Gilbert L. Brooks

Partner

  • Gilbert L. Brooks
  • Phone: +1 856 874 4204

    Gilbert L. Brooks - LinkedIn Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    40 Lake Center Drive
    401 Route 73 North, Suite 200
    Marlton, NJ 08053
    USA

Gilbert L. Brooks practices in the areas of litigation, gaming law, criminal law, regulatory law and employment law.

Mr. Brooks is a 1985 graduate of Widener Law School, Delaware and a graduate of Swarthmore College.

Areas of Practice

  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Gaming Regulatory Matters and Licensing 

Representative Matters

  • Represented LexisNexis Risk Solutions in obtaining a Sports Gaming Supplier License from the Ohio Casino Control Commission, a Sports Betting Service Provider Temporary License from the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, renewal of both its Sports Wagering Supplier License and its i-Gaming Supplier License by the West Virginia Lottery, approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board of an exemption from its supplier licensing requirements, a temporary Information Services License from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, an Ancillary Sports Wagering Vendor License from the Washington State Gambling Commission, an Event Wagering and Fantasy Sports Supplier License from the Arizona Department of Gaming, a Sports Gaming Vendor Registration from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council, a Sports Wagering Temporary License from the Maine Gambling Control Unit, a Gaming License/Vendor Registration from the Seminole Tribe of Florida d/b/a Seminole Gaming, a Vendor Registration from the Virginia Lottery, a sports wagering Supplier License from the North Carolina State Lottery Commission, a Certificate of License, Class II & Class III Vendor from the Muckleshoot Gaming Commission, renewal of its Sports Betting License, Vendor Minor by the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission/Colorado Division of Gaming, and a Vendor License from the Tulalip Tribal Gaming Agency.

  • Represented AC Ocean Walk LLC, which does business as the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before the Federal Communications Commission obtaining approval to transfer a License (Radio Station Authorization) to operate a radio service at the casino hotel property (Call Sign: WQOQ544) into AC Ocean Walk’s name, the radio service being a vital communications link logistically at the casino hotel property.

  • Represented MIXI, Inc., a publicly traded Japanese company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and owner of digital entertainment and sports businesses, in connection with both Series Seed Preferred Stock and SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) investments in Stake Trade, Inc. d/b/a Prophet Exchange, the first fully regulated, peer-to-peer high-frequency sports betting exchange in the United States.

  • Represented AC Ocean Walk LLC, which does business as the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in highly contested litigation involving a failed partnership for the operation of a beach club and nightclub located at the casino hotel resort, obtaining a judgment from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Atlantic County affirmed on appeal by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division dissociating the former partner from the partnership and dissolving the partnership.

  • Represented BetMakers MTS, LLC, a subsidiary of publicly traded (ASX) BetMakers Technology Group Limited, in obtaining required regulatory approvals and licensing authorizing BetMakers to offer fixed odds horse race wagering in New Jersey, in conjunction with Monmouth Park Racetrack. New Jersey is the first state in the U.S. to legalize fixed odds horse race wagering, making the BetMakers/Monmouth Park fixed odds horse race wagering operation the first of its kind in the U.S.

  • Represented Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp./Caliente Interactive in connection with its successful bid as part of a competitive bidding process conducted by the Illinois Gaming Board for a Master Sports Wagering License for Online Sports Wagering Operators.

  • Represented Ocean Casino Resort in connection with various regulatory/competition issues related to the Caesars/William Hill merger, including the negotiation and finalization of a Termination Agreement with William Hill, whereby the Operating Lease and Licensing Agreement between Ocean and William Hill was terminated and William Hill agreed to discontinue its retail and online sports wagering operations at the Ocean Casino Resort.

  • Represented BetMakers Technology Group Limited in the purchase of several Sportech Plc operating subsidiaries, including two U.S. entities known as Sportech Racing, LLC and eBet Technologies, Inc.

  • Represented Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI) in connection with various New Jersey and Delaware related gaming regulatory matters in connection with their ownership interest and Master Lease involving the Tropicana Casino Hotel in New Jersey and their acquisition of the Dover Downs Racino in Delaware and the leaseback of same to Bally’s Corporation.

  • Represented AC Ocean Walk, LLC d/b/a Ocean Casino Resort in connection with the settlement of litigation with Marina District Development Company, LLC d/b/a Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, involving trade secret claims connected to the hiring of former Borgata employees.

  • Represented Halifax Security, Inc. d/b/a North American Video in obtaining gaming related supplier licenses in multiple gaming jurisdictions in the U. S., including in particular a ruling from the California Gambling Control Commission finding it suitable to provide security and surveillance systems and services to various tribal gaming establishments licensed by the Commission and operated in California by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and the Table Mountain Rancheria, licensing and relicensing by the Michigan Gaming Control Board and licensing and relicensing by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

  • Obtained a favorable licensing reconsideration ruling from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for NYX Gaming Group and its parent, Scientific Games Corporation, resolving a licensing issue that held up NYX’s ability to distribute and deploy computer-based wagering games, developed jointly with Australia’s Lightning Box Games.

  • Represented Cumberland River Capital in connection with the rejection of applications filed by the City of Atlantic City's seeking injunctive relief preventing Cumberland's acquisition of Tennessee Business & Industrial Development Corp. (TN BIDCO), and alternative injunctive relief requiring the acquisition's proceeds be held in trust pending discovery related to the TN BIDCO transaction.

  • Represented Scientific Games Corporation in an eighteen (18) month hearing before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and other gaming regulatory bodies in the United States, Canada and Malta and eventually in legal proceedings in Nevada and Delaware involving complicated gaming regulatory issues related to a Hong Kong investor.

  • Represented J.P. Morgan, and its co-lenders Winthrop Capital Partners and Witkoff Group, as first lien lenders in connection with a potential deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction and in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to a subsequent debt restructuring, transfer of equity and a divestiture trust involving the Ocean Resort Casino, a casino hotel located in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

  • Represented Penthouse International, Ltd. in its effort to sell a stalled casino hotel development project and in subsequent litigation entitled Boardwalk Properties, Inc. v. BPHC Acquisition, Inc. before the Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, Chancery Division and appeals up through and to the New Jersey Supreme Court, with a reported decision related to the matters litigated in the case found at 253 N.J. Super. 515 (App. Div. 1991).

  • Represented Mirage Resorts, Incorporated in its licensing by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, its acquisition of a property located in Atlantic City, New Jersey now known as Renaissance Pointe (upon which the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa is located), approvals, acquisitions and development related to what is now known as the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector, and in litigation related thereto entitled Bryant v. City of Atlantic City before the Superior Court of New Jersey, Atlantic County, Chancery Division and in connection with appeals up through and to the New Jersey Supreme Court, with a reported decision related to the matters litigated in the case found at 309 N.J. Super. 596 (App. Div. 1998).

  • Represented Sun International Hotels Limited in connection with the acquisition of the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and its licensing by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (Commission Order No. 97-21-15-A). Represented Sun International in litigation if the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Docket No. 97-cv-3577 (SMO), entitled Greenlands Realty v. Sun International North America, Inc. and obtained a unanimous jury verdict in its favor. Subsequently represented Sun International in connection with its consideration of casino hotel projects in Singapore and Macau.

  • Represented Kerzner International Limited (successor to Sun International Hotels Limited) in connection with gaming regulatory issues related to the acquisition by BLB Investors, L.L.C. (Kerzner International owned a 37.5% interest in BLB Investors) of the U.S. operations of Wembley Plc, which then included Lincoln Park in Rhode Island, now known as Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort. Subsequently represented Kerzner International in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to a merger by which Kerzner International, than a publicly traded company (NYSE), was taken private by a group of investors.

  • Represented Colony Capital, LLC in connection with its acquisition of the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and its licensing by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Represented subsidiary Resorts International Hotel, Inc. in connection with various matters related to property in Atlantic City acquired as part of the acquisition, its casino license renewals and in obtaining gaming regulatory approvals allowing for the construction of a new casino hotel tower. Subsequently represented Colony Capital and Resorts International in connection with gaming regulatory issues related to a deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction whereby ownership of Resorts Atlantic City was transferred to lenders. Subsequently represented Colony Capital and Resorts International in various matters, including gaming regulatory matters related to the deed in lieu of foreclosure transaction and the successful defense of pension withdrawal liability claims (Colony Capital, LLC v. The National Retirement Fund, AAA Case No. 13 621 2538 11).

  • Represented Colony Capital, LLC in connection with its acquisition of the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and related casino properties in Indiana and Mississippi and its licensing by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission related to the acquisition. Subsequently represented Colony Capital in connection with a possible IPO in connection with casino properties then owned by Colony Capital, including the Las Vegas Hilton, then owned by Colony Capital. Represented subsidiaries RIH Acquisitions NJ, LLC and RIH Propco NJ, LLC in connection with license renewals by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Represented Colony Capital and subsidiary Resorts International Holdings, LLC in connection with foreclosure litigation brought in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Atlantic County, Docket No. ATL-F-38053-10, and related hearings before the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the successful resolution of the litigation and licensing issues. Represented Resorts International Holdings in connection with efforts to sell the Atlantic City Hilton, subsequently renamed the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, including litigation brought in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Atlantic County, Docket No. ATL –C-000043-13, entitled Rational Group US Holdings, Inc. v. Resorts International Holdings, LLC. Represented RIH Acquisitions and RIH Propco in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to their bankruptcy filing (United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, Case No. 13-34483-GMB), the subsequent sale of their assets, and the shutdown of operations and closure of the Atlantic Club.

  • Represented MacAndrews & Forbes in connection with licensing and gaming regulatory matters in connection with the acquisition of a controlling ownership interest in Scientific Games Corporation and the use of the ownership interest in connection with subsequent unrelated financing transactions. Represented Ronald O. Perelman, owner, Chairman and CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes, in connection with obtaining a Statement of Compliance from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission regarding Mr. Perelman’s qualification to be licensed to own a casino hotel in New Jersey.

  • Represented MGM Mirage (now known as MGM Resorts International) subsidiary AC Holding Corp. II in connection with litigation brought in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Atlantic County, Docket No. ATL-C-000118-04, entitled Seaboard Towers Development Company, LLC v. AC Holding Corp. II, related to property owned by AC Holding in the Marina section of Atlantic City. The litigation involved unsuccessful claims of a right to acquire the subject property and included appeals of the judgement in favor of AC Holding up to and through the New Jersey Supreme Court.

  • Represented MGM Resorts International in connection with its withdrawal from the Ho Tram Strip casino hotel project in Vietnam.

  • Represented Pansy Ho in connection with a licensing investigation conducted by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement in connection with MGM Mirage’s joint venture with Ms. Ho in Macau, Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China, and thereafter in connection with a number of gaming regulatory matters related to the investigation and a Stipulation of Settlement entered into by MGM Mirage and the Division of Gaming Enforcement, including subsequent proceedings before the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.

  • Represented the Steering Committee of Senior Secured Lenders in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to the denial by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission of Adamar of New Jersey, Inc.’s license renewal application in connection with the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and subsequently represented parent Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. following its reorganization in a related Delaware bankruptcy court proceeding, its subsidiary Tropicana Atlantic City Corp., and its principal owner, Icahn Enterprises, in gaming regulatory matters related to the acquisition of the Tropicana Casino and Resort.

  • Represented Jefferies & Company with respect to gaming regulatory matters in connection with financing it arranged for Landry’s A/C Gaming, Inc. and Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. with respect to their acquisition of the Trump Marina Casino Hotel located in Atlantic City, New Jersey from Trump Marina Associates, LLC and Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc., with Trump Marina subsequently rebranded by Landry’s as Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

  • Represented the holders of first lien debt providing mezzanine financing to Revel AC, Inc., owner of the then Revel Atlantic City Casino Hotel, in exchange for Units consisting of notes and warrants in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to the financing, including obtaining qualification waivers on behalf of the lenders in connection with the casino license issued to Revel.

  • Represented Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Principal Lending, LLC in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to the bankruptcy of Revel AC, Inc., owner of the then Revel Atlantic City Casino Hotel (United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, Case No. 14-22654 (GMB)), including the shutdown of operations and closure of the casino hotel and the subsequent sale of the casino hotel and related property.

  • Represented Sportech Plc, which was then a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange, in connection with gaming related matters related to its acquisition of Scientific Games Racing, LLC (subsequently known as Sportech Racing, LLC and now known as Global Tote US, LLC) and its subsequent licensing in connection with the acquisition. Represented Sportech in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to further acquisitions and gaming ventures on the part Sportech including its acquisition of eBet Technologies, Inc. and Bump 50/50.

  • Represented Trump Taj Mahal Associates, LLC and TEI Management Servics LLC in connection with a deed restriction burdening the neighboring Showboat Atlantic City property and the subsequent release of same.

  • Represented the Sports Complex Special Services District in connection with various matters, including gaming regulatory and land use matters, in connection with what is now known as Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

  • Represented publicly traded GAN Limited (NASDAQ) and subsidiary GAN (UK) Limited in connection with a Patent License Agreement entered into with Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. d/b/a Parx Casino located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania licensing GAN’s patented iBridge integration framework to Parx.

  • Represented Tekkorp Holdings LLC in connection with the formation of the sponsor entity, additional agreements related to the sponsor entity and in connection with the formation and operation of publicly traded SPAC, Tekkorp Digital Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ).

  • Represented Prepaid Network Inc. in obtaining an approval from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for the launch of a product known as WYRZ, a virtual Visa card used for funding iGaming accounts.

  • Represented NYX Gaming Group Ltd. in connection with its $631 million sale to Scientific Games Corporation.

  • Represented Tropicana Entertainment Inc. in connection with a Management Agreement for the management of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel and consulting services relating to the former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Representation also includes formation of TEI Management Services LLC and the pursuit of required gaming regulatory approvals.

  • Represented NYX Gaming Group Limited in a $105 million financing used to fund the acquisition of Amaya (Alberta) (f/k/a Chartwell Technology) and Cryptologic Limited.

  • Represented NYX Gaming Group Limited in its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Game360 Srl, an Italian internet gaming company.

  • Obtained on behalf of Resorts Casino Hotel, in partnership with SNG Interactive, the necessary approvals to launch online casino - www.ResortsCasino.com - on an iGaming platform provided by NYX Gaming Group.

  • Represented secured lender Wells Fargo, as the debtor-in-possession lender, in obtaining Bankruptcy Court approval and funding of a property tax settlement agreement by the Revel Casino Hotel with the City of Atlantic City, which resulted in a significant reduction in the assessed value of the property and property tax payments related thereto.

  • Represented NYX Gaming Group in its acquisition of OnGame Network Limited and OnGame Services AB from Amaya Gaming Group.

  • Represented NYX Gaming Group in its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange, including handling all gaming regulatory due diligence and authoring both a gaming regulatory opinion letter and a corporate opinion letter.

  • Represented Sportech-NYX Gaming, LLC, a joint venture between Sportech Plc and NYX Gaming Group Limited, in negotiating an agreement to provide an online gaming platform to the Atlantic City-based Resorts Casino Hotel.

  • Represented Sportech PLC in joint venture with NYX Gaming Group Limited to provide online products and services in the United States for social and pay-to-play gaming.

  • Represented Scientific Games Corporation in connection with gaming regulatory approvals related to its acquisition of WMS Industries Inc.

  • Represented RIH Acquisitions NJ, LLC before the Tax Court of New Jersey (RIH Acquisitions NJ, LLC v. City of Atlantic City), and obtained on behalf of Atlantic Club Casino Hotel a tax credit in the approximate amount of $19.44 million.

  • Represented Icahn Partners LP in connection with its first-lien financing of multiple casino properties in New Jersey as part of a plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc.

  • Represented Icahn Partners LP, as plan proponent and first-lien lender, in a chapter 11 proceeding and related adversarial matters involving Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. The proceedings, which also involved needed gaming regulatory approvals, culminated in a global settlement that resolved all outstanding disputes involving Icahn Partners LP.

  • Represented SG Digital/NYX Gaming Group and NYX Digital Gaming (USA), LLC in obtaining required gaming regulatory approvals in connection with igaming transactions involving Resorts Digital Gaming, LLC, TSG Interactive US Services Limited, Crown NJ Gaming Inc., Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey, LLC, 888 Atlantic Limited, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, LLC, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc., Rush Street Interactive, LLC, Betfair Interactive US, LLC, Churchill Downs Interactive Gaming, LLC, Marina District development Company, LLC d/b/a The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, bwin.party (USA) Inc., Pala Interactive, LLC, Boardwalk 1000, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Unibet Interactive Inc., Hillside (New Jersey) LLC d/b/a Bet365, and AC Ocean Walk, LLC d/b/a Ocean Casino Resort.

  • Represented SG Digital/NYX Gaming Group in connection with gaming regulatory approvals related to a retail and online sports wagering transaction between NYX Digital Gaming (USA) and Caesars Entertainment Inc. and Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey, LLC.

  • Represented Big Time Gaming Pty., Ltd. in obtaining required gaming regulatory approvals in connection with igaming transactions involving NYX Gaming Group LLC, Marina District Development Company, LLC d/b/a The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, bwin.party (USA) Inc., Pala Interactive, LLC, Caesars Interactive Entertainment New Jersey, LLC, 888 Atlantic Limited, WSI US, LLC, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, LLC, Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc., Rush Street Interactive, LLC, Boardwalk 1000, LLC d/b/a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Unibet Interactive Inc., AC Ocean Walk, LLC d/b/a Ocean Casino Resort, Tipico NJ, LLC, AGS, LLC, Resorts Digital Gaming, LLC, Crown NJ Gaming Inc., and TSG Interactive US Services Limited.

  • Represented Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in connection with gaming regulatory matters related to a Credit Agreement entered into by Canadian Imperial with Marina District Finance Company, Inc. and Marina District Development Company, LLC d/b/a Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Admissions

  • New Jersey

Education

  • Widener University School of Law, Delaware, J.D., 1985
  • Swarthmore College, B.A., 1979

Professional Activities

  • New Jersey State Bar Association
    - Environmental Law Section
    - Land Use Planning Section
    - Antitrust Law Section
    - Casino Law Section
  • Camden County Bar Association
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • International Association of Gaming Advisors
    - Member, Regulator Relations Committee

Honors and Awards

  • Named a Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in Gaming Law, Cherry Hill, 2022 and 2024 
  • Selected by South Jersey Magazine as an “Awesome Attorney” in the area of Sports and Entertainment Law, 2024
  • Awarded the Lawyers of Distinction Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation, 2023 and 2024
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2024
  • Selected by South Jersey Magazine as an “Awesome Attorney” in the area of Sports and Entertainment Law, December 2022

  • Named a New Jersey Trailblazer by New Jersey Law Journal, 2019

  • Listed in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2010
  • Strathmore's Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders, 1996-1997

No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Who's Who in the Republican Party
    - Charter Member
  • American Football Coaches Association
    - Allied Member
  • New Jersey Policemen's Benevolent Association
    - Honorary Lifetime Member

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "AIRA's 31st Annual Bankruptcy & Restructuring Conference: Industries to Watch," Association of Insolvency & Restructuring (AIRA), June 5, 2015
  • Speaker, "Casino Law 2010: Game On!" New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education's 2010 South CLEfest, Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 20, 2010