The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of licensing veteran, David Acosta, as MassGaming’s first Director of Licensing. With more than 29 years of regulatory and licensing experience in Ohio and New Jersey, Mr. Acosta will be responsible for establishing MassGaming’s new Licensing Division. He will serve as the operational and administrative head of the Division and will be responsible for executing, administering and enforcing the provisions of the Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Statute (the Act).

Mr. Acosta has held several key positions with gaming control commissions in both Ohio and New Jersey. Most recently, Mr. Acosta served as the Director of Licensing for the Ohio Casino Control Commission. As Director of Licensing in Ohio, Mr. Acosta was responsible for the receipt, processing and licensing of all applications for key and gaming employee licenses as well as gaming vendors and operating companies.  In this role, Mr. Acosta ensured that the applicant has met the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code and Regulations. He also utilizes expertise in identification and fingerprint matters to assure integrity in the license process.

MassGaming Chairman Steve Crosby stated, “The License Division plays a critical role in the Commission’s long-term and relentless commitment to ensuring the integrity of the commonwealth’s gaming industry. With a proven track record spanning multiple jurisdictions, Mr. Acosta’s licensing expertise will be extremely valuable to the Commission as we set forth to design and implement new administrative systems to support the highest standards of operation within the upcoming gaming facilities.”

MassGaming’s newly-formed License Division, led by Mr. Acosta, is responsible for all of the functions related to licensing administration.  License administration includes the receipt, control follow-up and licensing or other disposition of applications for licensing and registration.  The Act requires the licensing of casino applicants (Section 8 of the Act), for key gaming and gaming employees (Section 29), and casino gaming vendors.  In addition gaming service employees (Section 29) and non-gaming vendors will need to register (Section 31).  Non-gaming vendors, who surpass a specified level of business as defined in Section 31, will also need to be licensed as a gaming vendor.

Previously, Mr. Acosta held the position of Manager of Employee Licensing with the Ohio Casino Control Commission. In this role, Mr. Acosta was tasked with the development of the data system to electronically capture information provided on licensing applications.

Mr. Acosta has also held several positions with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission which included supervising key gaming employee registration and other duties focused on ensuring regulatory compliance.

Mr. Acosta earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration from Stockton State College in Pomona, NJ.