Nicholas R. Amato |

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Nicholas R. Amato is Of Counsel in the Firm's Newark, NJ office and Chair of the Casinos & Gaming Industry Group as well as a member of the Mediation & Alternate Dispute Resolution and Trusts, Estates & Wealth Management Practice Groups. Mr. Amato’s knowledge of and experience in casino and legalized gaming issues is the product of a long and distinguished career in private industry and public office. He has held senior positions encompassing casino operations and regulatory affairs.

From 2001 to 2008, Mr. Amato served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Resorts International Holdings, LLC and Resorts International Hotel, Atlantic City, where he oversaw legal functions for Resorts Atlantic City and casino properties in Mississippi and Indiana. Also, he served as Acting President of Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and Casino.

From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Amato served as Senior Vice President of Development for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. In this role, he advocated for the interests of the hotels in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions where casino gambling and other forms of gaming were being considered. Mr. Amato reported directly to Donald Trump, at the time the Chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. From 1994 to 1996, he served as President of the Casino Association of New Jersey, where he led efforts to identify the strategic interests of the $4 billion-per-year New Jersey gaming industry.

From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Amato served as Executive Director of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the main engine for casino revenue-based economic growth throughout the State. In addition, he was the President of the Casino Association of New Jersey, the chief advocate for the Atlantic City casino industry.

From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Amato served as Essex County Executive where he led the government of the State’s most urban and diverse county with a population close to 800,000. Also, he served three successive five-year terms as Essex County Surrogate before being elected County Executive.

Mr. Amato frequently lectures on casino and gaming law issues for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He has been featured on segments of My New Jersey Now, a television show focusing on the future of Atlantic City.

Mr. Amato holds a casino key employee license from the State of New Jersey and held casino licenses in Indiana and Mississippi. He was a founding partner of Amato, Salerno & Lunga prior to his election as Essex County Executive.

Matters

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Resorts International Holdings, LLC and Resorts International Hotel, Atlantic City from 2001 until 2008, Mr. Amato oversaw the legal functions for Resorts Atlantic City and casino properties in Mississippi and Indiana. He was also Acting President of Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and Casino.
As Senior Vice President of Development for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts from 1999 until 2001, he advocated for the interests of the hotels in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions where casino gambling and other forms of gaming were under consideration. Mr. Amato reported directly to Donald Trump, then-Chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts.
As President of the Casino Association of New Jersey from 1994 until 1996, he led efforts to identify the strategic interests of the $4 billion-per-year New Jersey gaming industry.
As Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority from 1991 until 1994, Mr. Amato led the state authority responsible for providing financial support to public and private projects funded by special taxes on casino revenues.
As Essex County Executive from 1987 until 1990, he headed the government of the state’s most urban and diverse county, with a population close to 800,000. He also served three successive five-year terms as Essex County Surrogate before being elected County Executive.

Specializations

Mediation & Alternative Dispute Resolution , Casino & Gaming Law

Industry

Casinos, Racetracks & Gaming

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Resorts International Holdings, LLC and Resorts International Hotel, Atlantic City from 2001 until 2008, Mr. Amato oversaw the legal functions for Resorts Atlantic City and casino properties in Mississippi and Indiana. He was also Acting President of Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and Casino.
As Senior Vice President of Development for Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts from 1999 until 2001, he advocated for the interests of the hotels in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions where casino gambling and other forms of gaming were under consideration. Mr. Amato reported directly to Donald Trump, then-Chairman of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts.
As President of the Casino Association of New Jersey from 1994 until 1996, he led efforts to identify the strategic interests of the $4 billion-per-year New Jersey gaming industry.
As Executive Director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority from 1991 until 1994, Mr. Amato led the state authority responsible for providing financial support to public and private projects funded by special taxes on casino revenues.
As Essex County Executive from 1987 until 1990, he headed the government of the state’s most urban and diverse county, with a population close to 800,000. He also served three successive five-year terms as Essex County Surrogate before being elected County Executive.

Member and President, Board of Directors, Claridge House II Condominium Association Inc., Verona, N.J.
Belleville Board of Education Wall of Recognition, 2010
Distinguished Graduate Award from Seton Hall University School of Law, 1989

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Nicholas R. Amato

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