State pulls licenses of six casino workers charged in sports-bet ring

ATLANTIC CITY - State gaming regulators approved a motion this morning to suspend the casino employee licenses of six people charged last week for participating in a $22 million illegal sports-betting ring at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission's measure is the latest reaction to one of the largest sports-gambling rings to penetrate a resort casino. State Police charged 23 people on Nov. 14 for participating in an operation that netted million in sports bets since March 2006.

Five were Borgata employees; the sixth did not work at a casino but had the employee license required for such employment.

The commission's action suspends their licenses until the charges are adjudicated, or legally resolved, in state court. The commission can deny a casino license on the basis of current prosecution or pending charges of certain crimes, such as promoting gambling. Former licensees can eventually seek to have their licenses reinstated through a hearing process.


Authorities charged the following casino employees with promoting gambling:


- Jeffrey J. Ebert, 45, of Ventnor, Borgata poker dealer and Tropicana poker room supervisor. Ebert also was charged with criminal usury.

- Austin P. Johnson-Brown, Jr., 35, of Atlantic City, Borgata poker dealer

- Robert A. McEwen, 26, of Edison, Borgata poker dealer

- Paul F. Parks, Jr., 31, of Atlantic County, Borgata poker room supervisor

- Matthew R. Weyler, 26, of Turnersville, Borgata poker dealer

Atlantic City Press

News Added: 22 November, 2007

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