The American Gaming Association has selected Richard Haddrill as their new Chairman. The elected post offers a term of two years, during which time the new appointee will assist the group in their representation of the casino and gambling industry.

Haddrill has considerable expertise in the gaming field, where he also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer for Bally Technologies Incorporated. He also is familiar with the workings of the AGA itself, having served as its Vice-Chairman over the past two years.

The man he replaces, Keith Smith, is known for his position atop the Boyd Gaming Corporation. After being elected to the Chairmanship in January of 2010, Smith simultaneously served as the President and CEO at Boyd. His AGA counterpart, Frank Fahrenkopf, had this to say about the work put in by the former Chairman:

“Keith’s leadership during the past two years has been a true asset to the AGA and we are grateful for the effort he has put into moving the entire industry forward.”

Filling Haddrill’s old Vice-Chairman spot will be James Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts. Both men will remain on the AGA’s Board of Directors for the next three years, as well.

“I am extremely confident,” continued Fahrenkopf, “that Richard and James will provide the AGA with the guidance and insight to best serve all of our members and help our industry take advantage of the new opportunities that will avail themselves in the coming year.”

Haddrill now finds himself at the helm of a group which first materialized in 1995. Since then, the AGA has been an instrumental force in the politics and progress of gambling. This year, they will keep an eye on the development of online poker one American soil. With the recent re-interpretation of the Wire Act, the AGA may finally be able to introduce legal online gambling, either at the inter- or intra-state levels.