- Ohio University
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Sara Slane has been instrumental in shaping the modern U.S. sports betting landscape. As Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the American Gaming Association (AGA), she led the campaign that culminated in the historic repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) by the US Supreme Court in 2018. Her advocacy and strategic communications thus helped to dismantle decades-old federal restrictions and open the door for legal sports betting across the US, earning her recognition as one of the most influential voices in sports betting policy.
Following her public advocacy success, Slane launched her own consultancy, Slane Advisory, in 2019. Through this venture, she has advised professional sports leagues, teams and media companies – including the NHL, NASCAR and PGA Tour – on revenue-generating strategies and market access. Her work has helped to bridge the gap between the gaming sector and the broader sports and media ecosystems.
EMPLOYMENT
Slane's foray into the gaming industry began in 2006 when she moved to Las Vegas to work on Catherine Cortez Masto’s first attorney general campaign. This move led her to MGM Resorts International, where she served as Vice President of Regional Government Affairs.
In this role, Slane spearheaded the largest gaming ballot initiative in the country, leading to the successful awarding of licensure to MGM National Harbor and the development of a $1.4bn gaming resort on the Potomac River. In total, Slane’s stint at MGM lasted seven years.
Following on from this, Slane joined the American Gaming Association (AGA) as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs in 2014. Her tenure at the AGA was marked by her pivotal role in the campaign to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
As a key strategist and spokesperson, Slane enhanced the gaming industry’s reputation and built favourable perceptions among regulators, legislators, the media and the public. Her efforts culminated in the 14 May 2018 US Supreme Court ruling that deemed PASPA unconstitutional, paving the way for states to regulate sports betting.
Following her success at the AGA, Slane founded Slane Advisory in 2019, a consultancy delivering business partnerships to leagues, teams and media companies. Her firm has worked with organisations such as the NHL, NASCAR, PGA Tour, Premier Lacrosse League and Drone Racing League, facilitating market access deals and driving revenue back to stakeholders.
Slane's expertise has also been recognised through her appointments to various boards, including Delaware North and Playmaker Capital. She additionally serves as a Board Observer to GeoComply and advises numerous gaming startups.
Ultimately, it was announced in April 2025 that Slane had been appointed as the new Head of Corporate Development at Kalshi. Here, Slane continues to leverage her experience to drive growth and innovation.
“In large part due to their obsession with product experience, I have never seen a company in a stage of explosive growth like Kalshi. Within a few months of launching sports, they have already managed to build a frontier product experience, with better pricing, robust risk management and captivating live charts. The trading volume, web traffic, attention in the media and the long list of companies ready to integrate as brokers with Kalshi is staggering." Sara Slane
