- Ronnie Jones is becoming a member of Penn Leisure
- Jones beforehand led the Louisiana Gaming Management Board
- Jones will serve on the Hollywood on line casino firm’s compliance committee
Penn Leisure is bringing aboard a veteran gaming regulator to assist lead the Pennsylvania-based gaming operator’s Compliance Committee.
Ronnie Jones is seen in a Louisiana authorities file {photograph} in 2020 when he nonetheless chaired the Louisiana Gaming Management Board. This week, Jones was introduced as a member of Penn Leisure’s Compliance Committee in an impartial, non-director capability. (Picture: Louisiana.gov)
On Monday, Penn announced the appointment of Ronnie Jones as an impartial, non-director member. He’ll serve on the corporate’s Compliance Committee, which is led by one other impartial, non-director in Thomas Auriemma.
Jones led the Louisiana Gaming Management Board (LGCB) as chair from 2013 till 2020. His 45-year profession in public service moreover included greater than three many years with the Louisiana State Police.
Ronnie is a well-respected chief within the regulated gaming house, and along with his background and expertise we’re happy so as to add him as an impartial member of our Compliance Committee,” mentioned Jay Snowden, PENN’s CEO and president. “Ronnie’s wealth of business expertise can be an asset to the essential work of the committee, which is central to our longstanding dedication to gaming business compliance and integrity.”
Ronnie Jones is to not be confused with Ronnie Johns, who led the LGCB from 2021 till June 2024.
Penn Leisure owns and/or operates 43 gaming and racing properties in 20 states, together with Louisiana. The corporate, as of Dec. 31, 2024, managed nearly 2.5 million sq. ft of gaming amenities with 41,725 slot machines, 1,166 desk video games, and seven,321 lodge rooms.
Jones’ Controversial LGCB Exit
Throughout his time as a regulation enforcement officer, Jones was a major legislative coordinator for the Louisiana State Police because the state legalized riverboat casinos and video poker machines in 1991. After being nominated to chair the LGCB in 2013 by Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), Jones oversaw the state’s allowance of casinos to maneuver inland following the devastation of the gaming boats attributable to a number of hurricanes.
Jones was subsequently named the 2017 North American Regulator of the 12 months by the Worldwide Masters of Gaming Regulation.
Jones left the LGCB in June 2020 after the state Senate didn’t reappoint him. Politics was cited for the Senate’s refusal to reconfirm Jones.
The Advocate reported on rumors that state Sen. Karen Cater Peterson (D-New Orleans) was behind the push to oust Jones from the LGCB.
In 2019, Peterson, an admitted playing addict, made headlines for making an attempt to enter a on line casino regardless of self-enrolling in Louisiana’s voluntary — and secret — exclusion program. Peterson was reportedly livid that the incident went public, although Jones instructed The Advocate he was not chargeable for the information leak.
Peterson resigned in April 2022 after admitting to stealing $140,000 from the Louisiana Democratic Celebration, which she chaired, to cowl her playing money owed. She was sentenced to 22 months in a midway home after pleading responsible to wire fraud.
Compliance Committees
In accordance with Jones’ LinkedIn profile, he has served as a guide to Entain’s Compliance Committee since January 2021, a place he continues.
Penn Leisure’s Compliance Committee is primarily chargeable for guaranteeing that the corporate’s operations adjust to all federal, state, and native legal guidelines. Gaming is among the many most regulated industries, with firms decided to be noncompliant subjected to expensive fines and the attainable revocation of their working license.
Compliance committees are additionally usually tasked with the promotion of accountable, sustainable gaming, an organization’s code of conduct, and the oversight of authorized issues.
