Commission grants license to Caesars iGaming director after questioning about caregiving hours

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission voted to grant an initial casino key-employee license and plenary qualification to Renju S. Matthew to serve as director of iGaming for Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey LLC after an extended on-the-record review of his outside caregiving work.

Counsel for Mr. Matthew told the commission that Mr. Matthew provides home-care services for his mother through US1 Home Care LLC and that the caregiver company’s mobile application produces the operative records. "The app is the record and... it's kept by the home health-care company," counsel said, explaining that the company produced records when requested and that Mr. Matthew provided the Division with a sampling of those records.

Commissioners pressed counsel and the applicant about a division sampling that showed, in one week, 49 hours of caregiving activity; the division’s sampled weeks averaged 34 hours per week. A commissioner framed the arithmetic concern starkly: combined with a full-time Caesars schedule, the sampled 49-hour week could leave "less than two hours a day" of free time. Commissioners asked whether caregiving windows overlapped with Caesars hours and whether caregivers use paid time off when duties conflict with employer obligations.

Mr. Matthew, sworn and asked to state his name for the record, told the commission that his Caesars duties are project-based, that he typically works roughly eight hours a day Monday through Friday, and that he adjusts caregiving hours to avoid overlap. He said he clocks into the caregiver app after completing Caesars work, uses paid time off if a daytime caregiving need arises, and that the caregiver app geolocates shifts and sets acceptable windows. On compensation he said the caregiving work pays $14 per hour.

Division reports filed in May and a June 8 supplemental letter documented the outside-employment situation and recommended approval of the plenary qualification; the Division confirmed it received supplemental documentation requested during the review. Counsel for the applicant reiterated that the home-care provider maintains the app records and that Mr. Matthew provided the requested backup to the Division.

After questioning, a commissioner moved to adopt a draft resolution granting the license, qualification, and a waiver of the residency requirement. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Famika voted "Yes," Vice Chair Molino voted "No," and Chairman Pelosis voted "Yes."

Why it matters

The director of iGaming occupies a regulatory-sensitive role overseeing compliance of digital gaming products and software. Outside employment that requires substantial hours can raise questions about availability, conflicts, and recordkeeping; commissioners’ questions focused on whether caregiving duties could overlap with or impair performance of regulatory responsibilities.

What happens next

The Commission directed staff to issue the license and document the residency waiver; the action is final on the record. The decision and the Division’s reports will be part of the public record for this qualification proceeding.

Key excerpts from the hearing

- Counsel for the applicant: "The app is the record and... it's kept by the home health-care company." (counsel’s explanation of documentation) - Applicant Renju S. Matthew: "I do work hard and make sure my CIS responsibilities are fully covered and do not overlap with my secondary job." (on balancing duties) - Roll-call result: Commissioner Famika, Yes; Vice Chair Molino, No; Chairman Pelosis, Yes.