HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, charged by statute with overseeing the development of slots gaming in the Commonwealth and subsequently regulating the multi-billion dollar industry, today unanimously selected Anne Lacour Neeb as the agency's first executive director. Neeb is currently executive director of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which oversees all gaming activities in that state.
"From the beginning of the selection process, the Board has stated that its top appointment should have extensive experience in the regulation of gaming, and Anne has spent almost a decade in the field - two years at the helm of Louisiana's gaming board and before that in the Louisiana Attorney General's office," said Tad Decker, Chairman of the Gaming Control Board. "She has a thorough understanding of what Pennsylvania is trying to accomplish with gaming and has shown a keen interest in the position. Moreover, she has exhibited great leadership as executive director in Louisiana. My fellow Board members and I think she is going to do a wonderful job and welcome her to the staff."
Neeb will report directly to the seven-member Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and oversee a staff that is expected to grow to about 140 people. Her appointment is contingent on her passing an extensive background investigation. She will begin her duties in Pennsylvania later this month.
"Bringing expanded gaming to Pennsylvania is both a great challenge and a great opportunity, and I look forward to working with the Board and the rest of the staff in the coming months to make it a reality," said Neeb.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board oversees 14 riverboats, one land-based casino and about 14,000 video poker machines. Two horse race tracks also have slots gaming.
Neeb, a native of New Orleans, was named executive director of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board in 2004. She held a number of positions in the Gaming Division of the Louisiana Attorney General's office from 1996-2004. She was in private practice in the Metairie firm of Neeb & Neeb from 1991 to 1995, served as Deputy Disciplinary Counsel for the Louisiana State Bar Association's Office of Disciplinary Counsel from 1985 to 1990 and prior to that served as an assistant district attorney in the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, district attorney's office from 1981 to 1985.
Neeb earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1978 and a law degree from the Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in 1982.
Neeb's husband, David, is an attorney in private practice. The couple have two children, Michael and Matthew.
