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Robert Norton is a veteran gaming executive with extensive knowledge of the industry and more than 20 years of hands-on operational experience.

As President of Cordish Gaming Group, Mr. Norton leads the acquisition, planning, development and management operations of The Cordish Companies’ worldwide gaming projects, including the Live! Casino brand in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Company is currently embarking on major expansion projects at Maryland Live! Casino, in Hanover, MD, to include the addition of the flagship Live! Hotel and event center; and the development of the new Live! Hotel & Casino in the Stadium District in Philadelphia, PA. Mr. Norton is also involved with several other new corporate and international development projects in the pipeline.

Mr. Norton joined The Cordish Companies in 2011, as President and General Manager of Maryland Live! Casino, where he was responsible for one of the largest casino openings in history when Maryland Live! opened to the public in June 2012. Under his leadership, Maryland Live! has consistently ranked as the highest grossing casino in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Norton is still actively involved in all aspects of the property’s operations, including gaming, finance, marketing, human resources, hospitality and information technology. He is committed to maintaining Maryland Live!’s leadership position in the state by creating a world-class casino entertainment experience through innovation, customer service and marketing, with an emphasis on driving revenue.

Mr. Norton has been recognized throughout his career for driving multi-million dollar projects forward, holding top executive positions with the MTR Gaming Group and Isle of Capri Casinos, companies whose combined revenues top $1.5 billion. His leadership and passion became hallmarks during his tenures at both companies, guiding projects from inception to opening and on to profitability.

From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Norton served as Chief Operating Officer of MTR Gaming Group, Inc., where he was responsible for the strategic direction and management of casino and racetrack facilities in three states and the execution of cost containment measures that saved $15 million annually. Under his leadership, MTR grew the company’s earnings (EBITDA) in each operating year, despite over one billion dollars of new competition entering the market.

Prior to MTR, Mr. Norton held a variety of top executive positions for the Isle of Capri Casinos from 2000 to 2009. As Corporate VP of Operations, he was responsible for the revenue in gaming departments spanning 16 casino resorts. In addition, he was integral in setting the direction relating to the CRM system, as well as gaming technology. Mr. Norton was also a key player with the team that designed and opened four different casinos, as well as numerous expansion projects.

Over the past 15 years, Mr. Norton has been selected to serve on the Advisory Panels of several leading slot manufacturing companies, including Aristocrat, IGT, Bally’s and WMS, lending his expertise to the strategic planning, design and rollout of innovative, state-of-the art slot machines. He has also consulted on system development for the manufacturers, specifically offering insight from a casino floor design and optimal operational perspective. In addition to the advisory panels, Mr. Norton has pioneered the prospectus of internet gaming throughout the United States on behalf of multiple gaming operators.

Mr. Norton serves on the Boards of Directors for the American Gaming Association, the Anne Arundel Local Development Council, the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation, and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce.

He’s a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration. He currently resides in Anne Arundel County, MD, with his wife and four children.