Casino Control Commission approves wide slate of key-employee licenses, remands one application

TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Feb. 10 approved a large batch of casino key-employee licenses, moved one application back to the contested-case process and denied several others after the Division of Gaming Enforcement reported failures to cooperate in its investigations.

Senior counsel presented 10 initial key-employee applicants — including Dennis E. Adams, Paul A. Adelaja, Zachary A. DeCroatch and Tracy L. Jefferson (also known in the record as Tracy L. Smith) — and recommended that the Commission grant the licenses. "I move to grant the 10 initial casino key employee licenses," a commissioner said, and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The Commission also considered 10 resubmitted applications and approved the slate with staff recommendations. For several applicants the panel called separate roll-call votes: commissioners recorded affirmative roll-call votes after the Division recommended continued qualification for applicants including James P. Burns (senior vice president of casino marketing, Golden Nugget Atlantic City LLC), Lisa M. Rubin (vice president, Caesars Entertainment Inc.), Michael R. Woodside (vice president, Hard Rock Atlantic City LLC) and Mark E. Vander Whelan (Hard Rock Atlantic City LLC).

An objection was lodged to the resubmitted application of K. Margarita Rivera (also referred to as Margarita Garcia). Commission staff recommended remanding her application for the contested-case process; a motion to remand for hearing was adopted.

Several initial applications were denied following Division reports that the applicants failed to cooperate with investigations or comply with the contested-case process. The Commission moved to find Lillian Troche disqualified and to deny and revoke her resubmission application; similar motions to deny initial applications were adopted for Vincent Mara, George Williams and Earl McClinton after Division investigators identified nonresponsiveness.

The panel approved multiple stipulations of settlement that will permit continued licensure through specified future dates subject to terms and conditions, including approvals that, if adopted, will leave licenses valid through Feb. 2030 for several applicants.

The Commission also memorialized delegated staff approvals covering temporary licenses issued between Dec. 26, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, for positions at Resorts Atlantic City, Ocean Casino, Bally's, Tropicana, Harrah's/Harris and Caesars Atlantic City.

The meeting closed after the Commission scheduled a future closed session and opened a brief public-participation period in which no public commenters appeared.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded during the meeting):
- Ratify minutes, 01/08/2025 and 01/17/2025 — motion adopted by voice vote.
- Grant 10 initial casino key-employee licenses (specified applicants) — motion adopted by voice vote.
- Grant 10 resubmitted casino key-employee licenses — motion adopted by voice vote; separate roll-call approvals for Burns, Rubin, Woodside and Vander Whelan.
- Remand the resubmitted application of Margarita Rivera (Margarita Garcia) to contested-case hearing — motion adopted.
- Deem five licenses lapsed for failure to file review applications (Nicholas B. Devons; Richard D. Jones; Christopher J. Lent; Patricia McDonnell; Michael J. Soberling) — motion adopted.
- Inactivate Dennis R. Coyle's key-employee license at his request — motion adopted.
- Find Lillian Troche disqualified; deny her resubmission application and revoke license — motion adopted.
- Deny initial applications of Vincent Mara, George Williams, Earl McClinton — motions adopted.
- Approve stipulations of settlement for Stacy Igalicki, Tunde Dada, Richard Williams, Keith Purnell (licenses subject to terms and conditions, some valid through Feb. 2030) — motions adopted.
- Transfer initial application of Marshall Davis back to the Division of Gaming Enforcement for additional investigation — motion adopted.

What the decisions mean: Many approvals were routine and supported by staff and Division recommendations; denials and remands generally stemmed from Division filings that applicants failed to cooperate with investigative or contested-case requirements. Where the Division sought further fact-finding or where objections were lodged, the Commission remanded or transferred matters to complete investigation or contested-case proceedings.

The Commission did not receive public comments during the allotted public-participation period. The meeting adjourned after brief congratulatory remarks to an elevated staff member.