William N. Thompson, an Ann Arbor, Michigan native, received B.A. and M.A. degrees (Political Science) from Michigan State. His Ph.D. (Political Science) is from the University of Missouri. Thompson served on faculties of Southeast Missouri State, Western Michigan, and Troy State (Europe). He is a Professor of Public Administration, University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was Research Associate with the National Assoc. of Attorneys General, and Research Advisor for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Programs in the U.S. Dept. of Labor. He also was the elected Supervisor of Kalamazoo Township in Michigan. He came to UNLV in 1980.

He co-authored Over the Top: Solutions to the Sisyphus Dilemmas of Life (with Brad Kenny 2003), State Attorneys General and the Environment (with Brad Smith 1974) and wrote chapters in The Office of Attorney General (U.S.Justice Dept, 1971). He and John Dombrink of the U. California-Irvine were gaming consultants to the President's Commission on Organized Crime. They wrote The Last Resort:Success and Failure in Campaigns for Casinos (U.Nevada Press, l990). 

Thompson's articles have appeared in publications such as Journal of Gambling Studies, Casino Executive, and Gaming and Wagering Business. He spent a sabbatical in Europe studying casinos. He traveled throughout Latin America examining the gaming industry. He's lectured extensively. He wrote a 45 article series for the Las Vegas Sun on casinos. He co-authored and co-edited (with Anthony Cabot and Andrew Tottenham) International Casino Law (U.N.Reno, l99l, 93, 99). He's consulted on customer service, co-authoring (with Michele Comeau) Casino Customer Service=The WIN WIN Game (Gaming and Wagering Bus., 1992, 1996); he is also the author of Legalized Gambling: A Reference Handbook (1994,1997), and Native American Issues (1996), both ABC-CLIO: 1-800-422-2546. He worked with the Wisc. Public Research Inst., co-authoring (with Ricardo Gazel and Dan Rickman): The Economic Impact of Native American Casinos in Wisconsin (1995), The Social Cost of Gambling in Wisconsin (1996), Crime and Casinos in Wisconsin (1996). Gambling in America:An Encyclopedia (ABC-Clio) was published in 2001.

Dr. Thompson appeared as gambling authority twice on N.B.C.'s "Today Show," A.B.C.'s "World News Tonight" and "Nightline," C.N.N.'s "Crossfire," C.B.S.'s "Nightly News" and "48 Hours," "Newshour with Jim Lehrer," "Going Places," and "Frontline," on P.B.S., "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," Fox News' "O'Reilly Factor," N.P.R.'s "Morning Edition," and "All Things Considered," CBC's "Sunday Morning" and a special on The Learning Channel. He has been quoted in news media including Time, Newsweek, Business Week, Fortune, Reader's Digest, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Financial Post, Governing, Macleans, Canadian Business, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun, and Los Angeles Times. Consultant: National Gambling Impact Study Comm., Loto Quebec, Crystal Casino, Winnipeg, Detroit Casino Study Commission, Puerto Rico Tourism Co., Netherlands Bd of Casino Games, and Native American gaming in Michigan, California, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Texas, Montana, and Ontario. He has a Honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps and Missouri Army National Guard.

Mr. Thompson's website