Casino Control Commission approves multiple key‑employee licenses, denies resubmissions for non‑compliance

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on a series of motions approved multiple casino key‑employee licenses, authorized one temporary corporate director qualification and adopted an initial decision to keep an appellant on the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s self‑exclusion list.

Commission business opened with the ratification of the public meeting minutes from June 11, 2025, followed by votes on applications for initial and resubmitted casino key‑employee licenses. The commission voted to grant two recommended initial licenses and to remand two other initial applications to the contested‑case process after the Division of Gaming Enforcement raised objections. A separate package of 11 resubmitted applications was recommended by staff and approved by the commission.

Assistant director Patrick Giller summarized delegated approvals carried out by the Regulatory Affairs Division between June 1 and June 24, 2025 and said, “This memorializes the approvals that were granted by the commission's regulatory affairs division.” Those staff‑level approvals included temporary casino key‑employee licenses for positions at Ocean Casino, Hard Rock Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Tropicana Atlantic City and Borgata, among others; no further full‑commission action was required on the delegated items.

The commission granted David B. Westervelt’s resubmission with a multi‑casino endorsement to serve as a regional security administrator for Caesars, Harrah’s and Tropicana, citing NJSA 5:12‑91.1. Two other resubmissions — Stephen E. Porter and Charles D. Evans Jr. — were sent back to the contested‑case process at the division’s request.

Francis J. Chesky III’s resubmission was approved and the commission granted continued qualification without the need to establish residency, as permitted by NJSA 5:12‑89B. Dominique Palmieri’s resubmission was also approved with a multi‑casino endorsement to serve regional casino marketing roles for Boardwalk Regency, Harrah’s and Tropicana; the record shows those votes were recorded on roll call as yes votes by the commissioners present.

Administrative and enforcement actions included the commission’s approval to place Gary S. DiDononi on the commission’s approved inactive list (inactivation may last up to five years) and a finding that six individuals’ casino key‑employee licenses had lapsed for failure to file required review applications. The names identified in the record for licenses deemed lapsed were Christian G. Andahar; David A. Krupy; Lance W. McCallion; Richard S. Polizzi; Brandon M. Walsh; and Brody D. Right (names as listed in the transcript).

The Division of Gaming Enforcement recommended denial of the resubmission application for Mohammed R. Hassan, citing failure to cooperate in the division’s investigation and failure to comply with the contested‑case process; the commission voted to find Hassan disqualified, deny the resubmission and revoke his license. Similarly, the division asked that the resubmission application of Mark A. Morales be denied after Morales failed to submit the required hearing request form and comply with the contested‑case process; the commission voted to find Morales disqualified and to deny his resubmission and revoke his license.

The commission approved two stipulations of settlement entered into between the Division and applicants. Under one stipulation the initial application of Jackie Trower was approved; if approved, Trower’s license will be valid through July 2030 subject to the stipulation’s terms. A stipulation resolving Ramona Velasquez’s resubmission was also approved after the Division filed a supplemental report withdrawing its prior objection when Velasquez provided outstanding documentation.

On an administrative appeal matter, the commission adopted the hearing examiner’s May 29, 2025, initial decision and denied an appellant’s request to be removed from New Jersey’s self‑exclusion list; the Division advised the appellant had voluntarily enrolled through an online gaming platform for five years and was not present for the hearing.

The commission also adopted a draft resolution authorizing Albert L. Faulkner to temporarily assume the duties and exercise the powers of a director of Pioneer Fiduciary Company LLC pending plenary qualification, subject to conditions in the applicable commission rule. Counsel for AC Ocean Walk LLC and the Division stated they had no objection to the temporary qualification.

The meeting closed after brief remarks and introductions of summer law clerks. The commission scheduled the next closed session for Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. in the commission offices.

What commissioners voted on and how: Many routine items were approved by voice vote; where the transcript records roll‑call results, the record shows commissioners voting in the affirmative. Formal motions and outcomes in the record include remands to contested‑case hearings, approvals with conditions or stipulations, and denials/revocations when applicants failed to comply with investigation or contested‑case procedures.

The transcript and staff memos in the record list specific dockets, statutory citations and applicants by name for each action. The Division of Gaming Enforcement presented the division’s recommendation before votes on contested or adverse actions; several applicants were not present for their matters and in at least two cases the division withdrew prior objections after applicants supplied additional material.