Dan Marks and Bruce Rowe Inducted into 2026 EKG Slot Awards Hall of Fame

Marks becomes the eighth inductee under the Game Development category, while Rowe is the sixth honoree in the Slot Operations category. According to Todd Eilers, Principal at EKG, both executives have delivered “substantial and long-lasting contributions” that have helped shape the modern gaming landscape.

Dan Marks: A Pioneer in Slot Innovation

Born in Englewood, New Jersey, Dan Marks began his gaming career in 1998 at High 5 Games, where he served as LLC Manager and developed some of the industry’s most enduring slot titles, including Black Widow, Twin Win, DaVinci Diamonds, Golden Goddess and Cats. Many of these games remain top-performing high-denomination titles more than a decade after launch.

Marks is widely recognized for pioneering gameplay mechanics that have become staples of contemporary slot design. His patented innovations—such as exploding symbols, split symbols and replacement stacked symbols—reshaped player engagement and bonus structures across the sector.

In 2010, he co-founded Spooky Cool Labs alongside Joe Kaminkow, focusing on advanced 3D and AI-driven casual gaming experiences. The studio was acquired by Zynga in 2013, leading to the launch of Hit It Rich Casino, one of the first licensed-brand social casino apps, which has generated more than $2 billion in lifetime revenue.

Marks later founded Gimmie Games, now regarded as the largest multi-channel slot studio globally. The company produces more than 60 games annually across land-based, social casino and iGaming platforms. Sixteen of his titles—including Mighty Cash, Cashman Bingo and Spooky Link—have reached #1 rankings more than 70 times on the Eilers-Fantini Game Performance Reports.

Currently a Master Patent Inventor at Aristocrat with more than 95 issued patents, Marks continues to drive innovation in slot development.

Bruce Rowe: A Leader in Slot Operations and Strategy

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Bruce C. Rowe has built a distinguished career spanning over 45 years in casino operations and gaming technology.

Rowe spent more than two decades with Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment), where he held senior leadership roles including Corporate Vice President of Slot Operations and R&D. He oversaw more than 42,000 slot machines across 26 properties and played a key role in the opening of 18 casino development projects across riverboat, land-based, Native American and international markets.

He later expanded into the supplier sector, serving as Vice President of Business Strategy at GTECH and holding senior executive roles at Bally Technologies, where he helped guide long-term growth initiatives and support emerging markets, including internet gaming.

In 2013, Rowe founded Renaissance Casino Solutions, LLC, providing strategic consulting services worldwide in slot optimization, casino design and performance strategy.

His accolades include the Harrah’s Leadership Award and the Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his enduring influence on the operational side of the gaming business.

Celebrating Industry Excellence

The 2026 Hall of Fame inductions highlight the complementary pillars of innovation and operations that continue to drive the slot sector forward. By honoring leaders in both game development and casino management, EKG reinforces the industry’s commitment to excellence, creativity and strategic growth.

The formal ceremony in Las Vegas later this month will celebrate not only two individual careers, but also the broader evolution of slot gaming over the past three decades.