Casino Control Commission approves dozens of casino key-employee license actions, remands and denials for noncompliance

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Oct. 1, 2025, approved a series of licensing actions affecting casino key employees across Atlantic City properties, including approvals of initial and resubmitted licenses, staff-authorized delegations, inactivations, and findings that several applications should be denied or remanded for contested hearings.

The commission approved seven initial casino key-employee licenses after general counsel read the applicants' names and staff reported no objections from enforcement (motion carried by voice vote). It also approved 12 resubmitted key-employee licenses that the division and staff had reviewed and recommended for approval. The commission granted a residency-waiver recommendation and approved a resubmitted key license with a multi-casino endorsement for Michael Pompey, and it approved Timothy R. Stafford’s continued qualification to serve as vice president of player development for AC Ocean Walk LLC.

Commission staff summarized approvals granted under delegated authority between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2025 (temporary licenses, title changes and similar administrative actions); the commission memorialized that report and noted no further action was required. Separately, the commission granted requests to inactivate two approved key-employee licenses (Douglas S. Arrington and Joseph J. Magarasini) and found five licenses lapsed for failure to file required review materials (John R. Costa, Nancy L. Hughes, Timothy L. Thomas, Darren J. Tomlinson and Veena Vang).

The division recommended remanding four initial applications (Nicole Blaylock, James McMacken, Dezona Moses, and Jalitza Smith) to the contested-case process, and the commission approved a motion to do so. The commission also acted on multiple resubmission matters where the division requested denial for applicants who failed to pursue the contested-case process: Mary Martinez’s resubmission application was denied and her license revoked for nonresponsiveness; Jacqueline Robinson’s initial application was denied; and Yacita/Yoshida Santana’s application was denied — each action referenced specific sections of the Casino Control Act and commission regulations as the legal basis.

All motions reported in the public meeting were carried by either voice vote or unanimous roll call where recorded. Where roll-call votes were taken, Commissioners Famica, Molineux and Chairman Pelosi recorded yes votes.

Why it matters: The routine approvals and denials affect who may hold senior positions in Atlantic City casinos and record the commission’s oversight of compliance, contested-case procedures and delegated staff actions. Approvals with multi-casino endorsements and temporary qualifications permit senior hires to assume duties while plenary qualification is pending.

What’s next: Several matters remanded to a contested-case process will proceed to hearing; temporary and delegated approvals will be memorialized in commission minutes and staff records.