Gov. Cathy Hochul has appointed the daughter of a veteran gaming lobbyist to the state commission that regulates the gambling industry, raising concerns from government watchdogs about a potential conflict of interest, the Post reported.
Marissa Shorenstein, who was in charge of Gov. Hochul's transition team when he took office, was appointed to the New York Gaming Commission even though some of her father's clients were people he had done business with before the board. Public records show that he was selected.
stuart shorenstein He has been an active lobbyist and advisor to gaming companies for many years, and is currently listed as the representative of Evolution Malta, the Swedish internet gambling giant that is pushing for the legalization of online gambling in New York.
Shorenstein and the company he co-founded — Cozen O’Connor — Also listed as lobbying firm HBC-Saks Fifth Avenue is moving forward with plans to open a casino above its flagship store in Manhattan.
“I have been discussing a number of gaming issues with Mr. Stewart, starting with mobile sports betting,” said State Senate Horse Racing and Gaming Committee Chairman Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens).
Mobile sports betting, which launched in New York in 2022, is overseen by a gaming commission that includes Marissa Shorenstein, who joined the board in June of that year, records show.
A government watchdog said it was inappropriate for the daughter of a gambling lobbyist to sit on a board that regulates and investigates the gambling industry, including clients and potential clients of Shorenstein's father.
“This is a headshaker. This is planet Albany,” said John Caney, executive director of Reinvent Albany, a nonprofit organization that ensures government accountability and transparency.
“Why would she appoint Shorenstein to a job directly related to her father's work? There are many boards and commissions the governor could have appointed Shorenstein to. Why put her in charge of raising red flags? Are we going to appoint him?'' Caney added.
“That's unreasonable.”
Mr. Hochul's office and Marissa Shorenstein, former press secretary to former Gov. David Paterson and now chief external officer of BSE, a Brooklyn-based sports and entertainment company, declined to comment directly.
But state gaming commission officials responded on behalf of the governor and Marissa Shorenstein, insisting that Shorenstein's family's gambling ties were not a big deal.
“Marissa Shorenstein is a highly qualified individual with decades of leadership in the public and private sectors, and has always been one of the gaming commission's top executives,” said Lee Park, deputy executive director of the commission. “We have complied with ethical standards.” She said: “It's shameful that anonymous critics are making sensational claims.”
The Gambling Commission has firm policies and procedures in place regarding the resignation of all commissioners, and Mr. Shorenstein has been “transparent and upfront” about his father's ties to the industry, and that his father and his father have been involved in litigation. He said he had “already avoided” getting involved. Cozen O'Connor & Co. and Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies.
The commission also said its appointees, including Shorenstein, would not make decisions to award up to three casino licenses in the lower regions of the state. An independent gaming facility siting committee will select the winner.
of regulated by the commission Casinos and other aspects of gaming activities in the state, including horse racing, state lottery games, sports betting, interactive fantasy sports, and charity gaming.
Stuart Shorenstein declined to comment.
Shorenstein's client, the theory of evolution, has come under the microscope in recent years.
The company specializes in online live gambling for games like blackjack and roulette with real dealers, and feeds a number of independent online casino operators.
Anonymous Competitor Private Investigator accessible and play Evolution games from Countries such as Iran are violating U.S. sanctions, according to reports from Bloomberg News and Reuters.
Evolution declined to comment, but has previously denied accusations that it operates in sanctioned countries and insisted it complies with all laws and regulations.
State Sen. Addabbo just introduced a bill that would legalize remote gambling on games like blackjack and poker.
But his bill would require the Gaming Commission to “directly or indirectly” receive or have received proceeds from operations listed on the U.S. “money laundering country blacklist” or as state sponsors of terrorism. The content prohibits the license of
