Speakers

Becky Harris is the Distinguished Fellow in Gaming and Leadership at the Office of Economic Development and is on the faculty at the International Center of Gaming Regulation at University Nevada, Las Vegas. Harris, an internationally recognized expert on gambling policy, regulation, and legislative affairs, works with regulators, operators, academics, and other stakeholders on a host of gambling, and leadership challenges and projects. In addition to teaching Gaming Law and Policy, Casino Resort Hotel Law, and AML for Gaming Lawyers at the William S. Boyd School of Law, Harris regularly educates gambling regulators ensuring they have the information, knowledge, and tools necessary to assess and improve gambling policy and regulation in their respective jurisdictions. Actively involved in gambling issues around the world, Harris is highly sought-after as a collaborator, advisor, and speaker at conferences, industry specific panels, as a moderator and in other fora. Harris is frequently called upon nationally to discuss policy and regulatory issues relating to legal sports wagering. Ms. Harris is a published author and is designated as an AML Specialist by ACAMS.

Harris served as the Chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board from 2018-2019 and was the first woman to hold the position. As Chief Regulator, responsible for comprehensively regulating the multi-billion dollar gambling industry in the State of Nevada, she served as a global ambassador to other gambling regulators and led the world’s most highly regarded gambling regulatory body through several high profile matters including the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the emergence of sports betting across the United States, various Wire Act issues, sexual harassment matters and the #MeToo Movement, and gaming implications from the legalization of recreational cannabis.

Harris represented Nevada’s 9th Senate District (Clark County) for two regular sessions and two special sessions. She served as Chair of the Education Committee, where she oversaw the passage of a series of some of the most significant reforms to the education system in the state, Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and a member of the Finance, Education, and Commerce, Labor & Energy Committees. Harris was selected to chair the Responsible Gambling Committee for the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States and served as its Treasurer. Harris also served as Nevada’s State Director for Women in Government and is a Henry Toll Fellow.

In addition to her regulatory work, Harris is a game developer and created Winning With Words, a peer-to-peer competitive game of skill offered for fun or for monetary prize pools. Having developed, launched, and marketed her game, Harris understands firsthand the technical and legal complexities of app and online skill-based gaming. Harris holds two U.S. patents.
Harris is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts and a J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School. She later obtained a master’s degree in Political Science from UNLV and was an inaugural class member of the Gaming Law and Regulation L.LM. at Boyd. Though no longer representing clients, her practice in Las Vegas included mediation and alternative dispute resolution, maintaining compliance with state and local regulations, business concerns, and contract negotiations. Harris is licensed to practice law in the states of Nevada, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Harris is also a Non-Executive Director for PointsBet Holdings Limited, a sports betting operator in Australia and the U.S. and an advisor to Oddin.gg, a B2B esports odds feed and risk management provider.