Gaming regulator sworn in

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002 | 11 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- Thomas Auriemma has been sworn in as director of the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Auriemma, 53, a lawyer and longtime casino regulator, had led the department on an interim basis since January, when former director John Peter Suarez left to take a job in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under former Gov. Christie Whitman.

Auriemma's nomination was approved without opposition by the state Senate last month. The Chatham resident was sworn in Tuesday by Appellate Court Judge Anthony Parrillo, who served as the division's director from 1985-1990.

Auriemma said his priorities included plans to improve and expand the division's testing lab, which approves slot machines and other gaming equipment, and intensify investigations of casino-service companies to weed out mob-tainted firms.

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