Regulators ban compulsive gambler who ran Caesars

John Curran

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 | 4:46 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The highest-ranking casino executive ever to admit being a compulsive gambler was banned from New Jersey casinos for five years Wednesday.

The move ended a nine month ordeal that focused new attention on the dilemma posed when casino employees get hooked on the games they work around.

New Jersey regulators voted unanimously to strip the casino key license of Gary DiBartolomeo, 46, for lying to his employer and regulators about his gambling activities.

"I want to make this clear: We are not revoking his license because he is a compulsive gambler," said state Casino Control Commission Chairman James Hurley. "We are revoking his license because he no longer meets the state's strict licensing criteria."

DiBartolomeo, who rose from rank-and-file dealer to a $362,000-a-year job as president of Caesars Atlantic City Hotel Casino, made his mark as a player development executive who charmed high rollers but ultimately succumbed to the lure of the blackjack tables and roulette games he played with them.

Warned by regulators to quit gambling in 1995 as a condition of his license renewal, DiBartolomeo violated the restriction on dozens of occasions.

He bet up to $1,500 per hand and lost $389,000 in an 18-month period while playing in casinos in Nevada, Connecticut, Mississippi, the Bahamas and Monte Carlo.

He once enlisted a fellow Caesars worker to act as his "alter ego" in a casino, playing blackjack with DiBartolomeo's money as DiBartolomeo stood by watching.

In tearful testimony before the commission last November, DiBartolomeo described himself as "the David Copperfield of deception" and called compulsive gambling the demon inside of him.

"I just wanted to know what it was like, what the customer was feeling," he said at the time. "I crossed that line, I became the customer. But in doing that, I caused a great deal of pain in my life."

DiBartolomeo, who says he is in recovery, said at the time that he didn't believe he was ready to return to work even if regulators let him, but said he wanted to retain his license to work in casinos.

On Wednesday, he sat quietly in a packed Casino Control Commission hearing room, his wife at his side, as the final chapter of his license-revocation battle unfolded.

His lawyer, Mark Sandson, told commission members DiBartolomeo suffers from a disease and should not be punished for it.

"Lying about gambling is symptomatic of his disease," Sandson said. "If I had a cold, would you punish me for sneezing? If I were paralyzed, would you punish me for using a wheelchair? If I were blind, could I be allowed to use a cane?

"Gary DiBartolomeo, a man who has destroyed himself and committed no crime against others than himself, lied about his gambling while the gun of his compulsion was at his head, fighting and overcoming his decent instincts, his fundamental good character, honesty and integrity," Sandson said.

But regulators said that given his history, DiBartolomeo couldn't be trusted to run a casino.

Several members of the commission noted that DiBartolomeo had been given a chance before and reneged on his promise to quit gambling and begin attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

They rejected the assertion that revoking his license would have a chilling effect on other casino workers who are addicted to betting. Compulsive gambling counselors have said DiBartolomeo's case is a benchmark that will send a message to those who suffer in silence.

"I would think anyone would now be more hesitant to come forward," said Sue Cox, executive director of the Texas Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling.

They shouldn't be, according to New Jersey regulators.

"Seeking and getting help for a gambling problem will not be held against casino employees when it comes time to renew a license," said Commissioner Michael Fedorko.

"We can, and we have permitted people with a gambling problem to keep their licenses and get help. In fact, that's exactly what we did with Mr. DiBartolomeo six years ago. We made a deal and gave him the chance he needed, but he reneged on that deal. Now, he has to take responsibility for that," Fedorko said.

The license revocation, which is for five years, applies only to New Jersey casinos, although DiBartolomeo would probably have to answer for it if he were to seek casino work in another state or country.

"This is not a death sentence and it is not a permanent banishment from the casino industry," Hurley said.

In a separate action, the commission rejected Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s request to give DiBartolomeo a $750,000 golden parachute, reducing the amount to $137,500.

DiBartolomeo, who did not speak at Wednesday's hearing, declined comment as he walked out of the building.

"He's very sad," Sandson said. "But he is committed to continuing his recovery."