Caesars' executive approved to serve as regional CEO of Atlantic City properties

"It is both a privilege and an honor to be granted and to hold a gaming license in the state of New Jersey, and I want to thank both the commission and the (Division of Gaming Enforcement) for granting my key license today," Ronald Baumann said in a statement. "I am looking forward to safely reopening and operating our facilities with our health and wellness protocols for our team and guests."

While Caesars Entertainment is still waiting for state gaming regulators to approve on a proposed merger with Eldorado Resorts, the company’s top regional executive was granted an initial casino key employee license on Wednesday morning.

Baumann is an industry veteran who previously worked as a senior executive at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. He returned to Atlantic City in 2019, where he previously held several leadership positions with Caesars Entertainment, the Press of Atlantic City reports.

The commission granted Baumann temporary qualification in October, shortly after Eldorado and Caesars petitioned New Jersey gaming regulators to approve a $17.3 billion merger.

The deal between the gaming companies has been approved in more than a dozen states, but federal regulators, along with New Jersey, Nevada and Indiana, are still reviewing the proposal.
New Jersey gaming regulators had been analyzing whether the deal would have created an undue economic concentration since the initial merger proposal would have given the newly formed company control of four of Atlantic City’s nine casinos.

In April, Caesars and its real estate investment trust, VICI Properties, announced the sale of Bally’s to Rhode Island-based Twin River Holdings Worldwide for $25 million. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

Bally’s, which first opened in 1979, will continue to be part of the Caesars Rewards network until the deal is finalized.

The Wild Wild West Casino and The Book sports wagering facility currently inside Bally’s will be shifted over to Caesars Atlantic City.

Twin River will obtain a license to “build out a sportsbook” in addition to launching online sports betting and internet casino gaming, the company said in a news release.

Atlantic City’s casinos have been closed since March 16. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the city’s gambling parlors closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.