New Jersey Casino Control Commission
The Casino Control Commission is a New Jersey state governmental agency that was founded in 1977 as the state's Gaming Control Board, responsible under the Casino Control Act for licensing casinos in Atlantic City. The commission also issues licenses for casino key employees and hears appeals from decisions of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. 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 (D-20th) introduced Senate Bill S12 to change the New Jersey  Casino Control Act and deregulate 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 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 with advice and consent of the New Jersey Senate. 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 (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 Chris Christie, Governor of the state of New Jersey.