Bo Bernhard

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Vice President of Economic Development
Professor, Sociology and Hospitality
Special Advisor, International Gaming Institute
Expertise: Gaming, Tourism, Problem Gambling, Sports Wagering

Biography

Bo Bernhard's research and teaching work focuses on the impacts of gaming and tourism industries on communities around the world. His grant-funded studies have supported more than a dozen student researchers who share his interest in examining the sociological laboratory of Las Vegas. He is currently exploring the long-term health of problem gamblers and Nevada’s regulated sports betting industry within the context of professional sports in Las Vegas. In addition, he has studied the health contours of multiethnic and multiracial individuals in the United States.

He began his research career at Harvard University, with an undergraduate thesis on the community impacts of the gaming and tourism industries in Nevada. He then came to 51ԹϺ to earn his Ph.D. and soon extended his analysis to global perspectives.

In 2010, he was named executive editor of the 51ԹϺ Gaming Research Journal and a Lincy Fellow at 51ԹϺ’s Brookings Mountain West. Bernhard spent more than a decade as executive director of 51ԹϺ's International Gaming Institute (IGI) before transitioning in 2023 to serve full-time as 51ԹϺ vice president of economic development. He maintains his affiliation with IGI as special advisor.

His work on gambling, society, and Las Vegas has been prominently featured on CNN, The Discovery Channel, the BBC, and The History Channel.

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • B.A., Sociology, Harvard University
  • B.S., Psychology, Harvard University

Search For Other Experts On

economy, gaming & gambling, hospitality & tourism, Las Vegas, Nevada, social issues

Bo Bernhard In The News

K.S.N.V. T.V. News 3
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who served under President Obama as the first Black person in that position, addressed students and professionals at a symposium hosted by the Las Vegas alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Inside Asian Gaming
Adding some color to Regulating the Game in 2025 will be a Keynote from Titus O’Reilly, a renowned  Australian writer, presenter, performer and broadcaster who is known for his informative yet hilarious take on the world of sport and sports betting, and Bo Bernhard, Vice President of Economic Development at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who will present on the concept of the “fun economy”.
Vegas 411
It’s home to a symphony orchestra, choral ensembles, ever-changing exhibitions, virtual galleries, and museums. It’s the base of operations for the Jazz Outreach Initiative, a concert hall, and a haven for theater students. Its halls and classrooms honor art’s history while fostering future masterpieces. The College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas powers the pulse of Sin City…and it continues to grow.
K.V.V.U. T.V. Fox 5
Warner Bros. Discovery will make Las Vegas its next filming headquarters and hub all in partnership with 51ԹϺ, according to University officials. The announcement came Wednesday during a packed town hall on campus, with a number of representatives from the company and 51ԹϺ in attendance.
All Bo Bernhard In The News

Articles Featuring Bo Bernhard

51ԹϺ Newsmakers 2024: July
Mirage Resort
Campus News | August 1, 2024

Roundup of the hottest news headlines featuring 51ԹϺ students and staff.

51ԹϺ Newsmakers 2024: February
The Las Vegas strip as seen on Super Bowl weekend (Josh Hawkins/51ԹϺ).
Campus News | March 1, 2024

A collection of news stories and highlights featuring 51ԹϺ students and faculty.

All Articles Featuring Bo Bernhard