Welcome to the Las Vegas Hall of Fame

The Las Vegas Hall of Fame selects its honorees through a structured, transparent process that recognizes individuals whose achievements have made a meaningful impact on Las Vegas, the gaming industry, business, entertainment, public service, and the community.

For the Hall of Fame being developed by LA Unifi and LancePay, we recommend establishing a formal selection process that balances professional accomplishments, community impact, leadership, innovation, and lasting contributions to Southern Nevada.

The key principle is that induction should recognize a person's documented achievements and lasting legacy—not simply their fame, wealth, or professional title.

1. The Five Primary Selection Criteria

We recommend that the Las Vegas Hall of Fame use the following criteria to evaluate every candidate.

Criterion Weight What the committee evaluates     

Professional Achievement 

25% Career accomplishments, awards, records, and demonstrated excellence.   

Impact on Las Vegas 

25% Contributions to the city's growth, reputation, economy, or cultural identity.   

Leadership and Innovation 

20% New ideas, businesses, technologies, or initiatives that made a measurable difference.   

Community Service and Philanthropy 

15% Charitable activities, mentorship, public service, and community development.   

Legacy and Integrity 

15% Professional reputation, ethical conduct, and lasting influence on future generations.   

Total 100%     

These percentages are a proposed framework, not verified existing rules of the Las Vegas Hall of Fame.

2. Who Should Be Eligible for Induction?

The Hall of Fame should recognize excellence across the industries and professions that have shaped Las Vegas.

Recommended categories include:

• Gaming and Casino Industry: Casino founders, gaming executives, gaming technology innovators, and individuals who transformed the gaming industry.
• Entertainment and Performing Arts: Musicians, actors, comedians, producers, entertainers, and entertainment executives.
• Business and Entrepreneurship: Founders, investors, business executives, and entrepreneurs who have created jobs and economic opportunities.
• Sports and Athletics: Professional athletes, coaches, promoters, team owners, and sports executives.
• Hospitality and Tourism: Resort developers, hotel executives, restaurant pioneers, and tourism leaders.
• Technology and Innovation: Fintech pioneers, digital payment innovators, technology entrepreneurs, and other industry innovators.
• Government and Public Service: Public officials, civil servants, public safety professionals, and civic leaders.
• Philanthropy and Community Leadership: Charitable founders, community advocates, and individuals whose service has improved the lives of Southern Nevada residents.
• Arts, Culture, and Media: Artists, broadcasters, journalists, cultural leaders, and media pioneers.
• Lifetime Achievement: Individuals whose careers demonstrate sustained excellence and a significant, lasting contribution to Las Vegas.

The Hall should also consider organizations, companies, and teams whose achievements have had an exceptional impact on the city.

3. How Should the Selection Process Work?

We recommend a six-stage process.

Stage 1: Nominations

Allow nominations from the public, industry associations, community organizations, business leaders, and existing Hall of Fame members.

Each nomination should include:

• The candidate's professional biography.
• Documented career achievements.
• Evidence of contributions to Las Vegas.
• Awards, recognitions, and relevant accomplishments.
• Two or three letters of recommendation.
• Examples of community service or lasting industry impact.

Stage 2: Eligibility Review

An administrative team checks that the nomination is complete and that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements for the relevant category.

Stage 3: Background and Achievement Verification

The committee verifies important claims using credible sources, such as professional records, news coverage, industry awards, business histories, and documented community contributions.

Stage 4: Independent Committee Evaluation

A selection committee evaluates candidates against the published criteria. Members disclose potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.

Stage 5: Final Voting

We recommend a seven- to eleven-member selection committee representing gaming, business, entertainment, sports, public service, technology, and community leadership.

Each eligible candidate receives a numerical score. 

A candidate must achieve a minimum score of 80 out of 100 and receive approval from at least 75% of eligible voting committee members to qualify for induction.

These thresholds are recommended rules that the Hall's leadership would need to adopt formally.

Stage 6: Official Announcement and Induction

The Hall announces the selected honorees, publishes their biographies, documents their accomplishments, and recognizes them at the official induction ceremony.

A permanent digital archive should preserve the stories and achievements of each inductee.

Established Halls of Fame use comparable approaches involving documented qualifications, committee review, and formal voting. 

For example, the  publishes its election procedures and requires candidates to demonstrate excellence in their respective disciplines. 

4. Should Public Popularity Determine Who Gets Inducted?

Public nominations should be encouraged, but popularity should not determine the final outcome.

A celebrity may be widely recognized without having made a substantial contribution to Las Vegas. Conversely, a gaming pioneer, business founder, or community leader may have transformed the city without receiving widespread public recognition.

The committee should therefore prioritize documented achievements over social media followers, celebrity status, personal wealth, or political influence.

Sponsors and financial contributors should not receive preferential treatment in the selection process.

5. What About the Gaming Industry's Icons?

Because gaming is central to Las Vegas's identity, I recommend a dedicated Gaming Industry Icons category.

Candidates could include individuals who have made significant contributions to:

• Casino development and resort operations.
• Gaming technology and innovation.
• Responsible gaming initiatives.
• Casino entertainment and hospitality.
• Gaming regulation and industry leadership.
• The development of new gaming markets.
• The evolution of gaming equipment and digital gaming systems.

The committee should assess each person's actual contributions, influence, professional conduct, and lasting impact.

6. An Important Distinction for the Las Vegas Hall of Fame

There is no single selection process shared by every organization using the name Las Vegas Hall of Fame.

For example,  reported that its 2026 Hall of Fame selections were made entirely by previous honorees. 

That is one possible model, but it is not a universal standard.

For the Las Vegas Hall of Fame developed by LA Unifi, We would establish a formal Hall of Fame Selection Committee and written Induction Policy before accepting nominations.

The policy defines:

1. The induction categories.
2. The eligibility requirements.
3. The nomination procedure.
4. The scoring system.
5. The selection committee's membership and voting rules.
6. Conflict-of-interest protections.
7. The annual induction schedule.
8. The process for publishing and preserving each honoree's legacy.

The ultimate standard should be simple: 

Honorees must have made a verifiable, meaningful, and lasting contribution to Las Vegas or to an industry that has helped define the city's identity.