Craig Billings runs Wynn Resorts as its Chief Executive Officer. He took the top job in February 2022, capping five years of building the company’s finances and strategy from the inside.
Under his leadership, Wynn operates luxury resorts including Wynn Las Vegas, as well as properties in Macau and Boston. The company’s also building a new property in the United Arab Emirates, part of a bigger push into markets outside the US.
This profile covers Craig Billings’ career, his path to CEO, and the milestones that shaped his role at one of the biggest names in gaming.
Craig Billings’ Career at Wynn Resorts
Billings joined Wynn Resorts in March 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. He kept that role for two years before the board promoted him to President in 2019, while he kept his finance duties too.
The board named him Chief Executive Officer on February 1, 2022. He succeeded Matt Maddox, who’d led the company for four years through a period of major change. Billings is also CEO of Wynn Macau, Limited, the group’s Macau-listed subsidiary. He previously ran Wynn Interactive, the company’s digital betting arm.
His rise from finance chief to CEO in under five years shows a track record built on deal-making and operations, not just accounting. That background still shapes how he runs the company today, from major property deals to expansion decisions.
Education and Early Career
Billings started his career in 1997 at Deloitte, working in audit. He then moved into investment banking at Goldman Sachs, where he covered gaming industry clients.
In 2009, he shifted into gaming directly. He held senior roles at International Game Technology and Aristocrat Leisure, including a stint as Aristocrat’s Chief Digital Officer, based in Australia and the UK. Those years abroad gave him a global view of the gaming business well before he joined Wynn.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, graduating cum laude. He later completed an MBA in Finance at Columbia Business School and holds a CPA license.
| Year | Milestone |
| 1997 | Begins his career in audit at Deloitte |
| 2009 | Moves into gaming through senior roles at International Game Technology and Aristocrat Leisure |
| 2017 | Joins Wynn Resorts as Chief Financial Officer |
| 2019 | Promoted to President of Wynn Resorts |
| 2022 | Named Chief Executive Officer of Wynn Resorts on February 1 |
| 2024 | Ranks 7th on the Asian Gaming Power 50 list |
| 2025 | Wins Executive of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards Americas; completes the $1.7 billion Encore Boston Harbor sale-leaseback |
| 2027 (planned) | Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, is set to open |
Craig Billings’ Key Achievements as CEO
Billings has overseen several major milestones since taking charge of Wynn Resorts:
- He oversaw Wynn’s $1.7 billion Encore Boston Harbor sale-leaseback, which helped strengthen the company’s financial position.
- Wynn’s properties have earned more Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards than those of any other independent hotel company worldwide.
- He’s steering Wynn’s newest project, a resort in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, set to open in spring 2027.
- Wynn Resorts won Land-Based Operator of the Year at the Las Vegas Global Gaming Awards in both 2021 and 2025.
The gaming industry has also recognised Billings for his leadership. He was named Executive of the Year at the 2025 Global Gaming Awards Americas and ranked seventh on the 2024 Asian Gaming Power 50 list, which highlights influential figures in Asian gaming markets.
Board Seats and Industry Influence
Billings sits on the board of directors for both Wynn Resorts and Wynn Macau, Limited. Outside gaming, he holds a board seat at AppLovin Corporation, where he chairs the Compensation Committee and serves on the Audit Committee.
He’s also taken on public service roles. He chaired the Nevada State Economic Forum from 2020 to 2022, after joining as Vice Chair in 2018. In 2019, the city of Las Vegas named him Citizen of the Month for his work in the community.
What’s Next for Craig Billings and Wynn Resorts
The Ras Al Khaimah project marks Wynn’s first major move into the Middle East. Billings has framed it as a long-term growth bet, not a one-off expansion. Analysts watch his UAE strategy closely, since it signals where the next wave of global gaming investment may land.
The Bottom Line
Craig Billings has moved from Wynn’s finance chief to its CEO in under five years, and Ras Al Khaimah is his biggest bet yet on where the company’s next growth chapter comes from. Watch how that Middle East expansion performs against Wynn’s established Las Vegas and Macau properties over the next few years.
If you want to see how Wynn’s properties stack up against other top-tier operators, compare Wynn Las Vegas with other high roller casinos to see where it stands today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Craig Billings?
He’s the Chief Executive Officer of Wynn Resorts, the luxury casino and hotel company with properties in Las Vegas, Macau, and Boston.
When did Craig Billings take over as Wynn Resorts CEO?
He became CEO on February 1, 2022, after serving as the company’s President and Chief Financial Officer.
What did Craig Billings do before joining Wynn Resorts?
He worked in audit at Deloitte, then moved into investment banking at Goldman Sachs before entering gaming through roles at IGT and Aristocrat Leisure.
Where did Craig Billings go to college?
He earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from UNLV and later completed his MBA at Columbia Business School.
Does Craig Billings sit on any other boards?
Yes. He serves on the boards of Wynn Macau, Limited, and AppLovin Corporation, a tech company listed on the Nasdaq.
What is Wynn Al Marjan Island?
It’s Wynn’s upcoming resort in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. It’s scheduled to open in spring 2027 and will be the company’s first casino resort in the Middle East.