Bill Hornbuckle is CEO and President of MGM Resorts International, the company behind Bellagio, MGM Grand and BetMGM. He started as a busboy in Las Vegas and became CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He now leads MGM’s push into Japan, Macau and online sports betting.
Who Is Bill Hornbuckle?
Bill Hornbuckle is the Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM). He runs one of the largest gaming and hospitality companies in the world. Its resorts include ARIA, Borgata, Bellagio, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay.
He became Acting CEO in March 2020, right as the pandemic shut down the Las Vegas Strip. MGM’s board made the role permanent that July. Hornbuckle also sits on the MGM Resorts board, and he serves as Co-Chairman of MGM China Holdings.
Bill Hornbuckle’s Career at MGM Resorts
Hornbuckle joined MGM Resorts in 1998, after 15 years working his way up through Mirage Resorts under Steve Wynn. He took on operating roles at several MGM properties before moving into corporate leadership.
He became Chief Marketing Officer during the 2008 financial crisis, where he launched the M life Rewards loyalty program. MGM’s board named him President in 2012, then added Chief Operating Officer to his title in 2019.
| Year | Milestone |
| 1998 | Joins MGM Resorts after 15 years at Mirage Resorts |
| 2005-2009 | President and COO of Mandalay Bay |
| 2009-2012 | Chief Marketing Officer, launches M life Rewards |
| 2012 | Named President of MGM Resorts International |
| 2019 | Adds Chief Operating Officer to his role |
| 2020 | Confirmed as CEO and President in July, after months as Acting CEO |
| 2025 | Signs new employment agreement through the end of 2028 |
From Busboy to CEO: His Path Before MGM
Long before he ran a resort empire, Bill Hornbuckle bussed tables and carried room service trays at the Jockey Club. That entry-level start earned him a step up to assistant manager duties at the Flamingo Hilton.
He then spent 15 years at Mirage Resorts, joining Steve Wynn’s team for the Mirage’s debut in 1989. Along the way, he ran Treasure Island and the Golden Nugget in Laughlin. He was President of Caesars Palace just before he joined MGM.
That hands-on operating background still shapes how he talks about the guest experience today.
Bill Hornbuckle’s Global Growth Plan: Las Vegas, Macau and Osaka
Under Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts grew from about 1.5 Las Vegas properties into a global company. It now operates roughly 30 resorts around the world, with 19 of those falling under its regional resorts segment. He also led MGM through some of its toughest years, including the full shutdown of the Strip in 2020.
MGM’s biggest growth story right now is happening outside Nevada. In Macau, MGM China closed out 2025 with record full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Market share topped 16%, the highest level in company history.
In Japan, MGM broke ground on MGM Osaka in April 2025. It’s the country’s first integrated resort with a casino.
| Market | Hornbuckle’s Role | Status in 2026 |
| Las Vegas Strip | CEO, MGM Resorts International | Core market, flagship resorts |
| Macau | Co-Chairman, MGM China Holdings | Record full-year EBITDA in 2025 |
| Osaka, Japan | CEO overseeing the project | Under construction, targeting 2030 |
Hornbuckle called out Osaka’s progress on MGM’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call. He told investors the resort “forges ahead” toward its 2030 opening, and that MGM’s future has “never looked brighter.”
BetMGM and MGM’s Digital Business
The 2018 Supreme Court ruling that let states legalize sports betting gave Bill Hornbuckle an opening, and he moved fast. MGM launched BetMGM, its sports betting and iGaming joint venture with Entain, that same year. BetMGM grew into one of the top online sportsbooks in the US.
BetMGM turned a corner in 2025. The joint venture posted a nearly $470 million swing in annual EBITDA. It began sending cash back to MGM and Entain for the first time.
MGM expects BetMGM to earn $300 million to $350 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2026. MGM’s wider digital business, which includes the LeoVegas brand, grew net revenue 35% that same year.
Why Bill Hornbuckle Joined Vail Resorts’ Board
Vail Resorts named Hornbuckle to its board of directors in July 2026, effective that August. The move expanded Vail’s board to ten members.
Vail’s CEO Rob Katz pointed to Hornbuckle’s guest-loyalty background as a fit for the job. It matches Vail’s new “Epic Experience” strategy, which shifts the company’s focus toward guest service over pass growth. Hornbuckle said he was excited to join a company whose “iconic destinations” he had long admired.
The Bottom Line
Bill Hornbuckle turned a busboy job into one of the top roles in American hospitality. He steered MGM through COVID-19 and built BetMGM into a national sportsbook brand. Now he has MGM racing toward a 2030 opening in Osaka.
His contract runs through 2028, and he just picked up a new board seat at Vail Resorts. His influence on the industry keeps growing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bill Hornbuckle?
Bill Hornbuckle is the CEO and President of MGM Resorts International. He has worked in Las Vegas hospitality for more than 40 years. He started as a busboy, then rose through roles at Mirage Resorts, Caesars Palace and MGM Resorts.
When did Bill Hornbuckle become CEO of MGM Resorts?
He became Acting CEO in March 2020, during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. MGM made the appointment permanent that July, naming him CEO and President.
What is Bill Hornbuckle’s role in MGM Osaka?
Hornbuckle leads MGM’s side of the Osaka project as CEO. His new contract also includes an advisory role, to help guide the resort toward its planned 2030 opening in Japan.
Does Bill Hornbuckle work with BetMGM?
Yes. As CEO, Hornbuckle oversees BetMGM, MGM’s sports betting and iGaming platform. He has also led MGM’s digital expansion through its LeoVegas acquisition and its Entain partnership.
Why did Bill Hornbuckle join the Vail Resorts board?
Vail Resorts recruited him for his hospitality and guest-loyalty experience. He joined the board in August 2026 to support Vail’s Epic Experience strategy. That plan focuses on improving the guest experience at its ski resorts.