Regulators OK waiver for casino surveillance worker’s job change

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 | 3:13 a.m.

Without debate, the state Casino Control Commission voted 4-0 to let Glenn Scalia accept the job, which involves some work on the casino floor but not dealing or supervising games.

Under state Casino Control Commission regulations, people who work in casino surveillance are banned from working on the casino floor for one year.

"You don't want people who are intimately involved in surveillance and know what surveillance looks for, how they look for it and what the schedules are, to take that knowledge down to the casino floor and use it inappropriately," said Daniel Heneghan, a spokesman for the commission.

In casinos, surveillance officers use videocameras and monitoring stations built into the ceilings to keep tabs on would-be gambling cheats. By law, every part of the casino where gambling occurs must be visible with videocameras.

Neither Scalia nor representatives of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement spoke to commission members before the vote Wednesday. Lon Mamolen, an attorney for the commission, said Scalia - who left surveillance last August - has been working in an entry-level job in the marketing department since then.

The commission's ruling clears the way for him to become a casino host, Mamolen said. Hosts recruit and make arrangements for a casino's best customers.