gaming and hospitality development pipeline across its global portfolio. He also sits on MGM Resorts’ Board of Directors.

Under his most recent employment agreement, announced in May 2025, Hornbuckle is contracted to lead the company through the end of 2028, with a subsequent advisory arrangement tied to supporting the opening of MGM’s integrated resort project in Osaka, Japan.

Beyond his day-to-day executive duties, Hornbuckle holds board or leadership positions connected to several MGM ventures and civic organizations, and in August 2026 he joined the board of directors of Vail Resorts, the ski and mountain resort operator, as a non-employee director — a move that reflected his standing as a hospitality and guest-loyalty specialist beyond the casino sector.

Quick Facts

Full name William J. Hornbuckle IV
Current title CEO & President, MGM Resorts International
Company MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM)
In role since Acting CEO from March 2020; permanent CEO from July 29, 2020
Years in the gaming/hospitality industry More than 40 years
Education Bachelor of Science, Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada

Career History

Hornbuckle’s rise to the top of MGM Resorts followed a career path that began at entry level within the Las Vegas hospitality industry rather than through a traditional corporate track:

  • Early career: He started out in service-level roles in Las Vegas, working as a room service attendant and busboy at the Jockey Club before being promoted to assistant hotel manager at the Flamingo Hilton.
  • Mirage Resorts era: Hornbuckle spent roughly 15 years with Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts organization, holding senior operating roles including Vice President of Hotel Operations for The Mirage (part of the team that opened the property in 1989), Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Treasure Island, and President and Chief Operating Officer of the Golden Nugget Laughlin.
  • Caesars Palace: In 1997, he became President and Chief Operating Officer of Caesars Palace.
  • Joining MGM (1998): Hornbuckle joined MGM Resorts International in 1998 as an operations executive, later becoming President and Chief Operating Officer of MGM Grand Las Vegas (1998–2001).
  • International and regional leadership: He went on to lead MGM Resorts International–Europe, working on the company’s gaming operations in the United Kingdom, and later served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino (2005–2009), a role that followed MGM’s acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group, a deal in which Hornbuckle played a key integration role.
  • Chief Marketing Officer (2009–2012): He was appointed CMO of MGM Resorts International, overseeing brand and customer-loyalty strategy during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
  • President, MGM Resorts International (2012–2019): Hornbuckle was elevated to company-wide President.
  • Chief Operating Officer (2019–2020): He added the COO title, giving him oversight of the company’s operating portfolio.
  • Acting CEO (March 2020): As the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of the Las Vegas Strip, Hornbuckle was named Acting CEO and President, succeeding Jim Murren.
  • CEO & President (July 29, 2020–present): MGM Resorts’ Board of Directors confirmed Hornbuckle as permanent CEO and President, also adding him to the company’s Board of Directors.

Key Achievements

  • Guided MGM through the COVID-19 shutdown and recovery, managing the closure and phased reopening of dozens of resort properties during the most disruptive period in the modern history of the US gaming industry.
  • Built out BetMGM, the company’s online sports betting and iGaming joint venture with Entain, following the 2018 US Supreme Court ruling that struck down the federal ban on sports betting (PASPA). Under his leadership, BetMGM has secured official sports betting partnerships with individual teams across multiple leagues, including the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals (the first NFL team to house a sportsbook inside its home stadium), the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights (extended through the 2026–27 season) and St. Louis Blues (announced January 2026), and Madison Square Garden’s New York Knicks and Rangers. Team-level sportsbook deals across the industry turn over frequently as contracts expire and league-wide arrangements shift, so this list reflects confirmed, dated announcements rather than a complete or permanent roster of BetMGM partners.
  • Led MGM’s $604 million acquisition of LeoVegas (agreed May 2022, completed September 2022), a Stockholm-listed online gaming operator, extending MGM’s digital gaming footprint into Europe and international markets alongside BetMGM’s US-focused business. LeoVegas has since made its own acquisitions under MGM ownership, including game developer Push Gaming (2023) and the technology platform behind Tipico’s former US sportsbook (2024).
  • Oversaw MGM’s expansion beyond Nevada, including the company’s continued build-out in Macau through MGM China, the National Harbor resort in Maryland, and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.
  • Directed a $625 million renovation of Caesars Palace earlier in his career and later oversaw major reinvestment programs at MGM-owned properties, including a large-scale room remodel at MGM Grand Las Vegas completed in the mid-2020s.
  • Advanced MGM’s international development pipeline, including the company’s planned integrated resort in Osaka, Japan, and pursuit of opportunities in markets such as New York, Brazil, and the Middle East.
  • Recognized industry leadership: Hornbuckle has been inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to Las Vegas hospitality and business leadership.

Company Background: MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is a Las Vegas-based, S&P 500 global hospitality and entertainment company. Its portfolio includes some of the best-known resort brands on the Las Vegas Strip and beyond, among them Bellagio, MGM Grand, ARIA, Mandalay Bay, and Borgata in Atlantic City, alongside regional properties across the US and international operations in Macau through MGM China. The company’s business spans hotel and casino operations, meetings and convention space, live entertainment, dining, retail, and — through BetMGM — regulated online sports betting and casino gaming.

By scale, MGM Resorts operates roughly 30 resorts and casinos across the US and Asia (including around 20 in the US, per recent industry counts) and employs tens of thousands of workers globally — figures that fluctuate as the company opens, sells, or converts properties, so current totals should be checked against MGM’s own investor materials before publishing. Under Hornbuckle, the company has grown from a Las Vegas Strip-centric operator into one with a national regional footprint, a Macau joint venture, and an expanding international development pipeline spanning Japan, the UK, and other markets.

For full-year 2025, MGM Resorts reported net revenue of approximately $17.5 billion, up roughly 2% from $17.2 billion in 2024, even as its Las Vegas properties saw a modest revenue decline tied to a broader normalization of Strip demand following several years of outsized post-pandemic growth.

Involvement in the US Gambling Market

Hornbuckle’s tenure has coincided with the most significant regulatory shift in the modern history of US gambling: the 2018 repeal of PASPA, which opened the door to state-by-state legal sports betting. As CEO, he has positioned MGM Resorts as one of the two or three dominant operators in the resulting market, primarily through:

  • BetMGM, MGM’s 50/50 online sports betting and iGaming joint venture with Entain, which operates in a wide range of regulated US states and has pursued market-leading positions in online casino (“iGaming”) specifically, a segment MGM and Entain have both flagged as a long-term growth priority.
  • Land-based sports wagering, with retail sportsbooks integrated into MGM properties across Nevada and other states where MGM operates.
  • League and media partnerships tied to sports betting marketing, entered into during his tenure as MGM built brand awareness for BetMGM.
  • Regional US casino operations in states including Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio, giving MGM a multi-state footprint relevant to state gaming regulators and lawmakers as US gambling policy continues to evolve state by state.

As CEO of one of the industry’s largest operators, Hornbuckle is a frequent commentator on US gaming policy, Las Vegas visitation trends, and the growth trajectory of regulated online gambling, and MGM’s quarterly earnings calls under his leadership are closely watched as a bellwether for the broader Strip and regional casino markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bill Hornbuckle?

Bill Hornbuckle is the Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International, one of the largest casino and hospitality companies in the United States. He has worked in Las Vegas hospitality for more than 40 years, starting in entry-level roles before rising through Mirage Resorts, Caesars Palace, and MGM Resorts to lead the company.

When did Bill Hornbuckle become CEO of MGM Resorts?

He was named Acting CEO and President in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was confirmed as permanent CEO and President on July 29, 2020, succeeding Jim Murren.

What is Bill Hornbuckle’s role in BetMGM and US sports betting?

As CEO, Hornbuckle has overseen BetMGM, MGM’s 50/50 online sports betting and iGaming joint venture with Entain, since its creation following the 2018 repeal of PASPA. He has also directed MGM’s broader digital gaming strategy, including the 2022 acquisition of European operator LeoVegas.

Did Bill Hornbuckle work anywhere before MGM Resorts?

Yes. Before joining MGM Resorts in 1998, Hornbuckle spent about 15 years in senior operating roles with Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts organization — including work on the 1989 opening of The Mirage — and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Caesars Palace starting in 1997.

What other boards or organizations is Bill Hornbuckle involved with?

Beyond MGM Resorts, Hornbuckle chairs the board of MGM China Holdings, joined the board of Vail Resorts in August 2026, founded the Bank of George, and has held board roles with organizations including Three Square Food Bank and the UNLV Foundation.

Boards, Civic Roles, and Other Notable Activities

  • Executive Director and Board Chairman, MGM China Holdings (Macau operations)
  • Board of Directors, Vail Resorts (appointed August 2026, non-employee director)
  • Past/ongoing involvement with the Three Square Food Bank board of trustees
  • Founder, Bank of George, a Las Vegas-based community bank
  • Past board involvement with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the UNLV Foundation, and the Andre Agassi Foundation
  • Connections to Las Vegas sports infrastructure, including involvement with entities associated with T-Mobile Arena and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, both tied to the arrival of major professional sports franchises in Las Vegas during his tenure at MGM