As part of a plan to help revive the ailing casino industry in Atlantic City, Republican Governor Chris Christie and the Democrat controlled state legislature want to create a state run tourist district which would be responsible for promoting and overseeing Atlantic City's tourism industry. The state also wants to change the Casino Control Act of 1976 to make the licensing process and the investigation of disciplinary matters more streamlined, to this State Senators James Whelan, a Democrat representing the 2nd District (Whelan also served as Mayor of Atlantic City from 1990 to 2001) and Raymond Lesniak (Also a Democrat) of the 20th District have introduced Bill S12 which would permanently abolish the Casino Control Commission and transfer the licensing of casinos and casino employees as well as full investigative and disciplinary powers to the Division of Gaming Enforcement which is part of the New Jersey State Police, S12 would also remove the requirement for inspectors and agents of the Casino Control Commission and Division of Gaming Enforcement from being present on the floor all 11 Atlantic City casinos. In a statement to WMGM-DT the local NBC television affiliate in Atlantic City, Senator Whelan stated that "The bill was designed to eliminate duplication of services."
First let me say that while I support Governor Christie, I DO NOT agree with him or the state legislature that the Casino Control Commission should be abolished, IMHO the CCC and DGE don't provide duplicate services, far from it. The NJCCC licenses casinos and casino employees as well conducts disciplinary hearings against any casino licensee based on the investigation and evidence provided by the DGE which has the law enforcement powers something the CCC does not have. I also believe that the removal of CCC agents and DGE inspectors from the casino floor could cause problems with casino patrons who need assistance and/or intervention from an inspector or agent.
New Jersey State Senate Bill S12 as sponsored by James Whelan (Dist.2) and Raymond Lesniak (Dist.20)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2010/Bills/S0500/12_I1.PDF (In Adobe PDF)
