Casino Control Commission approves multiple key‑employee licenses, memorializes delegated staff approvals

The Casino Control Commission on June 5, 2024, approved initial and resubmitted casino key‑employee licenses, memorialized delegated staff approvals for temporary licenses and agreed to inactivate or find lapsed certain licenses.

Commission business opened with routine procedural items and a motion to ratify the public portion of the June 12, 2024 minutes, which the commission approved by voice vote. The panel then considered several licensing matters recommended by staff and the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Staff presented five initial casino key‑employee applications and recommended granting all five. "Each of the matters have been reviewed by the division who raised no objection," a commission presenter said before the motion to grant was approved by the commission.

The commission also considered 31 resubmitted key‑employee applications that staff recommended for approval; the commission voted to grant those applications. The transcript lists the full set of names presented to the commission for those resubmissions.

One resubmission was called separately. David Pulizzi sought a resubmitted casino key‑employee license with a multi‑casino endorsement and qualification as vice president of slots for Boardwalk 1000 LLC and HR Atlantic City LLC. The motion to grant Pulizzi the resubmitted license with the multi‑casino endorsement cited state statutory authority and passed on a roll call vote in which Commissioner Molina, Vice Chair Cooper and Chairman Clozet recorded "yes." As staff noted on the record, the Pulizzi action referenced NJSA 5:12‑91.1.

Manager Patrick Keeler summarized approvals the Division of Regulatory Affairs granted under delegated authority between June 1 and June 23, 2024. "On 06/05/2024, the temporary casino key employee license was granted to Zachary M. Taub for a finance controller position at Bally's Atlantic City," Keeler said; he also identified temporary approvals for Alexandra Alberto at Ocean Casino (06/19/2024) and Maria G. Saavedra Cabrera at Bally's Atlantic City (06/20/2024). The commission memorialized those delegated approvals and noted no further commission action was required.

The commission granted four requests to place individuals on the approved‑and‑active list (allowing up to five years on that list): Taja M. Keats (also known as Taja M. Martinez), Edward J. Weeks, Jacob D. Whitmer and Sean D. Young. Staff recommended the relief and the commission approved the inactivations by voice vote.

Staff also recommended deeming six casino key‑employee licenses lapsed because the license review filing deadlines had passed and the individuals neither filed a review application nor requested active placement. The commission moved, seconded and approved the finding that those six licenses lapsed pursuant to NJAC 19:41‑a‑6.1(f).

Finally, senior counsel Teresa Piminelli and Deputy Attorney General Jocelyn Fedowitz presented a stipulation of settlement for Francesco Martire's resubmission application. "The division respectfully requests that the stipulation be approved as submitted and recommends the casino key employee licensure of Francesco Martire subject to the terms and conditions in the stipulation," Fedowitz said. The commission approved the stipulation; the transcript records that, if approved, the license would be valid through April 2026 subject to the stipulation's conditions.

The commission announced its next closed session for Aug. 14, 2024, closed the public‑participation portion of the meeting (no public comments were recorded in the transcript) and adjourned.

Votes at a glance

- Ratify minutes (06/12/2024 public portion): Motion approved by voice vote.
- Grant 5 initial casino key‑employee licenses (listed at meeting): Motion approved by voice vote.
- Grant 31 resubmitted casino key‑employee licenses (list read into the record): Motion approved by voice vote.
- Grant resubmitted license with multi‑casino endorsement for David Pulizzi (Boardwalk 1000 LLC and HR Atlantic City LLC) pursuant to NJSA 5:12‑91.1: Approved via roll call (Commissioner Molina, Vice Chair Cooper, Chairman Clozet recorded yes).
- Memorialize delegated approvals (06/01/2024–06/23/2024): No commission action required; delegated temporary licenses to Zachary M. Taub (Bally's Atlantic City), Alexandra Alberto (Ocean Casino), Maria G. Saavedra Cabrera (Bally's Atlantic City) were recorded.
- Inactivate 4 casino key‑employee licenses (approved‑and‑active list placement): Motion approved by voice vote.
- Find 6 casino key‑employee licenses lapsed pursuant to NJAC 19:41‑a‑6.1(f): Motion approved by voice vote.
- Approve stipulation of settlement and grant resubmission for Francesco Martire (license term through April 2026, subject to conditions): Motion approved by voice vote.

What happened next: The commission set its next closed session for Aug. 14, 2024, closed public participation and adjourned the meeting.