Nevada Gaming Commissioner Becomes Part of Incoming Governor’s Office

Ben Kieckhefer, a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, has been appointed Chief of Staff by newly elected Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo.

Nevada Commissioner Goes Back to Politics

Nevada Gaming Commissioner Ben Kieckhefer will step down from the commission once Governor-elect Joe Lombardo takes office on January 1, 2023. Republican nominee Lombardo defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak by a minimum Lombardo has been an official law enforcement officer since 1988 and was the 17th sheriff of Clark County for seven years. Former US President Donald Trump endorsed him. Lombardo has already announced the members of his transition team, with Ben Kieckhefer being named chief of staff.

Kieckhefer served 11 years in the Nevada Senate, representing District 16, from November 2010 to October 2021. He took a hiatus from politics for more than a year and served as Nevada Gaming Commissioner. However, the new Nevada governor’s proposal was too good to resist. Kieckhefer expressed his excitement about the new position: “I am honored by the trust that Governor-elect Lombardo has placed in me, and I am thrilled to have another opportunity to serve Nevada, a state I love dearly.”

I am confident that under Governor-elect Lombardo, this administration will bring innovative solutions and historic victories to our great state. Ben Kieckhefer, Member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The incoming Republican governor of Nevada also explained why he selected Kieckhefer for the position: “Ben has devoted his life and career to serving the people of Nevada, and there is no one more qualified or prepared for the role. I know that Ben’s exceptional leadership, unmatched integrity, and extensive legislative experience will be essential to our success. in Carson City. In addition to his position as Gaming Commissioner in Nevada, Kieckhefer also serves as Director of Client Relations at the law firm McDonald Carano. He has been with the company since December 2010.

Kieckhefer – an Advocate for Esports

During his time as a member of the Nevada State Senate, Ben Kieckhefer championed esports by introducing legislation to regulate this gambling sector. Kieckhefer proposed the establishment of an Electronic Sports Regulatory Commission. His rationale for the proposal was that a regulator dedicated to the sport would strengthen and promote a healthy industry and sector and drive growth. The bill eventually underwent some amendments, and a Sport Technical Advisory Committee was established. These changes resulted from eSports tournament organizers and video game publishers’ concerns that government regulation of esports can negatively impact the industry.

Nevada Gambling Commissioner and former State Senator Ben Kieckhefer will serve as Chief of Staff to Governor-elect Joe Lombardo. “Ben has dedicated his life and career to serving Nevadans, and there is no one more qualified or prepared for that role,” Lombardo said in a statement Monday, an essential part of our success at Carson City.

Kieckhefer, a Republican, represented District 16 from 2010 to 2021 when he was appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission. He will step down from the commission once Lombardo takes office in January. Lombardo, who has been Las Vegas Sheriff since 2015, defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak by around 15,300 votes. “I’m honored by Governor-elect Lombardo’s confidence in me,” Kieckhefer said Monday, “and I’m thrilled to have another opportunity to serve Nevada, a state I love dearly.”