David G. Schwartz
Gaming historian
Affiliate professor, Department of History
Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Expertise: History of Gambling, Gaming Statistics, Casino Surveillance and Security, Gaming Technology, Casinos and Social Media
Biography
David G. Schwartz is a gaming historian. Currently serving as UNLV's associate vice provost for faculty affairs, Schwartz was the longtime former director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV, a hub for scholarly analysis of gambling and gaming issues. The center is part of University Libraries and boasts the largest repository of English-language materials on gambling and has an unparalleled repository of books, journals, and primary materials for gaming research. The center also maintains casino corporate archives including the Harrah’s Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Boyd Gaming Corporate Archives, gaming-related manuscript collections such as the Sands, New Frontier, and Binion’s Horseshoe collections, and a growing number of collections obtained under the Problem Gambling Pioneers initiative, which collects and preserves the papers of the pioneers of the problem gambling treatment and advocacy movement.
In addition to his work at UNLV, Schwartz is an active consultant. As vice president of research and analytics for Santo Gaming he assists the Las Vegas-based gaming management and consulting firm with a range of projects.
Schwartz is the author of three books about gambling, including Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, Suburban Xanadu: The Casino Resort on the Las Vegas Strip and Beyond, and Cutting the Wire: Gaming Prohibition and the Internet. He currently writes the biweekly Green Felt Journal column for Vegas Seven magazine and was named gaming and hospitality editor of Vegas Seven.
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
Casino.org
March 25, 2020
On the low end, Penn National Gaming is burning through $6.4 million daily having just 5.2 months before running out of cash, the report said.
Gambling 911
March 24, 2020
Two weeks ago, Virginia lawmakers approved legislation to allow developers to build five large casino resorts around the state in what supporters have long hoped will be a dramatic economic boost to struggling areas. Virginia is one of the few states in the country where casinos are currently banned.
March 24, 2020
Roshy Rivera was hiking at the Grand Canyon with two of her co-workers last week when she found out they'd all just lost their jobs.
March 23, 2020
Talk about bad luck.
Two weeks ago, Virginia lawmakers approved legislation to allow developers to build five large casino resorts around the state in what supporters have long hoped will be a dramatic economic boost to struggling areas. Virginia is one of the few states in the country where casinos are currently banned.
Articles Featuring David G. Schwartz
Campus NewsMarch 10, 2020
As coronavirus concerns grow, UNLV researchers available to provide expertise.
Campus NewsMarch 5, 2020
A collection of news stories from February highlighting the people and research of UNLV.
Campus NewsFebruary 18, 2020
A collection of news stories capturing the excitement and accomplishments of UNLV at the start of a new decade.
Campus NewsMarch 2, 2018
A U.S. Supreme Court a decision that would grant New Jersey the right to offer sports wagering would be a net positive for Nevada—as well as Boyd’s Gaming Law program.