Casino Control Commission approves dozens of key‑employee licenses, remands one contested application

The Casino Control Commission on a voice and roll‑call vote approved a slate of casino key‑employee licenses and related petitions at its public meeting. Commissioners ratified minutes, granted a series of initial and resubmitted licenses, authorized temporary qualifications for senior executives at Atlantic City licensees and remanded one application for a contested‑case hearing.

Commission staff told the commission that seven initial casino key‑employee license applications had been reviewed and were recommended for grant, and that 29 resubmitted/qualification applications likewise carried positive recommendations. "We recommend that the 29 resubmitted Casino Key employee license applications be granted," staff reported when presenting the bulk list of names. A single contested application prompted the commission to send the matter to the contested‑case process: "the division has raised an objection," staff advised concerning the initial application for Shaw M. Shahab Zaman, and the commission voted to remand that application for hearing.

Senior counsel Teresa Pipinelli presented a stipulation of settlement for the initial application of Jovan A. Adams and said the proposed license would be valid through June 2029 subject to the stipulation's conditions. Jocelyn Fedowitz, deputy attorney general for the Division of Gaming Enforcement, told the commission that the division "respectfully requests that the stipulation be approved as submitted and recommends the granting of the applicant's casino key employee license subject to the terms and conditions of the stipulation." The commission approved the stipulation and granted the license.

Commissioners approved several individual qualifications and temporary licenses for executives at Atlantic City licensees after division counsel reported no objection. Among them, the commission adopted a resolution granting Roman W. Rubas an initial casino key‑employee license and plenary qualification to serve as director of iGaming compliance for Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey, LLC. The commission also approved the initial license and plenary qualification of Patrick E. Stirr to serve as director of food and beverage for Tropicana Atlantic City Corp.; granted a multi‑casino endorsed license and plenary qualification for Nicholas Capriotti to serve as regional vice president of finance for multiple Atlantic City licensees; and authorized the temporary qualification of Kim Harris Jones to assume board duties for Caesars Entertainment, Inc., pending plenary qualification.

In routine administrative action, the commission memorialized delegated‑authority approvals issued May 1–31, 2024, approved requests to inactivate three casino key‑employee licenses (allowing placement on the approved‑and‑active list for up to five years), and found two licenses lapsed for failure to file a license review application by the deadline. The commission also approved temporary key‑employee licensure requests for Golden Nugget Atlantic City LLC (David Zirfing as temporary vice president of finance and CFO) and for Marina District Development Company LLC (Diana Castrillon as temporary vice president of human resources), among other petitions.

Motions were generally made by the member initiating procedural actions and seconded; votes were taken by voice or roll‑call as required by item. Where the transcript records a roll call, commissioners recorded "Yes" for the approvals reported.

The meeting record notes that the next closed session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the commission offices. The public‑participation portion closed with no public speakers or email comments, and the commission adjourned.

What's next: the contested‑case hearing for the Shahab Zaman application was ordered; other approved licenses will proceed subject to any conditions stated in the individual resolutions or stipulations.