Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has appointed Jordan Maynard as the permanent Chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), formalizing a role he has held in an interim capacity since March 2024. Maynard succeeds Cathy Judd-Stein, who retired earlier this year.
In a simultaneous appointment, Healey also named former Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur to serve as the Commission’s fifth commissioner, filling the seat vacated by Judd-Stein.
Governor Healey praised Maynard’s leadership during the transitional period. “He has proven to be a consensus builder who has a deep understanding of the agency and strives to do what’s best for the people of Massachusetts,” Healey stated in a press release on Monday.
The MGC oversees Massachusetts’ gaming industry, regulating three land-based casinos and seven online sports wagering platforms. Maynard, who was appointed to the Commission in August 2022, played a key role in establishing sports betting regulations across the state.
The MGC is known for its consumer protections and has implemented some of the nation’s strictest advertising standards for casino and sports betting activities. Under Maynard’s leadership, the agency has also focused on land-based casino security and protecting the well-being of gaming patrons.
Maynard stated: “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth as chair of the Gaming Commission, and am grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for the trust they have placed in me to carry forward the mission of this incredibly important agency.”
Brodeur, who served as mayor of Melrose and previously as a Massachusetts state representative, brings a record of public service focused on economic growth and workforce protections. During his tenure in the general assembly, he negotiated Massachusetts’ minimum wage increase to $15 and established the state’s universal paid family and medical leave program.
“I have great respect for the important work that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission does to oversee and support this industry that is critical for our economy, workforce and competitiveness,” said Mayor Brodeur. “This moment more than ever requires leaders who bring people together, look past differences and make progress, and I’m committed to being that type of leadership.”
The MGC was established in 2011 under the state’s Expanded Gaming Act and functions as an independent, five-member regulatory body overseeing casinos, sports betting, and horse racing in Massachusetts. The Commission’s responsibilities include setting policy standards, ensuring industry compliance, and promoting responsible gaming practices across the Commonwealth.
A major focus of Maynard’s tenure has been the Youth Sports Betting Safety Initiative, a collaboration with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health. The program aims to educate individuals under 21 on the potential risks associated with sports betting, addressing concerns about underage gambling.
Additionally, Maynard has gained national recognition for his contributions to the gaming industry, having been named by the Innovation Group to the Emerging Leaders of Gaming “40 Under 40” class of 2025. He was also included in the US Gaming Hub’s “Game Masters Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the US Gaming Industry” earlier this year.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2024/10/29/83548-massachusetts-governor-appoints-jordan-maynard-as-permanent-gaming-commission-chair
