The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) appointed its general counsel, Todd Grossman, interim executive director Monday afternoon.
The appointment was needed to replace Karen Wells, who is leaving her post on Friday, after being with the Commission since it began in 2013.
The commission, which oversees sports betting in Massachusetts, voted unanimously, 5-0. The appointment is subject to Grossman accepting the position. If accepted, Grossman will juggle two jobs within the MGC, including his daily general counsel responsibilities.
Commissioners - along with outside legal counsel and MGC Chief People & Diversity Officer David Muldrew - will discuss a salary for this new role during a future meeting.
Grossman is familiar to most viewers who have watched the Commission's hearings over the past year and a half during the process that started with retail sports wagering and soon after mobile Massachusetts betting apps. He arrived at the Commission in 2012, near the start of the agency, and oversees the legal department that offers counsel to the commissioners and staff on a wide variety of matters relating sports wagering, gaming and racing in the Commonwealth.
Two individual 30-minute public hearing interviews were conducted for each of the candidates. The other candidate was Dr. Alex Lightbown, who has served as the MGC’s director of racing and chief veterinarian since October 2015.
The MGC voted to modify Dr. Lightbown’s reporting structure directly to the Commission - with a first line being Commissioner Brad Hill. Currently, the director of racing reports directly to the executive director.
This allows for a much manageable workload for both Grossman and Lightbown.
Lillios to Retire
At the start of the public hearing, it was announced that Loretta Lillios, director of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), will retire at the end of the summer. She has served in that full-time capacity since Jan. 2021.
Lillios has been with the MGC since 2014, serving first as deputy general counsel and then as chief enforcement counsel/deputy director of IEB.
