Governor Names Delaware County Man Chairman of Gaming Board

The agency that oversees and Pennsylvania’s other nine casinos has a new boss.

Gov. Tom Corbett recently appointed William H. Ryan Jr. as a member and chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

“I have the utmost confidence in Bill Ryan, who I appointed as my First Deputy Attorney General for six years and later as acting Attorney General,” said Corbett. “Bill’s proven integrity and more than three decades of experience as a prosecutor will serve him well as the new chairman of the Gaming Control Board.”

Ryan has held a number of leadership roles at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General since 1997. Corbett named him acting attorney general after Corbett resigned as attorney general to become governor. Ryan previously served as First Deputy Attorney General and also headed the Criminal Law Division.

Ryan was twice elected as District Attorney of Delaware County. He began his legal career with the Delaware County District Attorney's Office in 1972. He became first assistant district attorney in 1981, a post he held until being elected District Attorney in 1987. Ryan was also president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association in 1993-94.

Ryan graduated from St. Joseph's University and Villanova Law School. He and his wife, Debra, live in Delaware County. They have two sons.

Ryan will succeed Gregory Fajt, who will continue to serve as chairman until Ryan begins his new role Aug. 29.

The seven-member Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established through the passage of Act 71 of 2004, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. The board oversaw the creation of a casino industry offering both slot machine and table gaming. Currently, the 10 casinos in Pennsylvania employ more than 15,000 people and legalized gaming has generated $5.5 billion in tax and license fee revenue since the first casino opened in November 2006.