“I’m truly humbled to be among this distinguished group,” Medenica said. “The lottery industry is filled with exceptional people who are dedicated to the success of this business, so being in the Hall of Fame is quite an honor – one that I’m proud to share with the many others who make dreams possible every day.”
For immediate release
September 1, 2020
Contact:
Carole Bober Gentry
410-230-8725 (office)
410-365-6384 (cell)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director Gordon Medenica to Receive Top Industry Honor
Medenica to be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame
BALTIMORE – The Lottery Industry Hall of Fame will induct industry veteran Gordon Medenica, recognizing him for his many years of successful leadership. The Hall of Fame honors individuals who are dedicated to promoting excellence and integrity in the lottery industry. The announcement was made yesterday from the Public Gaming Research Institute (PGRI), which works with public policy makers around the world to support government-sponsored gaming industries. Medenica is one of six inductees who will be honored in a virtual ceremony at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on October 4.
“I’m truly humbled to be among this distinguished group,” Medenica said. “The lottery industry is filled with exceptional people who are dedicated to the success of this business, so being in the Hall of Fame is quite an honor – one that I’m proud to share with the many others who make dreams possible every day.”
Medenica’s breadth of lottery-industry experience includes management of lotteries in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. He began his career in 2007 as the Director of the New York Lottery, the country’s largest. During his time in New York, the lottery set all-time revenue records every year. Importantly, Medenica authorized the initiative that prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to rescind its interpretation of the 1961 Wire Act, an action that led to the legalization of online lotteries in 2011. Medenica and his team also created the New York Lottery Black instant ticket, which became the all-time best-selling ticket at its price point. During his tenure, the lottery also won multiple industry advertising awards, culminating in the World Lottery Association (WLA) Best of the Best award in 2012. In addition to the lottery, Medenica also oversaw New York’s nine casinos and managed the successful selection process for the operator at New York City’s Aqueduct racetrack, which has become one of the world’s largest casinos.
Following his time in New York, Medenica was the transitional CEO of the Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group, which won the contract to manage sales, marketing and related functions for the New Jersey Lottery. He remains the only director to have managed lotteries from both the public and private sides. He also worked with the lottery directors in New Jersey and New York to create and launch the Cash4Life multistate game.
Medenica joined the Maryland Lottery as director in June 2015, where he has consistently set revenue and profit records, focusing his team on instant ticket sales. He also oversees Maryland’s six casinos, including the 2016 opening of the state’s largest, MGM National Harbor.
His work in the lottery industry includes serving as President of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) in 2012. He currently serves on the NASPL Executive Committee as Region 1 Director, and is also Lead Director of the Mega Millions consortium and Lead Director of the Cash4Life consortium. Internationally, Medenica serves on the WLA’s Sports Betting Integrity Committee.
Before coming to the lottery industry, Medenica was a longtime executive and member of the Management Committee of The New York Times Company. More recently, he was the Executive Vice President of Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC, an owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. Prior to that, Medenica served as an advisor to the Blackstone Group on newspaper acquisitions, and as the President and CEO of DornaUSA, a sports marketing company. Earlier in his career, Medenica was a Senior Analyst at the Marriott Corporation.
Medenica earned his A.B. from Harvard College, where he majored in government, and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
###
Carole Bober Gentry
Managing Director, Communications
Maryland Lottery and Gaming
1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(410) 230-8725
mdlottery.com | Facebook | Twitter
Maryland Lottery and Gaming contributed $1.113 billion
to the State of Maryland in FY2020. Please play responsibly.
Click here to complete a two-question customer experience survey.