Casino Control Commission approves a slate of key-employee licenses, denies one application for noncooperation

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Dec. 12, 2025, approved a series of personnel actions affecting Atlantic City casino operations, granting multiple temporary and plenary casino key-employee licenses while denying one initial application for failing to cooperate with the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Commission business began with routine procedural votes — ratifying the Nov. 12, 2025 minutes and adopting the commission's 2026 meeting schedule — before the panel moved through licensing and qualification matters on its agenda. Commissioners present for recorded roll calls were Commissioner Famica, Commissioner Molineux and Chairman Palosas.

Why it matters: The decisions clear executives and managers to assume or continue in senior roles at several Atlantic City properties, including temporary multi-property endorsements, while also enforcing licensing rules — including a denial for noncooperation — underscoring the commission’s gatekeeper role over key positions at regulated casinos.

Key outcomes and details

- Initial licenses granted: The commission granted initial casino key-employee licenses to Juan Laboy (also identified as John Laboy) and Norman R. Neely after staff and the division recommended approval.

- Two initial applications remanded: The applications of Courtney A. Boone and Ryan M. Peters were remanded to the contested-case process at the division’s and staff’s request.

- Resubmitted licenses approved: Seven resubmitted/qualification matters were approved (Marco L. Diana; Diana Donovan; Peter A. Polito; Sonal S. Patel/Sonal R. Patel; Gina M. Proccaccini; Juan D. Salazar; Timothy J. Shortall). The commission also granted a resubmitted license and continued qualification for Daniel McFadden (HC Ocean Walk) after a roll-call vote.

- Delegated approvals memorialized: Manager Harry Gavis reported delegated approvals granted by the Division of Regulatory Affairs for Nov. 1–30, 2025, including several temporary key-employee licenses for Atlantic City properties; no further commission action was required.

- Inactivation and lapse findings: The commission ordered inactivation of three casino key-employee licenses (Paul J. Pulido; Susan E. Viering / Susan E. Masouri; Zachary Czarnock) and found six other licenses lapsed for failure to file required review applications, citing NJAC 19:41A-6.1(f).

- Denial for failure to cooperate: The commission denied the initial application of Jalitza (transcript spellings vary: Jelitza/Jelica) M. Smith after the Division of Gaming Enforcement filed a Sept. 19, 2025, letter report recommending denial. Jocelyn Fedowitz, deputy attorney general for the division, told the commission the division sought denial "for failing to cooperate in the division's investigation" and for failing to participate in the contested-case process; the commission adopted a motion finding the applicant disqualified under the cited NJSA provisions and denied the application.

- Stipulation approved: The commission approved a stipulation of settlement for James McMackin's initial application; the stipulation grants licensure through December 2030 subject to its terms.

- Self-exclusion appeal: The commission adopted the hearing examiner’s Oct. 31, 2025, initial decision and denied an appellant’s request to be removed from the division's self-exclusion list; the appellant’s identity was noted as confidential and the division requested the commission keep the appellant on the list through the term.

- Plenary qualifications and temporary authorizations: The commission approved plenary qualifications and temporary authorizations with statutory conditions for a number of senior executives: - Donna Langley Shamshera — plenary qualified to serve as an outside director for MGM Resorts International (division report filed; no objection). - Vladimira (transcript spellings vary) Mirceva/Murcheva — plenary qualified to serve as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Bally’s Corporation (division filed a preliminary qualification report; no objection). - Kelly Jacoby — temporary casino key-employee license and temporary qualification approved to assume duties as director of finance for Premier Entertainment AC LLC (Bally’s Atlantic City) pending plenary qualification; the division filed no objection. - Amit L. Patel — authorized on a temporary basis to assume duties as senior vice president and regional general manager West for Bally's Corporation pending plenary qualification. - Jonathan K. Henderson — temporary casino key-employee license with a multi-casino endorsement approved to permit him to assume duties as regional vice president of marketing covering the Atlantic City region for three licensees (Harris Atlantic City Operating Co. LLC; Boardwalk Regency Corp.; Tropicana Atlantic City Corp.); the division filed no objection. - Jacob Whitmer — temporary casino key-employee license and temporary qualification approved to serve as senior vice president and general manager for Boardwalk Regency LLC (Caesars Atlantic City); Whitmer appeared in person and the division filed no objection.

Votes: Where roll call was recorded, Commissioners Famica, Molineux and Chairman Palosas voted yes on the applicable measures; numerous other items were adopted by voice vote with the record noting "ayes have it." Several items were unopposed by division counsel.

What commissioners and counsel said: Division counsel and deputy attorneys general frequently signaled "no objection" to draft resolutions and petitions. Jocelyn Fedowitz summarized the division’s recommendation to deny one application for noncooperation, saying the division "request[ed] that Jalitza Smith's application for casino key employee licensure be denied." Pat Madamba, senior vice president and legal counsel for MGM Resorts International, and Lynn Levin Kaufman, counsel for Premier Entertainment/Bally’s, each asked the commission to find their petitioners qualified or temporarily authorized.

Next steps: The commission set a closed session for Jan. 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned after a brief public participation period in which staff reported no emailed public comments.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Ratify minutes (11/12/2025): Approved (voice vote). - Approve 2026 annual meeting schedule: Approved (voice vote). - Adopt closed-session resolution for 2026: Approved (voice vote). - Grant initial licenses — Juan Laboy; Norman R. Neely: Approved (voice vote). - Remand to contested case — Courtney A. Boone; Ryan M. Peters: Remanded (voice vote). - Grant 7 resubmitted licenses (Marco L. Diana; Diana Donovan; Peter A. Polito; Sonal S. Patel; Gina M. Proccaccini; Juan D. Salazar; Timothy J. Shortall): Approved (voice vote). - Grant resubmitted license — Daniel McFadden (HC Ocean Walk): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Inactivate licenses — Paul J. Pulido; Susan E. Viering; Zachary Czarnock: Approved (voice vote). - Find lapsed licenses — six individuals: Approved (voice vote). - Deny initial application — Jalitza M. Smith: Denied (voice vote; division requested denial for lack of cooperation). - Approve stipulation — James McMackin: Approved (voice vote). - Adopt initial decision — confidential self-exclusion appeal: Adopted (voice vote). - Plenary qualification — Donna Langley Shamshera (MGM): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Plenary qualification — Vladimira Mirceva (Bally’s): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Temporary license/qualification — Kelly Jacoby (Bally’s AC): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Temporary authorization — Amit L. Patel (Bally’s): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Temporary multi-casino license — Jonathan K. Henderson: Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes). - Temporary license — Jacob Whitmer (Caesars Atlantic City): Approved (roll call: Famica/Molineux/Palosas yes).

Sources and attribution: The article draws from staff presentations, counsel statements and the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s reports read into the record during the commission’s Dec. 12, 2025 public meeting. Quotations in this article are taken from statements by division counsel Jocelyn Fedowitz and other counsel recorded on the public transcript.

Ending: The commission adjourned after scheduling its next closed session for Jan. 14, 2026.