Accel Entertainment has appointed Founder and CEO Andy Rubenstein as Chairman of the operator’s Board of Directors, while current President of US Gaming Mark Phelan will take on the additional role of COO, as well as assume President & CEO responsibilities on August 7.
The operator also named Karl Peterson as the Lead Independent Director of the Board, with the transition said to reflect Accel’s long-term commitment to strong corporate governance and a leadership succession strategy.
“After 17 years, and having built a deep bench of talent, I am confident that transitioning day-to-day leadership to Mark will enable Accel to continue to capitalize on our many growth opportunities,” Rubenstein said.
“Accel has grown into a public company that is a leader in the route gaming industry, operating across 10 states, partnering with over 4,600 local retail businesses, employing more than 1,600 people and generating billions of dollars in municipal and state tax revenue over the years in the states we serve.
“As Chairman, I look forward to continuing my close work with Mark and the Board, as we look to extend Accel’s position as an industry leader and build new value for shareholders.”
Under the President & CEO titles, Phelan will lead Accel with a “continued focus” on disciplined execution and operational consistency.
Commenting on the new appointment, Phelan said, “Accel has a strong foundation, long-standing partnerships and a culture built on accountability.
“My focus will be on execution — improving the experience for our location owners and players, driving consistent performance across our markets, operating with discipline, identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities and working to create long-term value for shareholders. I am honored that Andy and the Board have selected me to lead Accel and I am excited to build on Andy’s long-term goal to make Accel the clear leader in the US Locals Gaming Market.”
Accel also began evaluating potential expansion of its distributed gaming and local entertainment operations to Chicago following recent public announcements proposing the integration of video gaming terminals (VGTs).
If such approvals occur, Accel stated it believes a VGT market in Chicago could begin generating revenue for the operator as early as Q3 or Q4 2026 once legislative, regulatory and implementation processes have been completed.
Rubenstein continued: “Mark has a deep understanding of the distributed gaming business and a demonstrated record of effective execution.
“He understands Accel’s markets, partners, regulators and players, and has shown the judgment and discipline required to lead the Company at scale. I am very confident and excited about his ability to lead Accel through its next phase of growth.”
Phelan will handle COO responsibilities in addition to his current role as President of US Gaming prior to officially taking on the President & CEO titles in August.
Accel reported its financial results for Q3 2025 on November 4, as the operator's net revenue grew 9.1% to $329.7m while also having generated a net income of $13.4m following a reported loss of $4.2m
