David G. Schwartz

Professor & Gaming Historian
UNLV Ombuds
Affiliate Professor, Department of History
Former Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Expertise: History of gambling, History of games, History of Las Vegas, Conflict resolution

Biography

David G. Schwartz is a gaming historian. Currently serving as UNLV's ombuds, Schwartz was director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV, a hub for scholarly analysis of gambling and gaming issues for many years. His research interests include the histories of gambling, gaming, and games (including video games), Las Vegas and Nevada history, tourism, and conflict resolution.

Schwartz has written seven books, as well as edited or co-edited four others, in his area of specialty — gaming history. Some of his more popular books include At the Sands: The Casino That Shaped Classic Las Vegas, Brought the Rat Pack Together, and Went Out With a Bang,  Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas, Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, and Boardwalk Playground: The Making, Unmaking, & Remaking of Atlantic City. He has served on several state and local groups, including the Nevada Gaming Policy Committee and the advisory boards of the Museum of Gambling History and the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (Mob Museum).

Additionally, Schwartz is a Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP), awarded by the International Ombuds Association, and a trained mediator who leads the UNLV Ombuds Office’s mediation practice and volunteers with the Clark County Neighborhood Justice Center. 

The professor has taught undergraduate and graduate courses for the colleges of Liberal Arts, Law, Honors, and Hospitality and been actively involved with Nevada Promise, McNair Scholars, and other student mentoring groups.

Education

  • Ph.D., American History, University of California, Los Angeles
  • M.A., American History, University of Pennsylvania
  • B.A., Anthropology and History, University of Pennsylvania

Related Links

David G. Schwartz In The News

K.S.N.V. T.V. News 3
Just one day after 57 Culinary Union members were arrested in a civil disobedience act to get higher wages, many were back to strike outside Virgin Hotels for the eighth day in a row.
C.N.N.
While gamblers outside of the United States have long been able to place bets on who will win the White House, in a historic shift this election cycle, Americans can make political wagers of their own.
K.T.N.V. T.V. ABC 13
Next Wednesday morning, what’s left of the iconic Tropicana Las Vegas resort-casino will be imploded. The implosion is set for 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, and the spectacle is expected to attract hundreds of people eager to witness the hotel’s last moments.
Las Vegas Review-Journal En Español
When three casinos opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 1999, it marked the first time in the strip's history that a trio of new megaresorts debuted in the same year.

Articles Featuring David G. Schwartz

Mirage Resort
Campus News | August 1, 2024

Roundup of the hottest news headlines featuring UNLV students and staff.

students in spring
Campus News | May 1, 2024

News highlights starring UNLV students and faculty who made local and national headlines.

Spring Flowers (Becca Schwartz)
Campus News | April 1, 2024

A roundup of the top news stories featuring UNLV students and faculty.

The Las Vegas strip as seen on Super Bowl weekend (Josh Hawkins/UNLV).
Campus News | March 1, 2024

A collection of news stories and highlights featuring UNLV students and faculty.