- US Naval Academy
1993-1997 - Harvard Business School
2004-2006
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
As a veteran, having served nearly eight years and earning the rank of Major in the Marine Corps, Eller has helped build several casinos around the country, working to create multiple operations such as PCI Gaming in Mobile, AL and Pearle River Resorts in Jackson, MS, managing both properties with local Native American tribes. Through various leadership roles, Eller was able to work his way to serving as Chairman of the New York Gaming Commission and has served on the board of various trade and community organisations. He has guided organisations through challenges and holds knowledge in enterprise expansion, asset development, restructuring and mergers and acquisitions.
EMPLOYMENT
Eller began his hotel and gaming industry experience at Caesars Entertainment in 2006. After a year and a half he moved on to become the Treasurer and Executive Director of Finance at Wind Creek Hospitality, where he served until early 2012. After this, he was appointed EVP and CFO of Pearl River Resort.
Following this, Eller spent four years at Genting New York between 2013 and 2017, where he was put in charge of planning a $315m expansion of Genting's Resorts World Casino New York City in Jamaica, Queens. While overseeing this, he served as President of Genting Americas and managed the design and development of the company’s $4b integrated resort project on the Las Vegas Strip.
Following this, Eller was appointed CEO of Empire Resorts, a role he held between 2017 and 2020. There he oversaw the development of the company’s resort casino in Sullivan County, New York, as well as operations at the Monticello Casino and Raceway.
After departing from Empire, Eller served as the President of GH Holdings in Austin, TX until October 2022 when he saw an opportunity to join The Cordish Company subsidiary Live!. Currently holding the roles of EVP and GM at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover, he assumes oversight of the day-to-day management and operations of the property.
With his knowledge of the hotel and gaming industry proven though years of experience, he became focused on the hospitality side of the business. Eller combines his experience in gaming and hotel management to not only oversee the casino but uses his knowledge of hospitality to run the concert halls, restaurants and events hosted at the casino.
One of the reasons why tribal gaming is not dissimilar to an enterprise is that they’re both family-owned, right? It's just a large family. But it’s definitely not similar to being CEO of a public company Ryan Eller
Interviews and public speeches
Eller took part in the May/ June edition of Gaming America magazine.
