The Casino Control Commission is a

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's

Gaming Control Board A gaming control board (GCB), also called by various names including gambling control board, casino control board, gambling board, and gaming commission, is a government agency charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined ...

, responsible under the Casino Control Act for licensing casinos in

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...

. The commission also issues licenses for casino key employees and hears appeals from decisions of the

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that was established in 1977 under the Casino Control Act, N.J.S.A. to ensure the integrity of the casino gaming industry, including spor ...

. The commission is headquartered in the Arcade Building at Tennessee Avenue and Boardwalk in Atlantic City. On November 15, 2010, State Senators James Whelan (D-2nd) and

Raymond Lesniak Raymond J. "Ray" Lesniak (born May 7, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1983 to 2018, where he represented the 20th Legislative District. Before entering New Jersey's upper house, t ...

(D-20th) introduced Senate Bill S12 to change the New Jersey Casino Control Act and

deregulate Deregulation is the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere. It is the repeal of governmental regulation of the economy. It became common in advanced industrial economies in the 1970s and 1980s, as a ...

the Atlantic City casino industry to improve competitiveness with casinos in other states. The bill would also transfer day-to-day regulatory functions from the Casino Control Commission to the Division of Gaming Enforcement. After hearings in both houses of the Legislature, the bill was approved on January 10, 2011, and signed into law by Governor

Chris Christie Christopher James Christie (born September 6, 1962) is an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, lobbyist, and former federal prosecutor who served as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. Christie, who was born in Ne ...

on February 1, 2011. The new law eliminated the requirement for the commission to have inspectors in casinos around-the-clock and made the Division of Gaming Enforcement responsible for certifying gaming revenue. The Division of Gaming Enforcement also took over responsibility for registering casino employees and non-gaming vendors, licensing gaming vendors, and handling all patron complaints.

Commissioners

The Casino Control Commission consists of three members appointed by the

Governor of New Jersey The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...

with

advice and consent Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts. It describes either of two situations: where a weak executive branch of a government enacts something previo ...

of the

New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...

. The number of commissioners was reduced from five on January 17, 2012. Commissioners serve staggered, five-year terms and can only be removed for cause. By law, no more than two commissioners can be of the same political party, a requirement that is intended to ensure political balance on the panel. One commissioner is appointed by the Governor to also serve as a member of the

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority or CRDA is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1984 and is responsible for directing the spending of casino reinvestment funds in public and private projects to benefit Atlantic ...

(CRDA). A second commissioner may be appointed by the Governor to serve as a member of the CRDA in lieu of the commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development or the Department of Community Affairs. Since December 26, 2017, James T. Plousis is the eighth chairman of the Commission, he was appointed by

, Governor of the state of New Jersey.

Notable former commissioners

Bradford S. Smith Bradford S. Smith (born November 3, 1950) is an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from the 7th Legislative District from 1992 to 1994 before serving for four years as the fourth chairman of the New Jersey ...

, Chairman, 1994–1998. * James R. Hurley, 1990–2002; Chairman, 1998–2002 *

Leanna Brown Leanna Brown (May 11, 1935 – December 15, 2016) was an American politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where she represented New Jersey's 26th legislative district, including parts of Morris and Passaic Counties. S ...

, 1993–1999 *

Steven P. Perskie Steven P. Perskie (born January 10, 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former New Jersey Superior Court judge in Atlantic City, New Jersey and a former Democratic Party politician from Margate City, New Jersey. Perskie served as a member of ...

, Chairman, 1990–1994 * Frank J. Dodd, 1989–1993 * Walter N. Read, Chairman, 1982–1989 *

Joseph P. Lordi Joseph P. Lordi (June 28, 1919 – October 21, 1983) was an American law enforcement official who served as the Essex County, New Jersey prosecutor and as the first Chairman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Lordi was a counteresp ...

, Chairman, 1977–1982

Divisions

*Commissioners' Office *General Counsel's Office *Chief of Staff Office

Notable litigation

*'' Brown v. Hotel and Restaurant Employees'' (1984) *''

Zarin v. Commissioner ''Zarin v. Commissioner'', 916 F.2d 110 (3rd Cir. 1990) is a United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision concerning the cancellation of debt and the tax consequences for the borrower for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Background ...

'' (3d Cir. 1990)

Notable cases

*In 1979, the CCC ordered Clifford S. Perlman and Stuart Perlman to sever themselves from

Caesars World Caesars World Inc. was a hotel and casino operator. It began as Lum's Inc., owner of the Lum's chain of restaurants. It shifted into the gaming business with the purchase of Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip in 1969, selling off the restauran ...

. *In 1979, a license was denied to

Bally Manufacturing Bally Manufacturing, later renamed Bally Entertainment, was an American company that began as a pinball and slot machine manufacturer, and later expanded into casinos, video games, health clubs, and theme parks. It was acquired by Hilton Hotel ...

board chairman William T. O’Donnell. *In 1982, a permanent license was denied to

Hugh Hefner Hugh Marston Hefner (April 9, 1926 – September 27, 2017) was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of ''Playboy'' magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles which provoked charges of obsc ...

and

Playboy Enterprises PLBY Group, Inc. is an American global media and lifestyle company founded by Hugh Hefner as Playboy Enterprises, Inc. to oversee the ''Playboy'' magazine and related assets. Its headquarters are in Los Angeles, California. The company is focus ...

. *In 1985, a license was denied to Barron Hilton and

Hilton Hotels Hilton Hotels & Resorts (formerly known as Hilton Hotels) is a global brand of full-service hotels and resorts and the flagship brand of American multinational hospitality company Hilton. The original company was founded by Conrad Hilton. As ...

Corporation. *In 1989, the casino at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino was forced to close. *In 2007, the Tropicana Hotel & Casino was denied a renewal of its license. *In 2010, the CCC approved a settlement between the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and

MGM Mirage MGM Resorts International is an American global hospitality and entertainment company operating destination resorts in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Detroit, Mississippi, Maryland, and New Jersey, including Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Par ...

, whereby MGM relinquished its 50% ownership in the

Borgata Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a hotel, casino, and spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International. The casino hotel features 2,798 rooms and is the largest hotel in New Jersey. Borga ...

Hotel Casino. This was in connection with MGM's partnership in a Macau casino with

Pansy Ho Pansy Catalina Ho Chiu-king (; born 26 August 1962) is a Hong Kong-Canadian billionaire businesswoman who is the daughter of Macau-based businessman Stanley Ho, and the managing director of various companies he founded, including Shun Tak Holdi ...

, who was found to be unsuitable. *In 2014, the CCC approved

MGM Resorts International MGM Resorts International is an American global hospitality and entertainment company operating destination resorts in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Detroit, Mississippi, Maryland, and New Jersey, including Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Pa ...

for a statement of compliance and reacquire its 50% stake in the Borgata Hotel Casino, all because Pansy Ho is no longer a majority shareholder in the Macau casino. This allows MGM to reenter the Atlantic City market.

Notes

External links

* {{authority control Casino Control Commission Gambling regulators in the United States Government agencies established in 1977 1977 establishments in New Jersey Gambling in New Jersey