NJ Casino Control Commission approves multiple key-employee licenses, remands several to contested hearings and denies one application

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Aug. 5, 2025, approved a series of casino key-employee licenses, granted temporary qualifications for corporate officers and remanded several applications to the contested-case process, officials said.

Clerk and staff presented batches of initial and resubmitted casino key-employee applications. The commission voted to grant seven initial licenses after staff and the Division of Gaming Enforcement recommended approval. The vote on the batch passed on a voice vote.

Commission staff told the panel that Jessica K. Hall’s initial application included a request for a multi-casino endorsement to serve in national/regional marketing roles for Caesars, Harrah’s and Tropicana. "Reviewed by the division of gaming enforcement with no objection," staff said, and the commission granted the multi-casino endorsement.

The division objected to three initial applications — those of Joshua A. Cruz, Jacqueline A. Robinson and Yoshida M. Santana — and commission staff recommended remanding those matters to the contested-case process. A motion to remand those three applications for hearing passed.

The commission also considered a large set of resubmitted and continued-qualification applications. Staff recommended that 13 resubmitted license requests be granted; the panel approved that motion. For Michael B. LaPointe, staff recommended granting the resubmitted application without the need to establish residency under NJSA 5:12-89(b), and the commission approved that waiver and license.

Division staff raised objections to the resubmission applications of Cynthia H. DeVeradino, Mary H. Martinez and Susan M. Nicodemus, and the commission voted to remand those three matters to the contested-case process.

Separately, the panel was asked to find five key-employee licenses lapsed for failure to file the required review applications. The commission agreed, finding the five licenses lapsed pursuant to NJAC 19:41-a-6.1(f).

The Division of Gaming Enforcement asked the commission to deny Steven E. Trainer’s initial application after saying the applicant failed to submit required hearing-request forms and did not comply with the contested-case process. Jocelyn Fedowitz, deputy attorney general for the division, told the commission the division’s report recommended denial pursuant to statutory sections of the Casino Control Act. The commission voted to deny Trainer’s application.

The commission also considered stipulations of settlement in other initial-application matters. The panel approved stipulations and license grants for applicants including Jeffrey Bartone and Debbie (Deborah) Martone, subject to conditions in the stipulations as presented to the commission.

On corporate petitions, commissioners approved a joint petition to issue a temporary casino key-employee license to L. (Ellie) Kim to serve as vice president of payments and fraud for William Hill US Holdco Inc. and Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey LLC, including a waiver of the residency requirement and contingent conditions in applicable statutes and regulations. The division reported no objection.

Premier Entertainment AC LLC and Bally’s Corporation requested temporary qualification for Luis A. Pinedo to serve as general counsel, North America, for Bally’s; the division reported no objection and the commission adopted the draft resolution authorizing the temporary qualification. The commission also adopted a draft resolution granting plenary qualification to Joseph D. Mauss to serve as chief financial officer of Standard General LP, per the division’s recommendation.

Votes on roll-call items were taken as indicated on the record; where roll calls were given, commissioners answered "yes" and motions passed. Where the transcript recorded voice votes, the chair declared "ayes have it." For the minutes-ratification item earlier in the meeting, the record shows a single abstention.

The commission’s decisions recorded a mix of approvals, remands to hearings, administrative inactivations and a denial tied to nonresponsiveness to the contested-case process. Several items were memorialized as staff action under delegated authority and required no further commission action.

The commission announced its next closed session for Sept. 10, 2025, and then moved to the public-comment portion of the meeting.