IAGA SUMMIT FOCUS: KEYNOTE NEW JERSEY CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION
the key licence if you are in a supervisory position. You need a key licence to move up in the management structure of a casino.
Working with Senator Brown and Governor Phil Murphy we passed a law that meant if you successfully complete Recovery Court, which is a very intense procedure, you are eligible to obtain a key licence. It was a big step forward, as since 2020, when Governor Murphy signed the legislation, applicants can apply for a key licence even though they had a drug offence.
Since the law was passed, how many have passed through the programme to employment?
Well, ironically with Covid-19, everything was side-tracked as everywhere was closed for six months and so we are just getting back on track now. We have captured some numbers, but with closures and Covid the numbers at this stage mean nothing.
Who initiated this project?
My background is that I’ve been in law enforcement my entire career. Prior to being chairman of the Casino Control Commission, I was chairman of the State Parole Board. When starting my current role I met with all the casino executives and asked if they’d have an open mind on hiring people that have been in the criminal justice system and have paid their dues to society? I laid that groundwork with the casino executive and then Senator Chris Brown took up the baton as did Governor Phil Murphy as they were very interested in giving people a second chance.
What was the feedback you received?
I have to give the regulatory agencies a lot of credit as they were open-minded and a number were very vocal supporters, as were many of the casino executives. Joe Jingoli of Hard Rock in Atlantic City was very active, he jumped onboard straight away and was one of the people that spearheaded this initiative.
How much is the project concerned with community outreach as it is the staffing shortage in US casinos?
It’s two-fold in that casinos both in the United States and around the world are located in urban areas in which there are high concentrations of people involved in the criminal justice system. So this helps the local residents enter and prosper within the gaming industry, which is key. You can now start at the bottom and work your way up if you have the talent. And the other dynamic, as you mention, is the labour shortage, which has meant that the timing of this initiative has been very critical.
All of the nine casinos in New Jersey, as of early May 2022, have a combined 2,500 open positions. At a job fair in April, the figures showed there were 1,300 full-time positions and rest were seasonal and part-time. On April 28, we held a Veteran and Re-entry Job Fair, were
“Prior to being chairman of the Casino Control Commission, I was chairman of the State
Parole Board. When starting my current role I met with all the casino executives and
asked if they’d have an open mind on hiring people that have been in the criminal
justice system and have paid their dues to society? I laid that groundwork with the casino executive and then Senator Chris Brown took up the baton as did Governor Phil Murphy as they were very
interested in giving people a second chance. ”
we invited people from Recovery Court as well as the half-way houses in the area to apply for jobs. In total we had 73 people attend the fair.
Is the licensing scrutiny the same? Is the process longer, shorter or the same?
It is the same process for people involved in the criminal justice system, but during the background investigation we will verify that they have successfully completed Drug or Recovery Court, which makes them eligible. If they were behind bars in an institution and completed as Recovery Court there as well.
Are there any qualms about public scrutiny if there should be any infractions involving people from this programme in the future?
I believe it will survive that scrutiny. Tere will always be a bad actor out there, but I think the vast majority will thrive in the gaming business. And there are some protections, bonding that can assist, and tax benefits for hiring someone from the criminal justice system. Tere are many pluses for the industry for taking this risk.
In terms of taking a risk – how big or small is it for an operator?
In my experience coming from the Parole Board, some of these men and women end up being the employers best employees. Some of them just want that second chance and see this as a great opportunity, especially in an industry in which they can progress through the ranks if they
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